Hemming/Shortening a sweater

[Jay]

Thinking about it.

A few weeks ago we discussed untucked shirts. Couple this with suit jackets that get shortened, I ask myself why I can't take a pull over type sweater and shorten it. It can now be worn untucked and compliment the kilt.

[fluter]

My pullovers usually don't hang too low. In most cases, the ribbing at the bottom will turn under, and it looks about the same with kilt or trousers. YMMV depending on the sweater and your body shape.

If you pursue this, ask a knitter to check out the garment. Probably it will have side seams, which makes it much more interesting. It's probably machine knitted from rather small yarn, which makes it difficult to adjust by hand. In any case, it's not a matter of cutting it off and sewing the bottom---that would definitely end in tears.

In the ideal case it'd be knitted in the round, and you could "simply" unravel some of the length, re-knit the ribbing at the bottom, and bind it off.

(For small values of "simply.")

[Pleater]

If it is a quality sweater then you might be able to use a sewing machine to secure the top of the edging, and the new lower edge of the body.

Normally two rows of straight stitching done close together will achieve this.

You then take some sharp scissors and cut out the unwanted part, then sew the edge back onto the body.

The sewing can be done using toning sewing thread or undo some of the yarn from the removed portion.
It might be better to do this part by hand so that the two bits can be matched up as you work along. If one edge is longer than the other it will need to be eased in - in equal sections - as you work.

If cost cutting methods have been used and the edge is already a separate piece then it would need to be carefully separate at the seam, then secured with a couple of rows of sewing to stop it unravelling.

If the join between front and back is done on an overlocker/ serger, with excess material cut away then you would need to leave more of the knitting at the seams, so that there is no chance of the seam unravelling, as it would make a real mare's nest.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[piperdbh]

...I ask myself why I can't take a pull over type sweater and shorten it. It can now be worn untucked and compliment the kilt.

You could, if you're a knitter, although it might turn into more trouble than it's worth.