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Draped Shawl Cardigan (Pattern Review and Mini Tutorial)

fashion tutorials· Free Sewing Patterns· Sewing· sewing with knits· Tutorials

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links.

How to make a Drapey Cardigan:

I didn’t intend for this post to be a tutorial.  I had planned on sewing up a little cardigan and just showing it off…

How to sew your own Draped Shawl Cardigan

(Looking for more free patterns? Be sure to check out my free patterns and tutorials page here.)

Ha ha ha… That didn’t quite work out.

I picked up McCall’s pattern 5241 during one of Joann’s 99 cent pattern sale a few months ago.  I finally had a break in my sewing/crafting to make something for myself.  The weather is starting to get warmer and I had this pretty turquoise knit that would make a perfect light-weight cardigan for the Spring.

What a waste of time and fabric that pattern turned out to be.  The design is awful!  (Next time I will read the reviews before sewing a new pattern for myself.)  The problem with this pattern is that the construction consists of a rectangle of fabric with holes cut near the top and sleeves attached.  It’s more of a wrap, not a cardigan.  There is no real neck area and the fit where the sleeves attached is weird and awkward – it kept slipping down and would not stay on my shoulders.

Thank goodness I had cut out view C (the longest cardigan) so there was plenty of fabric that could be re-worked.  I ripped everything apart and used a cardigan from my closet to trace out a new pattern. I was even able to re-use the already cut sleeves.

I was worried about salvaging my fabric into a wearable cardigan, so I didn’t even think to take pictures until the very end.  But my version of a Draped Shawl Cardigan is really easy, and I have recreated the steps for you here in miniature (hence…  mini-tutorial).

Items needed to make your own drapey cardigan:

  • 2.5 yards of 58+ inch wide knit fabric.  (The prettiest most flattering fit will come from a thin drapey knit. I used a slub rayon knit from fabric.com that was 68 inches wide.)
  • Measuring tape
  • Thread
  • Scissors
  • Freezer paper or some other paper big enough to trace a pattern onto
  • Marker
  • Shirt or sweater that fits well to trace for the pattern

Instructions:

First step is to make a pattern.  Using a measuring tape, measure from the top of your shoulder down to where you want the back of your cardigan to hit.  Fold your shirt in half so the back is showing and trace the shape onto the freezer paper like the picture below, extending down to your back measurement.  (You could trace directly onto the fabric, but I like to make patterns only once and reuse them.) Add 1/4 inch all around your pattern for the seam allowance.  Cut out your pattern piece.  You will use the same piece for the front and back.

My trick for tracing pattern shapes in awkward areas is to use a Tracing Wheel and Tracing Paper.

Next, trace the sleeve on to the paper for a sleeve pattern.  Add 1/4 inch around the bottom and shoulder edge.  Cut out your pattern piece

Fold your fabric in half an cut the back piece as shown.

Next, using the same pattern piece, cut the 2 front pieces as shown:

Finished pieces will look like this:
how to make a draped shawl cardigan

Cut out your sleeve pattern.

Right sides together, sew the shoulder seams, the side seams and the sleeve seams using 1/4 inch seam allowance.  (See the black lines below.)
.

 

Right sides together, insert the sleeve into the arm hole and match up the bottom seam of the sleeve to the side seam of the cardigan.  Pin securely and sew 1/4 inch from edge.

After studying a couple of my cardigans, I have figured out the secret to making this style of cardigan so awesome!  The secret is to add an extra shawl collar.

With your leftover fabric, cut a strip 8 inches by 70 inches.  (I cut 2 that were 8 x 35 1/4 and sewed them together.)  70 inches is probably too long, but you can trim the edges later. (Too long is better than too short IMO.)

Lay out your cardigan and right sides together, pin the strip all along the top of the cardigan and sew as shown below.  Even up the edge of the shawl collar and cardigan if needed.

To see this bigger, left click on the photo and open in a new tab.

Fold over the shawl and tack the collar down in these spots.

Now try on your cardigan and trim the length if it is too long.  After I tried on my cardigan, I ended up taking a little volume out of the sleeves by moving the seam in on the bottom half of the sleeve.  You can also even up the bottom edge if you would prefer an even hem over a staggered hem.

You are done!  I love how my cardigan fits, it is just perfect for keeping warm on a chilly day while lounging around the house or running errands.

If you are inspired to create something based on this tutorial, I would love to see it!  Tag me on instagram using #scatteredmompatterns or share in my new facebook group: Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom Pattern page.

I love the options with this cardigan.  Have a cute outfit to show off?  Tie it around your waist!

Wind picked up at the soccer game?  Throw the shawl over your shoulder to keep your neck warm!

