how to save a cashmere sweater

I was gifted a black cashmere sweater many winters ago, and I have never worn it. It’s a damn shame, too, because I’m cryophobic and I need a winter wardrobe well-stocked with warm sweaters.

But it was an awkward shape – it had a very high crew neck, and ribbing across the hem and at the cuffs – all things that look terrible on me. So, it sat in my closet, unworn, for at least 3 winters. Then I decided to get out my scissors!

I figured this was a zero-risk refashion: I wasn’t wearing the sweater anyway, so if I totally botched it, I haven’t really lost anything, right? So I started snipping. The only thing I knew for sure was that I wanted to get rid of the ribbing.

I cut off the ribbed cuffs and hem, and snipped a slightly lower, scooped neckline. I stitched a zig zag along where I planned to cut before I did the cutting, so the sweater wouldn’t unravel on me, and also to make sure my cuts were even.

I wanted to make my final product slightly more interesting than a plain black sweater, so I thought I’d add some kind of edging around the new neckline, cuffs, and hem. I had a vague vision of a gray border with purple piping trim. I used cotton jersey for both trims, and thick cotton yarn for the piping.

Making your own custom piping is actually pretty easy, you just need bias-cut fabric (or stretchy knit, like I used), some yarn with a bit of body for the piping, and your trusty zipper foot.

Since I did absolutely no planning or sketching before I started this project (not the best approach ever, I’ll admit), the rest of this refashion was a bit of experimentation.

First I applied the piping about 2″ away from the neckline, and then tried a few different techniques to fill in with the gray cotton jersey. Eventually I came up with this slightly gathered look, which was not my original (admittedly very vague) vision, but that I am mostly happy with.

I echoed the look with a narrower, straight edge on the cuffs and hem.

The new neckline looks much better on me, and in general this sweater has become something I’d like to actually wear, rather than something that just takes up space in my closet. I may add a flower or something to the neckline; maybe not.

What do you think? Let me know if you try a similar refashion! Don’t let your sweaters sit in your closet unworn and lonely, cut them up and make them wearable again!