This is the story of how I saved an awesome sweater.

Ok – I’m not HUGE on Valentine’s Day. Most people that know me, know that.  I love the mush as much as the next girl, I just don’t get that we need a special day…that being said, we did…of course…have some fun with the day.  My husband is going to kill me but here goes —

The weekend before Valentine’s Day, we had our date…it was wonderful, awesome, fantastic – had a wonderful time together reconnecting and ignoring the rest of the world.  If you have children, you really should try it sometime.  Really. Just do it.  Whatever it takes.

So, on Valentine’s Day, my daughter and I had plans to meet Daddy for lunch…’cause, really, it’s all about her – and him setting the bar so high than none of your sons can ever reach it…I didn’t want to wear the same outfit…and I didn’t want to wear something else I wear all the time (jeans/red sweatshirt…yep).  SO, I thought I’d dig around and see what I could find – JACKPOT!

I’ve been wanting to do something with this awesome raglan sweater for the longest time…just wasn’t quite sure what yet…It’s a great sweater, new with the $48 price tag on it (don’t worry, I didn’t spend that…). Problem is, it has a huge gash across the front.  But, it’s still awesome.

I don’t knit. I don’t pretend to knit. I don’t even pretend that I want to learn to knit…and this was a very loosely knitted sweater – so there will be no putting it in the sewing machine and saying a prayer.

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, and we love red…especially with black and white, I found a nice long strand of red satin ribbon, tucked in one end of the gash and started weaving it through. I started with the intention of doing a baseball stitch, but that didn’t work out.  So, I just did some criss crosses.  Here are the photos as I worked…

Long strand – I really can’t tell you how much I used – just make sure you have enough to weave through twice, with room for a bow at the end if you want it. I started in the middle of the ribbon.

Here is my first round of weaving – I just went in from the back (wrong side of shirt), came over to the other side, and then in from the top (right side of shirt). My entry points were about 4 rows apart – make them as far apart or close together as you like, just be consistent.

Here is the second round of weaving – same thing as the first round – you are just using that second half of the ribbon.  Make sure that you straighten out your ribbon as you go so it will lay flat and neat.  It will be much easier to do as you work rather than waiting until you are finished.

And here we are all done – I tied a little bow at the end, putting a knot in it so it would at least stay put. Once I know I like it (wear/wash/wear), then I will probably put a few stiches in it so that I don’t have to contstantly re-tie it.  Sorry for the odd selfie – I’ll try to get a real picture someday. Sigh.

AND, last but not least, here are Daddy & daughter sharing lots of love and mushiness…and caring not how awesome Mommy’s project came out…LOVE THEM SO MUCH!

Now, y’all head on out and share some love in the world.

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth.

1 John 3:18