The next thing you’ll need is some spun yarn that’s made from acrylic, nylon, rayon, etc. Nothing seems to weight down the hanks enough to unkink them, and if I try something heavier than, say, a can of soup, I’m afraid it’ll bend my shower-curtain rod. 2. What a wonderful idea, which I’d never have thought of,…reduce, reuse recycle! I have read if your wool is too felted then the yarn is too weak and will fall apart/break. You now have a sweater’s worth of yarn. At the seam you’ll see a very small chain. Breaking In V.2 You have to make sure you get the right type of seams otherwise the sweater won’t unravel properly making it difficult to reclaim the yarn. Technically you can still reclaim yarn from a ... hot water and DO NOT agitate the yarn! Maybe it’s the way I knit; too tight or too loose? Now, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that reclaiming yarn is going to be very time consuming. There are a couple of options. This is for two reasons. Raspberry Cotton Reclaimed Sweater Upcycled Yarn. However, I found these step by step instructions on reclaiming yarn from thrift store sweaters at Chaotic Crafter which would massively reduce the cost of […], […] to know how to reclaim your own yarn? In addition to the pattern being free (you can find it on this blog post), I also wrote an extensive, somewhat insanely detailed tutorial last year on how to reclaim yarn from thrift store sweaters, which can be found in three parts: Everything You Need to Know to Start Recycling Sweater Yarn: Getting Started and Breaking In V. 1. The stitching is what you want to use a seam ripper to remove so you can open the seam and separate the pieces for unraveling. You can either write off the yarn in the ribbing and save yourself the trouble of separating the elastic from your yarn. This is a good seam. I’m not kidding. On Friday, I went to our local Salvation Army and struck gold. You’ve inspired me! The novelty yarns won’t work (chenille, loopy, ladder, feather, etc). Subscribe to our Newsletter. […]. There are approximately 1650 yards of fingering weight yarn here. The teal sweater on top is a cotton/ramie blend, the green, pink and light blue sweater are all a blend of wool/angora and nylon and the darker blue sweater is merino. $7.00. Wonderful and very clear description. I unravelled the whole thing, but I’ve hit a snag. Thank you for posting such a labor intensive tutorial about reclaiming yarn. I’m not one hundred percent sure that these were crocheted but I do know from Flickr that they were made with yarn reclaimed from old sweaters. It will kind of look like an extra thick row of knit stitches. I have marked the stitching of the seam in the photo. Jan 26, 2012 - ***Warning*** This is a very photo-heavy post! Seriously, this is a GREAT tutorial, and I’m glad you shared it! It’s very hard to see because it’s so small, so I’ll try to explain it. […] Pretty amazing, right? Come Learn and Share Information about Recycling, Crocheting & Recycled Crafting, Come Learn and Share Information about Recycling, Crocheting & Green Crafting, Reclaiming Yarn From a Thrift Store Sweater, Double Layered Waffle Towel Topper Pattern, Instructions for cutting plastic bags & creating recycled plastic yarn. felted means that the fibers bind to the body of work instead of twist to itself,(yarn is twisted to itself), if it feels like the hand puppets of yesteryear, it is felted, hope that helps! Also how you wrap the yarn in a ball makes a difference, The right way is to loosely wrap the yarn … It also makes it a lot easier to keep the yarn from sticking together from the different hanks while you’re washing it. If you look at the end of your sweater (on the hem, cuff or collar) you’ll see a thicker area of seam. Each section will give certain recommendations, but depending on your tastes and your pattern, a different option might be better for you. […] started with these instructions from Chaotic Crafter, but I also these from My Virtual Sanity, and these from Crafty Stylish. I am going to have to try this. THANKS SO MUCH! This is amazing to me because you say you paid $2 per sweater. They were very clear and easy to understand, and your photos were great. […] If this is something that you are interested in doing…here is where I learned how to reclaim the yarn from old sweaters; https://chaoticcrafter.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/reclaiming-yarn-from-a-thrift-store-sweater/ […], […] https://chaoticcrafter.