Use Shrunken Wool Sweaters to Make a Quilt

 Hello Readers. Sometimes accidents happen, wool goes in the washer and/or dryer and it shrinks down to child size. It gets thicker and stiffer. What can you do? I have an idea. Wool is very warm and cozy, even shrunken wool, let's cut up some sweaters and make an easy beginner kind of quilt.

Use those shrunken sweaters, don't throw them away!

 

I used my sharpest scissors for all my cutting.

I started by cutting my sweaters into pieces of the same size. I cut rectangles, approximately 8' by 12', and smaller rectangles that were 4' by 8'. 

I had 6 sweaters. I have been collecting them for a while. I cut out all my pieces with very sharp scissors. (The wool is thicker and tougher to cut when it shrinks.) I tried to keep them all the same size. I tried not to stretch or pull the sweaters as I cut them. They will give and stretch because they are knits. 

I spread out my pieces so I could see what I had. I wanted the colors to be spread out all through the quilt. I had more of some colors and less of others. I tried not to over-think the arrangement but I wanted the pieces in rows that were the same length.

I started sewing the pieces together. This is a lot of sewing, I needed a sewing machine, needles and neutral thread. I sewed the 8' sides together with the right sides facing each other. Some of the sweaters had a definite right side and some looked the same on each side. 

I put piece after piece together to make a long row. I sewed row after row. Until I used all my pieces. I broke quite a few needles on this project so I am glad I had some extras on-hand.

It started to get more difficult now. I sewed the rows together. I put the right sides together and stitched straight down the edges. When all the rows are connected, the quilt gets heavier. I stitched with a straight stitch and sewed slowly without pulling or stretching the pieces.

I spread it n the floor to see all my rows connected. 

 

This is what the back of the quilt looks like. It's not pretty.
 

I wanted to cover the back of the quilt. I had this large pieces of fabric in my stash. It was large enough to equal the quilt. I sewed it to the top of the quilt.

 

 I sewed all around the edge of the quilt connecting the quilt to the fabric.

 

 I left and opening to turn the quilt right-side out when I was done. When the quilt was right-side out, the fabric hid the stitching in between the quilt and the fabric.  

I wanted to smooth out the thick edges, I stitched all around the quilt. That would keep the edges neat and help define the border of the quilt. 

I sewed all the way around the quilt so that the edges more defined, but you can see the fabric layer peeking out fro the back of the quilt at the top. The layers have shifted around a little because they are so connected. I just needed to stabilize or connect the center of the quilt. 

I used some very narrow ribbon for this. 

 

I used a large embroidery needle to sew under and back on top of the sweater layer and the fabric layer. I did this in the center of each quilt piece.

 

I tied the ribbon in a knot. Connecting the layers together. If they are not connected like this the quilt and fabric layers will shift around. 

 

I made sure the knot was tied tight. 

 

I cut off the excess and left about an inch of the ribbon attached to the knot.

 

Here is a close up. You can see I left the pockets/seams/etc. attached to my wool squares. I didn't want to pretend this wasn't made from old sweaters, I wanted to embrace that.  

 

This is going to be cozy as winter comes to an end. Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

 

***Year End Update***-This blanket is on my sofa right now. It is really warm and cozy for watching a movie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The White Sweater Round-up; Part 2

Hello Readers. I wanted to change up some white sweaters I had. I had 4 white sweaters on my refashion rack. Does anyone need 4 white sweaters? I didn't think so. 

This sweater was "fine". It was basic and simple. The shirt under it was "fine" too but I decided to dye both of them just for fun. The dye was just sitting there, so why not add another item.

I used some fuchsia dye. Why fuchsia? It was on clearance for $2.00 and I didn't have anything in this color. I was trying to get some variety in my closet for work. White gets too dirty, colors are better for me to wear at work.

 I don't know how this happened. They were in the same dye for the same amount of time. One came out a fabulous raspberry color and one was a very muted mauve color. I can't explain it. I don't think I will wear them together but I like them both separately. What do you think of them together? It's a lot of pink.

***One More Sweater!!!***

This sweater was a great find at a clothes swap. It is vintage angora and wool blend. The embroidery is in pristine condition. It's really lovely.

But the beautifully preserved lining was hot, stiff, acrylic material that did not breath at all. I wore it once and it was not comfortable. It didn't have any give or stretch to it and the lining made it look bulky. (It made me look bulky.) The best part of a sweater is that it stretches and is comfortable to wear. If this sweater doesn't have any comfortable stretch, why would I wear it? I wouldn't.

