I’m loving cozy, soft, earthy-colored fabrics for the winter. But meanwhile…

When I was sorting through my closet looking for clothes to let go, this white shirt got added to the pile. I love it on the hanger, but the laced crew neck and blousy boxy shape just were not doing a thing for me. So alas…

Although I just got this top pretty recently, I regret the purchase. [$15 on sale is still a waste of money if you don’t love it.] But it did have some lovely lace trim… so off my wheels went to turning. And you KNOW how dangerous that can be for the inhabitants of my closet!

So there was that lovely simple chestnut-colored cardi just hanging out in my closet…

But seriously, do I need another plain cardi? Um… No.

So I introduced the two pieces, and it was love. And the two became one.

I also grabbed some lace trim I had leftover from those denim big ruffle pants. But the shirt was white and the extra lace was cream, so…

…into a pot of tea they went for a few hours.

And when the shirt and trim came out of their tea dye, they were a lovely muted, faded, vintage/antiquey-feeling shade of perfection.

First I cut the collar off the shirt and pinned it to the cardi (what was the button-back closure became the neck opening on the cardi. I sewed around the inside curve and outside curve of the lace to secure it to its new home.

then the bottom of the shirt got chopped. I cut it open at the shirt’s side seam.

Then I pinned that to the bottom of the cardigan, leaving the raw edge exposed. [I actually just pinned it here to try it on and see if I liked the look before removing the pins again before the next step.]

Folding under one end of the fabric inside one side of the bottom of the cardi (like where the button holes are), I sewed the lace fabric to the cardigan.

Then folding it around to the front, I attached the lace the rest of the way around the cardigan just sewing along the top edge of the lace and lining up the bottom with the bottom of the cardi as I went. [Of course, you could pin it again here before sewing, too.]

I finished the other end by folding it back under the inside of the button edge of the cardi (removing buttons first) and sewing straight up along where the button strip ribbing meets the rest of the cardi. Once attached, I trimmed the raw edge a bit (down to about 1/4″) using pinking shears. I knew it would fray just delightfully in the wash!

Okay, so far, so good!

Next, I cut off the sleeves from the shirt.

With a sleeve right side out, and the lace piece inside out, I pinned the latter to the cardi sleeve just above the cuff ribbing. Then I sewed the lace to the cuff, finger-gathering it as I went.

So here is one sleeve all dolled up. I finished it with a loose zig-zag stitch where the lace fabric meets the cardigan.

You can see that in more detail here: the left sleeve already has the zig-zag stitch and the right doesn’t yet. It’s not necessary, but a nice touch, I think.

Then to finish off the soft, wintery, romantic loveliness of it all, I added the ruffle lace trim, sewing it to the bottom of the shirt lace fabric already around the bottom of the shirt.

A quick run through the wash and a tumble in the dryer brought out all the raw edges perfectly frayed glory.

And there you have it!

One unloved shirt plus one relatively drab cardi get a major upgrade when united.

Marriage is so like that, better together. I wish this union many happy years together. 🙂

I just love the relaxed, romantic feel this has for me now. Wheeee!

So, anyone else thinking of getting a relationship started… in your closet… between two articles of clothing?  Do tell!