Monday, March 24, 2014

FAUX LEATHER SWEATER DIY



Grüetzi!  I’m excited to be blogging from Switzerland.  The husband and I will be based here for the next three months while he is a visiting fellow at the University of Basel.  I finally have a chance to practice my non-existent German on the unsuspecting masses.

Before I left home I reinvented a few items of clothing and some decorative pieces, which I’ll share in the coming months. I’ll also post a few travel photos and tips, so check back often for some European inspiration.

First up, I converted my husband’s old sweater into a fitted faux leather top.  I loved wearing his oversized sweater on wintery days at home.  But it turns out that the moths in my closet loved it too.  When the sweater became too embarrassing to wear, I decided to reinvent it by keeping the wool sleeves and adding a faux leather body.  Now I have a new piece to wear around Europe, which, judging by all the faux leather jackets in Switzerland, is bang on trend.

Supplies:
Old wool sweater
1 yard of costume pleather (should have some stretch if you want a more fitted top)
Black thread
Scissors
Chalk

Method:
1) Carefully remove sleeves from body.

2) Use the old sweater bodice as a template to cut a faux leather back and front.  If you prefer a more fitted top, cut faux leather to preferred size, using the armholes of the original sweater as a template.  Just remember to add a ½ inch seam allowance.

3) With right sides facing, sew front and back of bodice together.

4) Insert the sleeves and attach to bodice.



Why not reimagine an old piece of clothing from your closet? If you’re stuck, send me a photo and I’ll try my best to help. Nicole

20 comments:

  1. Nicole, you are amazing. I find your talents dumbfounding. I am being 100% serious. Enjoy Basel!

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    1. Thanks Jake! After Jeremy, you are probably my greatest supporter :) Won't you be my agent!!

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  2. What an awesome make over! I'm in love with how this top turned out ��

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    1. Thank you Mary! It was surprisingly easy to make.

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  3. Enjoy one of my favorite cities in Switzerland! So clean, modern and full of energy!
    Your reinvented sweater looks hi-tech and very doable. As it is, I have a black wool sweater that also has been enjoyed by moths and one that I would still wear around the house! I have been wanting to work with pleather and now you have inspired me, Nicole! That is one gorgeous door frame you are modeling in front of and those are the memories I love about Old Europe!
    I will be following you in the future!

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    1. Thank you Mary! I have definitely been enjoying my time in Basel. Having traveled to/lived in many European cities, I was quite struck by Basel's Old Town. It's almost perfectly restored, immaculately clean and quite beautiful.
      This was my first attempt at working with pleather. Sewing on the wrong side is really easy. When sewing on the right side, is a little more complicated as the fabric tends to slip. Fortunately for this project I only has to sew on the wrong side. Have fun reworking your old sweater and send pics when you're done. :)

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  4. What a really neat idea and you made it look so simple to do! I think this will be something I could make for my 23 year old daughter...thanks! And enjoy your time in Switzerland.

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    1. Thank you! You're daughter is very lucky :) Enjoy making her a new sweater.

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  5. Wonderful, so creative! Great idea and thanks for sharing. t

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  6. This is gorgeous! I love it!! :)

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  7. It's wonderful, gotta give it a try too!

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