Want to have a comfy sweatshirt to wear on cold day, but hoping for a little more style? Here is a quick and easy project for you! We made one for Valentine’s, but you can decorate any way you want. Update a sweat shirt for your style!
Take a plain store bought sweatshirt (we used Hanes) in a size bigger than you would normally wear so it is loose and comfy.
How to Update a Sweatshirt
Sweatshirts don't need to be boring. Take inexpensive sweatshirts and modify them just a little it to fit a little better and have a little style!
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Materials
- One (1) Sweatshirt at least one size up
- Thread
Tools
- Sewing machine
- Fabric scissors
Instructions
- Take a plain sweatshirt that isn't expensive (we used Hanes) in a size bigger than you would normally wear, so it is loose and comfy.
Try on the sweat shirt and pin a tuck to bring the shoulder seam up to your shoulder. When you buy a bigger size the should often hangs down your arm for a messy look. Fixing the shoulder line makes it look more fitted and gives a nice fold on each side of the top that gives it some shape.
Sew a two to three inch seam right across the shoulder to hold the tuck in place. - Since the sweatshirt is too big, the sleeves are usually too long, too. And, I don't know about you, but I find the cuffs annoying and prefer a 3/4 sleeve.
Cut the sleeves as long as you wish, removing the binding. We made a 3/4 length sleeve that is easy to wear. Turn the cut side under and hem by machine or by hand.
- Use the cut sleeve to make a little trim. We were making this close to Valentine's day, and cut a heart to appliqué to the front of the sweatshirt. To add texture, simply sew it on fleece side up for a tone on tone decoration. The nice part about working with sweat shirt fabric is you don't need to finish the edges, as they don't ravel or fray. Just cut and sew the appliqué!
- Here is the updated sweatshirt, with a pretty girl and a pretty smile, all in less than 30 minutes!
Notes
Have fun playing around with different ideas to make a boring sweatshirt something that actually fits you and looks nice to run errands - or just binge watching TV!
You could use scraps of other fabrics, make different designs, add cuffs to the sleeves, make pockets, do some big hand stitching around the neck or sleeves like boro stitching.
Most of all, make the sweatshirt all yours!
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Here is another updated sweatshirt. I started with a grey sweatshirt and cut the ribbing off at the neck. Then I turned in 1/4-inch and again 1/4-inch (double turn) to make a rolled hem. I hand stitched this so that it would be a fairly invisible stitch. You can stitch this by machine.
Next, I cut the ribbing off of the cuff. Shorten as much as you wish – again I make 3/4-sleeves. I turned up 3/4-inch and again 3/4-inch. This time I just tacked up the new cuff at the seam and mid-point of the sleeve. This makes a slightly contrasting cuff with the fleece. You could also hem the sleeve, if you don’t want the cuff.
With the fabric cut off from the sleeves, I made a flower. To make the flower, draw a pattern for a flower with petals on a small piece of paper. Take the material cut off the sleeves. Cut out multiple circles based on your flower pattern. Remember to cut an odd number (I cut five).
Alternate the fabric between the smooth side and fleece side to have tonality. Use a shank button as the center of the flower. Stitch through all layers of the fabric. Pin it to the sweatshirt from the inside, so you can adjust the placement, or sew the flower direct to the sweatshirt, if you wish.
Last, finish the bottom of the sweatshirt. Choose what you’d like and looks best on you! You can leave it just the way it is, with the ribbing on the bottom. Another option, cut a wedge from each side seam to create a modified ‘shirt-tail’ effect. You can hem it in the same way you finished the neckline. This helps the bottom edge lay flat and stops it from ‘cupping’ over your rear. 🙂
Another option to update a sweatshirt is to remove the ribbing and hem in the same way you finished the neckline, creating straight ‘box’ shape.
Here are some other things to try to update a sweatshirt!
- Cut different shaped necklines. Make a slight V neck, or a slit at the neck opening.
- Trim the neck, sleeves and hem with contrasting bias tape or fabric strips cut on the bias. A great way to use up some of your fabric stash and make a fun updated sweatshirt!
- Add a pocket or trim to the front.
Most of all, be as creative as you wish! The basic shape is created by the sweatshirt, you create the whimsy!
Browse through all of our sewing projects and inspiration on Create Whimsy.