3 CRAFTY Sweater Upcycles!

[@susuburleson878]

Catherine, you fill a real void in the world of KZbin sewing videos. You’re absolutely in my top three channels, and you’re in VERY good company! I’ve been sewing for more than 50 years now, and love the way your videos spark my creativity. I inherited many lovely sweaters last year and have some exciting ideas on adjusting them to my taste and to fit me. I’ll tag you on instagram when I’m done. Thanks for sharing your sewing with us!

[@CatherineSews]

What a lovely comment! Thanks so much! Yes, please do tag me when you post your Upcycles. I’d love to see!

[@Sandra-r9v3u]

LOVE the marking the finger trick!

[@deniselauffer8577]

This will not be my last rewatch❤❤❤ The trifecta that just keeps on giving😂 Love these projects Catherine

[@monavance2125]

That felted flower sweater looks like a million bucks!! So fun and beautiful on you ❤

[@Maplecook]

Two words when Catherine is involved: "FELT GREAT!!" HAHAHA

[@CatherineSews]

Oh thank you! I’ve had fun wearing it!

[@orriesmom5769]

I'm showing my age, but in 1972 I was gifted an absolutely amazing sweater: the fit was beyond flattering and the handknitting was perfection. Unfortunately, it was light gray. Now, the early '70s were NOT about gray, they were about psychedelia and everything bright, beautiful and GROOVY! On some evenings while I babysat, I crocheted a free-form flowery design with tiny crocheted chain stitches onto the surface of the sweater using yarns in shades of bright pinks, teals, purples, oranges, yellows and lime green leaves. It sounds like it would have been weirdness personified but it turned out beautifully. Your video brought back so many wonderful memories!

[@theclumsyprepper]

I like the last upcycle best, that flower really makes a statement.

[@mymagicword]

My favorite was the first sweater because the technique is so darned practical as we come across a plethora of those long styles these days. Thank you for “talking to yourself” so we can follow your thought process and tiny struggles. Your channel is the BEST and I adore you as a teacher. ❤

[@Mspuppylove212]

I never thought I would ever see you wear a turtleneck - even a mock one!! 😮😂❤

[@nanettedoerr177]

I have been repurposing and redoing my clothing for years. You have given me the courage to take it to the next level. Love your videos and instruction. You are easy to listen to and to follow. Thank you from a fellow sewist in the NC mountains of the USA!

[@susuburleson878]

Hello - another NC mountain gal here!

[@CatherineSews]

Lovely to hear! Thanks!

[@winterwrenn]

I’ve just recently been watching your channel and your detail and instruction is unmatched! Thank you for your videos, they’ve inspired me also to continue learning about sewing. (Also a fellow viewer from SC, USA)

[@judih.8754]

I love that felted flower top. Originally I had my doubts, but watching you create it turned me around! Thanks!

[@lov3lou]

Oh my goodness .. I just loooooove you and your videos! So inspirational. I laughed at your crochet technique, but that’s you all over … demystifying the hidden complexity of technique by doing it your way! Sheer bravery! I also love how you slipped in the comment about watching TV, something that’s not war! No use letting your boat sink! You certainly are a ray of sunshine!

[@reeseoroni]

Catherine...this is super great. I LOVE the third project, most especially how you show you applied the flower. It came out wonderful. I would definitely wear any of these sweaters.

[@CatherineSews]

Thank you so much! That’s lovely to hear!

[@PinkamingoHaven]

I love these upcycles! Fiber enthusiast here! Somewhere in the comments someone probably mentioned that when you crochet, you might want to try holding the working yarn in your left hand. Then you don't have to let go of the hook to wrap the yarn. But do whatever is comfortable for you. Also, quick suggestion on the needlefelting - Don't use the needle itself to manipulate the fiber. When you do that it's more likely to bend the needle and that's how they break. The needles are very sturdy for punching up and down, but sideways bends the needle at it's weak point. I like to use stir sticks or chop sitcks to hold the fiber. Less likely to punch the needle into your finger. This flower sweater was my favorite. And if you do more needle felting, upholestry foam works great to punch into and not as abrasive on the needles.

[@sandrarekker585]

Kitchener stitch would be an awesome technic to use on the first sweater. Love your channel!! Always relaxing to watch and very informative. Thanks!!

[@annas7715]

Kitchener stitch/grafting the knit pieces together was my thought, too.

