Posted by athena on 2007-03-19 21:40:39
Post Subject: yarn for recycling
so, it took me forever to knit 12 squares for a baby blanket. i finally finished. and they were all different sizes. uh... gauge? what's that?
anyway, there are probably ways to fix this without ripping out (i.e., crocheting them together), but i can't be bothered. so, i am offering up 98% of the yarn for free. it's lamb's pride worsted in oatmeal, a dark turquoise, and a dark blue. 12 squares (6 oatmeal, 4 turq, and 2 dk blue) and one full skein of the turquoise and one full skein of the dark blue, plus some random yardage.
i also have a j. crew 100% wool sweater (large) with a tiny hole in it. it is sewn from separately knit pieces so can be unseamed and unraveled.
Posted by louisa on 2006-11-30 01:47:44
Post Subject: felted hot water bottle covers..
I just made my first felted project ever!! I bought a striped 100 percent wool sweater at the thrift store the other day for $3.... I threw it in the wash on hot...then put it in the dryer... It felted enought that it didn't fray when I cut into it... I cut off the cuff...then sewed that onto the top of a rectangle..so the neck of the bottle would be covered.. I used a zigzag stitch on the neck..and stretched as I sewed so the bottle would fit in... On the straight sides I just used a straight stitch as it doesn't need to stretch..and zig zag uses more thread...It turned out great! I will try to post a picture later... anyway I am so inspired that I want to try making some more projects..felted wool is such a great medium.... the difficulty level would be about the same as fleece..and the end project looks quite high end... YAAA one project start to finish..about 30 minutes>>> now I want to try refashioning some sweaters... I love the sweaters on anthroplogie.com... anyone have some good felted wool sites to check out.. Last months Martha magazine had some felted wool projects..so maybe I will look there...
Posted by senojzilfg on 2007-02-27 21:44:27
Post Subject: needle felting with recycled wool?
I am thinking of trying needle felting, but am loathe to buy new wool roving when I have a bag of thrifted wool sweater scraps - felted and not felted. Must one use wool roving for needle felting or can recycled wool be used? How about wool embroidery thread? I know I could just try it out, but I don't want to buy the tools if it's definitely not going to work.
Please let me know if it's worked for you, or not.
Posted by h_pets360 on 2006-10-23 23:28:49
Post Subject: pot holders
What do you folks think about wool as a potholder? More specifically, a felted wool sweater?
I wouldn't have asked, except I made the assumption that any substance could be a potholder. Well, not *any* --- like matches, or paper --- but any yarn/fabric. I learned the hard way that acrylic sucks as potholding, as it tends to MELT when hot things touch it. Luckily, I noticed BEFORE it melted to my skin.
So, wool, good pot holder material? I can't think of a reason why not.
Posted by go-fish on 2005-03-01 22:19:29
Post Subject: felted fabric for sale? like shrunken sweaters...
I was wondering, do you folks think there is a market for fulled fabric, like the kind you get when you shrink a wool sweater?
Has anyone seen this for sale anywhere?
Posted by stencilgraf on 2007-02-24 18:43:56
Post Subject: help a poor old boy out
HI! im not sure if this site is directly targeted for the crafty lady, but im a guy who''s in need of some help.
i just purchased this pendleton 100% virgin wool sweater and it smells like its been sitting in an elderly man''s wardrobe closet for years; like he spilt his ointment all over it. can you please tell me how to wash this sweater or at least get rid of the horrid smell. much appreciated!
Posted by happyhats on 2006-04-09 19:56:18
Post Subject:
I saw a similar thing with a wool sweater. All you did was split it up the center and then felt it. They didn't add buttons however, they merely closed it with a broach. You could use a similar tactic without the felting. I'm not sure about how to make it v necked. I wouldn't think it would be too hard though. Maybe once you cut it, you could put the shirt/cardigan on, make an outlind of how it should be cut, and then cut and hem the loose fabric? From there, do buttons and holes if you want. Also, if you dont' want to make button holes, you could use fasteners rather than buttons to close the cardigan.
Posted by go-fish on 2005-03-02 12:30:29
Post Subject: felted fabric for sale? like shrunken sweaters?
I was wondering, do you folks think there is a market for fulled fabric, like the kind you get when you shrink a wool sweater?
Has anyone seen this for sale anywhere?
I am crossposting this to this forum, cause I want to be sure people see it.
Posted by researchasaurus on 2005-06-06 17:01:40
Post Subject:
Here's a way to cheat too.
Find a soft adult-size wool sweater that is not the kind you can wash, with a ribbed hem around the bottom. Wash it in the washing machine with a pair of jeans or some towels to felt it! I even throw them in the dryer too.
Then cut out a hat shape from the front and back, using the bottom ribbing as the cuff. You can make a square so that the hat has points when it's worn, and then make easy tassels with other yarn, or make it with a round crown and embroider some simple flowers on it once it's sewn up.
