Introduction: Cat Sweater With Zipper-Mouth

By
About: I make it up as I go.

This project features a cute cat sweater which transforms into a creepy cat sweater thanks to the zipper detail!

Step 1: What You'll Need

  • Sweatshirt (not too tight)
  • Zipper (should be the length you want the mouth to be)
  • Paper
  • Pencil
  • Scissors
  • Fabric in 3 colors for the eyes, nose, and mouth (I used felt, but you can use any non-fraying, medium weight fabric)
  • Matching thread
  • Pins
  • Needle
  • Sewing Machine

Step 2: Get Creative: Draw Design for the Face

Sketch out your design, and then cut it out and place it on your sweatshirt to make sure it is the desired size.

Get creative!

You can make the eyes as simple or as complicated as you want! You can also make any kind of animal or creature!

Step 3: Make the Eyes: Cut Out Fabric Using Pattern

Lay your paper pattern on top of your fabric, then cut around and out.

Repeat for the other eye.

Continue cutting up your pattern for the other, smaller pieces of the eyes.

Step 4: Make the Eyes: Sew and Just a Little Embroidery

Pin your cut-out pieces to each other, and then sew them together. This can be done by machine or by hand.

After your eyeballs are assembled, take a needle and thread and sew 3 short lines on each eye to give them that shine.

Step 5: Make the Eyes: Pin and Sew to Sweater

Lay your eyes on the sweatshirt and pin.

Carefully put on the sweatshirt to see if the placement is right. Too high or too low will look silly, silly.

After you are satisfied, sew the eyes down permanently.

Step 6: Make the Mouth: Cut and Sew the Teeth

I wanted the zipper to be as long as my eyes from end to end, so I had to shorten it.

With your zipper at the right length, cut out fabric in the same length (mine was 15"). The width should be however big you want the mouth to hang open (mine was 6").

Draw and cut out that fabric like in the photo to get that mouth shape.

Cut out 1/4" strips to be the outline of the teeth.

Pin and sew down the teeth permanently.

Step 7: Make the Mouth: Cut Your Sweater and Sew

Determine where the mouth should be with pencil marking, and then cut along that line.

After your horizontal cutting, make 2 vertical cuts at both ends of the horizontal.

Turn your sweatshirt inside out, and then pin the sweatshirt back along the horizontal cut.

Sew down where you have pinned to hem the slot.

Step 8: Make the Mouth: Sew Zipper to Teeth

Lay your zipper along the top edge of the teeth. Pin and sew.

After sewing the tops, sew the bottoms of the zipper and the teeth together.

Step 9: Make the Mouth: Sew Zipper Mouth to Sweater

Place your newly sewn zipper mouth inside of the slot you made earlier.

Pin the zipper to the sweater, using the hem you made in Step 7 as your guide. Make sure you are not accidentally pinning any of the teeth fabric.

Sew the zipper to the sweater, again using the hem you made in Step 7 as your guide (if you do not have a zipper foot, you can sew as much as you can, then finishing by hand sewing with a needle and thread).

Step 10: Make the Nose: I Almost Forgot

If you've made it this far, then pinning and sewing the nose should be a piece of cake to you. Go you.

Step 11: Wear It: Obviously

Be sure to show me your completed cat (or not cat) sweater!

Good luck!

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