How to go from cardi blah to cardi HOORAH!

This was a lot of fun to make!  All you need is some cute trim, needle, thread, cardigan and about 15 minutes (depending on your hand stitching skills).
Here is my Anthro inspiration (link).

 The before and after...

Materials list:

• Cardigan - I used a Mossimo cardigan that I purchased from Target a few years ago.  That's why I don't throw things away (ahem sweet husband of mine).
• Trim - I used a little more than a 1/2 yard of the Nylon lace (link).  Important note on the trim you choose: Make sure you can cut into the trim to allow the trim to separate along the bottom edge (see step 2)
• Needle and thread

And we're off...

Step 1.  Measure the amount of trim you need by pinning the trim to the neckline.  Do not simply rely on measuring with measuring tape.  You need to see the placement of the pattern.  If you are using the same trim I used, or one similar, make sure you have placed the motifs so that you do not end up with a full circle on one side of the neckline and a half circle on the other side.  If you find that you end up with a half circle on one side, then adjust where you begin the placement of your first motif.  Either move it back or forward to allow for more or less room (cut off excess if less room).  Once you know how much trim is needed, cut off the excess.  Re-pin the trim to the neckline if you unpinned it to cut off the excess.

Step 2.  The trim is not cut as a collar, yet we are sewing it on as a collar, so you will have to cut into the bottom of the trim to allow it to expand with the circumference of the neckline.  However, you do not want to cut all the way through the trim.  Notice below that I cut around the circles and stopped where the larger circles are joined.  I also made sure that each motif had the same amount of small circles (4 small circles).  If desired, you can add fray check to edges that are cut.

Step 3.  Thread your needle (I double threaded it for extra strength) and bring your needle up from underneath the first motif.  Pick up a couple of threads from the trim and insert it back into the trim and through the sweater.  When I brought the needle through the sweater I tried to just grab a few threads making sure I didn't go all the way through the sweater.  I didn't want the beige thread to show on the wrong side of the sweater (sometimes it did).

Step 4.  Continue to stitch the trim to the sweater. Stitch the tops of the circles and continue to stitch down to where the circles join, then back up the circle (see white line path in pic below).

Step 5.  When you get to the last motif, finish it off, tie a knot, and smile.

Enjoy =)

Jamie