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/reclaiming-yarn-from-a-thrift-store-sweater/ […], […] This is even more detailed, talking about how to take apart the sweater:  https://chaoticcrafter.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/reclaiming-yarn-from-a-thrift-store-sweater/ […]. How did you figure out the yardage you reclaimed from the sweater? i did this this week with a grey/green worsted weight merino, and i’m so excited to knit some nice scarves with it! That’s perfectly normal and it WILL come out once you wash it. Then you can roll the yarn into ball and it will stay unwrinkled. here. Very informative! Saved by Push it down gently into the water and let the yarn soak the water in. The tag indicates that the yarn is 100% polyester. Click to supersize the photo if you want to see a closeup. These are still reclaimable, but you’ll have to cut the shoulder seams and unravel until you have … Here is a link to an outstanding post that shows detailed pictures of the seams and how to unravel sweaters. If you’re set on getting a sweater that looks moth damaged, bring it home, put it in a bag and place it in the freezer for a few hours. It will kill any moth larvae that may still be in the sweater. 1. Reclaiming Yarn. This will also fluff up all the yarn to the original thickness. On Friday, I went to our local Salvation Army and struck gold. Then I hang it to dry so my reclaimed yarn is clean and fresh smelling. […] you’re getting double value for your dollar. If the sweater looks very worn (fuzzy, etc.) (Pardon the yard!) Unraveling sweaters is a great way to use yarn and re-create something new.This Free Tutorial was made by Ashley MartineauAuthor, Spinning and Dyeing Yarn They’ll look like little crocheted chains. I don’t have to worry about them dripping on the floor or having to hang them over the bathtub. You have to make sure you get the right type of seams otherwise the sweater won’t unravel properly making it difficult to reclaim the yarn. After a hiatus of about 10 years, I’ve started knitting and crocheting again. The differences between, let’s say, a worsted weight and a DK weight appear slight when holding the yarns side-by-side, but the difference is big when it comes to how many balls or skeins of yarn you need to knit a sweater. Start: Wednesday January 23, 2019 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm; Have you ever found a wool sweater that felt lovely and was the perfect color, but the style was outdated or not your thing? I hope your class goes well! ( Log Out /  I find it so much easier to put the tied hanks in the washing machine, fill on the low setting and after sitting for 20 minutes, turn on the spin to dry. Technically you can still reclaim yarn from a sweater that’s been serged, but you’ll wind up with little bitty pieces and unless that’s what you’re going for, it kind of defeats the purpose. I am new to knitting and am interested in saving money and reclaiming yarn to reuse from sweater. I’ve been unraveling sweaters straight to a ball winder. Will the resulting yarn be something you truly want to work with? When starting out, avoid fine gauge sweaters and … wow what a great idea I will be heading to the thrift store tomorrow . It stores … Technically you can still reclaim yarn from a sweater that’s been serged, but you’ll wind up with little bitty pieces and unless that’s what you’re going for, it kind of defeats the purpose. I started with a short mock turtleneck. Yardage. thanks for showing me how! This took me a LOT of practice, but I learned that if you follow the way the chain progresses up the seam you’re on the right track. Jun 19, 2016 - Threads is the premier magazine for sewing enthusiasts - people who are passionate about sewing garments, home furnishings, gifts, and accessories. You want to avoid edges that are serged as the piece won’t unravel. Go to Chaotic Crafter to see how it’s […]. Any suggestions? Reclaimed Sweater Mandalas. I can’t wait to try this. Also, try tying it with a piece of yarn wrapped around the hank in a figure eight instead of just a circle you won’t need to tie it as any times (I usually tie it 4 times). Now, I’m a little paranoid about a hank of yarn coming apart so I tie it in eight places when I’m finished winding it. I love watching you work! I’m not sure how well cotton yarn would work - the only stuff I have is more thread-like and not