DIY Sweater Hacks!

For today's remake, I began with two things I already had in my collection - they were old H&M sweaters that I wasn't wearing that were in my donation pile. However, for my trip to AZ I needed a couple of sweaters for one of the TV segments that I was doing, so I went right to these both.

Exhibit A (sweater which has an annoying neck):

New Dress A Day - DIY - Knit H&M Sweater

Exhibit B (sweater which is overly pilly):

New Dress A Day - DIY - Knit H&M Sweater Take 2

Check out and see what I crafted these two into!!

Inspired by something I had scoped out on Pinterest, I trimmed each side of the sweater about three inches, right at the neck.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Knit H&M Sweater - Sleeve Snip

I picked a fun satin ribbon in a cranberry shade, cut four equal lengths of it (about a foot for each piece), and began to stitch each piece to one of the newly trimmed four corners.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Knit H&M Sweater - Edge Tweaks

Each piece was stitched in place, and then I began to fix the raw edges of the sweater, hand stitching up and down each side to stop any fraying!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Knit H&M Sweater - Ribbon Stitch

For the pilly sweater, I took my scissors...

New Dress A Day - DIY - Knit H&M Sweater - Sleeve Cut!

...and cut a chunk of the arm off on each side!  (I cut a piece off, about six inches.)

New Dress A Day - DIY - Knit H&M Sweater - Sleeve Cut!

I did the same thing with these raw edges, taking some thread and hand stitching all the way around.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Knit H&M Sweater - Sleeve stitch

My pieces were complete and ready for some local AZ news, Sonoran Living!!

Katie is modeling the ribboned sweater...

New Dress A Day - Finished Sweater

...giving it just a little bit of glam, on top of room at the neck!

New Dress A Day - Finished Sweater

And...our model T, wore the sweater sleeves as little boot cuffs peeking out of her boots!  They're awesome because they'll also help hold up socks too, depending on how fitted they are!!

New Dress A Day - Socks from Sweater

Two easy projects using pieces I grabbed directly from my closet...not too bad, eh??

Vintage 80s Teal Suede Sash Dress

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

If my mom wore this dress in the 80s, it would have been one that I coveted as a kid!

The teal suede sash in front? Better than Miss America!

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

And that print! It's like an abstract piece of art - brush strokes all over.

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

It's a little much as is...

vintage 80s dress
vintage 80s dress

...but I'm going to make it winter ready in just a few steps!

The sash was the first thing to go! I grabbed my seam ripper and delicately began removing the stitches holding the sash in place.

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

With it removed...

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

...I had to restitch the seam at the shoulder to close this area up. I pinned the open portion and prepped for a quick stitching!

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

The rest of the dress was a bit too big, so I took in a few inches to make it a bit more fitted.

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

I removed the extra teal buttons that were on the dress to keep the sash in place and finished all my sewing.

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

With a little belt cinching action (as well as a neutral color to break up all the jewel tones), my new dress was ready for a Denver day of walking!

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

I had a sweater and gloves with me, but the weather was in the 70s!! I thought I left LA to get snow and sleet, not warmish temperatures :) I was able to legitimately wear the sweater at night though when it got a bit chillier.

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

These boots tho... The best pair of walking boots I could have asked for!

(PS - for Cyber Monday, if you're looking for some good boots for the fam, Sierra Trading Post is having some major sales. That's where these came from! Lunch break = boots browsing today!)

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

I loved how the lining of the dress was teal too. When I walked, and depending on how the dress fell, you could see it pop through.

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

When there's a lion statue, you have to pet it. It had quite the furry mane!

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

I loved how this turned out! Removing a dated sash and just making the piece a little more fitted changes everything!

Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s
Vintage Teal Sash Dress - 80s

This dress is going to get tons of wear back home in LA!!

Outfit details:

Dress: vintage (Goodwill) | Boots: (Crown by Born) Sierra Trading Post | Belt: J Crew | Sweater: vintage (swap party find!) | Sunglasses: Forever 21| Gloves: Daiso

Feather Printed Sweatshirt with Buttons

Two words: THIS SWEATSHIRT. Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

It's amazing...

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

It's cozy...

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

It's a bit ridiculous...

Vintage Sweatshirt Jacket

All factors in me trying to make this totally wearable!!

For starters, I wanted to change the shape of the piece, so I created a deep V shape to make the sweatshirt more of a cardigan-style.

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

Next, the collar had some issues - lots of spots on the white ribbed material. Not cute. Not cute at all.

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

I grabbed my seam ripper and began to get down to collar removal business. (I mean, those gross spots!!)

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

The collar came off and we were rolling!!

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

The size of the sweatshirt was large and I wanted to take it in to fit my arms better. I liked the bulkiness of the torso, but wanted my arms to be a little more snug. I took the sleeves in and stitched them down. I also stitched the neck, creating a clean seam.

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

After a little pinning, sewing, and trimming, my new sweatshirt was ready for Denver!!

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

I paired my outfit with these insanely comfy Gentle Souls boots for a rustic walk in the neighborhood.

GENTLE SOULS BARNESICLE W/ SHEARLING CUFF BOOTS

This walk included a stop at the swingset.

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

I couldn't resist hopping on, but let's be honest...it's probably been 20 years since I've been on one, so it took a minute to get started.

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

Watch out!!!!!

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

The weather has been on the warmish side, so the big vintage sweater I brought with me didn't stay on for too long!

Vintage Feather Sweatshirt

I thought this would be the perfect thing to wear to the place I've been dreaming about going to since I saw the episode about it on South Park.

CASA BONITA!!!! (The episode is HERE for your viewing pleasure)

South Park - Casa Bonita

Casa Bonita, IRL!!

South Park - Casa Bonita

The only thing about my glorious visit that was not that glorious was that it was closed!! I totally had my Wally World moment.

Wally World

That's what happens when you visit on a holiday. So, when you can't see the indoor divers (Yes! there's indoor divers!), you pretend to be the diver in the outdoor, unfilled, fountain.

South Park - Casa Bonita

I was SO excited to go to CB!!

South Park - Casa Bonita

I mean, look at all the insane entertainment! Magicians, western gunfights, and cliff divers in one place? The most ridiculously weird and amazing entertainment options you could imagine.

South Park - Casa Bonita

I was like...

South Park - Casa Bonita

However, I did snap a picture to take with me...

South Park - Casa Bonita

Just means that next time I'm going to have to come back!!

Outfit details:

Sweatshirt: vintage (Goodwill)| Jeans:  | Boots: Sierra Trading Post | Sweater: vintage (from Goodwill) | Sunglasses: Forever 21 | Belt: Old Navy | Jeans: Levis