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It's definitely still too warm for winter clothes, but the crisp autumn air outside has given me motivation to make a few things for the children for next season. I made Keira this 'flying birds' cardigan/jacket on the weekend. She likes birds and can often be found looking through my collection of old nature books.

To make this garment, I actually just chopped up an adult-sized one that was given to me last winter, but didn't fit quite right. It was machine-made, and it had some pilling on the outside, so I used the 'wrong' side of the knit fabric for its reincarnation as a small cardigan. I managed to keep the sleeve and hem bands all in one piece, so that was easy. It was a bit tricky making the collar and button bands, and my serger didn't thank me, as the fabric was quite chunky and broke a few needles along the way. Also, I hand-embroidered the buttonholes, because I didn't like my chances of managing those on the sewing machine. But it should keep her cosy and flying warmly off to school in the mornings. 

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39 responses to “flying birds”

  1. Brenda Avatar
    Brenda

    I like what you did with the sweater…………very nice job. I am wanting to make pullover sweater into a cardigan. I saw one that had used a scarf around the edges, kind of blousy for the opening which you could tie and let hang down. Now, I just have to find it again. I have never worn it the way it is. WE are hoping for summer here. Enough winter.

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  2. Holly C. Avatar

    Wow! Great job.

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  3. Mary Avatar

    I love this look so much!! why oh why do they not make stuff like this for semi-grownup girls… well, I guess that’s why we get so crafty :^)

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  4. Char Avatar

    It’s perfect!
    What a fantastic idea.
    Char

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  5. Lovely World Avatar

    I admire your repurposing of clothes. And of course, the bird theme is wonderful.

    Like

  6. Desiree Fawn Avatar

    What a cute idea — such a neat way to reuse something that didn’t work for you!

    Like

  7. Caroline Avatar

    Wow, thats just absolutely gorgeous!

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  8. liz Avatar

    Her cardi is so wonderful and adorably sweet!
    talented lady!
    I was thrown off with the autumn reference, but i get it now. Oh, yes, Hi – I’m liz 🙂

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  9. Hadley Avatar

    Oh my goodness…. lovely on all levels.

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  10. Denise Avatar

    That is so amazingly perfect

    Like

  11. tiffany Avatar

    your kids are so lucky.

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  12. liz jury Avatar

    Fantastic job on that cardi. I would never have thought to do that!!!

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  13. angela Avatar
    angela

    Hi Mel, Wow Keira has grown so much! My green bag arrived in the post today and I love love love it! Thank you so much for your little extra sweeties as well. Ive popped a blog post with it in: mushroomlane@blogspot.com xoxo Angela

    Like

  14. Eyecatchers Avatar

    Just love the cardigan idea!! And also I am eye-ing up that pen’n’ink drawing on the book – (something I should have a go at, Birds . . . branch out abit (no pun intended LOL), rather than just doing Houses.

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  15. Molly Avatar

    Pure delight, this jumper.

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  16. Teena Avatar

    I love birds too…is this going to be a theme for this week’s shop update?

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  17. Branchhabitat.blogspot.com Avatar

    So talented and makes me jog my mind for sweaters to repurpose!

    Like

  18. Cinnamon Avatar

    That is fabulous. I’d like one for me! How lucky your darling girl is, and what a clever seamstress you are.

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  19. louana Avatar

    wow, off to school, you’ve done such a great job with it. Today was the first day I really thought winter is on it’s way as we set off this morning.

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  20. julie Avatar

    How clever! It’s really nice. Are you looking forward to winter, then?

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  21. Bev Avatar

    Autumn, we are geering up for Spring after a very harsh and snowy Winter!
    The cardigan is lovely, she looks very proud to be wearing it too!

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  22. Elena Avatar

    It’s adorable, the bird cardi and your sweet daugther!

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  23. Charis Avatar

    Wow… love this I’d wear a grown up one… she looks so cute!

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  24. domesticali Avatar

    You are clever. And I am in love with your curtains.

    Like

  25. B Avatar

    Melissa,
    Thank u so much for ur embroideries, u capture the essend of every flower u emroider. We have forsythias blooming right now and I used one of ur embroideries to do a free hand piping of the flower on a cake for my sister’s birthday this past weekend. A belated happy birthday to Keira and she looks lovely in the sweater
    B

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  26. poverty.jane Avatar

    Ive totally done this before!!! I LOVE alterating adult clothes to fit little kids!
    And…we both made things this week with black birds! you know what they say about great minds!
    xoxo

    Like

  27. poverty.jane Avatar

    hey m, this post made it to amanda’s loving list of changing links…lucky girl!

    Like

  28. Hanna Avatar

    you are so clever with your re-purposing of things 🙂
    I love it.

    Like

  29. Nancy Avatar

    gosh, i just love how you repurposed that cardigan
    keira looks so sweet and wise here

    Like

  30. k Avatar

    wow, i’m really impressed! that sweater turned out really well, and the little birds are a nice touch to finish it off.

    Like

  31. Denise | Chez Danisse Avatar

    Oh, it is wonderful and looks oh-so-sweet on Keira.

    Like

  32. Lia Avatar

    I love that beautiful sweater….such a beauty

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  33. Jenn Avatar

    Beautiful. I think you used to make beautiful hand stitched bird patches? I bought one a few years ago, from an NZ vendor on etsy, and sewed it to a plain grey flannel scarf that I found on the floor between aisles during the Regent Theatre Booksale in Dunedin back in, oh, 1996. After all that time, and three countries, the scarf suddenly became perfect! I love it when I keyhole the scarf, because the little bird peaks out through the layers.
    Anyway, this is just to say that I think I must credit you with all bird embellishment inspiration 🙂
    And also, you might like this FB group… Bird Monday. For girls (and boys) who wear bird motifs on Mondays!
    http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=24658366381

    Like

  34. Fancy! New Zealand Design Blog Avatar

    Wow you are so talented! I love the little cardigan and I love your blog…

    Like

  35. Margaret Oomen Avatar

    absolutely adorable on that perfect model of yours

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  36. kirsten Avatar

    the little re-cardigan (I want to say cardagain…is that too nerdy) is so sweet! and a darling model, too!
    🙂

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  37. Nuria Avatar
    Nuria

    I is just wonderful!!!

    Like

  38. lisa Avatar

    the things you do… you are brilliant. and i love popping in here just to see what youve done in the past couple of days. you do make me happy. and hopeful. thanks.

    Like

  39. buy propecia Avatar

    have bird feeders in my yard to feed the tiny little birds that fly about, especially this time of year when it’s really cold. The problem I am having is that there are alot of crow / black birds in our area and they are absolutely relentless when it comes to the bird feeders. I really don’t care for these black birds at all.

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