I totally agree! I laughed right out loud at that comment! Thanks for showing us your frustrations and your fixes, Catherine. It's a pleasure spending time with and learning from you😊
I LOVE BOTH SWEATERS BUT THE PINK ONE IS TRULY ADORABLE!!! I would have never thought to needle felt the circles onto the pink sweater as a design element. It is brilliant Catherine. Thank you for teaching us another way to upcycle sweaters. I love thrifting and this technique is amazing.
YES! I love balloons! I just ordered the needless. (My 84 year old uncle was in the hospital and he wasn’t coming home. I bought him 5 helium balloons. He was yelling at people in the hall,and he was a quiet man, to come look at his balloons! No one had ever given him balloons! Of course not, at that age. People should give people surprises and make them smile!) Catherine, you make us smile!
I've lost 10stone in the last 8 months and really need to pluck up courage to alter more of my clothes. Thank you for this tutorial specifically, it will be a real help.
With the green yarn the circles are magically transformed Vinci balloons. I mean How fun is that? Kudos to you & your artsy side. I agree w/you, it looks so cute!!!!
Watching you sew with knitted items got me motivated to finally start and finish a tote bag that incorporated my friend's abandoned crochet project. She had kept the beginnings of a zig-zag crochet afghan for decades and when I saw it I knew it had to see the light of day. I bought fabric for the tote at least two years ago and then it sat until you inspired me to get on with it. Everything worked out. Thanks so much for teaching us not to fear a project.
"Lives are not at stake here . . . " Truer words, my friend! I can't count the times I say to myself 'this has no eternal significance.' Perspective! think the pink raglan is indeed the cutest thing you've done in awhile. Now I want to try it!
I LOVE your inspiration. I had a couple sweaters I was going to donate but, instead, I did a little cutting and sewing and now I love them. Thank you for what you do!
I got my Brother serger at Walmart for under $200 USD. I love it. Its opened up so many possibilities for me. I like this project Catherine. I'm intrigued at the idea of modifying some outdated sweaters.
On my machine I can only move my needle to the left, but maybe you’re right; I should play around with using the midline as a guide with the needle on the left. Thanks for giving me something to think about!
Catherine, I find myself watching you on my 65" tv and your instruction and videos are so informative. What I especially like is how you actually show how you style your upcycled pieces. I am very much into denim, I'm sure it's because of my age(lol) but none of my jeans fit my butt, they all gap. I can't seam to get the seam closed down the butt. I've recently lost a lot of weight so nothing fits. Help me if you can.
Hi! This video inspired two ideas for me. The first is for myself. I plan to use this method to cover up a hole that I will mend in a favorite sweater of my own -thank you! I don't know if you check older posted videos, so I’m also posting here an idea that may (or may not) be helpful for you and your “barbie” dress, where the dying was imperfect. Here’s what I'm doing to rescue a coat. I brushed against a painting at an art center. of course, it was oil paint. I use this for riding my electric bicycle from fall to winter, love its removable quilted lining and its ability to repel rain. My idea is to use iron-on cricut vinyl (in my case, light-reflective for extra safety when bicycling). I cut some retro flowers by hand, but I'm hoping to take a class soon to learn to use (and to make use of) a cricut machine. I did a few test flowers, and they really look pretty good! Much better than smeared paint streaks, anyway. I don't know much about cricut materials, but maybe you could find a matching or a range of tonal matches that you could layer in a pleasing way to cover dye streaks while keeping the "barbie" spirit? Just an idea….. thank you, Catherine!
So cute, and amazingly logical alterations. Not at all as difficult as I imagined. Catherine, I also love listening to you narrate the process. Your communication style makes the whole process so enjoyable: love your quietly enthusiastic and encouraging perspective. So worth learning to reinvent a garment's design to suit one's taste, remodel size simply for a perfect fit and, even, reuse leftover materials in creative ways that give the new design a uniquely stylish finish.
Never thought of this great idea. How nice to know this. I never knew I could fix the sweaters. I have one I love and Im getting ready to see how it comes out. Thank so much for sharing what you know.
