I’m working on Christmas designs and I’m having a little trouble finding online clients who accept crafts with PDF patterns. Rather than waste any more time looking, I decided my blog was the perfect place to share my recycled mini sweater ornament.
I hope you enjoy it.
Recycled Miniature Sweater Ornament
Make inexpensive Christmas tree ornaments using recycled sweaters that no longer fit or have become damaged or stained. This whimsical little sweater ornament looks like it came straight out of a little doll’s closet. It uses minimal sewing skills and can be completed in less than an hour. One recycled sweater can produce enough ornaments for ornament exchange parties or to give as teacher or co-worker gifts.
Things You Will Need:
PDF Pattern-Miniature Sweater Ornament
Scissors
Old sweater
Permanent marker
Straight pins
Sewing machine
Ruler
Pressing cloth
Iron
18-gauge craft wire
Wire cutters
Needle-nose pliers
Craft glue
3 buttons, beads or sequins
Step 1
Copy the PDF page. Cut out the sweater pattern. Do not cut out the hanger pattern.
Step 2
Turn an old sweater wrong side out. Position the sweater pattern on the sweater. If desired, take advantage of the ribbing along the bottom edge or cuff edges of the recycled sweater. Use these edges for the bottom edge of your sweater ornament. Trace around the pattern using a permanent marker.
Step 3
Remove the pattern. Pin the two layers of the traced sweater together. Using a sewing machine, sew along the traced lines where indicated on the pattern. Back-stitch at the beginning and end of each seam to prevent the seams from pulling apart when turning.
Step 4
Cut out the mini sweater 1/8 inch outside the stitched line. For the areas not stitched (neck, wrists and bottom), cut along the line.
Step 5
Turn the mini sweater ornament right side out. The unsewn edges may be a bit “crumby” from cutting through the knitting, but should not unravel.
Step 5
Lay the mini sweater on your ironing surface. Place a damp pressing cloth over the sweater to protect the yarn fibers. Press the sweater with an iron to flatten the sweater and shape it at the seams.
Step 6
Cut a 10-inch length of 18-gauge craft wire using wire cutters. Lay the wire over the hanger pattern. Use the pattern as your guide. Starting at the hook and using needle nose pliers, bend the wire into the hanger shape. Wind the end of the wire around the neck of the hook to secure.
Step 7
Insert the hanger into the sweater. Apply a dab of craft glue inside the neck of the sweater to secure the hanger.
Step 8
Cut a 10-inch length of 1/8-inch-wide ribbon. Tie the ribbon into a bow and trim the ends. Glue the bow to the front of the sweater at the neck. Complete the embellishments with three buttons, sequins or beads equally spaced down the center-front of the sweater.