I think that the rule for baby caps is 16" in circumference. You could look at actual knitting patterns to know how deep to cut the hat as well.
Posted by smudgy_cat on 2004-11-23 14:56:24
Post Subject:
What about wetting it and blocking it? My mom washed a wool sweater of mine, and it shrunk a bit, so she wet it and stretched it out with the help of my sister.
I'd be inclined to try that before cutting the sweater. Actually, I'd probably be inclined to ebay the sweater before making it into anything. My sister happily paid $30+ for used cashmere sweaters, and I think many people pay a lot more. Then you could buy one you like.
Posted by amygdala on 2004-06-03 12:20:33
Post Subject:
For me, making things is really just about the fun. I don't do it as a business or anything, crafty things are more an end-of-day thing to use the non-science-girl part of my brain and stay in balance. I knit and embroider more because it relaxes me than to be productive at all. I mean, there are days when I come home and pick up some knitting and I can actually FEEL the tension leave my shoulders. So while I'll go to stores and see things that I could make and find it inspiring, it hasn't really changed my buying habits too much. Especially because I do a lot of thrifting, so finding a nice wool sweater and buying it even though I could make it doesn't make me feel guilty. I mean, I couldn't knit a nice cardigan for $5!
I guess while I do see things and say, I could make that, and sometimes I do, it hasn't made a major impact in my purchasing decisions as a whole.
Posted by stella on 2006-03-06 13:34:49
Post Subject:
you know when you machine wash a wool sweater and it shrinks and gets all dense and unwearable? that's also called "felting". technically, it's actually "fulling", but a lot of people call it "felting". the fibers in the wool mesh together and make the garment shrink. most animal fibers will felt when exposed to hot water, soap, and agitation.
i handwash most of my "dry clean only" clothes in cool water with my shampoo or a little dish soap. woolite is actually really bad for fibers (it coats them with residue) so i don't use it. your sweater should be fine handwashed. the only things that really actually need to be dry cleaned are anything made with acetate, and things like overcoats.
Posted by aubrigail on 2004-11-08 20:03:04
Post Subject:
To save money this Christmas I'm...
*making family cookbooks for my college-aged sisters with everyday recipes, holiday recipes, and recipes from our 4-H years with copies of old family photos
*last year I made marble magnets (from craftster) for my friends, this year I'm thinking about making ornaments, either from felt or I just felted a wool sweater, so it may turn into ornaments too
*I found a website with drink/cake/etc mixes (www.budget101.com) that can be cooked in a mug so my coworkers may be getting those
*I'm big into photography, so if I can get a good shot sometime before Christmas, I'll get that framed for my Dad, he also collects stuffed animal lizards so I'm thinking about attempting to make him one
*I might also make the cookie mix in a jar gifts for people
*I was also thinking about getting some crazy fabric and making wild santa hats
Posted by craftystasie on 2005-10-25 20:16:03
Post Subject: felting
I think one way is to wash the wool sweater until it felts and then you can make a purse out of it....you could attach store bought handles or maybe even make them out of the sleeves OR fun yarns. I am speculating b/c I am too chicken to try it and I don't have easy access to a washing machine.
Lots of magazines have archives of articles on line.....check their website.
Posted by revafisheye on 2004-10-27 12:14:08
Post Subject:
I'm a non-tucking advocate.
My office is very casual, so I'm wearing...
- green "Mates of State" ringer tee
- 3-shades-of-green striped wool sweater around my waist for when it gets cold
- jeans that are too big (need new cloths so badly)
- green, orange and blue striped socks
- brown corduroy clogs
Posted by Knits4Fun on 2005-03-08 20:41:48
Post Subject:
Personally, I love ALL yarn. Acrylic or not. Believe-you-me, I can be a real yarn snob at times, especially if I want a nice cozy mohair or wool sweater etc.
But acrylic has it's purpose. I'm even planning on making my husband a sweater out of acrylic yarn--already have the yarn for it too.
I mostly make baby blankets from acrylic because it's so durable and easily washable--BELIEVE me I know how important that is . . .
Posted by partysaurus on 2004-05-04 14:33:17
Post Subject:
when it's cold, I wear flannel pants, wool socks and a wool sweater or fleece sweatshirt.
when it's warm, cotton pants and a tee with white cotton socks
when it's hot, a tee and undies. socks, no.
Posted by Allie MacDonald on 2007-03-18 17:28:10
Post Subject:
People not fessing up to their mistakes or just letting things go until they get caught. I just found my favorite wool sweater shrunk and hidden behind the door of the laundry room. Would have been disappointed if the person who washed it had fessed up, but would have understood that mistakes happen. Instead I was furious to find it wadded up in a ball behind the door!
