(tutorial) Everyday Basics 2: Autie's Cardi

When I was a freshman in college, we had a bin in the basement of the dorm where we dumped all of our "goodwill clothing".  This totally pins me as white trash, but I went down there to dump a bunch of my unwanted clothes...and found the raddest lime green knit cardigan from Esprit.  {yes, I was pillaging the stash, no shame}  I couldn't figure out why any one would trash the thing...it has been my favorite cardigan for 12 years now. 

Well, 12 years can be hard on a piece of clothing, especially when you wear it as much as I did, so I gave it to Jen to (in all of her spare time) see if she could make me a pattern copy of it, I can't bare to toss it!

*praises*

She did it like the next day!  I was so excited to have a worthy project that I could handle for my knit stash...I have now busted out 5 cardigans...FIVE!  So, I'm super excited to share this cardigan pattern with you!  

thanks, Jen!

Size Medium-ish

Pattern {here} (scribd)
or
{here} (Google Docs)

Want to make your own??

Cut:

1 back piece, on the fold

2 front pieces, not on the fold

2 sleeve pieces

1 neck band: 1 1/2 x 19 1/2

2 front bands: 2 x 20

2 cuffs: 2 1/2 x 8

1. Sew shoulder seams, with right-sides together.  (ps, I serged all of my seams, and then went back and regular-stitched all of my seams with black thread so the serger's threads wouldn't be seen.  You can just use a regular stitch, and skip the serging all together...but it does finish off those seams really pretty!)

2. Pin and sew the sleeves.  Find the middle of the sleeve piece, and match it to the shoulder seam.  Make sure all right-sides are together.  Pin the rest of the sleeve down before you sew.

(here's what you should have when you're done)

When both sleeves are sewn, you should have this when you turn the piece right-side out.  You can totally see the shape of the cardigan.  Next, you'll just stitch from the bottom of each side seam, around the corner and down the seam of the sleeve!

3. Sew each side seam.  Make sure you pin the arm pit area to insure that the seams match up.

4.Fold it in half length wise (you know, the long way)...mark the center and pin it to the center-back of the cardigan.  (raw edge to raw edge)

5. Pin the two ends of the neck band to both ends of the cardigan's neckline.

This is what you should have...

6. Stitch your neck band into place, stretching as you go as needed.

This is what my neck band looks like after it was stitched on.

7.  Flip the cardi right-side out and top stitch that neckline down.  This isn't necessary...but I like the stability it gives that neckline.

8. Front bands...choose one and fold one end down about a quarter to half an inch.  This will be the top of your band, and also the end of your neckline.  Once the end is folded down, fold the entire piece in half length wise.

9. With raw edge to raw edge, and starting from the top of the cardigan and working down the front, pin and stitch the band in place

(serging)

10. Flip it right-side out and top-stitch it down.  Repeat for both sides

11. Find your sleeve pieces, and with right-sides together fold them in half

12. Stitch the cuff in half.

13. Then fold in half the other direction, as seen below.

14. With raw edges matching up again, stitch the cuff onto the bottom of each sleeve.  (note the next four pictures)

15. Flip it right side out...and the sleeves are done.

16.  Serge the bottom edge of the cardigan if you have one.

Then hem it...and you're done!  WOOHOO!