Who doesn’t love a good ol’ sweatshirt refashion? In today’s post, I’ll show you exactly how to turn any sweatshirt into a leopard print cardigan with just a few easy steps.
In the past it has been so fun to makeover our sweaters. Adding suede elbow patches, creating no-sew makeovers with handmade stencils, and even playing with pom poms has given my closet so much more personality than when I started.
I love how easy it is to style and layer a cardigan. They are the perfect lightweight piece to always have on hand… and making one yourself just makes it even more special and unique.
This sweatshirt started out at a simple, knit sweater that I found at a thrift store for less than $3.00. (You can read the post of How To Shop Thrift Shops The Easy Way HERE.) When I stumbled on this sweatshirt, it was cute and basic but lacked a figure-flattering silhouette. Plus, when the colder weather rolls around, who really needs yet another basic sweatshirt.
To complete this project, you will need about an hour of time and some basic sewing supplies. Here we go!
DIY Leopard Print Cardigan Supplies:
Gathering supplies can be a pain. That’s why for today’s tutorial, I’ve included these handy little shoppable links to get everything you need at (aff.) Amazon.com.
- An old, leopard print sweater to cut up. If you don;t have one on hand, this one on Amazon is less than $6 right now.
- Dressmaker Shears – These are my favorite and they are ON SALE!
- Basic Sewing Machine
- Dressmaker Pins
- Black Denim Fabric
- Seam Gauge
How To Make A Leopard Print Cardigan:
Lay your sweatshirt flat on a table and fold to find the center front of your neckline.
Cut along the fold to create an opening down the front of your sweater.
Next, cut 2 separate 4″ strips of stretch fabric. I chose to use a stretch denim that I had on hand. This will make up the trim, or bias of the front of your cardigan. Fold in half and iron to make a crisp edge.
Lay one side of your sweatshirt to line up with one edge of the black fabric with the “right” sides together. Pin into place.
Now sew your edge together.
Iron your crease flat to make the next steps easier.
Flip your sweatshirt over and use a seam gauge
Fold and iron the edge all the way down the raw edge of your black trim.
Now fold the entire trim in half to create a more polished finish. Pin into place.
Sew the underside of your black trim down with your sewing machine. The final step is to tuck your trim edges under and sew into place.
Now slip on your new cardigan and wear it! I love the versatility with this tutorial. For a totally different look, you could begin this project with a slouchy, oversize sweater or play around with different fabrics and prints to create entirely different looks. Personally, I love this Anne Taylor spin-off.
How will you make it your own?
As always, thank you so much for reading this little idea! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know in the comments below! I really love hearing from you guys and want to help out if you ever get stuck or confused on any projects from Creative Fashion Blog.
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