I made this Tomten sweater for sweet little Liam. Making a decorated children's cardigan out of a felted wool adult-sized sweater is much easier than it sounds. There are directions for this on the Martha Stewart website with the pattern pieces, but, as usual, she has made everything 15 times more complicated than it needs to be so here is my simplified version:
1. Felt the sweater: 100% wool sweaters can be purchased from your local thrift store, usually for under $5.00. I tend to buy them in bunches and felt them all at once. To felt, simply throw them in your washing machine on HOT with a little soap. I like to throw a towel or an old pair of jeans in to help the felting process. Then throw them in the dryer on HIGH and you're done!
2. Cut out the cardigan: You can download pattern pieces in sizes newborn through 6 years here. I took these to a copy shop and had them printed on large paper. Make the sweater flat by cutting from the sleeve seam under the arm and all the way down the side to the bottom hem.
When you cut out the pieces of the sweater, you can make the original trim work for you. For example, if you like the ribbing or existing hem, place the front and back pieces at the bottom of the sweater. You can do the same with the sleeves. If you don't like the trim, you can either hem the pieces or use a zigzag stitch at the edges.
3. Sew the cardigan: All seam allowances should be 1/8 inch. First, sew both shoulders. Second, sew the sleeves on, making sure to center the top of the sleeve on the shoulder seam. Third, sew up the side seams from the wrists to the bottom hem.
Last, finish front closure. You could use a decorative ribbon trim along both sides, add buttons/buttonholes, tie closures, whatever you like.
To decorate Liam's sweater, I needlefelted a picture of the Tomtem, a sweet and helpful character from a story by Astrid Lindgren (listed on right). Basic needlefelting design techniques can be found here.
