tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post8567367484902367458..comments2024-03-26T10:01:18.135-04:00Comments on Living the Frugal Life: Repurposing Wool FibersKatehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18017959421018964001noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-14697811260962520892014-02-02T14:00:19.342-05:002014-02-02T14:00:19.342-05:00Great idea deconstructing the sweaters, wool is so...Great idea deconstructing the sweaters, wool is so expensive.<br />sewing green ladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12488699540355503954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-16455629758018843822012-04-09T09:41:13.295-04:002012-04-09T09:41:13.295-04:00I've also done this with sweaters from Goodwil...I've also done this with sweaters from Goodwill, as well as cutting up old jeans, woll blankets, t-shirts and so on to reuse in rugs and other projects. <br /><br />I used to resell the really nice sweaters I found when looking. A few were the wrong size for me or anyone I could regift them too, and were still bargains for their new owners. I used to live in Boston, and some of the sweaters were just gorgeous--vintage, andor had cost well over $100-300 when new. I had a few sell for close to that amount when I listed them for resale online. Nice way to have more money to go back and buy other things I did need. :-)karrienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-6902758217346338372012-03-03T01:18:43.917-05:002012-03-03T01:18:43.917-05:00The one time I tried this was an utter fiasco. Th...The one time I tried this was an utter fiasco. The sweater was some kind of five-dimensional geometric structure, not to unraveled by the likes of me.<br /><br />And I am a champion string-un-tangler.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03932975112078606231noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-25706283487636653522012-02-29T14:54:34.087-05:002012-02-29T14:54:34.087-05:00Really interesting reading your post - when I next...Really interesting reading your post - when I next hit the charity shops I will keep my eye out for wool jumpers too - what a good idea!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14740918048697011795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-9365702134501219582012-02-28T19:18:39.988-05:002012-02-28T19:18:39.988-05:00The unraveling can be fun. I involved my kids when...The unraveling can be fun. I involved my kids when they were in elementary school. They loved trying to create the biggest ball of yarn. It was sort of a competition between them, but it worked to get all the sweaters repurposed. <br /><br />I've used them not only to knit or crochet, but also in weaving projects. I first learned the repurposing of sweaters when I worked at a thrift store and a group of Hutterite Christian ladies came in and dug through all the sweaters looking at the seams. They told us how the Hutterite colony recycled the yarns and thus saved money. <br /><br />Ever since then I have preferred to unravel verses purchase new.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07997662790089323121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-53757119162223839052012-02-27T09:12:07.850-05:002012-02-27T09:12:07.850-05:00That link was very helpful. I'm trying to unra...That link was very helpful. I'm trying to unravel an old cashmere sweater, and all I've got are yarnlets. Now I know why. I shall cut my losses and make the body into a pillow instead.<br /><br />I read somewhere that in ?China, women wash their wollens by unravelling the whole garment, washing the yarn, and re-knitting it. Sheesh! I can barely remember to stuff a mixed load into the machine and turn it on...Jennifer Monterohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10003650742439806128noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-1003153833444895832012-02-13T11:21:25.281-05:002012-02-13T11:21:25.281-05:00I love your site so much I"m sharing a blogge...I love your site so much I"m sharing a blogger award with you "Most Versatile Blogger". Stop by my blog to accept your award!<br /><br />http://neighborlyplace.blogspot.com/2012/02/versatile-blogger-award.htmlCarolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13990275383645501272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-88609474183151423722012-02-11T18:13:58.003-05:002012-02-11T18:13:58.003-05:00I have yet to unravel a thrifted woolen sweater (t...I have yet to unravel a thrifted woolen sweater (the yarn in the ones I've found just have not charmed me), but I regularly felt them for crafty purposes. I followed the link - your fingerless gloves are lovely.W-S Wanderingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06242784517253760863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-1307737370526236862012-02-09T11:11:21.263-05:002012-02-09T11:11:21.263-05:00I enjoy your blog and I would like to recognize yo...I enjoy your blog and I would like to recognize you by awarding your blog the Versatile Blogger Award. If you would like to accept it, please go to my blog to receive it here:<br /><br />http://moosaidthemama.blogspot.com/2012/02/versatile-blogger-award-thank-you.html<br /><br />Thank you,<br />Kari (MooMama)kariwhitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06208108715229081779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-42520380843488698662012-02-05T06:49:14.961-05:002012-02-05T06:49:14.961-05:00LOVE this. even tho' it would be time-consumin...LOVE this. even tho' it would be time-consuming, the process would make downtime more productive.Dmariehttp://bettermebetterworld.