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Make your own clothes without the effort of starting from scratch. Go through your guy’s closet, pull out the sweater that you like to wear the most -- one which he won’t miss -- and cut it into a dress. No man? No worries! Shop in the men's department of a store instead. Using the same technique, you can also make a mini sweater dress for a little girl in your life out of sweaters that bore you.
The Right Sweater
The best type of sweater to cut into a dress is one that falls well past your knees when you wear it. If you’re a tall, leggy lady, you might need to find a sweater in the “big and tall” section for men -- unless your man falls into the “big and tall” category. It’s okay if the sweater is as wide as a circus tent because the length is what counts.
Cutting the Sweater
Find a fitted tank top that fits you perfectly. Turn the sweater and top inside out and line up the collars. Use a piece of fabric chalk to outline the form of your tank top onto the sweater so that you get an idea about the amount of material to cut. Before you take out your scissors, measure the distance between the lines and the edges of the sweater -- measure twice, cut once. If necessary, adjust the lines you drew so the distances are equal. Otherwise, it will look like you made your soon-to-be dress with your eyes closed, which may be funny to others but not you. Extend the chalk lines to the bottoms of the sweater, pin the front and back of the garment along the lines you drew and cut ½ inch from the lines.
Sleeves
If you want sleeves on your dress, cut the sleeves that came with the sweater to the length you desire. Instead of shortening the sleeve at the cuff, chop off the top section of the sleeve. If you want to thin the sleeves, cut the fabric along the existing seam. Pin the tops of the sleeves to the armholes on the dress that you cut.
Sewing the Dress
Sew the materials of the sweater along the areas you cut and pinned. Use a ½-inch seam allowance along the sides of the dress and a ¼-inch seam allowance on the sleeves. Try on your fabulous new dress and make any adjustments necessary. Then, thank your guy for the new dress he gave you.
