Enter this simple sewing project: just two seams and one cut.

Best of all, the picture or writing on the front stays totally visible.

If you also need pins, thread, or an entire sewing machine, budget a little bit more.

Refer to ourhow-to-sew guideif you need a refresher on sewing the old fashioned way.)

A hoodie.If youre nervous about cutting up something beloved, practice first on a thrift store find.

A separating zipperin the same length as the front of your hoodie, or longer.

Look for one in the same color as your hoodie, or darker.

Youll cut this into strips, so you dont need much.

The quarter yard will give you plenty of extra.

Craft stores tend to be coupon-happy sorts of places, so your prices may be even lower than these.

The top is easy: its where the two sides of the hood meet.

But the bottom is a little trickier, so find it as shown in the video.

Mark it with a safety pin, or draw a line with chalk if you have some.

Turn the hoodie inside out.

Cut strips of interfacing to be wider than the zipper, maybe three inches or so.

Iron the strips to the centerline, on the inside of the hoodie.

Dont worry if the strips are too short; just stick the pieces down next to each other.

you’re free to see me doing this in the video.

Then, pin the zipper down.

I like to put the pins lengthwise, and remove them while I sew.

before you roll sewing, verify youve swapped out the regular foot on your sewing machine fora zipper foot.

Adjust the zipper foot to be on the right side as youre looking at the needle.

Double check that the machine is set for a straight stitch, since anything else will break the needle.

(Ask me how I know.)

Turn the hoodie right side out.

Now all you have to do is stitch down the zipper tape.

I like to leave about a quarter inch of space between my stitching and the zipper teeth.

That might not work out for every brand of zipper, but it sure is handy when it does.

Are the lines of stitching straight?

Is the zipper making weird lumps on your belly?

Did you sew the sleeve to the chest?

Dont be afraid to pick out the seam (with aseam ripperor sharp scissors) and take another crack.

When you get it right, I promise, it will be worth it.

If it looks good, youre ready to cut.

Get your sharpest pair of scissors, and carefully cut right up the middle, between the two seams.

Trim off any excess.

Thats ityou have now turned your favorite pullover hoodie into a zip-up.