Sources:
- Embellished cardi: Target + Amy Butler fabric + a little DIY
- Navy top: Target
- Denim pencil skirt: Banana Republic Factory
- Gray knee socks: mom’s from college
- Boots: Steve Madden Iriss
End Notes:
I adopted this little green cropped cardigan from one of my sisters-in-law, but shortly thereafter it developed a little hole in the shoulder. Rather than throwing it away, I thought that it would serve as the perfect base for trying my hand at cardigan-embellishing. I started with this Blushing Bouquet cardigan from Anthropologie as my general inspiration:
A few simple steps:
1. Select a fabric with a strong print. Iron on a length of fusible web to the back of your fabric.
2. Cut out the pattern you want to applique. I tried to get a variety of sizes of flowers and leaves from my fabric.
3. Lay out the cut-outs on your cardigan. I wanted mine to go all the way around the neck, so I couldn’t lay everything out at the same time. Instead, I selected a few flowers as anchor points and ironed those into place.
4. Keep ironing the cut-outs onto your cardigan until you have the desired look. And… ta da!
A Few Notes: Any time you adhere a woven fabric to a knit, you lose the stretch of the knit. So, if you need your cardi to keep that stretch — particularly around the bust, for example — then refrain from appliqueing embellishments there. Also, be sure to follow the directions on whatever brand of fusible web you purchase for best results. And finally, I think this is going to be a handwashed laundry item from here on it. But I think it’s worth it.
If academia doesn’t work out, maybe I’ll just become a full-time cardigan embellisher. I know that, given time and supplies, I could very well make something like this or this or this. And look how many fabulous — and often surprisingly easy! — ways there are to fancy up your cardigan using ribbon or just scraps of fabric!
- Lace bits!
- Wee little bird appliques!
- JCrew look-a-like ruffled cardigan!
- (Archival Allure tries out two options herself.)
- Über-ruffles!
As always, we’d love to see what you’ve come up with yourself!
I love this DIY and MUST try it! You picked the greatest color and pattern for the florals.
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
Cute, cute. So fresh and springy!
Holy moly, lady, it turned out beautifully!
this is just marvelous! honestly, it looks so beautiful – like something out of a swish indie boutique. well done!
That is beyond cool. So crafty, yet easy enough that I could probably pull it off.
Thank you for this!
Wow!! Beautiful color combination. I lurve Amy Butler.
Love the applique! The whole outfit is awesome!
Fantastic! Thanks for linking to my revamp too. This reminds me that I need to get crackin’ on my spring wardrobe! :)
Wow! This is the most amazing DIY I’ve seen without a single thread involved.
This is so cute! I love the fabric you picked to make the embellishments from.
Whoa! That’s so freakin’ COOL! I don’t think I knew about fusible web iron-on stuff. RADNESS!
BRILLIANT idea.
I have been loving the look of a striped tee with flowers on it (http://www.thebudgetbabe.com/archives/2296-Spot-the-Steal-Floral-and-Striped-Dresses.html). I was planning a DIY but was trying to find flower iron-ons. But with this idea I can make my own!! Woot-woot!! Thanks for the great idea and love the cardigan!
This is a fantastic DIY! I have been in a do it myself mood lately, and I am *always* in a cardigan mood.
I really want to do this sometime soon!
hi just found your blog, I am immediately intrigued by your premise, a fashion inspired academic, since I may go into academia myself and I’m from the midwest originally (MN). I love your blog already from this post. what a great sweater and I can’t believe you made it yourself wow! great job! can’t wait to read more. would you like to trade links?
I am totally speechless, E.! I don’t even like embellishments on my clothes ordinarily (attempt to buy “classics” that will last many season) but this is a perfect project for a thrifted cardigan. So easy but look at that payoff! I will totally try this soon.
The rest of the outfit is also beautiful styled. Another academichic win!
There is fusible knit interfacing available, and I’ve used that to applique t-shirts. The downside is that the applique has to be sewn down instead of ironed on, but the garment doesn’t lose it’s stretch.
genius! you’re so creative!
This so cool! I really want to try this one out!
I actually have the same cardi from target (in same color) which I usually wear with a strapless summer dress … now you’ve got me thinking about how to embellish it. I love the DIY pieces!
You picked out the perfect colours for your floral fabric! Very nice! I like the little flower at the back!
Oh my gosh, this is GENIOUS! I love it, and I totally want to try it, too.
Brilliant I tell you. Absolutely brilliant.
GREAT work! It looks wonderful.
That looks gorgeous! I wish we have fusible web here :(
Ok, this was just the kick-start I needed. I had a pretty grey sweater that had felted down to doll size in the wash, and a deep craving for the rosette-embellished cardigans that AT Loft is selling right now (see: http://tinyurl.com/yjr993v).
Out of those two elements, plus a pink *Target* cardigan (approx. 2/7 the price!), a procrastinatory Saturday, a needle and thread, and some spare buttons and beads, came this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maeveenroute/4412928451/ . I wired the rosettes to each other, and to two safety-pin backings, so I can take the whole thing off before washing, and so it can go with other sweaters, too!
Thanks for the impetus … and for a much more relaxing day yesterday than I would have had if I’d been working on lesson plans! ;c)
What a fabulous idea! It looks great!
Wao, it turned out beautiful!! Congrats!
thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for sharing this. It’ll be the next crafty project my sister and I do together. Such a wonderful way to revamp my student budget wardrobe, which is looking a little plain of late.
Wow I have never seen anything like this before. What a wonderful idea – LOVE it!!!
this is an awesome idea! i am going to have to try this! thanks!
Turned out super cute! I may have a new weekend project now!
[...] of heavy rain comes to be. For this week’s floral venture I’ve returned to my floral embellished cardigan with its big, overlapping Amy Butler poppies. With a gray tank, cuffed skinnies, and yellow patent [...]
[...] I added one little decal to the pocket and one to the top right side of my new shirt. I attached them by hand-stiching all along the border of my decal to secure it to the shirt. Another alternative would be using a no-sew adhesive tape to attach your embellishments, as E. did with these flower decals on her cardigan. [...]
Just did this and love it! Can’t wait to try something else!
[...] hand me down from SIL, embellished by me Dress: Banana Republic Factory Belt: Gap Outlet Pumps: Steve [...]
[...] worn it in a good long time. Enter craftiness! Inspired by the cardigan applique-ing skills demonstrated by E. of academichic (but feeling wary of the iron and my propensity for burning myself with it), I [...]
Nice color combination. :)