Aries; the ram.
But… where is the
ram?? Well I am wearing him! In the form of my pure wool felt cardigan/jacket. Baa-aa!
ram?? Well I am wearing him! In the form of my pure wool felt cardigan/jacket. Baa-aa!
And I did take a picture
of this inquisitive flock of girls while I was driving up the driveway to my parents’ place this morning. We are here for a big family Easter
shin-dig 🙂
of this inquisitive flock of girls while I was driving up the driveway to my parents’ place this morning. We are here for a big family Easter
shin-dig 🙂
My cardigan was until very recently, a voluminous
drape-y wrap, which I bought in New Zealand a few years ago. The fabric is so soft and snuggly,
making it beautifully warm and cosy, and I’ve always loved this deep olive
colour. But the shape, while very fashionable
at the time that I bought it, eventually became very not. I’m not going to
show you any pictures of me wearing it, as it was. Especially with my hair… so just picture Samwise Gamgee in
LOTR and you’re getting a pretty good idea! So unfortunately I have not worn it for aaaages and knew I
never would again either looking like that; but I still loved that soft wool and thought it definitely
deserved a second wind.
drape-y wrap, which I bought in New Zealand a few years ago. The fabric is so soft and snuggly,
making it beautifully warm and cosy, and I’ve always loved this deep olive
colour. But the shape, while very fashionable
at the time that I bought it, eventually became very not. I’m not going to
show you any pictures of me wearing it, as it was. Especially with my hair… so just picture Samwise Gamgee in
LOTR and you’re getting a pretty good idea! So unfortunately I have not worn it for aaaages and knew I
never would again either looking like that; but I still loved that soft wool and thought it definitely
deserved a second wind.
I like it all over again now. I think it turned out sorta like an unstructured
tweed jacket; a casual, playful, loose and floppy version of the landed
gentry’s countrywear, like a cheeky, irreverent, younger brother of the same, if you
like. And I still have my souvenir from New Zealand, in a newly wearable style 🙂
tweed jacket; a casual, playful, loose and floppy version of the landed
gentry’s countrywear, like a cheeky, irreverent, younger brother of the same, if you
like. And I still have my souvenir from New Zealand, in a newly wearable style 🙂
Details:
Jacket; based loosely on Simplicity 4698,
deep olive felted wool, refashioned from an old wrap
deep olive felted wool, refashioned from an old wrap
Skirt; my own design
based upon Vogue 7303, white stretch lace, details here
based upon Vogue 7303, white stretch lace, details here
Tshirt; self drafted,
white cotton jersey, details here
white cotton jersey, details here
Socks; handknitted by me,
to a 1960’s sock pattern, details here
to a 1960’s sock pattern, details here
Shoes; Francesco
Morichetti, from Zomp shoes
Morichetti, from Zomp shoes
Warning; technical sewing blahdy-blah from here on 🙂
There were a few little holes, which I darned before doing anything else.
The new design is
partially based on the pattern Simplicity 4698 with major alterations. Needed partly because of a severe lack of
fabric, and partly because the felt is so thick and spongy it just would not
suit a properly lined and tailored suit jacket anyway. I have made this pattern up previously four times I
think, only one of which I still have
The pieces were all
reduced in size a lot, basically to match
the regular cardigan size that I wear, and the back princess seams and outer sleeve seams were eliminated.
reduced in size a lot, basically to match
the regular cardigan size that I wear, and the back princess seams and outer sleeve seams were eliminated.
I made it as a completely
unlined cardigan, with welt pockets. The sewing lines of the welt are stabilised with a strip of corduroy.
unlined cardigan, with welt pockets. The sewing lines of the welt are stabilised with a strip of corduroy.
To reduce bulk, because
the fabric really is very very thick! the pockets themselves are just a single
layer inside, sewn directly to the jacket front invisibly by hand. I used lots of tightly spaced, tiny
stitches around the pockets but hid them inside the felt so they only show up as the faintest shadow on
the right side of the
garment. I edged the entire front,
collar, hemline and sleeve hems by turning under a tiny roll of fabric under
the edge and slip-stitching by hand.
At the roll-point of the collar I switched the turn under to the other
side, to allow the front turnback of the collar to lie flat and true. Those overlocked seams are remnants of original seams.
the fabric really is very very thick! the pockets themselves are just a single
layer inside, sewn directly to the jacket front invisibly by hand. I used lots of tightly spaced, tiny
stitches around the pockets but hid them inside the felt so they only show up as the faintest shadow on
the right side of the
garment. I edged the entire front,
collar, hemline and sleeve hems by turning under a tiny roll of fabric under
the edge and slip-stitching by hand.
At the roll-point of the collar I switched the turn under to the other
side, to allow the front turnback of the collar to lie flat and true. Those overlocked seams are remnants of original seams.
