DIY Vintage Inspired “Embroidery free” Embroidered Cardigan Tutorial
Happy cosy cardigan season everyone! Cardigans are wardrobe staples offering comfort and style especially when it comes to styling vintage in colder weather. In this world of mass overconsumption, I wanted to see if I could revamp my wardrobe without getting anything new so, why not elevate our wardrobes with a touch of personal fun vintage flair? Popular in the 1950s, embroidered cardigans were often statement pieces that elevated an outfit and kept you warm. I only really own one such cardigan which came with a matching dress but I’ve always tried to keep an eye out for a cute and unique design. Well I can’t wait any longer and decided to make my own and share the simple process with you all here.
Here’s our Inspo!
Although I absolutely love learning new crafty skills, I am yet to jump aboard the embroidery train so for this tutorial, there is no actual embroidery involved! There is a little sewing by hand but it’s nothing too difficult and I can even give you an easier method to follow if you can’t hand sew!
What Do We Need?
-A cardigan you wish to revamp – I used this one.
-Embroidered appliques – I used these ones
-Sewing Needle
-Invisible thread – I use these ones
-Snippers/Scissors
-Cup of Tea
This project all comes down to your cardigan and the embroidery style you want to add. This project is a fun way to use up any appliqué you may have kicking around the house or a chance to get some new ones. I’ve been wanting to make this project for a while so I’ve had some time to browse for embroidery patches and after some time, I found these ones from AliExpress.
I was able to purchase a pack of 50 embroidered flower patches for about $3 which is quite a bargain. I chose these flowers because I thought the colour combination would look great with my mustard cardigan and they seemed small enough that I could add quite a few without the cardigan looking crowded.
I did want to add a few other options I found online here:
As for cardigans, I’d recommend a plain coloured one but it’s really up to you. I’d recommend either getting a cardigan from somewhere like Hell Bunny, or the brand YeMak. Hell Bunny Cardigans come in a range of colours and sleeve lengths and are available from various sellers. I got mine from That Shop.
I’d also recommend the brand Ye Mak which has featured on this blog quite a few times. They are amazing at supplying a range of carigans in various plain colours, sleeve lengths and crops all at pretty good prices, This Ye Mak sweater in the colour Bronze would be a perfect dupe. For those interested I have an affiliate code; for a discount of 40% off at checkout, use code YEMAK-Monmon
Steps:
- Start by putting your cardigan on a dress mannequin or flat on the floor. This project works best if you can lay out a pattern first.
2. Taking your time, pin your embroidery patches to your cardigan in a pattern that is pleasing for you. I tried not to bunch a colours too close together and keep the spacing even but still looking scattered and random. With my main focus being the top neckline and above the decolletage, I also added a few flowers to the shoulders.
3. Gently remove the cardigan with the flowers still pinned (definitely keep an eye on any that might try to slip out of place. Using invisible thread, thread your sewing needle and begin sewing the flowers onto the cardigan.
This took me a few hours and I made sure to tack down each petal and a few extra stitches in the centre of the flower. I’m really happy I opted for invisible thread because my hand sewing is not neat at all and the invisible thread really does vanish when used on projects such as this.
4. Thats kind of it! Once all your flowers or appliques are sewn on, you now can go out and enjoy your new revamped cardigan.
No sew methods:
I understand that not everyone can sew on an applique and I will be honest when I say my hand was super sore for a few days after. This project can be complete without sewing but a few amendments must be made:
-opt for iron on appliques and instead of sewing, just iron the patches in place
-fabric glue can be applied to the bottom of your patches/appliques
This project took me a rainy afternoon to complete and it made me excited for the chilly weather. We all get bored of our clothing so this simple, easy and fun way of revamping your cardigans can breathe new life into your wardrobe.
There are so many themes you can do with this project:
-Green cardigan with gardening inspired patches (leaves, , flowers, insects)
-Blue cardigan with water themed patches
-Various Disney inspired cardigans; matching a princess to a cardigan colour with patches to match the theme such as these for a Cinderella cardigan.
-Dark and Moody with celestial patches for a space
-Pink cardigan with red hearts for Valentines day
-Statement mirror patch pair
This is a clothes recycling method I will use a few more times in the future but I’m glad I got to share my first try at a project like this with you all. If you do create your own cardigan using my tutorial, please let me know on Instagram so I can see!
Note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions and thoughts expressed are solely my own and not influenced in any way. This page contains affiliate links/codes which aids in funding future projects.