neuletakki

Susanoo design long cardigan with wool/alpaca scarf

/ Susanoo

This post is oldie but still goodie, I made it in Delft, Netherlands some years ago (2016).

My long cardigan is self-made from woolen blend jersey. It is a pattern from 1992 Burda which I altered by lenghtening it and also took away the collar. Rounded patch pockets has a lining inside them and pockets are big enough to create an eyecatching element in the front but also super comfy to keep your hands in. My back bag is made from old leather pants and decorated with studs.

I bought 8 rolls of Ambiente black wool/alpaca yarn (not cheap) and crocheted the scarf with 15 sized hook (made from bamboo). Reason why I spent so much for the materials were that I wanted a black basic scarf with quality material; alpaca mixed with virgin wool makes the scarf super soft and quite light to wear. The extra that makes the scarf pop are the tassels I made from the same yarn.  Susanoo remark: the yarn was bought in Delft from a nice, small yarn shop by the canal called Knotten.

Susanna with diy long cardigan and alpaca scarfSusanna with diy long cardigan and diy leather back bag in Delft Netherlands

Fall/winter is the time of the year when you can daringly play with your outfits- layering different materials and shapes takes the whole look into new dimensions. Why not layer a long cardigan with a short leather vest and experiment freely by mixing scarfs together with different sizes and colors.

vintage set remodelled to long cardigan

/ Susanoo

This post I did already back when we lived in Delft, Netherlands. Back then I frequently visited second hand and charity shops which were plenty in Delft. Back at those times there were not so much discussions about reuse or remodelling as we have now frequently every day in the media. I consider myself truly and utterly remodelling miracle. Well sometimes one needs to be honest.

Long cardigans can save your outfit problems in a second…proportion play in clothing is something I often do, cardigans and vests with long sihouettes have been my all time favourites, mostly because they suit my bodytype and also of the fact that in this way I can play more with layering clothes. Therefore when I came across this woolblend two pieced knit outfit at the second hand I just could not leave it…I had in my mind what would become of it and the price was also quite amazing- only 6€!

Susanoo fashion drawing with i pad

I joined the original cardigan with the skirt from the skirts hem, in this way I ensured that I have enough fabric also for the big pockets. It is a nonchalant ( relaxed and calm in a way that shows that you do not care or are not worried about anything) effect on a cardigan to have pockets, somewhere to put your hands and make the style more street-smart.

hand stitched decorations on the long cardigan

Oh and the shoes which I wear in these two pics are a gift from my friend; velvet stretch ankle boots from the golden 90s!

Susanna with remake long cardigan from second hand twin set

Cardigan works also nicely paired with denim culottes (my own design) and vintage leather boots.

cool denim culottes

/ Susanoo

diy denim culottes from old and denim top

A pair of culottes and one top with denim patches. Culottes is the trousers to have at the moment but being more difficult to style than skinny trousers culottes have not been seen so much on the many…you really need your moment in front of the mirror with the lenght and to get it right. Get some tips here.

Of course my culottes are recycled from old jeans. I found nice fitting jeans that became the base of my culottes and the widening panels are from old denim leftover pieces. First I decided visually where I wanted my jeans to begin widening and after that I ripped the side seams open and inserted a panel that made the jeans as wide from the starting point as in the hem. With culottes it is important to keep the proportions right; the pant has to hit above the ankle.

The top is a patchwork of old denim leftover pieces, cool denim blue hues…and matching these two denim clothes together is a base – by adding colors and layers and accessory it will bring out the personality and style.

wearing my culottes with vintage boots

 

 

 

avant garde

/ Susanoo

diy free hand lettering with silver paint on jumperFinnish designer Anne Linnonmaa long cardigan with diy black back part

The avant-garde (from French, “advance guard” or “vanguard”, literally “fore-guard”)are people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture and politics.

Sometimes creative process can begin with only a word…in this case a word I came across printed on a t-shirt and after studying the meaning I could relate to avant-garde easily…being daring, innovative, experimental and stating out your own ideas with a bold or unusual way. If I have a statement written on my clothes it has to be saying something I can truly stand for.

The gray jumper is of course a bargain found on second hand, woolblend mens basic knit which I shortened leaving the hem raw without any sewing. Cuts in the elbows gives the altered knit a rough and worn feeling. By wearing under the piece coloured or textured layers it is easy to make different combos. Lettering I made free hand with silver acrylic paint.

Another garment upgrade I did to a Finnish designers Anne Linnonmaa long cardigan. Found this extra nice piece also second hand and after a while decided to give it more outstanding look, something that complements the piece but makes it more unique. To the back piece I cut out from another jumper a sleeve which I attached with basic zigzag stitches. From the same jumper I also cut out a pocket piece and placed it on the front of the cardigan only on the other side…cardigan did not loose its original shape or look but it became more outstanding and bold.