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Christmas Sweater Vest to Halter Top Refashion

Looking Good When You're Feeling Bad: Chemo Headwear & Outfit Ideas
DIY Christmas Sweater Dress

I’m fairly certain at least one of my elementary school teachers wore this exact ugly Christmas sweater vest at some point.

refashionista christmas sweater vest to halter top before
Probably the one who used to throw chalk at me. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE.

Ah! The ugly Christmas sweater vest! The perfect garment for when your body is a holiday party and your arms aren’t invited. This tacky soiree is for your core ONLY.

I almost took this vest apart and used it for my recent Christmas Sweater Dress refashion, but decided to save it for its very own refashion instead.

Now, I know how to turn a sweater vest into a sweater, but I’m not gonna do that either.

I decided to keep this vest’s festive vibe by refashioning it into a fun halter top!

First, I removed the front buttons.

removing button with seam ripper
five button in my hand
Into my button stash you go!

Then, I pinned the front placket down and sewed it together.

sewing front placket
You could keep the buttons if you wanted to…but I didn’t want to.

I cut the top of the shoulders, disconnecting the front from the back.

cutting across shoulder of vest

Then, I cut across the back, removing everything from the armpits up!

cutting across back of sweater vest
Chop!

I turned my mangled sweater vest inside-out. Then I folded the top of the back over once and pinned it down.

pinning back of halter top
Measure to keep it even!

Then, I stitched it down, first using a straight stitch, then a zigzag right along the raw edge to keep it from fraying.

sewing back of halter top
Yes, you CAN cut into a sweater and sew it without it fraying!

So this refashion is going pretty well, but how am I going to make it a halter top? Where am I going to get straps for the neck? WHAT’S MY PLAN?!?!

I knew I’d need to take my vest in for it to fit properly, so I cut off some fabric from the back.

cutting fabric from the back of the vest
Don’t worry. I’m going to explain this.

Okay…so the first part you see in the above pic is (obviously) the body of my future halter top.

The next two scraps you see are going to become my neck ties. I measured them to be 2″.

The final piece is just a scrap that will end up in the trash (Sorry little buddy!).

I turned the two middle scraps into tubes by folding them in half and pinning them (with right sides facing each other) and then stitched them down.

sewing fabric tube
I’ve gotta say…my nails look really nice. My self-manicures are definitely improving.

Then I turned them right-side out!

turning tube right side out
Like this.

Now to bring it all together!

I folded the tops of the front shoulders of the vest under.

folding tops of vest shoulders under
Do you see where this is going?

Then, I tucked them into the tubes and pinned them inside.

tucking top of vest into fabric tube
Begone raw edge!

I stitched them into place, feeling quite clever for finding such a great solution for dealing with those raw edges.

sewing halter top strap to vest

The back of my halter top was still wiiiiide open though!

I put my halter top on inside-out and measured how much I wanted to take it in from the back. Then I pinned it.

pinning back of halter top
We’re almost done!

Then, I stitched up the back!

sewing back of halter top

Now I’m ready to be the most stylish person at my next Ugly Christmas Sweater Party (when we can have those again)!

refashionista Christmas Sweater Vest to Halter Top Refashion after close up
I’ll also be the chilliest…Brrrrr!!!
refashionista Christmas Sweater Vest to Halter Top Refashion after back view
My ties were juuuust long enough!

I styled my cheery new halter top with my Jillian circa 2014 Wig, flared jeans, and Vans.

refashionista Christmas Sweater Vest to Halter Top Refashion after full outfit
I’m a fan of my vans.

This top would also look nice with a black pencil skirt and pumps!

refashionista Christmas Sweater Vest to Halter Top Refashion after
I haven’t worn pumps since February…
refashionista Christmas Sweater Vest to Halter Top Refashion after side view
You do you.

If you like this project, check these out too:

This refashion isn’t just for ugly Christmas sweater vests either!

You could do this exact same upcycle on any sweater vest! For instance, I think an argyle one would look really cool!

Cheers!

refashionista Christmas Sweater Vest to Halter Top Refashion before and after
Looking Good When You're Feeling Bad: Chemo Headwear & Outfit Ideas
DIY Christmas Sweater Dress