Go and take a look at your wardrobe. Are there too many clothes?
Some of us hoard clothes and end up cluttered in the closet.
Once you start downsizing, it’s difficult to let go of some clothes.
A 2021 survey found that only 14% of Americans are happy with their closet, while others are reluctant to get rid of their clothes.
But what do you do with all those old clothes?
You can donate your clothes or repurpose them into a more versatile design.
This quick tutorial will show you how to add a zipper to your turtleneck so you can open it up to comfort.
Let me walk you through it.
First, measure the middle of your turtleneck.
Lay your turtleneck on a flat surface with its front up.
Make sure that it is laid properly, so everything is in symmetry.
Then, use a ruler to measure the neck from one end to the other, find the exact half, and draw a line in between.
Get the zipper that you intend to use.
Place it on the line you just drew and see how long it is and make sure there is a bit of excess on top for when you sew or close this part up.
The line should be up until where the zipper ends when unzipped, and extend the line you drew if needed.
Cut the line all the way through.
Then, turn your turtleneck wrong-side-up so you can work on creating a guide for your zipper.
Get two strips of fusible and carefully position them on both ends of the opening, and iron them in place.
Now, this is the part where it gets tricky.
Turn your turtleneck back ride-side-up and position the zipper where you want to place it.
Note, though, that you have the place the zipper backward and clip on the opposite end.
For example, the ride side of the zipper should be at the left side opening.
Once you clip them, it’s time to sew the zipper.
It’s best to use a sewing machine for this one so you’d have nice, even stitches throughout the zipper length.
Do this on both sides.
Once done, you can remove the clips and cut the excess of the outer sides of the zipper and the fusible.
It’s now time for the finishing touches.
First, cut a short diagonal slice on each side of the end of the zipper.
This allows you to pull in the excess at the bottom or end part of the zipper.
Then, let it run through the sewing machine, and you can do so multiple times to ensure that it stays in place.
Next is to finish the top end of the zipper.
Remove the initial stitches on the zipper, fold them inwards (towards the turtleneck’s cloth) and sew them together.
You can do this by hand since running it into the sewing machine is difficult.
And there you have it! A repurpose and more stylish turtleneck.
This design makes your old turtleneck more versatile and not just something you’ll wear during autumn or winter.
Adding the zipper allows you to open it up, fold it down, and wear it on a cool day in spring.
Watch the full tutorial in the video below.
