How to Convert a Tunic to a Cardigan with no Sewing.

I got this idea from my friend, Jenny, who told me that she used stitch witch to turn ill-fitting sweaters into open cardigans. I thought this was genius, because not only do I not have a sewing machine, but I would have been intimidated by the prospect of trying to sew an open knit without it unraveling all over the place. Then, I saw this in the spring H&M collection and instantly wanted it, but without the $80 price tag:

I could also do without the gym shorts/socks & sandals combo.

I knew I had to make my dream a reality so that I could have something "new" and fashionable in the midst of my 1-year-no-new-clothes challenge.  Plus, I already had a too-tight crochet tunic that would do nicely. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Find a shirt, sweater, or tunic that you already own that is a little too tight but that you can't stand to part with. Lay it out on a flat surface. Your kitchen table will do nicely.

Step 2: After removing the cat that has immediately curled up on top of the tunic, measure the center of the piece and mark a straight line with a piece of chalk so that you'll know where to cut it. Or don't measure it. Nothing could go wrong there.

Step 3: Cut as straight a line as you can given your limited patience, your general clumsiness, and the stretchy lining underneath the crochet top that keeps pulling and shifting each time you move. (It's really okay if it's not perfectly straight, because this part will be folded underneath and fused together with stitch witch).

Step 4: After removing the second cat from your work space, you may want to cut about an inch of the lining away from the part you just cut so that the stitch witch has less fabric to bond. This cut, too, may or may not be straight and lovely.

Step 5: Take out your freshly-purchased off-brand stitch witch (AKA "fusing web" or sometimes "fusible web"). This will have cost you a couple of dollars at most at Target, Wal-Mart, or your favorite crafty store. Read the instructions. Cut off as much of the fusible web as you need to run the length of your garment.

Step 6: Pin the web in place and fold it over, creating a faux hem. You may want to pin it again, and if you're a little clumsy, you might even want to pin the whole thing down to the ironing board when you get to that step. (Not that I'm clumsy or anything.)

Step 7: Get out your iron and your ironing board. Try to remember how to set up your ironing board, since your sweet husband is usually the one who does all the ironing. Fail. Call for help. Feel silly about getting help opening your ironing board. Spill a whole bunch of water on said ironing board while attempting to fill your iron's water reservoir for steam. Plug in your iron and set it to "wool."

Step 8: Though at first you may think the instructions on the back of the fusible web package to use a press cloth while ironing are silly, you will quickly see the merits as the fusible web becomes a goopy mess, sticking to your iron. Procure a press cloth. Follow the remaining package instructions as closely as possible, as your cat looks on.

Step 9: If you want some method of closing your cardigan instead of letting it swing open, you may wish to sew some ribbon onto the inside panels. You can also use more stitch witch for this, or combine the stitch witch with actual stitches. If you're lucky, your tunic will come with ties on the sleeves that are much longer than necessary; you can cut these off and sew them on. Or you can skip this step because afterward, you will probably discover that you'll never use the little ties. 

Step 10: Once everything is cool and dry, you can proudly wear your new creation. Flowy bohemian tops and sandals are encouraged. Gym shorts with socks and sandals are not encouraged, no matter what the disinterested H&M model would have you believe.