[@annas7715]

IF one knows how to knit, another option would be to unravel the cut off portion (first count how many stitches are in 4 inches to have a stitch gauge to aim for with the re-knit ribbing). Then pick up “live” stitches on the new sweater bottom edge and, using the unraveled yarn, knit downwards to create a ribbed bottom edge and bind off. If unsure of the best knitting needle size to use, test knit ribbing swatches with a couple different needle sizes to recreate the original ribbing stitch gauge. Grafting or picking up the stitches and knitting a new ribbing (downwards) would make the alteration undetectable, maintain the original stretchiness, and completely eliminate the bulk of a seam. I’ve used this technique to add length to sweaters when my son was transitioning from a toddler to a preschooler (growing taller and slimming down - needing more body and sleeve length in his handknit sweaters).

[@michaelsnider2484]

Marks on your finger! Brilliant!!!

[@user-oi7dx8tu1f]

Cute sweater dress idea: try a black patent leather belt. Up to 1.5 inches wide. What excellent projects!

[@masuahkokro8957]

You are an upcycle genius. Thanks for sharing your amazing work

[@mary-louw2946]

Beautiful outfits Catherine! Mike looked over my shoulder and saw you and said, "How come she's only 40 years old?" Your cousin thought you were quite pretty.

[@CatherineSews]

Awwww, that’s so sweet! Ya, 40 plus shipping and handling!

[@beckyev1965]

Wow, that's fascinating, I've never seen needle felting done before... and I love your other two upcycles as well!

[@dorothydishman4664]

Great lesson in trying new things and getting out of the box ! Each time I view your tutorials, I find myself wishing you had been my home economics teacher in high school. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@theresaleduc5056]

Omg! I absolutely love the black mock turtle with the big white flower! I think I’m going to have to try that!

[@jeeps7913]

I had hoped you would do either a zigzag stitch or a surging stitch before you ever cut the pieces apart, which would’ve allowed you to cut them apart-as close to the stitching as you’d like..I loved the way it turned out!

[@bethsims665]

I love your creativity!!! You are so talented. Thank you for teaching us every week. ❤️❤️❤️🇨🇦ps the white flower sweater is my favourite

[@karencross1964]

Thank you for being the daredevil, it makes us want to try our own upcycles. Love that you are always doing something new, not just doing the same old thing with different pieces.

[@CatherineSews]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@SBVancouver]

Best hack ever. Just mark your finger. Genius! Way less cumbersome.

[@karens1967]

Thank you. This is the technique that I'll use to turn a crew neck into a boatneck 🙂

[@Mrs.Patriot]

Hint when crocheting...hold the yarn in your left hand, and you just go through, grab the yarn, and pull it back through. Watch a video. It's way faster. Lovely!!

[@susuburleson878]

Was coming to say this same thing, but Catherine got it done, which is what really counts.

[@CatherineSews]

Yes, I really have to improve my technique!

[@Mrs.Patriot]

@@CatherineSews 👍🏻❤

[@DH-ku6qg]

Wow! You did a marvelous job on these 3 projects. They look wonderful on you as well.

[@CatherineSews]

Thank you so much!

[@sylvieboucher9266]

I Iove the black sweater with the black and white skirt!

[@nicolehubbard3536]

I think it's wonderful that you learned a new skill enough to be able to crochet the ribbing back onto the sweater! I've been crocheting since I was a kid. But I never learned to knit. Now my daughter is teaching me, and I love that. ❤

[@theresaanndiaz3179]

I like that you try new things. If you don't mind a suggestion, I sew things that I've knit with a yarn needle using the kitchener stitch, it makes a smoother graft. Usually, I crochet together things that are crocheted and have it be visible. Keep at the crocheting, it will add a new dimension to your refashioning. You can easily add crocheted edgings or insertion to garments for a very different look. I've unraveled sweaters and used the yarn to change things.

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks so much for the encouragement! I appreciate that!

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

That was really fun. Everything turned out beautifully. I felted a little farm scene with sheep on a pair of jeans. I was visiting and helping with lambing,can't go to a working farm and not work. Anyway a lamb made a mess once the jeans were washed I when to her studio to get needles and wool to mark the event! Jeans fell apart but I still have the picture!

[@CatherineSews]

Haha, that’s amazing! Now I won’t dare toss this sweater into the wash!

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

@@CatherineSews the sweater will wash fine the felting will tighten up over time

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

@@CatherineSews the lamb mess was urine. Babies are messy. My friend has sheep all the equipment to make wool. So the lamb mess was an excuse to play in her studio with all her wool!

[@sighthound5449]

My favourite is the flower sweater...that is lovely. Going to try something like this, I need a trip around the charity shops at the weekend. 😍

[@sarahcochcroft323]

I really love the outfits you redid! Love this black and white sweater! Love the “roving”. I have never seen that done before! I need to learn more about it! Seems as if you could jazz a lot of different things up, like sweaters as you did, jackets, jeans, etc! I love crafty artsy things to wear and home decor you can display! You are so talented! I also love to sew! I don’t do it as much as I used to! But I still love to do projects here and there! Thank you for sharing! Gave me some great ideas! Have a blessed day!

