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10.24

sweatshirt liposuction

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That’s really the only way to describe it.

DIY big-to-smaller hoodie | hoodie refashion | how to refashion a hooded sweatshirt | diy hoodie refashion | sewing a hoodie | diy sewing tips || See Kate Sew #hoodierefashion #sewingtutorial #sewingtips
DIY big-to-smaller hoodie

I’ve seen too many cute little hoodie refashions around to not make one myself. This old sweatshirt used to be one of my brother-in-laws. Not sure which one. But don’t worry, I washed it on HOT! (jk, thanks for the sweatshirt!)

This hoodie was an XL before I started. I trimmed it down, took in sides, added darts and pleats and now it’s probably a billowy medium. I didn’t fit it too much, because it’s still a sweatshirt, and I like them cozy!

Materials:
1 zip-up oversized hoodie
3 buttons
fabric for buttonhole stabilizer

Here’s what I did:

I’m pretty sure these pictures are hideous. Like my pj pants? I know. These totally look like a “before” dieting picture, right!

Step 1: Sew up underarm and cut out extra fabric. I tried on my big sweatshirt and eyeballed how much I wanted to take it. I didn’t want to take it in too much to make it skin-tight but I definitely wanted it to be a lot more feminine.

Step 2: cut out zipper and unpick pockets. I had to cut the bottom of the pocket off since it was sewn into the ribbing.

Step 3: Shoulders. My sweatshirt’s shoulder seams were sagging off my arms, so I made a dart in the front, about 6″ long and a similar pleat in the back. Use the nip/tuck guide above to see a better illustration of the dart.

This is the front, the dart comes to a point.

back:  Instead of ending this pleat in a point, just backstitch at the end instead. This will give the back of your hoodie a cute little pucker.

Step 4: Bring one side of your sweatshirt over across your body and decide where you want the buttons and buttonholes to go. Use a little bit of fabric underneath your buttonholes as a stabilizer for the knit.

Done! Hoodie magic!

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Sweatshirt Lipo with See Kate Sew
Sweatshirt Lipo with See Kate Sew

77 Comments | Clothing

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Reader Interactions

77 Comments

  1. BeeSewSweet

    10/24 at 1:47 PM

    How adorable! I love the look. The buttons dress it up a bit. I may have to give this a try myself. Thanks for sharing it.

  2. Ooty

    10/24 at 1:54 PM

    very nice :)

  3. Katie

    10/24 at 1:56 PM

    Great job! I might have to give this a try on a an XL sweatshirt I got for free the other day. :) Thanks for sharing your how-to!

  4. Jessica @ jessicaNdesigns

    10/24 at 2:14 PM

    You seriously amaze me…you are my sewing idol

  5. HankOrange

    10/24 at 3:35 PM

    LOVE this! Seriously, I think I now know what I’m doing this afternoon…forget all those house chores that need to get done :) I’m sure my husband has a sweatshirt he doesn’t ‘need’ anymore!
    Thank you!

  6. Teri

    10/24 at 3:37 PM

    Great Job! And you look great in your PJ pants!!! I love the sweatshirt, I have a yellow one calling for the same liposuction technique :)

  7. Jenna

    10/24 at 3:55 PM

    that looks so good, you are amazing!

  8. Cherished Bliss

    10/24 at 4:08 PM

    Yup… I’ll be stealing one from my husband :)

  9. Rachel

    10/24 at 4:17 PM

    Hooray! I’m so excited about this–I’ve seen a similar hoodie picture floating around pinterest forever and was hoping someone would eventually make a tutorial for a similar look (so I wouldn’t have to try and inevitably botch it on my own)! It’s so cute, and looks like it’s not too difficult (hopefully)–I’ll be giving it a try! Thanks!

  10. Gwen @ The Bold Abode

    10/24 at 4:42 PM

    I’ll take that over Bo-tox any day! I was seriously thinking of stealing a zippy sweater from my husband last night. I thought he was totally over it. I even had a stinkin dream about how I’d need to stitch it before I cut into it to prevent fraying… but what did he wear outta the house this morning?? yup… guess it’ll have to wait…sigh…

  11. VolimBoje

    10/24 at 5:21 PM

    very interesting idea and excellent tutorial!

  12. dimmergut

    10/24 at 6:04 PM

    So clever! Excellent idea and really clear tutorial.
    Thanks, Kate.

  13. youandmie

    10/24 at 6:09 PM

    This is amazing!! Thanks for sharing it!

  14. Jenn H.

    10/24 at 6:24 PM

    It’s funny you posted this. I saw a refashioned sweatshirt on Pinterest a couple weeks ago and made one myself last week. Haven’t gotten around to blogging about it yet but I totally love yours!

  15. Rebecca & Jeff

    10/24 at 8:09 PM

    So cute! You are amazing!

  16. Kari

    10/24 at 9:08 PM

    Kate,
    You’re seriously a crafty genius. Love this!

