• Stretch & Sew Pattern 120, View C
  
• Pattern tracing cloth
  
• Tape
  
• Three to six sweaters in coordinating colors (see "Preparation")
  
• Yarn for hand-stitching
  
• Tapestry needle
  
• 1/2 yard of tear-away stabilizer
  
• Coordinating thread
  
• 1/4"-wide clear or other elastic
  

• Dry clean or wash the sweaters. Note: If wool yarn is used in any of the sweaters, the finished garment should be dry cleaned or gently hand washed.
  
  
• Evaluate each garment and clearly mark stains, flaws or worn areas.
  
  
• Cut the sleeves from the sweaters prior to piecing, utilizing the original ribbing at the cuffs, if desired.
  

Figure 1

Trace pattern. Tape
pattern pieces together
at seamlines.

• Trace the front and back pattern pieces, including sleeves, on pattern tracing cloth.
  
  
• Overlap the sleeve and bodice shoulder seam allowances, matching the stitching lines, and tape the pieces together (Figure 1).
  
  

• Determine if any of the sweaters have ribbing appropriate for the new garment. Consider combining the ribbing from two or more sweaters.
  
  
• Mark your color-block patterns on the tracing cloth pattern (Figure 2).
  
  
• Decide which sweater neckline you prefer and use it to cut the upper garment front. Note: If the sweater front you choose is too small, add coordinating pieces from other sweaters to increase the size.
  
  
• Position the sleeves or body sections from all the sweaters on the paper pattern until you have a pleasing design. Once you're happy with the piecing plan, cut apart the tracing cloth on the marked lines. Position the pattern pieces on the sweaters and cut out each section, being sure to include 1/2" seam allowances where needed.
  
  
• To prevent stretching or runs due to dropped stitches, leave one sweater piece pinned to the paper pattern, position the adjoining sweater piece, right sides together, and sew or serge through both sweater pieces and the paper pattern; remove the paper. If you sewed, rather than serged, the seam, trim the edges and zigzag the seam allowances before crossing a seam with another sweater piece.
  
  
• Gently steam-press the sweater to help the yarns relax into place.
  
  
• Thread the tapestry needle with yarn and stitch around each color-blocked section to accent.
  

Figure 2

Determine color or pattern blocks; draw on pattern. Cut pattern apart on lines.

Figure 3

Machine stitch edging in place. Fold to right side; hand stitch with yarn.

• To create a sweater without ribbing at the neck, sleeves or lower edge, allow a 1/2" seam allowance along the cuff, hem or neckline edges. Serge or zigzag the raw edges with matching thread.
  
  Create an elastic circle the appropriate size for the garment opening. Turn the finished edge under 1/2", enclosing the elastic, and hand stitch it in place with yarn.
  
  
• To create a color-blocked edging around a finished neckline, cut a sweater piece 3"-wide and long enough to fit snugly around the neckline, plus 1" for seam allowances. The stretch should be in the lengthwise direction. Serge the edges and join the seams, creating a circle.
  
  Position the edging right side against the neckline edge wrong side and machine stitch into place. Fold the edging to the right side and hand stitch with yarn (Figure 3).
  
  
• Use leftover sweater scraps for other projects, such as an accent on a solid color jacket.