(BTW, I took all these pictures myself.  I bought a magical accessory worth its weight in gold…  A wireless remote for my camera! It’s awesome!  If you don’t have a remote and a tripod, you need to get one!

Updated to add:  I made a 2nd one of these using a fleece blanket.  See the results here.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  3. Heather says

    You did a great job! Love that color too. I haven't made anything for myself, but would love this! Thanks for the tutorial!

    Reply

  4. tobecontinued says

    So great! I hate it when a patter isn't good- at least it was only 99 cents! I love your version- it would be great for gifts since the sizing is flexible!
    Catherine
    tbc-tobecontinued.blogspot.com

    Reply

  8. Shiloh says

    I really like the way this turned out! I'm so sorry your pattern was a bust, but the cardigan is fantastic.:)
    Shiloh
    everydaygameplan.net

    Reply

  12. Stephanie says

    I love your tutorial…especially the mini-pattern pieces. (So much easier than trying to take a picture 6 feet above your project on the floor!) Thanks for sharing this at I can't stop crafting.
    thepetitesewist.blogspot.com

    Reply

  18. The Clegg Family says

    -Visiting from Strut your Stuff Saturdays-
    I have a wrap like this that I got at Old Navy that I like…this tutorial will be great to use so I can make one myself. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

  19. Abbie says

    What a clever idea, Jamie! And great tutorial!

    Thanks SO much for linking up at Feature Friday Free-for-All!

    ~Abbie

    Reply

  21. Lisa says

    This came out really cute!

    I'm not big into store-bought patterns. I feel like they make things way more complicated than they need to be. Glad you were able to alter it so you were happy with the result!

    Reply

  22. kweishalevel3 says

    We LOVE this style! We made several for gifts during the holidays using Vogue pattern #8696. LOVE the versatility, too. We lined our's which made them cozy enough to wear on moderately chilly Northwest evenings – LOTS of compliments and orders for friends and family so the pattern has MORE then paid for itself! We even made a teeny tiny version of the pattern so little ones could 'match' their mommies!

    Reply

  28. leahmariev.com says

    I love it!! I can't make my own clothes (both because of a lack of talent and scared that they will fall off in public) so… how about you make me one of these? I have a black one I practically live in, I need more!

    Reply

  31. Cathy @ My 1929 Charmer says

    What a versatile piece. Don't you love the 99 cent pattern sales. I always buy around to to add to my stock. I use to make so much of my own cloths, and changed to home decor. Now I'll think about giving this a try. So pretty, and really did a great job. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday's Best Par.tay

    Reply

  32. Mindie Hilton says

    These cardis are so popular right now, my husband bought me two for Christmas after I hinted I wanted them. I bet I could have saved some money if I had busted out my sewing machine. Yours is inspiring. Thanks for sharing at Bacon Time.

    Reply

  34. Steph says

    You did such a great job explaining this, I think I might actually be able to do it! Thank you! I found you on Pinterest.

    Reply

  37. Dianne says

    Thank you for sharing this! I have been wondering how to make this type of cardigan and thanks to your tutorial, I'm going to give it a try. Yours came out very professional; it looks store bought. Great job!

    Reply

  40. Six Sisters says

    Thanks for the tutorial. That makes it so much easier. Thanks so much for joining us on "Strut Your Stuff Saturday". We loved having you and hope to see you back next week with more great ideas! – The Sisters

    Reply

  45. Michelle says

    Best Idea Ever! A mini-tutorial. I think I can use that when i am dreaming up new ideas… make it in smaller scale first. Very clever. I have a fail cardigan too that you just might have the solution for. Let's hope it works!

    Reply

  48. oldnbroken says

    My goodness, but you get MY seal of approval! The use of mini pieces for illustrations was genius. I had pinned this awhile back and am just looking over my boards when I came across this again. As a full figure woman, these aren't really easy to find and having Grandma wings makes finding a good fit even tougher. Thanks for the hard work!

    Reply

  51. Mrs.Haggie810 says

    So excited to try this to add some transition pieces to my maternity wardrobe this Fall, and then nursing wardrobe in the winter! I knew it couldn't be that hard, but the pattern in my mind (do you ever do that? lol) had me sewing a square onto the front piece of a normal cardi front piece…never crossed my mind to cut it all in one piece (darn preggo brain! lol) Glad I found this so that my scattered thoughts could be brought together. 🙂

    Reply

  52. Adena (aka cre82learn) says

    Thank you so much for this!! I have that same pattern but have been putting off using it. I can sew a little but every time I use a pattern, the pattern just confuses me. I do so much better with a tutorial like this with lots of pictures. Glad I only paid 99 cents for mine too!

    Reply

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