Maxi Cardigan DIY

 

Because sometimes you just want to wear something that makes you feel pretty.

This Season I am totally crushing on layers and maxi dresses, as you can see from my slouchy cardi DIY, and Fall Maxi Dress DIY. What happens when you combine the two? Maxi length cardigan = <3 <3 <3.

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Maxi Cardigan DIY

How to sew a maxi length cardigan

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Skill level: Advanced beginner

Time needed: 2 – 3 hours

MATERIALS:

• Loose fitting T-shirt to cut around
• 2.5 yards knit fabric
• Universal ball point sewing needle
• Coordinating thread
• Basic sewing essentials

HOW TO SEW A MAXI CARDIGAN:

Drafting the pattern:

1. Try on your t shirt. You want it to be loose, without being baggy.  Measure from the bottom hem of your t-shirt to the floor. You will need this to determine your ultimate cardigan length.
2. Place folded back t shirt on the fold of your fabric, making sure the stretch of the knit is pulling from left to right. Measure from the hem of your t-shirt to the ultimate desired length of your cardigan along the fold. Cut around the t-shirt’s neckline and armsyce. Arc out along the t-shirt side seams to the ultimate desired cardigan length. Repeat for front cardigan pattern, without putting the t-shirt on the fold.
3. Turn the front cardigan pattern neckline into more of a ‘V’ shape, but gently sloping the neckline down.
4. You will also want to cut (2) pocket pattern pieces, 7″w x 10.5″l, as well as a long strips of bias for the neckline binding that is 4″ wide. (You will need to connect various 4″ strips of fabric but on the bias to get enough length for your neckline.) Furthermore, you will need to cut (2) long sleeve patterns, by tracing around your t-shirt sleeves. And if desired, (2) sleeve bands. The sleeve bands should be 1″ shorter in length than the width of your bottom sleeve hem x 4″ wide.

Sewing the pockets:

5. Turn the sides and bottom of each pocket 1/4″ towards the wrong side and press.
6. Turn the top of the pocket 1″ towards the wrong side and press. Sew a line along the bottom of the top edge to secure in place.
7. Place the pocket on each side of the front cardigan pattern piece. The bottom of my pocket sits 26″ up from the bottom hem of the cardigan. Pin the sides and bottom of the pocket in place, and sew around to secure.

Sewing the front, back, and neckline:

8. Place front and back cardigan pattern pieces right sides together, matching up the shoulder seam. Pin shoulder seam and sew.
9. Measure around the entire neckline of the cardigan, from one front center hem to the other. That is the amount of neckline bias that you will need.
10. Fold neckline bias in half, wrong sides together, matching up the long outer edge. Press center seam in place.
11. With the neckline bias tape folded and pressed, line up the raw outer edges of the bias neckline with the raw outer edges of your cardigans neckline. Pin in place, and sew around. Press seam in, and edge stitch around neckline to secure seam in place.

Sewing the sleeve:

12. Place the curve of the sleeve right sides together with the armsyce. Pin right sides together, and sew. Repeat for both sleeves.

Sewing the side seam:

13. Place cardigan right sides together, matching up the side seams.
14. Mark on the side seam 2″ above where the bottom of the pocket hits on either side of the cardigan. Pin the side seam (sleeve seam included), all the way down to that mark. Sew.
15. Press the bottom side seams of the cardigan 1/2″ towards the wrong side. Sew around open edge to secure seam in place.

Hem the cardigan:

16. Fold the bottom of the cardigan 1/4″ towards the wrong side and press. Turn again 3/4″ towards the wrong side and press. Sew around to hem.

Finish hemming the sleeves:

17. To sew the sleeve cuff, fold the cuff pattern piece in half wrong sides together matching up the long outer edge. Press for a nice middle fold line.
18. Unfold the cuff pattern piece, and line up the short outer edges right sides together. Pin and sew. Repeat for both cuffs.
19. Refold the cuff pattern piece along the middle fold line, so that all seams are enclosed, lining up the raw outer edges to form a cuff band circle.
20. Slip cuff around the hem of your cardigan sleeve, lining up the seams. Pin along seam, and stretch the cuff so that you can pin the opposite side to the opposite side of your sleeve. Sew around using a serger or zigzag stitch, stretching the cuff as you sew. Press seam up, and use a long straight stitch to secure in place.

And you are finished!

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Thanks so much for stopping by, and until next time…

Happy sewing!

 

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