On the inside, I hand
slip-stitched all the new seam allowances down to “disappear” as invisibly as possible
against the cardigan, for a neat and tidy inner finish. Maybe neater than the original overlocked finish, I think 😉
slip-stitched all the new seam allowances down to “disappear” as invisibly as possible
against the cardigan, for a neat and tidy inner finish. Maybe neater than the original overlocked finish, I think 😉
The buttonholes are all
embroidered by hand using 2 strands of embroidery floss, and the buttons are
nacre; sewed on upside down because the rough hewn wrong side of the buttons
was stylistically perfect for the rustic style I was going for.
embroidered by hand using 2 strands of embroidery floss, and the buttons are
nacre; sewed on upside down because the rough hewn wrong side of the buttons
was stylistically perfect for the rustic style I was going for.
It is quite a simple
re-fashion, basically a wrap front cardigan has been transformed to a suit
jacket style cardigan. Not exactly
earth-shattering stoof here. But I
am happy, since the new style means I am in love with it all over again and
will get a few more years wear out of it!
super cool jacket and a great refashion.
The jacket is great, of course. But I love your photos. The setting and the time of day make for really nice shots. Love seeing those sheep!
Lovely! Warm and cozy!
That's a beautifully refashioned jacket. I love the whole outfit, and your photos are gorgeous too.
Gorgeous. I'm amazed at how much altering of the pattern you did to accommodate your yardage and fabric idiosyncracies. I don't think I would have the patience (let alone know how). 🙂
Very nice, I like it better than the original.
Great job on the jacket. I love how you styled it with the lace skirt.
That is sooo cute, Carolyn! And it looks fabulous with that great skirt.
I LoVe The Jacket So Much!!!Such A Great Make, And Definitely SuitS Your Style.
P/s Sorry,Commenting On Mobile So Screwy: Caps Galore…
What a perfect refashion! Casual elegance…my fave! And great pairing with the skirt 🙂
Love your latest refashion. It was definitely worth the effort. I think the colour complements your hair beautifully and the setting echoes the colours too. Great job!
very nice! i love how you finished it on the inside. what a great way to save the cardigan!
I can't believe that's a refashion. It's gorgeous.
That's an amazing refashion. Much prefer this version you've created, and great you could make use of that fantastic NZ wool fabric. Love the colour and photos.
Great timing for your post – as I just started ripping apart a 1970's leather blazer with ideas of refashioning. It's a western cut blazer and feels stiff. The leather is too shiny for me and the structured menswear type collar always works against my bustline. I was intrigued by the leather because I could tell it was originally a very high dollar jacket. Sure enough, even though the outside of the jacket is shiny, medium blah brown, the underside is a rich, soft, chocolate suede! My vision is for an unstructured, suede cardigan type thing, maybe with uneven edges and no front closure or collar. I'm encouraged now to keep ripping!
It has been hanging in my closet for two years since I picked it up at a thrift store. So I guess, if nothing else I will have salvaged a few nice pieces of beautiful suede!
wonderful – love the sheep – have a wonderful Easter with your family
oh, this is cool! and I love your fall pictures. Glorious! Happy Easter!
Wonderful remake and such a wonderful jacket. Happy Easter.
For sure put this whole outfit in my bag when your ready to do hand me down :O)… Love this!
I think this is the best refashion I have ever seen. It looks a bit professorial to me as well.
The perfect Aussie Easter background – love the outfit, you are an inspiration to us all…J
How clever of you to make such a cute jacket from the wrap. Much better. Very cute outfit all together.
Since moving to the cold wet place called Britain I have become a major fan of real wool. It seems to be becoming almost extinct in department stores (and charity shops), which is worrying. I don't think I would ever have purchased the original garment (though I can see why it might suit you), but I'd definitely take the reincarnation! I love it when you remake a garment, they are just the best!
Amazing refashion!
Wow! The whole outfit looks great! So shabby chic! I like what you did with the cardigan, but I'm in love with your skirt -fantastic!
Your jacket is lovely – very clever to get it out of the shawl and the texture is beautiful. Love the pictures too.
Beautiful photos!
This is a fierce refashion! And it looks absolutely smashing in the photos on the property 😀 Have a lovely Easter and enjoy the fam time!
I'm glad you salvaged a great jacket from a fashion has-been. Looks great. Especially with all those sheep 🙂
It is an interesting fact that there are 120 million sheep in Australia compared to 30 million in New Zealand yet New Zealand seems to be known for sheep and products made from them….go figure! Wool and sheep seem to be reducing in popularity here. I love a cozy wool jersey in winter and likewise a roast of lamb but unfortunately it has been priced out of most people's budgets. It is good that you have managed to repurpose such a lovely piece of fabric into something more functional. I really like the casual take on a formal jacket.
Great refashion, Carolyn and a great story to go with it.
Yeah, I can see how the original cardigan had that "wandering through Middle-earth" look (which I would totally have been all over, but that's me! 🙂 I love the way you revived it, and it looks soooo good with that ruffly skirt!
Wonderful garment – and so much care to the innards too.Well done Caroline it is fabulous.
It is gorgeous. I am mentally fulling all my old cardigans as I write this, what an excellent remodel.
Love this re-fashioned wrap now cardigan! It looks great! Is it as warm and snuggly as it looks?
Adri H, thank you, and yes, extremely warm and snuggly 🙂
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