Makes me sorry I work in a senior community where the heat is at full blast! I'll never be able to wear any winter clothes there. But the ideas are still inspiring 😊
Most of my machine knit books are from the 80’s when the sweaters were oversize and we seem to be back there again but it’s not my thing either. Love the way you just dive in and cut to the way you want, brilliant. I made a sweater and it was far too big(user error on my knitting machine) so as I made it I knew I could undo my sleeve seam and serge it to size. Love it now. Love your videos, thank you ❤
Thank you for teaching how to make nice ends from serger. You are making me go through my donate bag that lives in my closet. Thank you? I'm trying to purge, not add. Love your videos.
I love all your upcycles, so creative and stops clothes going to landfill. You are fortunate that you can find clothes that are too big for you to play around with. I am at the other end of sizing so can never find anything that is too big! Also, we don't have the big thrift stores that you have in North America, we have small charity shops in the UK. I have bought a felting needle though, as I love the idea of needle felting things onto sweaters and particularly loved the big white flower from a few weeks ago. Such fun!!
Those sweaters are so lovely. The dots are a very clever idea and add so much. My sewing machine is supposed to be able to needle felt so it would be a great project to try.
Wow what a transformation on both of them. I thrifted a huge men's sweater a few years ago with the plan to make it my size. After watching your video I think I will give it a go as it is not precious and I have nothing to lose. The needle felting is awesome but I would have to purchase needles to do that. After seeing how you transformed your project I may try to get some of those special needles.
I love your “new” sweaters. You inspire me so much. I have a problem with inches, we all use centimetres in Europe, but you explain it so clearly and I took a bold step and subscribe. I just started sewing when I retired in oktober three years ago and follow you longer than a year, but first thought I will never do whatever you do. But I am getting more experienced now in sewing and I think I will follow your example and be bold with an old sweater and just try to upcycle it. What is the worst that will happen? I just mess up or it will be wearable again. Thanks for all the inspiration.
I love both recreations. Fingers crossed that the needle felting stays when the pink sweater is laundered. I will be interested in hearing how you make out with it.
Love this video both sweaters are great. But after watching this remember that I had a sweater that I tried to take in. The seams were wavy and almost gave up on it. Hit it with steam and I have my sweater back. Thank you.
AAAAAMAZING work. Now I know what I can do with some knits from my late Mum. The items are too small but you're giving me ideas. Thanks a million. What a talent you are. Bless your creativity 🎉
Iron on interfacing? I’d iron strips along the seamlines. That way you would have something to sew together. Probably knit/tricot stretch interfacing would be more comfortable. And you could copy the outfit and make her a new one once it wears out or she outgrows it. My daughter wore every Halloween costume I made her completely out! That bring back memories 😊
What an adorable up cycle - you look great in the sweaters and the pattern you created on the pink one is delightful! What a great example of what can be done when we let our own creativity have a chance to come out! Cheers !
Needle felting isn't something I have tried yet. In fact I have just learned how to use the double needle on my machine. I am 74 and this old dog can learn new tricks still. LOL love both sweaters
I think the circles with the green stems look like trees or topiaries. :-) Ooh, and I just found out that one of our biggest thrift stores is having a half off day coming up!
Great projects! I love them both. I understand why you serge the sleeves to the body with the sleeve on top. But this seam goes horizontal on the sleeve and vertical on the body. Since knits are much stretchier in the horizontal direction than in the vertical and the presser foot adds some stretch to the upper layer while the feed dogs make the differential gathering on the lower layer I always put the body on top of the sleeve and just feel with my fingertips that everything is flat.
I love both these sweaters. Great inspiration! The one thing I look for in knits if I want to take them apart is that chain stitch. If the garmet has that along the seams then generally you can take it apart without the pieces unraveling because each piece is knit individually and then sewn together. If you see a regular seam - as you did here - it means the garmet is made from a large piece of knit fabric that is cut into pieces and sewn together. If you take the seams apart they can unravel. Just good to know if working with knits. I always wondered how the garmet manufacturers could cut the knit apart for construction without it unraveling on those big machines?!
I also struggle with making things look random and not all uniform, so I usually try to find a reference image for something similar that I can copy the "randomness" of.