[@kathrynledger]

Wow! Never considered felting on a sweater. Fab idea, so arty. Also, the crocheted seam sits much flatter than anything I've sewn on. Thanks.

[@valeriecoopet9897]

I just found you! I love what you do. You embody my philosophy…..Life begins at the end of your comfort zone..in sewing!

[@betsybrittingham930]

These were fantastic! Lots of pointers, and great ideas! I was kind of skeptical about the big flower, but girl,… You rock! 🔥It is fabulous! Look forward to your next video!💖

[@carolynhoppe3196]

Wow! All three of these projects turned out so well! I love the flower felting. This was a new craft process for me. I have never seen that before. What a great idea and work of art.

[@rattylol]

You can get a much neater, invisible mend edge with knitting. the two sides joined together by slipping all the stitches onto a needle before you cut the jumper, you will find it on KZbin somewhere.

[@CatherineSews]

Ok thanks. I’ll look into that.

[@elaineforan4751]

I am not a very experienced knitter or crocheter but I have been able to shorten knitwear by cutting midway and unravelling to the desired length. Then the band can be reattached seamlessly without any possibility of fraying. Don't be daunted by it. It's as easy as you make your usual alterations look!

[@CatherineSews]

@@elaineforan4751 That's kind of what I was expecting on this one, but the knit pattern was more complicated than i anticipated and I couldn't unravel it easily or find all of the stitches! I'll try again on a plain knit sweater and see if I can do it exactly as you say!

[@susanharber6488]

I find everything you do so inspiring. 🎉❤

[@carolines2088]

Wow! I've never heard of meedle felting or seen it done. It looks amazing! Well done!

[@laurajackson6860]

You never cease to amaze me Catherine! Thank you again for the inspiration you bring to your channel! 🤩🌠

[@glassslippergourmet]

😂 "i think that is going to have to do" (immediate tap tap tap)😂

[@nigglemoth]

I have a long grey cardigan I brought from the thrift store around 5 years ago but it’s just too boring to wear! This video was great, I have ideas now on how I can make it more fun to wear, thank you :)

[@constanza1648]

For crochet, you just need to learn to keep the tension on the threat on your free hand. It is kind of tricky at first, but you can do it! Nicely done!

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks for the encouragement! I’ll keep trying!

[@daylite07]

Wow, that flower jersey looks great!

[@TwistedRootsVanVelzerPress]

OH !!! I think I will crochet together side pieces to extend a too small swear with SUPER THICK contrasting coloring !!!! Oh the ideas !!! :)

[@katjabier4155]

Wow, Catherine! You've outdone yourself. By the way, there is no such thing as 'staying in your lane'... otherwise the keen crocheter that I am could not attempt sewing 😂. Just a tip on your crocheting: hold the yarn in your left hand and keep hooking it with your hook held in your right hand. Then you don't have to let go of the hook at every stitch ❤

[@tamerat3794]

So happy I found your KZbin channel! I really enjoy your videos!! My Mom showed me how to sew about 50 years ago, and I took every sewing class I could in school because I have always enjoyed it! Since watching your videos I feel inspired to sew again and especially to be creative with clothes!! Everything came out so cute!

[@rapunzelrose68]

The sweater bottom would look adorable as a hat. Make the sweater a crop top... Just another idea for it 😊

[@helenablignaut662]

I love the felting! Never realised it is so easy to do. Now I'm looking for a jersey (sweater) to do it on! 😊

[@sylvienayman8441]

love your videos. you have a magic way of teaching which makes it so nice to follow. your ideas are just so good

[@karenfreedman9180]

I loved these projects! You have inspired me so much. I recently bought a purse with a black lining, which I can not tolerate. I can’t find anything in a purse with a black liner. So I found and old handbag with a light colored lining and replaced the black with the brighter liner. I even added the original zipper from the new bag onto the light colored liner. I’m very pleased with myself, but I really owe it all to your inspiration! Thank you!

[@CatherineSews]

Wow, that sounds challenging! Good for you!

[@annseabolt6645]

You wouldn’t even need to find a purse with a light lining. Use the original lining as a pattern and make a new lining.

[@karenfreedman9180]

@@annseabolt6645 Essentially, that’s what I had to do. My new purse was smaller than the used lining. Seam ripped it apart, labeled each piece and cut out and sewed together the new one! Hardest part was hand stitching the lining into the bag!

