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Make It Easy:  old wool sweater projects  |
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danyel
True Blue Farmgirl
350 Posts
Danyel
Robertsdale
PA
USA
350 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 27 2014 : 12:01:11 PM
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I am interested in making items from recycled wool sweaters. My daughters received beautiful hand made gloves from recycled wool sweaters. Before that I really never knew about using old sweaters to make items. They are so beautiful and warm. Do you need to use 100 % wool or can it be a blend? like 80 %? How do you keep them from unraveling as you cut and sew? Is there anything that you can do with sweaters that are not wool? I have a lot of those that stretch out over the years (rags for the garage is where they end up) any ideas for them?
thank you
Danyel
Farmgirl sister 4202 |
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Lavender Rose
True Blue Farmgirl
1979 Posts
Brenda
Jackson
MI
USA
1979 Posts |
Posted - Jan 27 2014 : 12:59:49 PM
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Hi Danyel.
I have taken ones that are mostly wool and washed and dried them in the dryer to felt them and used them to make appliques on purses etc. Also, they make great quilt squares, slippers, bags, etc. Just anything you can think of.
Blends also work well for lots of crafts. Throw pillows, rugs, tote bags.
If you are afraid they will unravel, stitch around the edges before cutting out.
Lavender Rose
Each day we add to our legacy-good or bad. Our Daily Bread |
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danyel
True Blue Farmgirl
350 Posts
Danyel
Robertsdale
PA
USA
350 Posts |
Posted - Jan 27 2014 : 3:12:46 PM
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Thank you, I will probably try the sweaters that are 85 % wool and try to felt them as well. I am looking forward to making some gloves. Have you tried the quilts squares?
Danyel |
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MagnoliaWhisper
True Blue Farmgirl
2817 Posts
Heather
Haysville
Kansas
USA
2817 Posts |
Posted - Jan 27 2014 : 6:21:12 PM
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I use 100 percent wool.
If they are felted they will not unravel.
I've never had one unravel yet.
I have not made mittens though. Although I may try that next, cause that would be good to do with the body of the sweaters any way! lol I usually make pants for my kids with the sleeves, it keeps them dry and is the best diaper cover ever!
http://www.heathersprairie.blogspot.com |
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DeniseMGM
True Blue Farmgirl
110 Posts
Denise
WI
USA
110 Posts |
Posted - Mar 26 2014 : 8:29:23 PM
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I have made mittens with old sweaters, but my experience is that only 100% wool felts well. The 80% blend just doesn't keep the edges as tight as I prefer. I'm done making mittens because they create a LOT of "lint" in my sewing machine.
I do have a lot of scraps left over and I plan to make flowers with them - the kind of flowers than can be pinned to a hat or jacket. In the past I made a penny rug that was so fabulously relaxing to sew. Here's a link to that project: http://lionsdaughter.wordpress.com/2011/04/18/montana-zen/
My latest thing is gathering up old cashmere sweaters at thrift stores. They also shrink it the washing machine. I am thinking of making a modern throw, backed with a super soft flannel.
Denise - Farmgirl #1976
www.lionsdaughter.wordpress.com |
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
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danyel
True Blue Farmgirl
350 Posts
Danyel
Robertsdale
PA
USA
350 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2014 : 5:56:25 PM
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I love the penny rugs, and thank you for sharing a link for a mitten pattern, I have one of my daughters open finger mittens that I was going to try to create a pattern from. I have washed and dried my sweaters and I can't wait to get started, With the scraps I thought I would make a blanket, still looking for ideas.
Thank you
Danyel
farmgirl sister
4202 |
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thebyrdhaus
True Blue Farmgirl
520 Posts
Patty
Columbus
Oh
USA
520 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2014 : 04:57:44 AM
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I have seen birdhouses made from felt wool. Does anyone know if they can be made from sweaters or are sweaters not thick enough? I would love to have some direction for them. I bought oneto try to figure it out. It is rounded, it has a "knob on top with a string to hang and only has one seam in the very bottom. Just wondering if anyone is familiar with making them.
Patty #1840
http://ladygonegreen.blogspot.com/
A rind is a terrible thing to waste. Compost.
When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”
-Jesus in John 6:12 NIV Bible |
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KarenP
True Blue Farmgirl
666 Posts
Karen
Chippewa Falls
Wisconsin
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2014 : 05:24:19 AM
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Patty I have seen some too, I think those I saw are knitted and then felted, or from carded wool and hand felted.
Haven't seen any made from old sweaters. I make mittens from time to time from old felted sweaters.
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
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atkinst2
True Blue Farmgirl
907 Posts
Theresa
Canal Winchester
OH
USA
907 Posts |
Posted - Jul 06 2014 : 12:59:38 PM
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Patty, I too have seen them. I think if you have a water filled balloon or Styrofoam form and your sweater is 100% wool (no super wash) it would be pretty easy to do.
Are you thinking about doing the felting in the wash machine? If so, start the felting process and when the piece gets close to the size of the form mold it around the form and secure the opening. When it drys then you can cut the hole for the bird and pop the balloon or dig out the Styrofoam.
I think this might work.