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-28643121462445352232012-02-04T20:17:09.014-05:002012-02-04T20:17:09.014-05:00A couple years ago the price of cotton fabric skyr...A couple years ago the price of cotton fabric skyrocketed and I started buying men's shirts at yard sales and thrift shops to use for quilting. There was no way I could afford to quilt anymore without this new approach. I wash the shirts first and then start cutting them apart. I enjoy this process and am thrilled that my stash is far larger than it ever was with new yardage. My main criteria is that it's 100 percent cotton. There are some beautiful shirts out there. My button jar is pretty full, too! I'm just finishing a queen-sized quilt made from all Hawaiian shirts. I kept track and the shirts totalled less than $20, a fraction of what yardage would have been.Jerinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-35268350547562436932012-02-02T10:51:24.443-05:002012-02-02T10:51:24.443-05:00You might be able to get an even better deal by us...You might be able to get an even better deal by using a coupon - yes, Goodwill (at least the couple near us) have coupons and discount days.timfromohionoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-24671111226189329352012-01-31T01:38:19.488-05:002012-01-31T01:38:19.488-05:00I've unravelled the odd jumper (and I'd lo...I've unravelled the odd jumper (and I'd love to find an alapaca sweater in a charity shop) but I mostly machine felt the wool jumpers I find. As long as it's at least 80% wool (I usually go for nearer 100% to be on the safe side) and isn't labelled machine-washable it will felt on a hot wash. I made cherry stone pillows for Christmas presents with a few old jumpers I'd acquired.Hazelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05388175819512214533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-46886772092154431462012-01-30T21:34:53.681-05:002012-01-30T21:34:53.681-05:00I hear you on the time consuming, suited to winter...I hear you on the time consuming, suited to winter line!<br /><br />I need coffee, good tv, or good conversation to distract me. But there is something so therapeutic about hand-winding yarn that for me, it's a satisfying activity!Anne (I should be sleeping)https://www.blogger.com/profile/12737907431789980801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-30202867047930573832012-01-30T18:59:29.554-05:002012-01-30T18:59:29.554-05:00I had no idea.
On the one hand, I'm delighted...I had no idea.<br /><br />On the one hand, I'm delighted to hear that people are buying old sweaters and repurposing the yarn. On the other hand, the labor involved boggles the mind.<br /><br />This is one activity whose participants I will admire from afar. Me, I'll just wear the $2. sweater.Tamar@StarvingofftheLandhttp://www.starvingofftheland.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-88736196958334891672012-01-30T16:23:54.262-05:002012-01-30T16:23:54.262-05:00I do this a lot, and I've gotten some awesome ...I do this a lot, and I've gotten some awesome yarn that way. Especially here in Los Angeles, I think a lot of people move here from somewhere cold and dump their perfectly good woolens!Lyssahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09063475025297754001noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-73408858728351402162012-01-30T14:01:19.330-05:002012-01-30T14:01:19.330-05:00I like to take apart wool sweaters as well, but th...I like to take apart wool sweaters as well, but the last time I did it, I had so much yarn that it lasted me years! I can't justify buying new yarn when I have so much used and vintage stuff in my stash. The problem is that I occasionally design patterns, and those call for current brand name yarns because a lot of people don't want to bother calculating how to sub their own yarn for the yarn called for in the pattern.<br /><br />Did you wash the sweater before you starting taking it apart? Sometimes I find so much gunk in there that I'm grossed out, and I wash the sweaters before I pull them to pieces!SavvyChristinehttp://simplesavvy.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7237633934633144064.post-79159601773073355682012-01-30T12:39:43.344-05:002012-01-30T12:39:43.344-05:00This is the only way I can afford/bring myself to ...This is the only way I can afford/bring myself to spend the money on quality yarns. The store price is unbelieveable for most yarns, so repurposing like this is the only way. I quite like the unravelling process and get great pleasure making something new with the yarn I have salvaged. I sometimes also felt garments to make bags and slippers.String Theoryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09741867531574462408noreply@blogger.com