[@gabiemiller]

you could maybe crochet a white chain around the flower petals to clean up the edges and add a little more dimension :)

[@sylviamaxwell504]

Thank you for entertaining, educating and inspiring us❤..you really...are amazing 😊

[@CatherineSews]

Awww, thank you so much, Sylvia!

[@findmeallways4422]

Your video gave me the confidence to try and make adjustments to my oversized sweater 😊 Thank you 🎉

[@ruthbarmore5211]

I thrifted a black pair of leggings that had white cut outs up each side of the legs, I hated the white!!! They fit so well that i didn't want to get rid of them. I used a sharpie pen to color the white elastic in the cut outs black. And it worked, after allowing them to dry for several days and laundering. Thanks for helping me to think out-of-the-box! I wanted to attach a before and after pic, but I'm technology challenged.😂 Thanks for this channel!!!

[@CatherineSews]

Great solution! I love a good sharpie fix!

[@oskarmolly]

I love all of these but the sweater with the flowrr is amazing. I'm going to have to try and make one for myself. I have roving and have never thought of using it except with a spinning wheel. Your so talented !

[@vickiewilliams3259]

Love the felting. I have felting needles, but I've only ever used them when stuffing pin cushions or stuffed animals. I'm going to my closet to see if I have anything I can do this on. What a great idea!

[@stormyrayn2104]

Gray is my favorite color. Lol

[@audrey8530]

Great refashions! Had to smile as I have two sweaters in my wardrobe with similar details to the ones you added to thrifted sweaters. A red turtleneck with the seams overwrapped with matching leather lacing, and a black oversize wool sweater with freeform felted wool flowers. They are some of my favorite sweaters.

[@sheribeaudreau8376]

Love your videos. My size changes frequently due to Crohn's disease. I'm on a tight budget so I love to flip clothes. You make clothes trendy enough to be fashionable but not too over the top to be sustainable. Great stuff!🎉

[@villagesteader3552]

Love love love the needle felting !

[@sarahwhorf]

Love the mark the measurements on your hand trick!

[@elaineforan4751]

You've outdone yourself this time Catherine. The first two were lovely but the last one was stunning. Hint for the needle felting, You can get a felting tool with multiple needles for large areas like that, if you firmly taped all of your needles around a thick marker, cork, or the like, you can felt much, much faster. A champagne type cork could work well because the lip would prevent the needle from sliding upwards. I hope this makes sense.

[@phoebelim7171]

Really great upstyling, Cathering!

[@roseannboi6632]

Catherine, can’t pick a best one because they’re all great. Time to go to Goodwill for a sweater and use one of your methods. Thanks great video.

[@kathys.5263]

Love that felting technique, but I'm wondering how it holds up in the wash?

[@CatherineSews]

I’ll definitely be washing it by hand!

[@judih.8754]

​@@CatherineSewsGood idea! I was wondering also.

[@bonnierobbins4230]

Love Sweaters! Just tickled to try this!😊 Bonnie Ohio ❤

[@CatherineSews]

Thanks, Bonnie! I hope you try it and let me know how it goes!

[@tracyholmes2753]

Three for the win!!!

[@AnneluvsKatz]

You repurpose clothes so beautifully! Really impressive! Love seeing what comes next!

[@tasadasa9363]

Great projects. I found you recently and binge watch your videos now. Instead of crocheting the parts back together there is the possibility to hand sew it. Like with the ladder stitch you change in between the sites and catch every knitting loop and mimic a knitting row between both parts and so it is closed seamlessly. But don’t pull the thread as hard as normal, when you do the ladder stitch, because it has to be visible as a knitting row.

[@CatherineSews]

I think I get what you mean. I'll try that next time!

[@themamachar]

Thank you.

[@arvettadelashmit9337]

All three of them turned out great

[@dyanalayng5507]

Love that flower. I had no idea needling was so easy. Very inspiring, so thanks! You always have inspiring projects. I bought a very large potential housedress yesterday, because I loved the colours and print, and because I said to myself "I know Catherine has some good fixes for this!"

[@DenBank1]

I missed this one upload of yours. So excited to try this myself.

[@patsweeney8112]

Wonderful video! I loved all the projects.

[@amyberg1413]

Love watching you doing your creative thing! You look like you really enjoy refashioning the pieces you pick. I LOVE the black sweater! Amazing transformation! Thanks for sharing Catherine!

[@Elaine-yk5uh]

I have read a few messages about washing now, and i was wondering the very same thing. Ive never seen felting done before. Wouldnt it just fall out? Great outfits, you done good like you usually do. Your vids are cracking. Take care Catherine .X

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

No wool gets more felted with every wash. I put farm scene with sheep on a pair of jeans. When the jeans fell apart I saved my picture!

