How to make a sweater dress out of an old wool sweater.

start with a wool sweater start with a wool sweater felt by washing in machine and drying in dryer cut out label

start with a wool sweater

felt by washing in machine and drying in dryer

cut out label

pin pattern onto sweater pin pattern through both layers of sweater allow seam allowance where needed avoid making underarm seam part of top if possible

pin pattern through both layers of sweater

allow seam allowance where needed

avoid making underarm seam part of top if possible

cut sleeves off

cut top from bottom

cut seams out of bottom turn inside out cut side seams out of bottom portion

turn inside out

cut side seams out of bottom portion

pin and measure pin raw edges over measure shoulder straps

pin raw edges over

measure shoulder straps

sew and iron sew edges down iron when done

sew edges down

iron when done

pinch and pin measure or eyeball where you want to place a pleat (I use the inside collar as a reference) pinch and pin that mark

measure or eyeball where you want to place a pleat (I use the inside collar as a reference)

pinch and pin that mark

pinch and pin x 3 pin 3 folds on each side

pin 3 folds on each side

pin the pleat hold the 3 folds together (picture 1) turn over and separate the folds (picture 2) pin for sewing (picture 3) 1 3

hold the 3 folds together (picture 1)

turn over and separate the folds (picture 2)

pin for sewing (picture 3)

sew top to bottom lay top over outside pleats

lay top over outside pleats

sew top to bottom turn over so pleats appear as above sew together

turn over so pleats appear as above

sew together

should look like this after you are done sewing and you take the pins out it should look like this

after you are done sewing and you take the pins out it should look like this

now sew on back bottom just pin on and sew should look like this when done

just pin on and sew

should look like this when done

lay flat and cut excess lay flat and line up underarm seams cut excess fabric from side seams

lay flat and line up underarm seams

cut excess fabric from side seams

sew closed turn inside out, pin sides and sew them closed

turn inside out, pin sides and sew them closed

sew in new label voila - new sweater dress!

sew in new label

voila - new sweater dress!