With cooler weather just around the corner for many in the northern hemisphere, our thoughts might turn to easy-to-sew cover-ups. Sweatshirts can easily be converted into personable, unique, one-of-a-kind jackets, for children and adults that transform the utilitarian garments into comfortable go-anywhere cover-ups.

The easiest of sweatshirt-to-a jacket conversions is to simply draw a line down the center front of the sweatshirt with a tailor's chalk or invisible marking pen from the front neck edge to the front bottom edge and cut along the line. The now cut front edge will not ravel but has a tendency to curl. Iron on a strip of fusible one-inch wide interfacing to the inside edge of each cut side. Turn the now reinforced sweatshirt edge to the inside by one-inch and top stitch. Add just a few toggle button closures, or contrasting or coordinating decorative or covered buttons you can make from fabric scraps and that plain, utilitarian sweatshirt has added style and new life as a jacket.

Removing the ribbed bottom edge band and ribbed sleeve cuff edge, fusing a one-inch wide iron-on interfacing to all cut edges, then turning and topstitching dramatically changes the look of the sweatshirt once again. If the finished sleeve edge seems too wide open without the ribbed cuff, just fold over an inch, and sew on a decorative button on top of the fold through all layers of the sleeve finished edge for a faux buttoned looked. No buttonhole needed! The stretchy sweatshirt fabric has enough give to allow the hand to easily pass through the opening.

Cut the entire sleeve off the sweatshirt, along with the neck band and bottom edge ribbing, cut up the center front from top to bottom, edge all cut edges with fold-over braid for a smart looking sweatshirt. The left-over sleeves contain more than enough fabric to make patch pockets or a fabric belt and belt loops. A sweatshirt one size larger than the one usually worn produces the best finished results.

For a seasonal look to the sweatshirt conversion, find decorative fabric to cut out designs (think pumpkins, leaves, snowmen, poinsettias, fanciful trees) and fuse to the now converted jacket or vest. Be sure to zigzag, satin stitch, or edge around the cutouts with dimensional fabric and craft paint to seal the edges firmly and prevent raveling after washing. The converted sweatshirt into jacket or vest makes for a great gift idea.

For some sweatshirt conversion embellishment and ideas see:

The White Sewing Machine Co. has instructions for a reversible sweatshirt jacket.

Make a Sweatshirt Jacket shows clear instructions on adding a zipper to a sweatshirt - by Jan Boggan

Sulky® of America has free project instructions for making stacked chenille appliqué using a favorite print fabric that would be interesting to add as embellishment to your sweatshirt conversion.

The converted sweatshirt lends itself to any number of embellishments; edge the sweatshirt in a blanket stitch using 6 strand embroidery floss, add iron on crystals or studs, embroidery or cross-stitch designs to the front, back or pockets, add decorative buttons, and also lace and ribbon trims.

Sew happy, sew well.

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