DIY: Cross Stitch Heart Sweater


Today's DIY is one of my favorites so far. I had a hankering for a heart sweater like this J.Crew option but couldn't stomach paying for it.

Click through for full instructions.

supplies
long sleeve tee or sweater
one sheet of paper 
pins
embroidery floss
large needle
 water spray bottle (optional)


Print one of the cross stitch heart patterns provided below.
Pin the pattern to the shirt.
Cross stitch the pattern on to the shirt.
Spray the pattern with water to soften it. Tear the paper to remove.


(One | Two | Three)

You may think 3 layouts is a bit much, but I have my reasons. The first is the most similar to the J.Crew inspiration sweater. The second is the one I used. It is the most simple and requires the least amount of stitching. The third would work well if you are busty (nursing mamas included), because as the sweater stretches horizontally, it obscures the heart a bit. 


thrifted j.crew button up - $5 | similar here | and here
old navy ballet flats - $10 | similar here | and here
hair tutorial

I just want you all to notice that I am actually jumping in the shot above. After years of watching Tyra tell girls to relax their faces and smize while jumping, I learned it's not so easy. I am mostly just excited I figured out my camera settings to keep it from blurring.

What do you think?

Have you refashioned anything lately? Leave a link so we can all check it out!

41 comments:

  1. i love it! i like it so much more than the solid heart sweaters!

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  2. Super cute! I've been contemplating doing some embellishing of my existing clothing before I get carried away sewing more. (So many "ings" in that sentence!) Also, your pose is adorable.

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  3. Super cute! At first I thought meh and now I really want to make one for myself. I think it's how you styled it.

    I attempted to smize when I had my passport picture taken and it turned out like a mug shot. It really is difficult!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, passport pictures are my kryptonite. I look like a female professional wrestler in mine. Yikes!

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  4. How fun crafty girl! I love your version better than the j.crew.

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  5. So cute! I'm going to have to try this with some of my old plain sweaters to jazz them up a bit. Thanks!

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  6. this is so cute! and I did notice you were jumping! :) Usually when I jump in photos I tilt my head to the side and somehow my tongue finds it way out. Antm makes jumping look much easier than it actually is. -Viv

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  7. love this! i'll attempt....somehow though, i'm sure i'll mess it up! If only it would look at good as yours!

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  8. This is a FANTASTIC outfit (and photo). And I much prefer your sweater to the JCREW one.

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  9. Very cute! I love it. I also love how you styled it.

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  10. Ok that is awesome! I will be making this!

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  11. Love this enough to try it! Thanks for sharing and yes your design is so much cuter!!

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  12. LOVE this, I am totally going to try this and maybe give it as a christmas gift-thanks for sharing the tutorial!

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  13. UBER cute :) Question for you: Did you use multiple threads of your embroidery thread to make it look thick? Or did you just do several stitches back and forth to give it that effect?

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    Replies
    1. Hi! I doubled the embroidery floss on my needle. If you look at it closely, you can see two strands. I also specifically selected a embroidery floss that looked thick at the store.

      Hope that helps!

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  14. i love this! you're so crafty! i also really love your graphics--what do you use to make them?

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Brittany.

      I used a combination of autocad and photoshop. I now have a copy of adobe illustrator, but don't know where to start :/

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  15. really cool!

    http://kribamil.blogspot.de/

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  16. OMG I'm going to have to do this! And thank you for including a pattern for the larger busted of us. Believe me, I appreciate it. :)

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  17. I used this tutorial to make my own. You are so creative, thanks for the idea!

    http://www.dresdencarrie.com/2012/10/pinterest-project-success-heart-sweater.html

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  18. It's so much cuter than the original! Now I know what I'll wear every day during the holidays...
    xo Zoe

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  19. Love this! Thanks for the stitchy inspiration!
    Ruth, The World of Cross Stitching editor

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  20. I love this idea! I will surely try this one! Where did you find that pattern? I'm thinking about making several sweaters with different patterns.

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    Replies
    1. I just googled "heart cross stitch" to find patterns. So try googling, you'll find some good stuff, I'm sure.

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  21. Super cute! I pinned this on pinterest a long time ago, but need something to wear with a jean skirt for a casual dress day tomorrow at work. Going to give it a go tonight! Thanks for the easy tutorial and great printable.

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  22. You are a genius!
    I am about to make mine, you can follow its story here:
    http://todayorwhenever.blogspot.it/2013/01/refashioning-maglietta-per-san.html

    oh and thanks for sharing three patterns, too!

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  23. Where have you bought that sweater? I can't find that colour...

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  24. So cute - thank you for sharing!

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  25. Ahhh! I wish I had seen this earlier, I would have tried it today. Very, very cute!

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  26. This is excellent! Adorable! But how did you keep the shirt from moving while you cross-stitched through the paper? Wouldn't the shirt move a little while you're stitching and morph the end result? I'd love to try, so please reply with tips. :)

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  27. What a fun project! tried a couple times making it on scrap fabric before doing a sweater..do you have any tips on getting the paper off? Every time I wet it, the paper by the stitching seems to get stuck. Thanks in advance!

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  28. Madeline,

    I have been searching for an idea like this! I shared your Valentine's Day Glass with my readers as a part of my 5 {DIY} Valentine's Day Inspirations.

    Thank you for the tutorial.

    Jessica
    a Shimmering Star

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  29. I tried this twice. both times the paper shifted around and the crosses came out wonky and loose, even after careful tightening and precision the second time. I think printer paper is just too thick.

    Also, if you use white embroidery floss, spraying the print out with water bleeds the red ink into the white floss, turning it pink. Ugh...

    I guess I just suck at cross stitching? Off to re-remove all the thread and try fleecing my heart on!

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  30. I have tried this twice. Both times the paper shifted or obscured the stitches too much and the crosses came out wonky and loose, despite tightening and precision the second time. (I was even turning the sweater over to get a look from the inside to make sure the crosses all met and were lined up right, so the second time took twice as long!)

    Also, if you print from an inkjet printer, and use white embroidery floss, when you spray the paper the ink will bleed into the floss turning it pink...ugh...

    I guess I just really suck at cross stitching! Time to pull all the thread out, again, and try fleecing my heart on.!

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  31. This is so so cute! I was wondering if you had any suggestions on how to use this technique for a US flag? I'd love to make a Fourth of July shirt using cross stitch!

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    Replies
    1. Try this: http://www.wittyliving.com/images/stories/crossstitch/cross-stitch-flaga.jpg

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