Video: Upcycle a Turtleneck into a Stylish Top

I have a few turtlenecks that are made of beautiful fabrics, but I can’t stand the high, tight neckline. Another DIY upcycle project comes to mind! Why not add tulle fabric and transform a simple turtleneck into a stylish top? Sounds great! I have listed all the steps here and included a video below with the full tutorial.

Supplies:

• Turtleneck
• Tulle fabric
• Sewing Supplies: scissors, quilter ruler, tailors chalk, pins, universal thread

• The first thing we are going to do is cut off the sleeves and collar (my turtleneck has a raglan sleeve, but any sleeve style will work). Cut inside of the sleeve seamline and underneath the collar. Save the sleeves to use as a pattern.

Mark the Back of the Sweater:

• Trace the back for the sweater outline onto the tulle fabric from the underarm up.

• Mark a line across the sweater where you want the sweater fabric to meet the tulle fabric. Add a seam allowance and cut. Align the sweater with the tulle fabric. Add a seam allowance onto the tulle fabric and cut.

• With right sides together, pin the tulle fabric to the sweater fabric.

• Because the fabric stretches either use a 3-thread overlock stitch on the serger or a zigzag stitch; narrow the stitch width to 1.0 or .5. Adjust the length if needed. Sew with a ½” seam allowance.

• Press the seam allowance toward the sweater fabric and topstitch. For topstitching on this stretchy fabric, I use the triple stitch with a stitch length of 3.5.

Mark the Front of the Sweater:

• Trace the front of the sweater onto the tulle fabric from the underarm up.

• Draw a line for the new front neckline where you want the tulle and sweater to meet. This could be a straight line or curve at the center front. Cut along the chalked line.

• Mark the same curve on the tulle fabric, add 1” to accommodate a seam allowance for both pieces of fabric. Cut the tulle fabric.

• With right sides together, pin the tulle fabric to the sweater fabric.

• Because the fabric stretches either use a 3-thread overlock stitch on the serger or a zigzag stitch; narrow the stitch width to 1.0 or .5. Adjust the length if needed. Sew with a ½” seam allowance.

• Press the seam allowance toward the sweater fabric and topstitch. For topstitching on this stretchy fabric, I use the triple stitch with a stitch length of 3.5.

Sleeves

• You can trace the original sleeve pattern onto pattern paper or cut along the seam, lay the sleeve out onto the tulle fabric. We will be sewing a French seam so either add ½” seam allowance if you want to sew a ¼” seam or 1” for a ½” seam (I am adding ½” seam allowance).
• Be sure to add a little extra if the tulle and sweater fabric don’t have the same amount of stretch. Cut the tulle fabric.

Sew a French Seam:

• Choose a straight stitch with a stitch length of 2.5. With wrong sides together, pin the sleeve. Stitch with ¼” seam allowance. Trim the seam allowance to 1/8”.

• Turn the sleeve right side out and press. Stitch along the seam fold with a ¼” seam allowance.

Attaching the Sleeves with a French Seam:

• With wrong sides together, pin the sleeve into the armscye, matching up the side seam with the sleeve seam. Stitch with a ¼” seam allowance. Trim the seam allowance, turn the seam to cover the seam allowance, and press. Stitch a ¼” seam allowance along the folded edge.

• Trim the tulle along the neckline to create a straight edge.

That’s it! You are ready to wear your new top out on the town (😊) Let me know if you try this and be sure to share photos on social media using hashtags #brothersews and #angelawolf

Cheers,

Angela

See more in the video below!