Theresa |
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SandraM
True Blue Farmgirl
295 Posts
Sandra
Coldwater
Michigan
USA
295 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2014 : 12:59:06 PM
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I have made some wool bags from sweaters. They shouldn't unravel once felted.
I am cutting squares for a blanket I would like to do, still collecting up sweaters so I can finish it.
Have fun!
Sandra
www.mittenstatesheepandwool.com |
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country treasure
True Blue Farmgirl
452 Posts
judy
SK
Canada
452 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2014 : 4:44:22 PM
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Hi Danyel,
Have made slippers with ribbon threaded through the top of each. Quick & easy to do. they go over well for gifts.
Made grocery or library bags
dog sweaters & blankets
felted wool makes THEE best farm work coat patches. Think elbow patches.
If you find some cute coloured little girls sweaters that have the decorations on them...stitching, flowers, whatever then felt & cut up for gift card envelopes, for book covers.
Judy
country wishes! |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
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danyel
True Blue Farmgirl
350 Posts
Danyel
Robertsdale
PA
USA
350 Posts |
Posted - Jul 31 2014 : 6:09:55 PM
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Oh I love the ideas!
This would help with Christmas ideas for the family
I have a tote filled with sweaters I have been "collecting" my sister decorated her kitchen in bird houses, I will look for a picture of one.
The idea of a grocery bag would be good, and I never thought of using them as patches.
I wanted to make a blanket, and other than the gloves,
and I do have a couple that have really cute embroidery on it, that would make a special gift card holder.
I never thought of these other ideas, thank you for sharing.
so excited, hope to have time to work on something
Thank you
Danyel
farmgirl sister 4202 |
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country treasure
True Blue Farmgirl
452 Posts
judy
SK
Canada
452 Posts |
Posted - Aug 01 2014 : 10:01:53 AM
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Hey Danyel,
Last night I opened a library book & found some really cute ideas or just have sweaters on the mind! lol
---giving jam jars (any kind of jars) for gift giving?? make small strips & cut the ends to make it look like a scarf & tie around the jars. Add in a little decoration for the season.EASY
--hot water bottle covers
--scrap flower brooches.....SUPER cute for wearing or parcel add ons. Cut strips then fold them around in a tight circle sew bottom tight & fluff out. the top part of the strips are cut half way to form the petals. She actually had them decorating a old mirror.
-- seen before & this looks great grouped together....buy some foam cones, the ones with the flat bottoms & pointed tops, then use sweaters with patterns or ridges/etc & sew to cover the cones. They turn into looking like Christmas trees....not too good of job with the how tos 
--a friend made a wreath by cutting small circles of left overs & strung them into a circle. She used every colour of yellow she could find & it looks sooo cute!
--my last fall wreath had orange & gold squares in it
I refuse to throw even the littlest scrap of felted wool out since it's so expensive to buy here or the time to felt it.
Teri, love the socking idea. I'd love to hear other ideas too.
Judy
country wishes! |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
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frannie
True Blue Farmgirl
2246 Posts
fran
bonham
texas
USA
2246 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2014 : 3:46:18 PM
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I also have been making felted projects for a long time and everyone is right, once you felt the item it can be cut and wont unravel....I have never seen the birdhouses but am always looking for a new project , in the past I made animals and stuffies. if you click on my blog site abunnystale.worpress.com you can see some of the felted crafts....have fun , I love felting..
love,
frannin in texas
love
frannie in texas
farmgirl sister#807
home of "green"crafts,
where no scrap is left behind
(http://abunnystale.wordpress.com/)
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country treasure
True Blue Farmgirl
452 Posts
judy
SK
Canada
452 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2014 : 4:14:31 PM
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Teri & Fran creative items!
Made lots of gum boot liners....nice & warm. Hang enough over the top of the boot so it doesn't rub against your skin if wearing with bard legs.
Judy
country wishes! |
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Beverley
True Blue Farmgirl
2707 Posts
Beverley
atlanta
Michigan
USA
2707 Posts |
Posted - Aug 02 2014 : 8:52:26 PM
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Judy, I know over here I go to resale shops and get my wool items and then felt them. Do you have resale shops over in canada? The cost of the wool goes way down when you can buy them this way.
Folks will know how large your soul is by the way you treat a dog....Charles F. Doran
beverley baggett
Beverley with an extra E...
https://sites.google.com/site/bevsdoggies/
http://bevsdoggies.blogspot.com/ |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
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Calicogirl
True Blue Farmgirl
5216 Posts
Sharon
Bruce Crossing
Michigan
USA
5216 Posts |
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
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danyel
True Blue Farmgirl
350 Posts
Danyel
Robertsdale
PA
USA
350 Posts |
Posted - Aug 07 2014 : 5:49:00 PM
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oh wow!!! I so love the ideas, I need off a couple days to work on something, I don't know what to make first. Never thought of inside boot warmers, I need to check out the website when I have time to acutally look, please any other ideas,
Beverley, like you I go to good will, yard sales, any where looking for cheap sweaters, and I do not mind admitting it, people sell them for as little as a quarter for children sized sweaters. crazy cheap.
Thank you
Danyel
farmgirl sister 4202 |
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Make It Easy: old wool sweater projects |
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old wool sweater projects
