100+ Ways to reuse your old sweaters!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008 at 3:13PM 
The (probably-somewhat-boring) Backstory:
My Friends, I have been posessed.
Over the last week, I have been bitten by that nagging-can't-stop-myself-until-it's-finished-doesn't matter-how-many-other-things-are-going-undone madly organizing, cleaning out every nook and cranny bug. Some of you may think this is a good thing - but truly, it's overtaken my life. The things that have pressing importance NOW, have been woefully waylaid. Stupid OCD. However, I will continue to indulge this urge for a few more days since I find it invigorating - besides, removing this invisble weight from my shoulders should help me to do the things that actually HAVE to get done. Bills need paid, I need food..blah, blah... the universe doesn't really care that my drawers were out of order; it cares more if I am making a living.
Tangent aside -- yesterday I tackled my closet. Amidst the pile of giveaways were some gorgeous old sweaters that I just couldn't bear to part with. I found myself online, looking for inspiration to hit - wanting that 'perfect' way to honor them. I found a treasure trove of ideas and thought I'd take the time to share a few with you - won't you share some ideas too in the handy lil comments section?
See the sweater I am wearing? It will now be recycled.
Enough of my babbling -- on with the results of my recycled sweater projects hunt:
Books that are now on my wishlist:
- Warm Fuzzies: 30 Sweet Felted Projects
- Sweater Surgery: How to Make New Things with Old Sweaters
- Second-Time Cool: The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater
- The Sweater Chop Shop: Sewing One-of-a-kind Creations from Recycled Sweaters
- Sweater Renewal: Felting Knits into New Sweaters and Accessories
- Felted Wool Fashions: Making New Styles from Old Knits
- Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags
Turning Sweaters into Functional Home Decor:
- Recycle Sweaters: Make a Throw or Pillow ( I LOVE the throw)
- Make a sweater pillow
- How To Make Fun Recycled Sweater Produce Pillows
- Recycled Sweater Basket
- Recycled Sweater Wreath
- Felted Wool Sweater Blanket
- Vickie Howell's Recycled-Sweater Picnic Blanket - Video
- Wool Area Rugs Made from Recycled Sweaters
- Recycle a Sweater into a Chair Cover
- How to Make an Embellished Blanket with Recycled Sweaters
- Beverage Sleeves & Coasters
- 15 Minute Sweater Pillow
- Lights, vases + more!
- Chair Covers
- Recycled Sweater Ornaments
- Winter Sweater Wreath
Fashionable Ways to Re-Use those sweaters:
- Recycled Sweater Coin Purse
- Winter Garden Shibori Scarf
- Ridiculously Easy Felted Sweater Mittens
- 30 minutes to a recycled sweater bag
- Recycled Sweater Overnight Bag
- Recycled Sweater Box Bag
- Neckwarmer
- How to Make Snuggly Slippers from Old Sweaters
- Quick, Easy & Super Cool Bracelets
- Awesome Scarves created from your old sweaters!
- Cute & Warm Winter Caps!
- Remake Old Sweaters into Springy Cardigans!
- Turn a second hand wool sweater into a cute little jumper!
- Katie Kendrick recycled a sweater into a gorgeous hat!
- How-To: Recycled Sweater Wool Jewelry
- Thrift Store Recycled Sweater Tutorial
- Recycled Sweater Vest Bag
- Turn them into Long Johns!
- Upcycled Sweater Boots
- Another Hat project
For our Furbabies:
- How to Make a Cat Bed from an Old Sweater
- How to Make a Recycled Dog Sweater
- How to Make Sweater Dog Toys
- How to Make a Pet Bed from Recycled Sweaters
Cute Ideas Overload:
- Recycled Sweater Book Eating Bookworm
- Cashmere Bunny Tutorial
- Cutie Pies
- Felted Sweater Kitties
- Plush Doll or Valentine
Because One Never Has Enough Supplies:
Eye-Candy & Inspiration Abundance
- Made From Recycled Sweaters Group on Flickr
- Homemade Originals Recycled Sweater Crafts
- More on Flickr
- recycled sweater things to admire
- Inspiration Galore here
- Re-Sweater Blog
I will dutifully keep you posted as I decide the fate of my old sweaters. There is something kind of magical about recycling these, keeping the memories contained in their forms alive - watching them metamorphosis. i dunno. It's a good way to look at life i think too - to take what we once were, and somehow make it all anew.
Beautiful. Just Beautiful.
Chrysti - who is longing to hear all your ideas, see your links & pics of recycled sweater ideas... won't you leave a comment ? Thanks!
P.S. - I keep updating this as I come across cool projects - know of one? Share! and I will add it asap.
Reader Comments (32)
tee hee am using old sweaters in an embroidery design...right now...literally!!! hugs Ems x
what great ideas!! Can't wait to see what you end up doing..makes me wish I had some old sweaters to play with..LOL great post.. Hope you add/follow me on my blog so I can get updates on your sweater adventure!!
