03 March 2012

Weekend DIY: How to Upcycle a Wool Sweater

A guest post by Laurie Fortier - author of Kitty's Fiber Journey and owner of the online yarn shop Hands with Hearts.
 
Sonya and I met last fall, but I feel like we have known each other such a long time. I guess that is where the notion of "kindred spirit" comes from. We share many passions, one of which is felting. Sonya generously offered me the opportunity to share a DIY on felting with you. Thank you Sonya! It is a true pleasure for me to be here today! 

Photo by Kanelstrand
Being, as Sonya describes me, a passionate person, (it takes one to know one!) there are many things I love. But, felting offers me more creative inspiration than just about anything else I do! Felting is a two or three part process depending on what you are going to make. If you make beautiful bowls or bracelets like Sonya, then the first creative step is knitting the object.






The second step is felting. The look the object will have depends on how we felt it. Felting is basically agitating the scales on the wool fiber so they puff up and push together. We determine how much of that they do! 

The third step is what we do after the object is felted. We can decorate with embroidery as Sonya has or if we use flat knitting, we can create an unlimited number of things from bookmarks to bags. The only limit is our imagination! 

Today I am going to show you how to "upcycle" a sweater. (I love how society influences language!). This is a sweater that I loved. I love embroidery. Unfortunately, it has gotten too small for me (notice the nuance!). Before I knew how to felt, I would have given the sweater away. Never again! It has been sitting in my sewing room waiting for the right inspiration. Its time has come!

Sonya has told you about the Knit-a-Square foundation. She has joined me and many others (and you are all welcome!) in my challenge to send 500 squares to South Africa by June 1st. These squares are knit into blankets and given to AIDS orphans.

There are over 2.8 million children in South Africa and Zimbabwe who are orphaned by the combined ravages of AIDS and poverty. It was when I learned about Knit-a-Square that I knew what to do with my sweater! So, here we go: Any garment that is at least 80% wool will felt. If the label says "hand wash only" you're all set!

1. Place garment in washer with some soap. Many felting books recommend putting a sneaker or a towel in the washing machine with your garment, but it really isn't necessary. You can also felt by hand. It just takes more time and patience than the machine!

2. Wash on high agitation with hot water.
3. If you can stop your machine, you don't have to go the whole cycle.

4. Look at your garment. Has it shrunk? Can you still see the stitches? Do you like the way it looks?
A more colorful swatch to help you see the stitches.
5. If it needs more felting, go through steps 1 - 3 as many times as it takes to get the fabric the texture you want.
Felting is great for colorwork because it "locks" the color changes in place!
6. Lay the garment flat to dry. You can pull and flatten it into shape.
Felted sweater with my 8" square template.

7. Cut , yes, cut! It is so much fun! The wool will not unravel!

8. And voilà! This sweater has given me 5 squares for the orphans' blankets a lot faster than if I had knitted them! 

I wanted to show you some of the other things you can create. The two sleeves become fingerless gloves!

No sewing, just a snip of the scissors for a thumb hole!



Wrist warmer or pouch or...  the possibilities are endless. The buttons from the sweater are still attached and, again, a snip for the button holes. Couldn't be easier.

So, if you would like to help Knit-a-Square or you just want to try a new craft, clean out those closets or head to a thrift store and try upcyling a sweater! I'm sure you will love it!


These are the pieces of my sweater that I have left. What would you create with them?

32 comments:

  1. What a great idea, you could even make the blankets yourself and donate locally.Rx

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    1. Absolutely Rachel! Unfortunately there are needy people all around us, but this could be a great way to help.

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    2. For me, this is one of the best ways to help because you add a little bit of your experience, knowledge and ability into what you give!

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  2. thank you for this great tutorial. I'm just in the process of recycling worn-out clothes so you post it just in time! :) I would use what's left for mixed-media jewelry and fashion accessories.

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    1. Indeed, the idea for mixed-media jewelry is great and I would be excitedly waiting to see what you come up with!

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  3. Thanks Masa! Isn't it great creating with old clothes? I love your idea for jewelry and fashion accessories. I'll definitely add those to my list!

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  4. Hi Laurie,
    Thanks for the tutorial...I have always wanted to know how to do the felting process and never took the time to look it up!
    I also have some squares I have knit for the project. My daughter had told me about it and I made some but never shipped them...shall I ship them to you for your project of 500?
    I kinda got wrapped around a axle about the shipping as I figured shipping them would cost of fortune...what is your experience? Any way...would love to contribute...

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    1. Hi Julia!

      You should try it. I'm sure you'll love it!

      I would love to be able to send your squares for you. It will be much cheaper sending them to me than sending them to South Africa. I've been reading on the Knit-a-Square forum and it seems that it is very expensive to ship from the US to SA.

      Thanks so much for you help! It's such an important cause!

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    2. Oh, Julia and Laurie, I can already see the 500 squares ready with so many people willing to join! Laurie, sending all of them to South Africa starts to llok like a great challenge to me.

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    3. Okay Sonya and Laurie...were on...I will get back at the squares and then send them to you in May? Where should I ship them? I'm excited!

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    4. You are fantastic Julia!! Anytime you want to send them is fine. Just click on my knit-a-squillion button on Sonya's sidebar and it will take you to the page with my address.

      Thanks so much!!

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  5. Yet another thing for my "To do" list! Have not forgotten the squares, Laurie: just have not had the time yet. What's the total number you've got now?

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    1. Isobel, it is so exciting that you are going to join too! I have so far crocheted only 10 squares but I am also very curious to know how many approximately Laurie has collected and made herself!

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    2. Not to worry Isobel, I just really appreciate having you with us! I have about 40 squares here at home right now, but there are more than 50 people who have agreed to make squares and/or spread the word. So I know we will make at least 500!

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  6. Dear Laurie,
    I would like to officially thank you for a wonderful and easy to understand tutorial. I hope that even more people will get inspired by the easy and adventurous process of felting (which we both love) and will be willing to join and help the children!

    Together we are so much stronger, aren't we!

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    1. We are much stronger in so many ways! Thanks so much Sonya for your encouragement and support!

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  7. Great tutorial Laurie, it makes me want to head to the Thrift Store and find some woolen treasures. :)

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    1. Thanks Melinda! I know you will be amazed by what you find and what you can create!

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  8. Love the fingerless gloves idea!

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    1. Thanks so much and they are soo easy to make!!

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  9. Cool tutorial. I will have to try some of these ideas with an old sweater!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by! I'm sure you'll love it. The possibilities are really endless!

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  10. Wow, what an awesome idea for the Knit-a-Square project! And those fingerless gloves are fantastic. I love felted items, and this is a great way to upcycle old wool clothes - thanks for sharing, Laurie! :D

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  11. Thanks Taylor! I have a feeling we'll be off to the thrift shop. My daughters love the fingerless gloves too!

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  12. Thanks so much for sharing your wonderful ideas with us.

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  13. this was amazing to see and read..thanks for the step by step!!

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  14. Ummm...I lived in SA for a second (6 months)! And there is SO much poverty.. I was a bleeding heart handing out rand like it was burning a hole in my pocket and buying beaded keychains too. So beautiful to see people here making a difference! I bet those felted squares make the warmest blankets ever!

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    1. Thank you so much for your comment Annie! I know that I cannot imagine the poverty these people live with. Forunately we can do small things that may help a little.

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  15. Great post Laurie and I am going to be heading over to the local thrift shop tomorrow to see what I can find! Thank you again for your great inspiration!
    XOXO
    ~Mary Anne

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    1. Thanks so much Mary Anne! Let me know what you find!

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