BEFORE & AFTER: DIY CROPPED KNIT

25th May 2012

Winter is the perfect time for wrapping up in cosy knits, so today I’m going to show you how to make the perfect cropped version out of a men’s secondhand jumper. Perfect for those cold nights and also kind on your bank balance, what more could you want? The cropped knit I have made is slightly longer at the back – so the winter breeze doesn’t get in! Although I wouldn’t usually recommend cutting into knit fabric (due to the chances of it unravelling), I have found that if you stick to separating the seams of store bought knits (which are usually made from pieces of knit rather than actually knitted as one), you won’t experience too much fraying.

diy knit
You need:
- an oversized knit
- scissors
- a needle and thread that matches the colour of your knit
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How to:
1. The first thing to do is carefully separate the side seams of the knit (making sure not to unravel the surrounding threads) up to the height that you want the crop to sit. I separated mine to about 5cm below the arm holes.
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2. Turn your knit inside out and then fold the front panel of knit up to the new cropped length. Stitch a long seam about an inch above the fold.
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3. Cut the excess knit fabric off above the seam.
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4. Using a running stitch, secure the edge of the knit fabric down so that it doesn’t unravel. Repeat this process for the back of the knit, this time making it 5 cm longer to keep the warmth in.
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5. To create a more flattering neckline, open the seam of the neckline about 5cm on both sides.
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6. Fold the ribbed neckline onto the underside of the knit, sewing in place to create a wider neckline that can be worn off the shoulder.
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And there you have it – an easy project that will be sure to get you (stylishly) through the winter months!
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Wearing: DIY Knit, Vintage leather skirt, Karen Walker sunglasses