Restyling Exchange 2018 // Hooded Cardigan to New Floral Summer Top + What I Received

I participated in my very first refashion swap this year. I had been wanting to participate in one since last year, and I was very excited when I was invited to the Restyling Exchange. The Restyling Exchange is a "global refashion swap created to promote the use of pre-existing materials in our handmade practices in an effort to reduce waste and raise awareness for sustainable fashion." For more information, click here. 

Each participant sent out a garment to be refashioned by another restyler. Then, a garment was sent to us to be refashioned. It is such a fun surprise and so exciting to see what others refashioned with your garment. 

I was sent this hooded cardigan with some gorgeous embroidery. I definitely wanted the embroidery to be a main style element in the refashioned garment, and I wanted to use up as much as I could of it. I laid it out and thought out some ideas, before ultimately deciding that I would make a fun summer top out of the old cardigan. Here is how I cut the pieces and sewed it together.

I used the front of the cardigan to make the new sleeves.

I placed my pattern piece on the fold to cut out new embroidered sleeves.

I cut them on the edge, so I didn't have to hem the sleeves. :)

Next, I used the hood to make part of the back bodice.

I put my pattern piece on top and cut out 2 back bodice pieces.

I sewed the two back bodice pieces together to form the top part of the back bodice.

For the bottom part of the back bodice, I used the back of the cardigan. I cut the bodice a little bit flared out to make a slight swing style top.

I sewed the bottom part of the bodice to the top and here is how the back bodice looked like:

I had this floral fabric in my stash for months now. It just so happened to match the embroidery, so I used it for the front bodice of the top.

I cut a piece from the cardigan to use as neckline binding.

I just love how the back looked! 

I sent it off in some summer-y packaging in hopes that my refashion buddy liked it! :)

UPDATE: She loved it! Check out @ruddytocraft on Instagram to see it in action!

WHAT I RECEIVED:

This was honestly so much fun to make AND, it was equally just as exciting when I received my refashioned garment back. I sent out two tees; a graphic tee and a grey one with lace sleeves. The "Shopping is my Cardio" tee was actually featured in my Modest Crop Top post. It actually got a bit smaller, so I sent it in to be refashioned. I was really excited when I received this awesome messenger bag! It is spacious and very comfortable to carry. I just love it. :) 

You can check out more of my restyler's work over at @refashiondiaries on Instagram.

I paired my new bag with my pink unicorn keychain and my me-made pink unicorn peplum.

My restyler used the sleeves from one of the tops I sent to make this cute little pocket, perfect for my phone! (Okay, this is my mom's phone, LOL. Mine is cracked and I didn't want to show it off, hehe.)

Also the entire bag is lined with the grey jersey top I sent.

Overall this experience was amazing and so fun. I already can't wait until next year's restyling exchange!

PIN NOW, READ LATER! :)