  17. Emily

    10/24 at 9:36 PM

    Love this transformation and your descriptions/pictures. :)

  18. hannahjoyhopes

    10/24 at 9:42 PM

    i love it! i wish i could see the back, though

  19. Roslyn@Sew Delicious

    10/24 at 10:53 PM

    Love it! It looks fantastic.

  20. projectdowhatyoulove

    10/25 at 2:40 AM

    Wow, you’re so talented! Love the big white buttons! Thanx for sharing!

    Natalie
    http://www.projectdowhatyoulove.wordpress.com

  21. mayen

    10/25 at 3:17 AM

    It’s fabulous. Great idea. I must check if my brother got large jacket that he doesn’t use anymore. :)

  22. Jess

    10/25 at 6:23 AM

    This is super cute, Kate! And can I just say…you look very pretty in these pics! (as usual!)

  23. Life With Lucy

    10/25 at 12:56 PM

    i lovelovelovelovelove this. oh how i want to try. you are so unbelievably creative.

  24. Hollister Sutton Family

    10/25 at 1:34 PM

    Do you have a pic of the back?

  25. Our Seven Dwarfs

    10/25 at 2:44 PM

    This is awesome. I saw something like this on etsy for $80. Ridiculous! I wish I was more of an accomplished sewer to take this one on!

  26. MsMurphy

    10/25 at 6:22 PM

    Thank you for posting this!!!!!

  27. Amanda Y

    10/25 at 8:07 PM

    Love it Kate, thanks for posting!

  28. Mrs. Munki

    10/25 at 8:35 PM

    You did such a good job! I’m so excited to try this! Thanks for sharing!

  29. Lauren K.

    10/25 at 9:21 PM

    Very cute! I hope to be confident enough in my sewing one day to do something like this!

  30. Christie, Describe Happy

    10/25 at 11:37 PM

    This is so awesome… I have some big clothes that need a nip/tuck like this!

  31. MariaT

    10/26 at 12:39 PM

    That is soo cute!

  32. OrloSubito

    10/27 at 7:35 AM

    OMG is really clever, I have to try one!!!
    you give me a nice idea, thanks:-D

  33. folkhaven

    10/27 at 9:50 PM

    This is amazing! It still looks so comfy. Next XL sweatshirt I come upon will experience a similar transformation!

  34. Jen

    10/28 at 7:21 AM

    This is such a cute fitted hoodie! I don’t think I am to that level of altering yet (you lost me at the dart for the shoulder), but maybe someday!

  35. Melissa

    10/29 at 12:45 AM

    I’ve been wanting to do one of these as well. Yours turned out great!

    Melissa
    http://www.lovebugliving.com

  36. Jenn

    10/29 at 1:49 AM

    What in the crap? This is the same sweatshirt. You are seriously amazing. It is times like this that I really wish I knew how to sew. I am seriously loving this! Will you make me one? I stumbled this!

  37. Kara @ Mine for the Making

    10/29 at 9:00 AM

    Brilliant! Love this refashion. Visiting from TT&J :) I would love for you to link this up to my fashion party! It’s called DIY Diva Thursdays and we party Th-M every week. Hope to see you!

    Kara
    http://www.mineforthemaking.com

  38. Sachiko

    10/30 at 6:51 AM

    You look so pretty in your new jacket Kate!

  39. Kara

    11/02 at 4:15 AM

    Cute liposuction. Might have to give this one a try.

  40. Amber

    11/21 at 2:46 PM

    Hey there Amber again I posted once before on this but I wanted to let you know that your sweatshirt liposuction made my Green Craft Round up for this month and will be posted at http://www.lifelovegreen.com on Wed Nov 30th!

  41. melissamevans

    12/12 at 11:11 PM

    This is AMAZING!! love this! Great job! :)

  42. Elkcip

    12/30 at 2:24 PM

    There’s a very similary jacket on Etsy that sells for >$100 bucks. Thank you–now I can make my own!! Yay!

  43. Natalie @ NS Pottery

    01/05 at 4:31 PM

    This so soooooo cute!!!

  44. Leah Lou :)

    01/07 at 4:00 AM

    I just tried this tutorial. THANK YOU SO MUCH! Not only was it easy, but the end result is ADORABLE!

  45. Leah Lou :)

    01/07 at 4:02 AM

    I just tried this tutorial! THANK YOU! Not only is the tutorial easy, but the end result is SO CUTE!! :)

  46. G.

    01/29 at 7:58 PM

    OH MY GOD. Im here for the first time but I’ve just fell madly in love with your ideas! The hoodie and everything’s great, since now I’m going just to the charity shops and remake these things your way!!:)

  47. seeneed

    02/11 at 10:31 AM

    This is awesome. So cute and pretty simple. Thanks for sharing.

