What You Make of It: Felt Fun Repurposing a Sweater with Susan Duane

 I don't know about your house but during the long winter months here hats and gloves are at a premium. They also tend to disappear as the winter goes along. This quick and easy project is sure to please!

 

I had a couple of WOOL sweaters destined for the Goodwill so I decided to try my hand at felting. I washed my sweaters in the hottest setting my washer has with a little soap and dried the sweaters in the dryer. Keep in mind the more wool content the better the sweater will felt.

 

I found a hat I had on hand and used it as my template. I added about 1/2" all around for the seam. I wanted to use the buttons so I cut accordingly. I thought it would be a fun detail!  Sew right sides together, hat complete! 

 

I thought I'd make a set of wrist/arm warmers which i love and use often. I decided how long I wanted them and cut along that line. Then I put my hand through and figured where I wanted my thumb to come out. Along the seam I made a tiny cut and then made it slightly larger to fit my thumb through.

 
I used some vintage wool strips I had found at an estate sale and made little rosettes to give the set a little personality! This is a great chance to use all your vintage goodies to embellish the set. 

 

The great thing about this technique is using something we probably already have on hand that is not being used and turning it into something useful. If you don't have a wool sweater I'm certain you can easily find one at an estate sale or thrift shop. 
 

Happy Felting!

Susan

Susan Duane is a wife and mother of three young children. She is a home cook, aspiring photographer and lover of old things. She spends her days caring for her family, creating for Paperhill and in her free time chronicles her long list of interests on her blog Hometown Girl.

Comments

[The Design Confidential]

Great project Susan! I just packed up a few bags of sweaters for donation...to bad they probably won't make it there now? hahaha

[Molly Cook]

THat is FABULOUS!!! Now I must hunt for wool! Thanks so much, like I needed another project! )

[claire]

Awesome upcycling project!

[Julie]

Adorable hat and rosettes! Just beautiful. With the exception of some needle felting with raw wool, I've not yet tried my hand at felting. I think I'm on the verge.

[jenn]

I am so sad...I recently ruined a wool J Crew sweater that had cost me an arm and a leg. (It mysteriously made it's way into the dryer). When I realized what I'd done, it was too late. The sweater might have fit a baby doll. Sadly, I'd never heard of felting. I threw it away! Oh, I wish I'd known this sooner!

Btw, the hat and wrist warmers are precious!

[Lana]

What a terrific idea! I'll have to show my daughter ~ maybe we can have a mother / daughter craft night! :)

[Teri]

What a wonderful repurposed sweater idea! I've always loved those wrist warmers!

[janeen]

lovely blog, glad i found it :) this is such a great idea, i think i might have to try it... wish i saw this earlier in winter!

[janeen]

lovely blog, glad i found it :) this is such a great idea, i think i might have to try it... wish i saw this earlier in winter!