This sweater vest was a hand-me-down from a friend. She gave me a bunch of sweaters for crafting. I was going to make this into another sweater pillow, but I’m really trying to add more color in my decor, so I decided it needed to become back-to-school clothes for Penelope.
She already has a sweater dress I that I thrifted some time ago, so I used that as a template.
Just by taking in the sides and the neck at the V, I had a new dress for Penelope.
I think the jury is still out on if the dress is liked or not. She says it’s scratchy, but I don’t think so. It’s a cotton wool blend, so it shouldn’t be. But she does have extra sensitive skin, though.
That is super cute! Great job.
When it gets colder you could put a long sleeve t-shirt and legging under it and the scratchy s gone!
Love your blog!
What a darling dress! Makes me want to hit up the thrifts to see if I can fins something similar to refashion for my little one. In regards to the scratchiness, does she wear any sort of undershirt? My 4 year old has a few camisoles with characters on them that she wears under things. I’m not a big fan of characters on clothing, but you can’t see it on the undershirt and she loves knowing its there.
That is soooo cute! Nice work! What size was the sweater vest you worked with? Do you think I could do it for Alyssa (5T)?
Will you share how you took in the v-neck please? I’ve tried it before and can’t get it to look right – your’s is perfect!
that is darling!!! I was just thinking yesterday that I need to go raid my local goodwill to find good sweaters for pillows! I was going to knit, but then remembered it’d be MUCH easier to sew. ;)
That dress is darling! Maybe she could wear a t-shirt and leggings under it if it’s too scratchy.
Sounds like she needs a slip. My skin is sensitive enough that any wool blend itches. Adorable sweater dress out of one hideous sweater vest. Great job!
This is really cute! For the scratchiness issue – you could put a thin lining in the dress pretty easily, I imagine, and then you wouldn’t need to wait for legging weather. ~Kelly
Oh, I can’t wear anything with wool in it. It makes me insanely itchy. I just thought people were crazy for wearing it but now realize, maybe i just have sensitive skin…only took me 34 years to figure that out. ha.
I love it so much! She is so, so sweet in it. :) I’m going to have to keep my eye out for fun sweater vests now!
So cute, what a great idea! And I totally understand the scratchiness issue, I cannot wear anything with wool (not even cashmere) without some sort of shirt underneath.
wow. very impressive!!
magnifique !!!
Oh my stinking goodness. That is so cute. I might actually be able to do my own refashion like that. Thanks for the fabulous idea. Love it with the boots too.
So cute. I kind of need a giant to donate his sweater-vest so I can make one for me.
Could you post a tutorial on refashioning sweaters, or specifically about making this cute little dress?
oh my, i love that look – i think she made that sweater feel itchy to me! ;) scratchy or not, though, it is so adorable on her!
You can find the refashion tutorial here:
http://melissaesplin.com/2012/05/tutorial-mini-tee-dress-refashion/
Sewing with sweaters isn’t as tricky as it might seem. Just use a regular needle and thread, but use a short stitch length. Depending upon how loosely it’s knit, you might want to zigzag the sewing allowance.
Hope that helps!
I love it!
[…] kind of adore this Vest to Dress transformation from Melissa Esplin. Look how sweet that little model looks in her new dress. SO […]