Wondering if rhe "wiggle " will come to life once you wash it... Honest question from someone who is not brave to cut and treat knit as a fabric as you do. You are so brave and creative!
They are both so cute, love them. This vid is 2 weeks late. I had a big red sweater that I thrifted a long time ago and tried to make it smaller but failed. The shoulder seam was to low just like yours was but I didn't know how to fix it. I sent it back to the thrift store.
I pulled out some sweaters a few weeks ago, that I just loved to wear back in the 80's, huge! And who do I turn to for inspiration? Your calm instruction gives me confidence to cut!
These sweaters are such a good find, the colourways are so good together you'd swear they were from the same line. Both of the end products are fantastic but I think the second one is possibly my favourite of your creations. Just a thought, would you consider buying a needle felting holder. Its a gadget to hold 5/6 needles at once. I find the single needle is fine for detail work but on blocks they felt up much quicker with the holder. I find the repetitive motion tires my arm easily.
OMG! Your pink sweater turned out delicious! I love it! It looks expensive now. I adore these videos that you put out. You are an absolute genius! Both sweaters are stunning! You look amazing in them.
Love your new sweaters so much!! I have to tell you that I have been watching your past episodes and have been inspired to start garment sewing again. I sewed the McCalls Hoodie this past week! I couldn’t find a paper pattern so persevered with piecing together a PDF….but finally managed to sew a hoodie for my husband for Valentine’s Day. I own a Riccar Lock serger that I bought new about 1984…well….40 yrs later I have dug it out of hibernation. It still works! Not seized but to be on the safe side I’ve taken it apart and cleaned/oiled every moving part. Thank you so much for your wonderful tutorials!!!!
What a cool idea! I would have never thought of doing that!! And the idea about covering a little stain or snag, well I'm glad to think I am not the only one that drips coffee on occasion🙃 Thank you again for a great tutorial!
" Lives are not at stake here" words to remember when you are sewing!
I totally agree! I laughed right out loud at that comment! Thanks for showing us your frustrations and your fixes, Catherine. It's a pleasure spending time with and learning from you😊
I LOVE BOTH SWEATERS BUT THE PINK ONE IS TRULY ADORABLE!!! I would have never thought to needle felt the circles onto the pink sweater as a design element. It is brilliant Catherine. Thank you for teaching us another way to upcycle sweaters. I love thrifting and this technique is amazing.
YES! I love balloons! I just ordered the needless. (My 84 year old uncle was in the hospital and he wasn’t coming home. I bought him 5 helium balloons. He was yelling at people in the hall,and he was a quiet man, to come look at his balloons! No one had ever given him balloons! Of course not, at that age. People should give people surprises and make them smile!) Catherine, you make us smile!
I've lost 10stone in the last 8 months and really need to pluck up courage to alter more of my clothes. Thank you for this tutorial specifically, it will be a real help.
Well done 👍🧵
I am a self taught sewist. Thank you for teaching me so much. I am no longer afraid to tackle a project
With the green yarn the circles are magically transformed Vinci balloons. I mean How fun is that? Kudos to you & your artsy side. I agree w/you, it looks so cute!!!!
Watching you sew with knitted items got me motivated to finally start and finish a tote bag that incorporated my friend's abandoned crochet project. She had kept the beginnings of a zig-zag crochet afghan for decades and when I saw it I knew it had to see the light of day. I bought fabric for the tote at least two years ago and then it sat until you inspired me to get on with it. Everything worked out. Thanks so much for teaching us not to fear a project.
Coming from someone who struggles to sew a button, I am beyond impressed. Both turned out so cute on you!
"Lives are not at stake here . . . " Truer words, my friend! I can't count the times I say to myself 'this has no eternal significance.' Perspective! think the pink raglan is indeed the cutest thing you've done in awhile. Now I want to try it!
I’m very flattered that the creator of #FridaySews is commenting on my channel! Thanks for this and all you do!
I LOVE your inspiration. I had a couple sweaters I was going to donate but, instead, I did a little cutting and sewing and now I love them. Thank you for what you do!
That is so great to hear! Well done!
