A t-shirt - that's a cardigan?

May 30, 2010 4:13 PM

Help me find a short sleeved t-shirt that is also a cardigan!

I'm looking for a short-sleeved, lightweight "t-shirt cardigan." I have been searching all afternoon online and I can't find exactly what I want. This comes closest, but it has stretch (too hot) and seems a touch too long.

Basically I want a slightly longer than hip-length t-shirt that buttons all the way up that I can wear like a cardigan over summertime tops and dresses. I don't want a sweater of any kind. No cashmere, no pointelle, no crochet. 100% cotton, as lightweight as possible. Not cropped. No shrugs or boleros. I've looked at every clothing (high end, low end, juniors, misses, etc) website I can think of, and nothing. Everything that is vaguely related is either too frumpy, or too teenage.

(I've been thinking of commissioning a sewing friend or Etsy to make a t-shirt into a cardigan for me, but I'm not sure if the proportions would be right.) Any guidance would be appreciated - maybe I'm searching for something that seems like it should exist but doesn't.

posted by pinky to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (16 answers total)

I'm thinking you wouldn't want V-neck, but if you don't mind: 1. It looks nice buttoned up and I don't notice any stretch. Very lightweight.

Also, 2. Also cotton.
posted by quadrilaterals at 4:25 PM on May 30, 2010

Response by poster: V-neck is fine! Funny enough, I've seen both of those today, but they look suspiciously like cotton sweaters to me. They would be just right if the Southern summer was not imminent (if it isn't already here.)
posted by pinky at 4:30 PM on May 30, 2010

I just cut up the front of a long-sleeved (Old Navy) tshirt that was too baggy. Now I wear it all the time. I keep meaning to finish the edges (maybe sew some ribbon on the inside and add hook & eye closures) but I haven't yet ... I just wear it with the unfinished edges. No one has ever said anything (though I suppose this could be because it is so ridiculous that everyone is avoiding the subject?).
posted by librarina at 4:52 PM on May 30, 2010

Response by poster: DIY shirts-into-cardigans are really hot right now, librarina :-)
posted by pinky at 4:55 PM on May 30, 2010

Have you seen this at Overstock.com? This at stylehive? This knitted piece? Macy's? Hoodie cardigan? Bolero from a T-shirt? Another bolero-T? T-shirt shrug?
posted by MonkeyToes at 4:58 PM on May 30, 2010

The best thing to do is to find a cardigan made of jersey (t-shirt material), then get the sleeves shortened.

Boden silk trim jersey cardigan

Old Navy lightweight cardi

Old Navy short sleeve pointelle

Victoria's Secret pima cardigan
posted by mlo at 5:01 PM on May 30, 2010

Last year L.L. Bean had what you were describing, calling them "button-front tees", but they don't seem to have them any more. The closest is this which has three-quarter length sleeves and stripes. It's funny that in the reviews for this product, one person was planning to return it because they had wanted a cardigan sweater, and instead this was more like a button up t-shirt.
posted by needled at 5:41 PM on May 30, 2010

Here's a tutorial to make one. It just says cut up your t-shirt, but I wouldn't have thought it would look that good in the end if angrychicken hadn't showed me. If your point is that you want it to button, maybe do this but with a smaller loop and button.
posted by artychoke at 5:49 PM on May 30, 2010

Response by poster: That is really funny, needled - you prove that such a thing does exist! I may buy one of those longsleeved shirts for winter, I love stripes.

and artychoke, why couldn't I just do that? I have an annoying tissue weight shirt that I could easily experiment on.

thanks everyone!
posted by pinky at 5:54 PM on May 30, 2010

I got this cardigan from JCrew recently and it's incredibly lightweight (pima cotton/modal). It feels like cotton, just a lot thinner and smoother. The sleeves hit right at the elbow, so I'm not sure if that's too long for you. Plus, the overall length is also a bit shorter than you're looking for, but it's not a cropped length by any means. In my opinion, though, it just looks great and is incredibly comfortable to wear even when it's warm out. I've been really happy with it so I thought it was worth recommending!
posted by belau at 7:16 PM on May 30, 2010

Response by poster: that's a very pretty sweater, belau - and trust me, after being down the rabbit hole of sweaters, tops, cardigans, of all descriptions, page after page, I may be revising what I want. My eyes are crossing from looking at so many pages of tops.
posted by pinky at 7:50 PM on May 30, 2010

Needled is correct and LL Bean still has them. They're in the catalog that arrived last week but I can't find them on the website. They come in several solid colors and are made of lightweight t-shirt material. Maybe you could call and ask about them.
posted by Pamelayne at 9:48 PM on May 30, 2010

Response by poster: Do you have an item number, Pamelayne? I just spent a while on the phone with a nice rep at L.L. Bean, and we turned up this and this - but nothing with true short sleeves.
posted by pinky at 6:04 AM on May 31, 2010

Last year I got three of these in various colours from Gap (in the UK). They were made from very thick t-shirt material but are really comfortable and not too heavy, and come in a nice range of colours. I just had a look at the US site but I couldn't see anything; I know we have different stock over here but it might be worth checking out the site or popping into Gap anyway.
posted by badmoonrising at 12:14 PM on May 31, 2010

Here's a David Lerner one on Ebay that looks nice
posted by rmless at 6:41 PM on May 31, 2010

Response by poster: Just found this yesterday. The idea is right, if the details (limited colors, might be too long, don't like the "waist" and string) are not. I'd like to try it on, although the zip code search tells me it isn't in the store yet.
posted by pinky at 4:37 AM on June 16, 2010