Upcycled Grandpa Cardigan

Nov 16, 2012 | 21 Comments

In my recent thrifting, I came across a few really jazzy, vintage, grandpa-style cardigans.  This one was one of my favorites just because of the shade of blue it was!  (I’m liking the new red hair/light blue color combo!)  The only thing was that there were some gross markings on the sleeve.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Sweater

Vintage Sweater – Before

See?  Gross, right?

New Dress A Day - DIY - Vintage Sweater

Marks!!!

The beauty of this piece is that it CAN be salvaged!!  And it was salvaged while I was flying back to LA, plane-style!

The necessary ingredients to make this sweater work??

New Dress A Day - DIY - Patches & Thread!

Patches & Thread!

Suede patches and matching thread!  We’re going to hide the markings to make the piece look vintage-chic!

I took each patch and pinned it in place on the arms, hiding the markings.

New Dress A Day - DIY - Pinned in place patches!

Pinned in place patches!

Once they were pinned, I began to hand stitch them in place…

New Dress A Day - DIY - Stitch in Time!

Stitching from my seat!

…going under then over, and under and over, until I made my way around the entire patch!  I snagged these patches, holes already in them, in the garment district for just a few bucks.

Post stitching, my sweater was looking a little like this!

New Dress A Day - DIY - Pinned in place patches!

Sewed in place patches!

I love the blue/tan combo, and I love how comfortable it is!!  Ooh, and the markings have vanished!  What up, David Blaine.  Take that for an illusion.

New Dress A Day - DIY - From marked to must!

From marked to must!

I’m going to be wearing this EVERYWHERE, ps.  I’m not even joking.

New Dress A Day - DIY - New Sweater!

Brand New Sweater!

It’s one of those pieces that can be tossed on a vintage blouse (like above) or with a cute blouse and skinny jeans!  Please be advised that you will definitely be seeing this again…

PS, getting ready for a little stop over at Sonoran Living tomorrow morning at 9am, for all my AZ readers.  You just might see this piece live and in action!

In all · Dollar Dress Remakes
  • Paula

    That is so funny as my Grandpa had patches like that on his sweaters when he wore through the elbows. But really it is so cute and makes the piece look very vintage. Hugs. Stay safe while doing all that traveling.

    • newdressaday

      Hugs right back at you Paula :)

  • Tracie

    great idea. you just gave me the idea to take an elbow patch and use it as a pattern and cut out elbow patches from different materials I already have. You rock and congrats on the book :)

    • JanF

      Yes! It’s also way cheaper to use fake suede and cut out your own patches, or even chop up a thrifted old leather/suede jacket.

    • Eliza

      I did this same thing using felt. I didn’t even know that you could buy elbow patches. But the felt was super cheep and has worked great, I love that it becomes a little more worn every time I wear the sweater.

    • newdressaday

      Do it Tracie!!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ethne-Hedren-Denham/100000830136133 Ethne Hedren Denham

    The color of the sweater on anyone would be really nice. Start a trend, as usual. You could also wear it with a cute little belt around your waist. That’s how I like to wear my shirt cardigan combos cuz it’s super flattering with my figure.

  • Keenzi

    I”ve done this for my hubby’s sweaters but now will keep in mind for me as well!

  • Lauren Schaeffer

    Cool! I have become addicted to your blog, and Santa will be getting a letter regarding your book! :) I will definately be adapting some of your ideas for my lil girlies as well. I have four daughters and they are 7,3,2, and 1 :) all love anything mama made, but really enjoy helping me pick up cool fun fabrics so as soon as we can it is off to the thrift store with a copy of your book in tow.

    • newdressaday

      Oh, amazing Lauren! Have fun with your girls and all the projects :) Would love to see before/after pics!!

  • Laura Whitman

    What a super cute piece! That is an amazing idea.

    xoxo,
    Laura

  • Sarah_H.

    Super vintage cute! You can get the patches at your neighborhood fabric store as well. And I like the idea of a thrifted suede jacket as source, but it would not have the neat holes all around. I think the way you went about it is best for a mobile project.

  • Violet Baudelaire

    I was thinking elbow patches, and I was right! That is a perfect, cute, and easy fix. Definitely going to keep this in mind for my later thrift finds.

  • http://twitter.com/jodywallace Jody Wallace

    The hair looks SO RED in these shots! I bet it would be fun to do elbow patches of other materials, like Tracie said — maybe elbow patches of a wildly printed sweater on a plain sweater like this, or vice versa…

    • newdressaday

      Totally switching up patterns would be awesome. Working on another one to do that!

  • SkyeF

    Ah ha ha ha I love elbow patches, I’d wear it everywhere too.

  • Adin Blankenship

    I would be too! I love the combo of the colors too. What up! Great trick!

  • missy

    i love how the elbow patch material you picked is so stiff compared to the knit of the cardi that it makes your elbows look sharp & pointy!

  • heidilady

    you know you could use a patch from another sweater as long as it was wool,

    • newdressaday

      You totally could too! I had these patches in my stash :)

  • Lovestosew

    OOOoooo great idea! And you could easily find a belt to match, too! I also love your haircolour. Very nice :)