DIY: Floral Applique Embellished Cardigan

Posted on | March 5, 2010 | 35 Comments

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.

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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.

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4. Keep ironing the cut-outs onto your cardigan until you have the desired look. And… ta da!

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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!

As always, we’d love to see what you’ve come up with yourself!

Comments

35 Responses to “DIY: Floral Applique Embellished Cardigan”

Marie
March 5th, 2010 @ 11:52 am

I love this DIY and MUST try it! You picked the greatest color and pattern for the florals.
Marie @ Lemondrop ViNtAge
MsAmanda
March 5th, 2010 @ 12:13 pm

Cute, cute. So fresh and springy!
Sally
March 5th, 2010 @ 12:35 pm

Holy moly, lady, it turned out beautifully!
Faux Naïf
March 5th, 2010 @ 12:59 pm

this is just marvelous! honestly, it looks so beautiful – like something out of a swish indie boutique. well done!
Jenny
March 5th, 2010 @ 1:08 pm

That is beyond cool. So crafty, yet easy enough that I could probably pull it off.

Thank you for this!
Jane W.
March 5th, 2010 @ 1:14 pm

Wow!! Beautiful color combination. I lurve Amy Butler.
Jade
March 5th, 2010 @ 1:25 pm

Love the applique! The whole outfit is awesome!
Kristena
March 5th, 2010 @ 1:52 pm

Fantastic! Thanks for linking to my revamp too. This reminds me that I need to get crackin’ on my spring wardrobe! :)
LegacyOfPearl
March 5th, 2010 @ 1:58 pm

Wow! This is the most amazing DIY I’ve seen without a single thread involved.
MET
March 5th, 2010 @ 3:05 pm

This is so cute! I love the fabric you picked to make the embellishments from.
EmilyKennedy
March 5th, 2010 @ 3:18 pm

Whoa! That’s so freakin’ COOL! I don’t think I knew about fusible web iron-on stuff. RADNESS!
fashion therapist
March 5th, 2010 @ 3:49 pm

BRILLIANT idea.
Kimberly
March 5th, 2010 @ 4:24 pm

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!
Madeline
March 5th, 2010 @ 4:29 pm

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!
tess
March 5th, 2010 @ 6:12 pm

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?
sabrina
March 5th, 2010 @ 6:57 pm

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!
Cindy
March 6th, 2010 @ 7:04 am

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.
Sunday
March 6th, 2010 @ 8:22 am

genius! you’re so creative!
Vanessa
March 6th, 2010 @ 9:17 am

This so cool! I really want to try this one out!
design_SMITH
March 6th, 2010 @ 10:21 am

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!
angie~*
March 6th, 2010 @ 10:32 am

You picked out the perfect colours for your floral fabric! Very nice! I like the little flower at the back!
Clare
March 6th, 2010 @ 11:03 am

Oh my gosh, this is GENIOUS! I love it, and I totally want to try it, too.
kristen
March 6th, 2010 @ 2:13 pm

Brilliant I tell you. Absolutely brilliant.
WendyB
March 6th, 2010 @ 2:37 pm

GREAT work! It looks wonderful.
All Women Stalker
March 6th, 2010 @ 5:41 pm

That looks gorgeous! I wish we have fusible web here :(
Linguist Barbie
March 7th, 2010 @ 5:03 am

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)
Goannatree
March 7th, 2010 @ 9:18 am

What a fabulous idea! It looks great!
Marie McGrath
March 7th, 2010 @ 11:08 am

Wao, it turned out beautiful!! Congrats!

thejoyoffashion.blogspot.com
Lily
March 8th, 2010 @ 2:04 pm

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.
yublocka
March 8th, 2010 @ 9:36 pm

Wow I have never seen anything like this before. What a wonderful idea – LOVE it!!!
m
March 9th, 2010 @ 7:38 pm

this is an awesome idea! i am going to have to try this! thanks!
kellty
March 10th, 2010 @ 1:01 pm

Turned out super cute! I may have a new weekend project now!
30 April 2010 – Early Weekend Floral : academichic
April 30th, 2010 @ 9:29 am

[...] 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 [...]
DIY: Turn a T-Shirt into a Strapless Top with Pockets : academichic
May 17th, 2010 @ 11:45 pm

[...] 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. [...]
Morgan
August 4th, 2010 @ 11:19 am

Just did this and love it! Can’t wait to try something else!