  48. shabbygals

    03/18 at 7:16 PM

    I love this…I can not get enough sweatshirts. You have so many fun ideas…and I am slowly learning to sew…:)

  49. Anne Pogue

    04/07 at 1:38 PM

    Is there a place to see close up pictures of the cuts and the after? I love it, but am nervous about cutting…I would love to see more details of cutting out the pocket/zipper and what it looks like after there are buttons :) Thank you for such a great project!! It’s beautiful!

  50. Suzanne S

    04/09 at 8:34 PM

    I just finished this redo of an old red hoodie that I had. Thanks for the inspiration and directions. I too would like to see a photo of how the pleat looks in the back. I ended up sewing about 3 inches down the back and then tacked the pleats so that they folded the same, both towards the center.

  51. Fly Anyways.x

    04/11 at 3:05 PM

    Absolutely awesome! :) Make me one please!! X

  52. Zoe

    04/14 at 9:07 AM

    This is so cute! I wish I had a massively oversized hoodie to try it on. Maybe I will steal one of hubbies ;)

    Thanks for sharing

    ~ Zoe

  53. di

    04/25 at 3:03 PM

    Okay, this is adorable. I am going to make it this weekend.
    THXS.
    XOX
    Diane

  54. Anonymous

    06/05 at 6:04 PM

    So Adorable! I am totally going to do this. Your are so creative!!!

  55. Karima

    06/20 at 4:05 PM

    Brilliant – what a great transformation!

  56. Hannah

    06/24 at 8:25 PM

    I wish I could sew… Can anyone make one for me please? :)

  57. Anonymous

    07/06 at 4:10 PM

    Super cute!! Thank you for sharing!

  58. Lindalouise

    07/16 at 2:22 AM

    What a clever lady you are. This is really cute, you went from frumpy to stylish! Congratulations!

  59. Anonymous

    07/21 at 2:31 PM

    It looks great, but I don’t understand how to remove the pockets.

  60. Anonymous

    07/21 at 8:31 PM

    What does the back look like? Could you maybe post a picture of it?

  61. Judith

    07/24 at 10:09 PM

    Very Clever! Thanks!

  62. juniper

    07/30 at 3:06 AM

    Nice!

  63. me

    08/06 at 11:50 PM

    I wish I knew how to sew!!! No sewing machine and no sewing skills! LMAO! Maybe I can ship one to ya, you fix it and ship back!? HEHEHE!! ;)

  64. Anonymous

    08/20 at 5:55 PM

    Thank you for posting this!! I’ve seen this style posted on Pinterest and have been wanting to try it! I have no sewing knowledge so thank you for spelling it out for me! :)

  65. naokichick1

    08/31 at 1:42 AM

    I absolutely love it! It’s so cozy and makes me excited for Winter!!

  66. Sarah

    09/11 at 8:21 PM

    thanks for the inspiration! i made one of these this weekend. check it out:
    http://sarahandkris.blogspot.com/2012/09/sweatshirt-makeover.html

  67. Lyndsay Pyles

    09/16 at 9:52 PM

    Way too cute!!!

  68. newsusu

    09/26 at 11:41 PM

    Very cool project. We are going to make one this weekend :)

  69. Goldi

    11/15 at 12:47 AM

    If I send you a sweatshirt could you make me one and I’ll pay you!! This is my all-time favorite thing in the world! dawnmaahs@gmail.com

  70. c.hoff

    01/05 at 5:13 PM

    a hint that i figured out is that if you have a hoodie you already like with the arm width use that as a template.

  71. Amanda McEwen ~ $5 Hems and more ~

    01/25 at 4:55 AM

    https://sites.google.com/site/5hemsandmore/home/samples

    Thank you for this tutorial. ! just finished mine. check it out. I used a hooded sweatshirt then added the contrasting trim around the inside of the hood and front for color and to give the button holes some body. Cheers to you and thank you.

  72. Trollemor

    01/29 at 12:25 PM

    Exelent tut! Wery well explained:) I will rave my husbands closet and see what I can find:) Feel free to check my blog as well:)

  73. Alexis Juday-Marshall

    02/02 at 6:33 AM

    Ok, I can’t sew, but I would pay to get my hands on one of these – anyone want to make one for me? :)

  74. The Thriftiness Miss

    02/04 at 9:43 PM

    Fabulous! I need one too now :)

  75. joyfulT

    04/11 at 7:32 AM

    My husband is convinced that the before and after pictures are not the same hoodie. On the lookout for a ginormous hoodie now!

  76. AshleyP

    04/28 at 4:42 PM

    Thanks for the tutorial!! I actually finished this a week ago. Loved your explanation! I did have some problems with the sweatshirt just still looking big and ended up have to take it in quite a bit at the waist as well. Mines not quite as cute as yours, especially because I’m a bit bigger than you, but was a fun up cycle!

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My name is Kate, a twenty something fashion lover and mother of two. When I’m not chasing kids you can find me at my sewing table or daydreaming up new designs. You can read more about me here. Thank you for visiting!

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