fluffy. I spent the weekend working on a tutorial! The first thing you need to do is turn the sweater inside out and remove all the labels. I don’t have a niddy noddy so I wound it around my hand and […]. […] we would here, and with no preferences the sweaters or colors my hopes are sadly quite high. You’re a great teacher and writer. The yarn will be very crinkly/crimped at this stage. Reclaiming yarn from the thrift stores was brought to my attention by a mutual friend, Kj who I am gratefully thankful for all the […]. thank you! I’ve tried this using your tutorial and have some of the yummiest reclaimed plyed yarns! I’m really excited about the prospect of reclaiming, and I just finished unraveling my first sweater. Yarn Weigh: Its Role in How Much Yarn You Need to Make a Sweater. I enjoy using the yarn straight from a cake w/o straightening it. To reclaim the yarn in a scarf: Find the bound off (cast off) end of the piece of knitting. The other option, and i usually … With the cost of cotton rising these days, it seems reclaiming yarn is not only a green thing to do but also very frugal. A seam ripper is good for this job, but a small pair of scissors will work as well. You can usually give the seam a little tug to be able to see where they’re woven in. I have put together a series of photos which step you through my recycling process, to give you an idea of what is involved. This was the hardest picture to take for this tutorial! I have several cashmere sweaters that were forgotten in a shipping box, and now have holes. Published in. I wonder if it’s worth the effort to try to reclaim the cashmere? I’ve learned so much from you already. Then I found this site….so clever! Sweater → Cardigan. I’m thinking about using some of the reclaimed yarn for dishcloths and because the yarn is so soft, I plan to use some it for a baby blanket. Because you’re using acrylic, you don’t have to worry about heat and agitation felting the yarn. Most sweaters are constructed the same way and this is how I usually do it; start at the neck and remove the collar. Thank you for your efforts. Be sure to check the sweaters carefully before you leave the store with them to make sure that there are no signs of fleas or moths. You're now ready to join yarn and knit the new bottom of your sweater, but there are a few things to note before you begin. One small but really helpful suggestion: Tie an inch or two of yarn (or string) of a different color to each end of the yarn when you unravel it. But re-using is perfect, and there are plenty of thrift stores where I live. This is where these will be. I live in a small apartment, so I don’t really have another location option. , I have some sweaters that I have made that really do not work and have thought of taking apart to redo. WOW – exactly what I was looking for! I have considered doing this, but just haven’t actually gone through with it yet. 10. Thank you so much for all of the pictures; I don’t know if I would have been able to visualize the process as well without them. From there, remove the sleeve from the body of the sweater. I love that this tutorial is still useful to others. Since starting my blog, a few people have shown interest in learning how to recycle sweaters for the yarn. This is a BAD/serged seam. And because I like balls of yarn, here is one sleeve that I wound into a ball after washing and drying. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Favorite. The teal sweater on top is a… Yes still very useful all these years later. Awesome. Thank you so much for this tutorial. seems like a lot of work for just some yarn! I have a question! I have the most gorgeous bright aqua cashmere sweater that was very high style several years ago , with details that are not really seen anymore. thanks! ( Log Out /  Thank you so much! Yarn weight DK (11 wpi) ? pick any thread that is left over after you get the label off out of the knit stitches. It takes work and it can be tedious, but if you’re on a budget or concerned about recycling for your craft it is completely worth it. Ann. 2368 - 3256 yards (2165 - 2977 m) Sizes available. Good news! It crochets up into a fluffy texture. I fill the tote first and then drop the yarn in. Once I have it in a hank form with a few ties to hold it in place, I gently wash and rinse it in the sink. These are still reclaimable, but you’ll have to cut the shoulder seams and unravel until you have a continuous piece of