I got my Brother serger at Walmart for under $200 USD. I love it. Its opened up so many possibilities for me.
I like this project Catherine. I'm intrigued at the idea of modifying some outdated sweaters.
Those would easily be my favorite sweaters. The felting was genius!
34:56 after choosing your guideline like you did... then move you need position (right or left) to get the desired distance from the ditch. 💖🌞🌵😷
On my machine I can only move my needle to the left, but maybe you’re right; I should play around with using the midline as a guide with the needle on the left. Thanks for giving me something to think about!
Catherine, I find myself watching you on my 65" tv and your instruction and videos are so informative. What I especially like is how you actually show how you style your upcycled pieces. I am very much into denim, I'm sure it's because of my age(lol) but none of my jeans fit my butt, they all gap. I can't seam to get the seam closed down the butt. I've recently lost a lot of weight so nothing fits. Help me if you can.
Hi!
This video inspired two ideas for me. The first is for myself. I plan to use this method to cover up a hole that I will mend in a favorite sweater of my own -thank you! I don't know if you check older posted videos, so I’m also posting here an idea that may (or may not) be helpful for you and your “barbie” dress, where the dying was imperfect.
Here’s what I'm doing to rescue a coat. I brushed against a painting at an art center. of course, it was oil paint. I use this for riding my electric bicycle from fall to winter, love its removable quilted lining and its ability to repel rain. My idea is to use iron-on cricut vinyl (in my case, light-reflective for extra safety when bicycling). I cut some retro flowers by hand, but I'm hoping to take a class soon to learn to use (and to make use of) a cricut machine. I did a few test flowers, and they really look pretty good! Much better than smeared paint streaks, anyway. I don't know much about cricut materials, but maybe you could find a matching or a range of tonal matches that you could layer in a pleasing way to cover dye streaks while keeping the "barbie" spirit? Just an idea….. thank you, Catherine!
So cute, and amazingly logical alterations. Not at all as difficult as I imagined. Catherine, I also love listening to you narrate the process. Your communication style makes the whole process so enjoyable: love your quietly enthusiastic and encouraging perspective. So worth learning to reinvent a garment's design to suit one's taste, remodel size simply for a perfect fit and, even, reuse leftover materials in creative ways that give the new design a
uniquely stylish finish.
So many creative ideas, I’ve been sewing for years and up cycling but I never thought sweaters were possible
Cool trick finishing off the bottom of the band by flipping back the other way on the overlocker! I great tip! Thanks so much for sharing that.
Never thought of this great idea. How nice to know this. I never knew I could fix the sweaters. I have one I love and Im getting ready to see how it comes out. Thank so much for sharing what you know.
Makes me sorry I work in a senior community where the heat is at full blast! I'll never be able to wear any winter clothes there. But the ideas are still inspiring 😊
Oh my gosh, right!? I have to plan ahead when I visit my mum and make sure I’m wearing layers I can peel off!
That needle punching might be a fun project for the older people. I’m pretty sure they do wear sweaters in there😊.
Most of my machine knit books are from the 80’s when the sweaters were oversize and we seem to be back there again but it’s not my thing either. Love the way you just dive in and cut to the way you want, brilliant. I made a sweater and it was far too big(user error on my knitting machine) so as I made it I knew I could undo my sleeve seam and serge it to size. Love it now. Love your videos, thank you ❤
I can’t say which one I like better - they are both so adorable! And totally you! ❤️ You look amazing in them both!
Love what you created❤ You are one talented lady! You’ve even got me thinking outside the box. Less buying, more trying.
LOVE LOVE both sweaters. I’m a new sewer and I’m learning so much from your channel thank you so much❤
These are both so adorable! Definitely sweaters I’d wear!
Great sweaters, love the felting, your tutorials are great, I love that you show your mistakes and how you correct them..
Catherine, I neeeeed that pink sweater! Don't you feel like just sending it right over to me? 😂 Adorable!
I loved the colors and up cycle on both sweaters😊
Thank you for teaching how to make nice ends from serger. You are making me go through my donate bag that lives in my closet. Thank you? I'm trying to purge, not add. Love your videos.