 I used my seam ripper to unpick the stitches holding the lining to the sweater. It only took about 5 minutes.

Did I dye this sweater? No, I wasn't certain how the vintage material would like the dye. And I was getting tired of using so much dye. So, if you are counting that makes 2 white sweaters that I kept.

Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

  *Year end update- I love this bright pink sweater. I wear it a lot. I don''t think I wear the pink shirt as much.

The Scarf Sweater

Hello Readers. I have a great sweater idea for you. This was so easy to make and it kept me warmer too.

I started with this basic black cardigan. It was a loose fit and light weight sweater. It was also plain.

I removed all the buttons from the front of the sweater really quick and then moved on to the fun part of this little project.

I wanted to add this scarf to the front of this sweater. I also wanted to to cross the scarf over itself and leave it unfastened in the front. It will need to be pulled over my head to put on.

I used my machine to attach the scarf around the neck of the sweater. I criss-crossed the sweater in the front and then kept sewing it to front opening of the sweater.

This might sound confusing...

Here is a look at the finished sweater. I think looking at the sweater makes more sense than my describing it.

   

Extra scarf=extra warm.             High neck=warm neck

You can see how the sweater opens in the front. It isn't open all the way down the front like a cardigan anymore, but it isn't closed either. The criss-crossed scarf keeps the sweater closed when it is worn, but it does open. I wore a shirt under it in case it opened too much. It stayed closed well and it was warm and cozy.

This would be such a great top for nursing moms. I wish I had thought of it when I was nursing. It opens easily and the scarf could be used as a cover if and when needed.

Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

*Year end update- I am so glad I made this warm sweater. It was simple to make and so wonderful for winter.

The Bathrobe Sweater

Hello Readers. I titled this post "The Bathrobe Sweater" because it originally looked like a robe on me. I love cozy robes but this wasn't working.

I don't remember where I got this long sweater but I love gray and black.

 I thought about making a dress out of this but it was too clingy to be worn as a dress. When it was buttoned it seemed to emphasis all the bumps and bulges that I wouldn't want to show. It needed something under it but it/I just looked lumpy. So it wasn't going to be a dress.

   

I decided to make a tunic length cardigan. It would look better on top of other clothes and layers are great in the cold weather. 

I shortened the sleeves and made the body of the sweater much shorter. It was quick and easy work.

I love this sweater when it is open and hangs loose. I wore it to work, just like this. When it is open it has a light flowy look. No lumps or bulges in sight.

Thanks for spending some of your time with me. If you are in the U.S. you might be preparing for Thanksgiving today. That is what I am doing today. I hope you have a wonderful day with family and friends.

If you aren't in the U.S., I wish you the same thing.

*Year end update- This is such a great sweater. How did I ever get along without it?

The Boring Pink Sweater

Hello Readers. Do you have any boring clothes? Clothes that are just blah. I do, but I don't like to let them stay that way. This pink sweater was a snooze-fest. It's made of cashmere and that is the only reason I loved it so much. I am addicted to cashmere. It feels like it is made from some kind of special angel yarn.

Here is the boring but super soft sweater. I decided to use these weird cotton pajama pants to dress up the sweater. These pants are supposed to be a cropped capri length but on me they just look like shrunken pants.

    

My first step was to cut the side seams open. I wanted to add some extra fabric in the sides. Cashmere does not fray so I could cut it and work with it without any fuss.

I cut the waistband off the pajama pants and I cut narrow strips of the striped fabric. I used the stripes as a guide and it made the measuring and cutting very easy.

     

 Horizontal pieces.                  Vertical pieces.  

I added a long vertical strip of fabric to each side of the sweater. The extra fabric added a couple inches of room to the sweater.

I connected some of the horizontal pieces and made pleats. It took a while but it wasn't hard.

I connected the pleated fabric to the waistband of the sweater. It added a punch of color and it made the sweater a bit longer. 

   

The sleeves of the sweater were a little long so I cut a few inches off. I added a piece of the waistband as a cuff on each sleeve. It finished the sleeves and added some color there.

 

The stripes add some color and I like the ruffle at the waist. The sweater isn't as plain as it was, but it is still casual. I could wear it anywhere.

    

I was supposed to go out and do some things but Mother Nature had other plans. We got a lot sleet and snow, so I didn't go anywhere in this sweater yet.

Thanks for reading along, now go make something fun for yourself.

*Year end update- This sweater is cute, soft, fun, and warm. It has been a month and a half since I made it and I still enjoy wearing it.