In college, my roommate had a wool sweater that another roommate borrowed, ignored the care instructions, washed and shrunk. Since it fit me, the first roommate gave it to me. I wore it and wore it out, so I decided to give it new life by felting it.
I put it in a laundry bag (an old pillowcase would work, too, but it will be full of fibers), pinned it close and washed it, with detergent, in hot water in a top-loading washer because I heard the agitator is good for the felting process. Then, dried it on hot.
Each sleeve was cut off about 9 inches from the cuff with a circle from the upper arm area and machine sewn onto the bottom to make a wine cozie tied with a ribbon. One sleeve cozie was sent to the friend who owned the sweater originally.
The rest of the body is going to be made into something, maybe a scarf or neck warmer and decorative pillow with big wooden buttons or a change purse.
Cedar
December 29, 2008 at 9:11 pmWhat a great idea! I love this…and heaven forbid if I do shrink another of my sweaters, now I know what to do!!
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Deana
December 29, 2008 at 10:56 pmHow cute is that? Great idea & so resourceful! 🙂
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Andrea @ Mommy Snacks.net
December 29, 2008 at 11:24 pmThat is the coolest idea! I am off to pull an old sweater out of the goodwill bag!
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Heather
December 30, 2008 at 11:58 amCute! That’s a great idea. I love felted sweaters. They are really fun to work with. The only problem is that the really cute ones always shrink to soooo teeny so you have to do a small project! 🙂
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Robin
December 31, 2008 at 9:48 amoohhh, love this! Very eco-chic of you to recycle. So cute!
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