28 November 2018

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons

Want a fun and festive way to decorate an old sweater or one you've made yourself?

You might have seen our Sew an Xmas Sweater Contest, where we are challenging you to stitch and embellish one of our patterns to win some fantastic prizes (closing Dec 9). Sophia Palmer, of Sew Jessalli, is a pro at embellishing and a wonderful judge in our contest, so we just had to ask her to share her skills with us.

Sophia creates and sells the most gorgeous personalised gifts (perfect for xmas pressies) and teaches sewing workshops from her studio in Dorset - we are particularly taken with the 'Revamp Your Sweater' workshop.

Over to the lovely Sophia to show us how she made this gorgeous Nora top with glittery baubles and machine embroidered felt stars...

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons
How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons

You Will Need
  • Nora sewing pattern (Coco, Stella, or Freya would also work well) 
  • Thick knit fabric, such as French terry, ponte roma or interlock
  • Iron-on vinyl (I got mine from Happy Fabric) in Happy Glitter fluro pink and green and Happy Flex fluro orange
  • Felt in turquoise and purple 
  • Free motion embroidery foot for your sewing machine
  • Pink and blue thread 
  • Iron and ironing board 
  • Greaseproof paper 
  • Small sharp scissors 
  • Embroidery stabiliser paper 
  • Pen and paper

Before you get stuck in, you might want to cut a few scraps of your vinyl and test them on your chosen fabric to make sure it works and you’re happy with the effect.

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons

Make up your Nora Top as normal until you have shoulder seams joined and the neck band in place. It is easier to add your design to your top before you put in the sleeves, as it will lay flat.

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons

Now it's time to create the design! Draw out some baubles, stars and confetti shapes - or whatever design you like - onto paper and separately draw the bauble hanger end. Cut them out to use as templates.

Next, take your templates and draw around them onto the back of your iron on vinyl. This should be the white or matt side. Cut them all out carefully. I used tiny scissors to cut out the smaller shapes.

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons

Next, arrange your shapes onto the front of your Nora jumper. Once you’re happy, take a picture of it for reference.

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons

Get your iron and carefully arrange the shapes into place. One by one, cover with greaseproof paper and press according to the instructions (mine was for 10 seconds). Peel off the plastic film on the tops whilst still warm.

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons

To create the felt stars and bauble tops, use the templates again and draw the outline onto felt. Pin in place.

Attach a free motion embroidery foot to your sewing machine. Put your feed dogs down - this will allow you to move the fabric around freely under the needle. Use coloured thread to sew around your felt shapes near the outer edges to hold them in place.

It’s important to note that the stitching won't be able to stretch - so don’t place large shapes around the bust or on the neckband. Small pieces are better.

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons

Lastly trace your large star shapes onto embroidery paper and loosely cut these out. Pin in place.

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons

Use free motion embroidery and coloured thread to make outlines of your shapes. Then rip away the paper. Once you’re happy with your vinyl and machine embroidery, make up the rest of the Nora as usual.

How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons
How to Make a Christmas Confetti Sweater with Sew Jessalli and Tilly and the Buttons

Thanks to the lovely Sophia of Sew Jessalli for sharing this brilliant tutorial! Are you tempted to have a go yourself?

If you make your own festive sweater, please share it with us on Instagram @TillyButtons with the hashtag #sewingxmassweater.