Kelleyskreativekorner.blogspot.com
Came by your blog via another...funny to know we are in the same place. Not only am I doing the clearing away of things not used or needed (we as artists tend to collect, don't we?) I've recently thought again about recycling sweaters and have 'wish listed' a few of the books you found. Looking forward to seeing what you create!
no new suggestions but just wanted to comment bout the flickr links - thank YOU. I especially love all things felted. I'm getting excited about the wool sweaters I have acquired over the years.
also wanted to say how much I appreciate the energy and, especially, ways you use it, of the ocd and other issues with which you live. yay, Chrysti.
I too wish I had some old sweaters to recycle. I have never been a sweater girl...loose tops is what I prefer. But I definitely would love to see your creations. As for the cleaning bug. I wish I had it right now. I have company coming and my art projects are soon to take over the world!! Yikes!!
Hugs
SueAnn
Old wool sweaters make great felted patchwork pillows! When I was teaching art at the little private school, we took old wool sweaters and felted them (machine wash, hot water) and then cut them into squares and made patchwork pillows out of them. They were too cute!
xoxo
Pam
First of all, that is a gorgeous sweater! Just my style. Secondly, WOW! Thanks for the treasure trove of resources! And finally, I wish I'd get hit with one of those bugs so I could follow through on something to completion.
Great brainstorming... I sometimes recycle them in the conventional way, that is give them to those in need. I have also cut them up to use as floor shiners (when I wax my wooden floors) and pieces of used sweater are a must if you are applying wax to your walls, which I did as well, a special wax mixed with paint. I have also used old sweaters for my cat, to keep it warm in the winter. They love old sweaters... though I did not make a sophisticated house with them.
I love the idea of getting mileage out of clothes we no longer need, and as I was packing up a bag of shirts my sons both wore, I thought to myself, maybe instead of giving these away I should use them in a collage or some other art work, so thanks for getting us started! You always have great ideas!
Great ideas-every single one.I am planning a mad dash thru our local Goodwill(Thrift Store) and grab a few sweaters just to try out some of these ideas...I get a gift and give gifts...My old mama cat is losing fur but now she can stay warm with a cut-off sleeve which I will whip stitch or something simple and the most fun of all will be putting it on her...LoL...Wishing All A Very Joy-filled Season!!!
I came across your blog because I'm trying to figure out how to turn an old cashmere sweater into a jumper for my daughter...I'm looking for a tutorial...any ideas???
wow...all this time I've been in arts/crafts and I didn't know about felting??? Goota make something! Thanks Chrysti :)
I have a blog chock full of great recycled wool projects :)
I also have a shop where I sell wool sweaters for felting (Resweater) for those of you having a hard time finding wool sweaters.
Just found this and am so excited to try a ton of projects!
A great resource, thanks! And if you've come across some old dishes you can't part with, why not use them for some great mosaic projects?
Take a look at www.creativejewishmom.com for simple yet lovely mosaic projects all week.
[...] has instructions for making mittens out of recycled sweaters, and Art By Chrysti has collected a long list of links to sweater [...]
Love it! I have been buying used wool sweaters felted and not yet gelted for projects....must start project.....
Thank you for the inspiration.
.....old shirts make great backings for quilts!
[...] then I came across this blog that contains a huge list of things to make. Oh boy, it may take awhile! Possibly related posts: [...]
Warning warning: I made a gorgeous blanket out of felted sweaters, only to find that our dogs' hair became permanently embedded in it (yes, we let them on the bed), so now it is relegated to the guest bed. Best to make a blanket that matches your dog or cat. Now working on a jacket for next winter.
Thank you so much for the inspiration! I, too have been doing the closet cleaning craziness thing. I have recently heard that much of what is donated to second hand stores just goes into landfills, so now I don't want to part with my old sweaters! (or other clothes for that matter!)
[...] a little creativity you can use your wooly items to make a variety of household items. This post on 100+ Ways to Reuse Your Old Sweaters is an excellent place to start looking for project [...]
Today is a cold, windy, blustery day. Today is my birthday. Today I called in sick to work. Today a friend sent me the link to this page. Today is the day I shall dig out the old wool sweaters and try out some of your ideas!! Thanks so much!
This is sooooo great!!! I have just started doing crafts like this! love your blog! www.lindseymariephotoblog.com
www.lacosabellaboutique.com
Hi, I just found your wonderful post chock full of felted sweater ideas. This is my passion and I was thrilled to see you linked me, however my Flickr account was deleted by Flickr some time back so your link no longer works. I am now found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/hmoriginals/
My blog is at www.homemadeoriginals.blogspot.com which is probably a better place to see what I make from felted sweaters.