Last night I finally finished making my last Christmas present! It’s for my mum, I do find it difficult buying presents for someone in a carehome, for birthdays I usually take her out for the day to a quilt show. I felt for Christmas she needed something to open. In the end I asked some of the carers if there was anything she needed – a cardigan.
I looked for a pretty cardigan but couldn’t see anything I thought she would like. I then hit on the idea of buying a plain one and titivating it. I bought a soft, cosy navy blue cardigan in one of the shops in Otley.
Last night I finally got round to embellishing it. I had a perusal on Pinterest and decided to concentrate the embroidery in the neckline/centre front area. I chose a variegated DMC thread 4030 which is all pretty shades of blue and green.
I started with a big daisy in the corner, decided I didn’t want anymore quite so big so I sort of zig-zagged them along the neck and a little way down the front. I did struggle when it came to making the other side look the same- mirror images are clearly not my forte! By this time I was getting a little low on thread, as I was using all six strands together. It needed some infilling between the flowers. I found some DMC 4025 which is a darker version and just used three strands to add leaves and a few french knots. I tried to make it a sort of wavy line of leaves and flowers.
Having embroidered the front, the beige buttons looked completely wrong. I found some buttons in my stash which matched colour and size wise perfectly, I just worried that they were too plain. I decided to stitch them on anyway – if my mum commented I could easily change them, I just knew I didn’t have chance to visit a button shop before Christmas.
Once I stitched them all on and stood back, I liked them, so hopefully she will too.
It’s surprising how just a little simple stitching can change a ready to wear cardigan into something much more personal. I think she’ll like it.
thecraftycreek 
That is lovely idea, I’m sure your Mum will be delighted
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Hello Margaret, The cardi for your Mum is lovely, what a good idea, I would never have thought of that, well done. Regards Mandy xx
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I sure like it, Margaret! 🙂
It is very thoughtful of you to embellish the cardigan for your Mum…surely she will appreciate it!
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You changed a very boring looking sweater into a very sweet personal gift. I love the way it turned out. I bet your Mom will too.
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What a great idea. Lisa at Greenbow says it all. 🙂
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so pretty Margaret. Merry Christmas to you and yours from NZ
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What a lovely gift. You made it special. Merry Christmas from Oregon, USA.
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The cardigan looks lovely and the buttons are a perfect match.
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What a lovely idea – and the embellishment is top notch! I have a friend who has a similar dilemma – mother in a care home, she has everything she needs. Last year my friend crocheted a lap blanket which sits folded up on a chair, never used as the heating is always on high. This year lots of suggestions – toiletries (no, she has a drawer full), edibles (no, she eats very little and only at mealtimes), something to wear (no, she needs nothing). I wish I’d thought of suggesting embellishing a cardigan – yes, she said she needs nothing but I think one would have been acceptable with a little pretty tweaking.
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That’s a great idea. The sweater is beautiful. You chose really great additions to the sweater, and the buttons are a perfect match.
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I am sure she will love it ~ it’s lovely!
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Delightful idea and beautifully executed! Am certain she’ll love it!
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Fabulous, those buttons are perfect – simple as to not distract from your lovely embroidery.
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