[@CatherineSews]

Oh, maybe I misunderstood your other comment, Robin. Do you mean that washing the sweater will strengthen the felted flower? Interesting!

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

@@CatherineSews yes that’s what I meant. Wool can be felted many ways. The needles is one another is agitation like washing. It will be fine my picture lasted for years

[@Elaine-yk5uh]

Hmm 🤔 interesting I've never seen this technique. I'll have to give it a go. Thanks Robin. I'm wondering if you had any posts on your felted sheep, 🐑 I'd be very interested in seeing the finished pic and technique you used. Elaine.

[@robintheparttimesewer6798]

@@Elaine-yk5uh I don’t have any way to show you pictures but if you google “needle felt pictures” there are some beautiful pictures. Mine wasn’t as pretty but I liked it. It’s really easy you get some roving, take a bit and stab it with the needle. That pushes wool into the base to secure it. You need something underneath even a sponge works. It’s really like drawing

[@Miausan14]

I may suggest putting an interfacing or something in addition to the needle felting, since there could be quite a bit of loss if washed. I suggest handwashing, but next time you buy a needle felting pen, try to grab one with multiple needles attached! that was you can hammer as many times as you did, with 3-5 times more security! I love this top so much, I really hope it stays... I might even hand sew a singular stitch in to the little seeds you placed in the centre, no one would even notice! but without the felt backing, I think a glue like substance would be ideal, and for comfortability, interfacing would be ideal. Up to you!

[@dinnyhinds3296]

Waw Wee, what a lovely tutorial. Thank you very much. Love it. Love it😍

[@ArabianShalifa]

I would outline the center of the flower like you did the outer edge.

[@epicnamepwns1242]

You have a lot yet to learn about crochet (and maybe knitting) but I'm absolutely going to consider cropping sweaters to my ideal length. My crochet skills will be sufficient without my mini beginner's machine, an easy makeover!

[@CatherineSews]

Haha, yes, I know! I’m completely terrible at crochet, but I keep trying! It’s such a useful skill that even someone who is hopeless at it, like me, can still benefit from it!

[@epicnamepwns1242]

@@CatherineSews I'm sure you will improve with practice and study. If I keep watching your videos and practice I can learn to sew too. ❤

[@beattie2698]

Absolutely fabulous transformations. I love watching your videos. They really inspire me to be more creative and bold with my makes and alterations. Keep those videos coming please. I look forward to your next one.

[@lucilledaub5991]

I love your up cycles. You are amazing teacher. Love you

[@Morganistas]

We actually have a storage bin with wool in it from a neighbor's sheep - I've kept it for no particular reason (we live in warm Florida!). I am totally going to play around with felting now - maybe little girls' skirts with flowers like yours or initials. Great inspirational video, Catherine! Please, keep sewing and teaching.

[@kathytierney3855]

Cute ideas! On the sweater dress, I would have done shoulder seams or long front, not both.

[@lynnesmart9075]

I will add my thanks to you. You are amazing!

[@ajantasharma]

What excellent ideas dear.. perfectly explained and done.. thanks again

[@susanoerter1419]

love the flower

[@kedrynevans6240]

I have loved your sweater upcycles! Wow, but the needle felting one on this video is the BEST! Thanks for sharing all you do, you make me feel like I can give some of this a go and make things I own but feel they are just so-so into what I dream they can be. Please, can you let us know how you handle cleaning the felted sweater and how well it holds up over time? I haven't felted yet, but have wanted to try and to make something like you did is major incentive. Thanks, again!

[@marciabaden1309]

My favorite video so far❤ loved all of them!

[@maryjokruer6127]

Absolutely amazing transformations, as usual. You never disappoint! Thanks!

[@kristinjacobsen3417]

Good job trying the crochet method.

[@CatherineSews]

Thank you! 😊

[@angelawinkler5076]

This is fabulous. I just found you but your awesome. Thank you for sharing!!❤❤❤❤

[@nikkilacroix910]

Love them all!!! ❤❤❤

[@carolmarlatt3834]

I love all the sweaters! You are st creative. ❤️

[@jenniferrathjensdlrt3661]

YOu are incredible!!! Love all your projects! :)

[@l.m.o.8948]

You are the best, thanks🇨🇦

[@doriscassan6996]

Once again, I enjoyed your cheerful courage in altering knit fabrics!! I am curious how the felted sweater will wash... will the felting come loose? I would likely be tempted to put some kind of iron-on stiffening on the back, but that would make the sweater stiff and uncomfortable, possibly. Do let us know how it tolerates the laundry!!