Turning a regular cardigan into a cropped cardigan
I've always wanted to try turning a regular length cardigan into a cropped cardigan. The ones I own are not expensive but still, I didn't have the guts to chop off cardigans! (I don't have much knit fabric sewing experiences.)
But I finally did it and am pretty happy with how it turned out! So I've decided to share how I did it. I'm not a professional seamstress, and I'm only self-taught. I'm not sure if this is the right / best way to do it, so this is not so much of a tutorial, just sharing how I did it.
You're more than welcome to try the way I did, but I can't be responsible if the cardigan got ruined (hopefully not though). Please try it at your own risk. (Thanks for understanding!)
All photos can be enlarged by clicking.
Before we get to it, I want to talk about different styles of button bands.
I think this type is the one that would turned out the cleanest.
The button bands can be easily detach from the bodice, after cropping the length you can re-attach the bands and once you finish you wouldn't be able to tell if you cropped it!
In contrast, this type is more tricky.
The button bands can't be easily detached from the bodice, without damaging the bodice. You can cut the button bands with the bodice altogether, you'd have to be precise when sewing back together for a clean finish.
This one is not so bad. The button bands are just the bodice that's folded. This is the one I'm going to show you with today!
I used regular a sewing machine. A serger would be faster and would be able to give it cleaner edges if you own one. But since I don’t own one, I’m using a regular sewing machine.
I used the straight stretch stitch.
Edit* The shown in the image above is my old sewing machine that I was using at the time. My new machine has a lightning bolt stitch (a type of narrow zig-zag stitches) and that’s what I use most of the time for knit fabric sewing.
I used regular sewing machine threads and ball-point needles.
Ok, so let’s dive in!
First cut the cardigan to the desired length. We will be re-attaching the bottom rib later, so make sure you take that into account.
I took out a bit of bodice width from the side seams, this is totally optional depending on what kind of style you like, the size of the cardigan etc. Mine was a loose-fit one and I wanted to make the waist slightly more fitted.
Pin (or clip) the bodice and ribbing together.
When pinning them together, don't forget to open up the button band!
Sew them together. Straight stretch stitching and zigzag stitching to finish the seam. Usually knit fabrics don’t fray, so we don’t need to finish the seam. But this fabric was fraying a bit, so I wanted to rung a zig-zag stitch over it, just in case!
We're almost done!
Hand stitch where the seam and button band are folded together to prevent them from flipping.
Steam iron the seam and you're done!
I made it a tad longer than my natural waist. I think the cardigan falls better this way if I don't close the front buttons which is how I like to wear cardigans.
I’m very happy that now I can make regular cardigans into cropped cardigans! Shorter length ones go better with fit and flare dresses, but I find it hard to find cropped cardigans.
I’ve altered seven cardigans so far!
June 4, 2016