I love needlefelting! The circles and the green yarn look like balloons. I love both of these sweaters.
I love all your upcycles, so creative and stops clothes going to landfill. You are fortunate that you can find clothes that are too big for you to play around with. I am at the other end of sizing so can never find anything that is too big! Also, we don't have the big thrift stores that you have in North America, we have small charity shops in the UK. I have bought a felting needle though, as I love the idea of needle felting things onto sweaters and particularly loved the big white flower from a few weeks ago. Such fun!!
Those sweaters are so lovely. The dots are a very clever idea and add so much. My sewing machine is supposed to be able to needle felt so it would be a great project to try.
I love your creativity! For the second sweater you could use shapes made with cookie cutters too.
WOW, they're both perfection. Great transformations!
I love both jumpers! You're so stylish. The colours suit you perfectly. Thanks for the inspiration, I'm going to shop my wardrobe now. 😂
Love them. I was surprised you didn’t have to iron on a fusible to the back to hold the needle punch. Just beautiful
You are absolutely the best teacher !!!! You make these projects so easy to follow. Thank you so very much ❤
You are a very smart, young lady. Such great ideas. Keep up the such lovely ideas.
You’ve given me so many ideas
I need to thrift up and make something
They are beautiful. You have a lot of patience.
Wow what a transformation on both of them. I thrifted a huge men's sweater a few years ago with the plan to make it my size. After watching your video I think I will give it a go as it is not precious and I have nothing to lose. The needle felting is awesome but I would have to purchase needles to do that. After seeing how you transformed your project I may try to get some of those special needles.
I love your “new” sweaters. You inspire me so much. I have a problem with inches, we all use centimetres in Europe, but you explain it so clearly and I took a bold step and subscribe. I just started sewing when I retired in oktober three years ago and follow you longer than a year, but first thought I will never do whatever you do. But I am getting more experienced now in sewing and I think I will follow your example and be bold with an old sweater and just try to upcycle it. What is the worst that will happen? I just mess up or it will be wearable again. Thanks for all the inspiration.
Would love to see you colour block sweaters to create a larger garment.
I love both recreations. Fingers crossed that the needle felting stays when the pink sweater is laundered. I will be interested in hearing how you make out with it.
Love this video both sweaters are great. But after watching this remember that I had a sweater that I tried to take in. The seams were wavy and almost gave up on it. Hit it with steam and I have my sweater back. Thank you.
Yes! Steam to the rescue!
I love them both! And the pink one is definitely giving balloons! So much fun!
🙌 Clever ways to upcycle those two sweaters! Very cute after all your work. 🎉
When I sew my knitted pieces together I use the blanket stitch. That is how I was taught to do it.
Beautiful job!! Love both your sweaters. God bless and thanks for sharing your beautiful creations.
AAAAAMAZING work. Now I know what I can do with some knits from my late Mum. The items are too small but you're giving me ideas. Thanks a million. What a talent you are. Bless your creativity 🎉
You make everything look so easy
Iron on interfacing? I’d iron strips along the seamlines. That way you would have something to sew together. Probably knit/tricot stretch interfacing would be more comfortable. And you could copy the outfit and make her a new one once it wears out or she outgrows it. My daughter wore every Halloween costume I made her completely out! That bring back memories 😊
Love both but the pink one is my favorite.
Love, love, love those polka dots!!
What an adorable up cycle - you look great in the sweaters and the pattern you created on the pink one is delightful! What a great example of what can be done when we let our own creativity have a chance to come out! Cheers !
Love them but the pink one is so individual, clever girl
They are both adorable.
That is the cutest sweater I've ever seen! Love how it all evolved as you went along...true inspiration!
Needle felting isn't something I have tried yet. In fact I have just learned how to use the double needle on my machine. I am 74 and this old dog can learn new tricks still. LOL love both sweaters
I think the circles with the green stems look like trees or topiaries. :-)
Ooh, and I just found out that one of our biggest thrift stores is having a half off day coming up!
Great projects! I love them both.
