Make: Off The Shoulder Sweatshirt Surgery & Heat Transfer Graphic {Easy, No Sew Refashion}

If you’ve been around this blog lately, you’ll know I’m kinda working on my lounge wear wardrobe. Something that my wardrobe has been missing for a few years. This winter I want to be cute and toasty when I’m on the couch watching Netflix. I was thinking about a sweater to go with my joggers. Something slouchy and off the shoulder and relaxed. The answer was super simple – just a little sweatshirt surgery!

I started with a sweatshirt that was a size or so too big for me. Not entirely cute! I decided to keep the length in the body & sleeves and just wear them pushed back. That way I can pull my hands into the sleeves if I’m cold. I marked an asymmetric, scooped neckline. Starting close to the shoulder seam on one side and finishing closer to the neckband on the other side. I used a curved ruler and eyeballed it. I did the same on the back neckline but kept the line higher. I cut away the excess neckline, following my chalked marks. This is where mistakes are easily made! Take away very little at first, making it larger if needed. You’ll be surprised how big the hole will seem. I intended to finish the neckline with knit ribbing but decided I liked the raw edge as it was.

The sweatshirt was looking much cuter but I thought a little heat transfer vinyl (HTV) might kick things up a notch. I cut the vinyl with my Silhouette and weeded away the excess. Then I just ironed it right on! For more info on how I do HTV, see this post.

I love little refashions like this. I get to experiment with a style of clothing that is unfamiliar to me. Coaxing it into a better fit and giving it my own flair, without committing precious fabric to something I might not like or wear. I don’t really like to support cheap and disposable fashion but when the cost of fabric is so high and things like sweatshirt fleece are hard to find, you have to be more flexible.

All in all, I think it’s pretty cute! I wish I looked like a Victoria’s Secret model in it but that was never going to happen! I love the off the shoulder thing. I hate clothes that feel strangling or restrictive and this little bit of surgery avoids all of that. Also, I feel like it looks much more flattering. As I was walking around the supermarket wearing this, I got plenty of smiles at the ‘#tired’. Pretty much every woman in my family wants me iron ‘#tired’ on something for them! We have jokes about being born tired, so it’s no wonder that my Mum, Sister and two gorgeous nieces, Tay and Bayz, want to wear it proud!

I hope that you have been inspired to take scissors to sweatshirt! And you could add cute in so many ways. If you don’t have HTV, you could try applique or stencil on some fabric paint, or add studs or fringe… The possibilities are endless! I’d love to see your version, so be sure to tag me in the pics!

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