I’m trying to figure out if I should do something to jazz up this very grandpa-looking cardigan I’m currently sewing. Maybe this was the wrong fabric to do a tie front/shawl collar with! But since this fabric came from my last year’s birthday mystery bundle, I want to try to see this through. The options I’ve played with so far are some kind of embellishment from my huge vintage button stash (I think the white ones are too ivory-yellow tone to work, but the darker ones could be interesting if I can figure out a better configuration), or trim (picture 3), or some kind of embroidery or scrap denim flowers or something? (no sample). Or I could take the collar off entirely? I need to figure out the edge finishing either way, because I forgot to cut the facing pieces (thanks Big 4) and I’m piecing together scraps to see what I can come up with. I also had to piece the collar and back it with a piece of jersey because I really did not have enough yardage to make anything useful to me. Anyway. I’m also including a photo of this giant jar of buttons — when my grandmother on my dad’s side was downsizing to move in with my parents, she gave this to me, apparently her aunt or someone worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory and had hoarded all of these. I really need to start using them for something.

All that to say, this needs help. It’s boring. But I’m still convinced that it doesn’t have to be.