My Charmed Cardies!
I love those cute little cardigan sweaters from the '40s, '50s and '60s, you know, the ones with the beads and sequins. So a few months ago I decided to make some with my own twist. While studying Fashion Design at West Valley College I fell in love with a course called "Couture Embellishment".

For some of my favorite class projects I used print fabrics featuring Day of the Dead sugar skulls which I embellished with lots of beads and sequins. It was a natural design choice for me to take some of theses motifs and turn them into appliques for recycling cardigans. I embroider the motifs to the sweaters and embellish the motifs as well as the neckline of the sweater. I always add a little detail to the back of the cardigan too. Sometimes I change out the buttons. I really like shell, mother-of-pearl buttons.

Here are some pictures of my Cardies (which pre-date my Kicks!).



The violet is my own, the green scoopneck is for my future daughter-in-law, Lisa. Yes, they are time intensive, but I love to make them and I love how they turn out!

Thank yous to my Couture Embellishment teacher, Robynne Anger, and to my Mom-in-Law, Gary for suggesting the back detail. I love that! Cardies modelled by Mathilda, an old friend!