yarn. however, if you like to recycle it is a great way to do it! The sweater label states the fiber content: 85% silk and 15% cashmere. Change ), Project Phoenix: Part one - Destruction « Type-K, My wobbly wool-Undoing a knitted jumper… « Big Purple Dragon, Repurpose Sweater Yarn « {one small action}, winter wool projects part four – knitting roundup | frugalandthriving.com.au, Our new hobby is off to a start - Stuology, Deconstruction….or Frogging…. Problem with that is that folks would rather buy a hank (they can see the color runs) instead of a cake (high tension in a cake). The teal sweater on top is a… This is a wonderful new concept and one that I will definitely try out. 2. However I had no idea how to go about it and would have done it all wrong had I not seen this tutorial of yours. Wool felts, which means if you do the above mentioned, you will wind up with big hunks of felted wool and not yarn. ( Log Out /  This is very helpful! Published. Los suéteres se hacen en fábricas textiles. ***Warning***  This is a very photo-heavy post! […]. It is easiest to recycle yarn from sweaters that have hand-finished seams -- handsewn or crocheted -- instead of ones that are machine serged. Great tutorial for newbies. Reclaiming yarn from thrift store sweaters is a wonderful and frugal way to get some very nice yarn at a terrific price. Cotton yarn is something that I use frequently and it’s very versatile. I wind the yarn directly on to my niddy noddy. Begin taking your sweater apart! That’s where my chain is. I have never seen anything this cheap at the Goodwill around here!! Most importantly the bad type of seams are shown so you can avoid those sweaters as there is nothing more frustrating than trying to unravel a sweater when it’s unravel-able. When you unravel all your sweater pieces into hanks you’ll have a big squooshy pile of yarn. Hello, I’m Cindy or aka RecycleCindy. your new project won't look new. Two small children’s jumpers would make a great two-coloured larger one. If you clip the chain on the upper part of the loop and then go under the next loop with a scissors/seam ripper, you’ll create a little loop of yarn you can use to unzip the seam. Wow! I chose to use the darker blue one for this tutorial because it was the smoothest yarn and was a little thicker than the rest. Got 5 sweaters today all XL, all wool!! 32-34(36 … Before you begin, make sure... • Seams are NOT serged. Also, once it’s dried you can wind it in to a ball and spending some time like that will help smooth it out further. Washable in a hank, but not in a skein. Make sure your hanks are tied well, and soak them in some nice, hot water. I unraveled a sweater a few days ago that took me 9 hours as opposed to my usual 3-4 with good sweaters. These are the end of the seam. Thank you. 22 stitches and 30 rows = 4 inches in Stockinette Stitch Needle size. Great tutorial, but I ALWAYS use HOT water. Thank you Corry, I am a newb, sorry… I really want to try this but I am having troubles. […] unpick the seams to begin with, all going really well. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. I’ve unraveled sweaters before, but didn’t think it was safe to weigh it down, now I now it is! Takes less than 5 minutes and you’re ready to use your yarn. I’ve read it about ten times and just started frogging my first Goodwill find (100% Italian Merino wool!). THAT is a good buy! Thank you so much for your tutorial. February 2019 Suggested yarn Rowan Softyak DK. Five sweaters. […] Interesting: re-claiming yarn from a sweater. Something else to consider, Wool is easy to dye with the acid reactive dyes from dharma trading. Whichever option you choose, once you've separated the stitches on one row, the former sweater bottom will come off in a piece, and can then be easily unraveled top-down to reclaim that yarn, if you wish. I start with the smaller pieces of the sweater and work my way to the larger ones. However, if only the shoulder should seams are serged it may still work. If it’s anything other than a raglan, you’ll finish by taking the shoulder seams out. Unraveling sweaters to reclaim the yarn at Lap Cat Yarn Co. Reduce, reuse, and recycle! How do you measure the amount of yarn that you’ve got? ITS HARDER TO HAVE MONEY BUY YARN , NOW I KNOW WHAT TO DO. Nov 8, 2016 - ***Warning*** This is a very photo-heavy post! This navy blue yarn was reclaimed from a Sonoma sweater. Thanks so much for the detailed instructions.