I understand why you serge the sleeves to the body with the sleeve on top. But this seam goes horizontal on the sleeve and vertical on the body. Since knits are much stretchier in the horizontal direction than in the vertical and the presser foot adds some stretch to the upper layer while the feed dogs make the differential gathering on the lower layer I always put the body on top of the sleeve and just feel with my fingertips that everything is flat.
I had to pause the video and use your link to order a set of felting needles. Love the sweaters.
I love both these sweaters. Great inspiration!
The one thing I look for in knits if I want to take them apart is that chain stitch. If the garmet has that along the seams then generally you can take it apart without the pieces unraveling because each piece is knit individually and then sewn together. If you see a regular seam - as you did here - it means the garmet is made from a large piece of knit fabric that is cut into pieces and sewn together. If you take the seams apart they can unravel. Just good to know if working with knits. I always wondered how the garmet manufacturers could cut the knit apart for construction without it unraveling on those big machines?!
I also struggle with making things look random and not all uniform, so I usually try to find a reference image for something similar that I can copy the "randomness" of.
Wondering if rhe "wiggle " will come to life once you wash it...
Honest question from someone who is not brave to cut and treat knit as a fabric as you do.
You are so brave and creative!
I love how it turned out
Another great project! I love how you troubleshoot as you go along.
They are both so cute, love them. This vid is 2 weeks late. I had a big red sweater that I thrifted a long time ago and tried to make it smaller but failed. The shoulder seam was to low just like yours was but I didn't know how to fix it. I sent it back to the thrift store.
Oh too bad!
Wow! Thank you so much for the inspiration!
I pulled out some sweaters a few weeks ago, that I just loved to wear back in the 80's, huge! And who do I turn to for inspiration? Your calm instruction gives me confidence to cut!
Love these 2 recycles
❤🎉❤🎉 love these! I was wondering when my felting tools would come in handy 😊
These sweaters are such a good find, the colourways are so good together you'd swear they were from the same line. Both of the end products are fantastic but I think the second one is possibly my favourite of your creations.
Just a thought, would you consider buying a needle felting holder. Its a gadget to hold 5/6 needles at once. I find the single needle is fine for detail work but on blocks they felt up much quicker with the holder. I find the repetitive motion tires my arm easily.
Love your designs
Love the transformation! Great job as always!!
Both are so cute now! The pink is my favorite. Great job.
OMG! Your pink sweater turned out delicious! I love it! It looks expensive now. I adore these videos that you put out. You are an absolute genius! Both sweaters are stunning! You look amazing in them.
Both are beautiful and fun.❤
I'm obsessed with that pink sweater!
Love how these turned out so cute 😊😊
Love your new sweaters so much!! I have to tell you that I have been watching your past episodes and have been inspired to start garment sewing again. I sewed the McCalls Hoodie this past week! I couldn’t find a paper pattern so persevered with piecing together a PDF….but finally managed to sew a hoodie for my husband for Valentine’s Day. I own a Riccar Lock serger that I bought new about 1984…well….40 yrs later I have dug it out of hibernation. It still works! Not seized but to be on the safe side I’ve taken it apart and cleaned/oiled every moving part. Thank you so much for your wonderful tutorials!!!!
I defiantly love both! The felting is really cute and turned if from a boarding to stunning looking sweater!
What a cool idea! I would have never thought of doing that!! And the idea about covering a little stain or snag, well I'm glad to think I am not the only one that drips coffee on occasion🙃 Thank you again for a great tutorial!
so stinkin' cute!
"lives are not at steak here" lol I've found my new motto when things go astray!!
I was so grateful that you had showed this sweater tutorial upcycling thank you Catherine
I love the needle felting … So cute
B E A U T I F U L ! ! !
🤍🩷💛🩵💜💚
Those sweaters are great!!!
Truly adorable!
You can also use your blind hem foot to keep your topstitching straight if you don’t have a topstitching foot.
You are very creative with all the clothes you recycle. These sweaters are very sweet.
I love both!
Great job as usual! Love them both!
😮😮😮 they came out super cute😍😍😭
Love it! You have inspired me again!
Love the video. I learned techniques!!!
Talented as always ❤
Both turned out so cute. I learn so much from you. Thank you for your explanations!
So cute!
I just love the pink sweater!!! So cute!!❤