Upcycled Clothing Project: Cozy Cardigan Cowl and Boot Socks

Winter is the perfect time to clean and organize your closets, and while you're in there, you're bound to find a bevy of unwanted clothing. If there's an old cardigan sweater hanging around that no longer suits you, give it new life as not one but two fun winter accessories! With this easy upcycled clothing project, you can create both a cozy cardigan cowl and a pair of boot socks to help keep you toasty this winter.

First, cut across the sweater, starting under one sleeve and ending under the other sleeve. You will be using the bottom part of the sweater for the cowl. Reserve the top part of the sweater for later.

Change your sewing machine to a zigzag stitch.

Sew a zigzag stitch along the raw edge of the sweater to keep it from fraying.

Turn the cowl inside out. Measure, mark, and pin 2 inches in on both sides of the cowl.

Starting on the bottom finished edge of the cowl (to keep the edges even), sew a 2-inch seam on each side of the cowl. Remove the pins as you sew.

Trim the seams, leaving a 1/2-inch seam allowance.

Turn the raw edge under 1/2 inch (toward the wrong side of your cowl) and pin.

Sew along the pin line, removing the pins as you sew.

Fold the sewn edge toward the wrong side of the cowl to create a 3-inch hem. Pin in place.

Use a slip stitch to hem the cowl. Remove the pins as you stitch.

If you'd like to add some extra buttons to the cowl, remove the buttons from the top of the sweater.

Turn the cowl right side out and hand stitch the buttons to the cowl an equal distance between the existing buttons.

Cute as well as warm and toasty, a sweater cowl makes a great gift for yourself or someone you love.

You can even make use of the sweater sleeves by cutting 12 inches off the bottom of the sleeve and finishing the raw edge with a 1/2-inch hem to create a pair of cute boot socks.