I’m quite thrifty! Some of my friend (and definitely my mother) would say that I’m a cheapskate. But I don’t subscribe to this view. I’m just careful with my money, but I also like spending it on stuff that I find worth it, like well crafted original objects.
However, I don’t find that I have the urge to support big commercial yarn companies on a regular basis. But I need yarn to create lace scarfs and woven wall hangings. So what do you do? You buy some pre-loved sweaters and unravels them to get to the good stuff – the yarn. Only problem is that the sweaters I go for (e.i. Cashmere, Merino, Linen, Cotton and plain old Wool) are often knitted with very thin yarn. I am talking about two strands of what looks like sewing thread, but not as strong. You look at it and it breaks. So I came up with another plan. Why not ply it. I decided to 3-ply it using the Navajo method. With this method I can make a 3-ply yarn out of 1 strand of yarn and it’s quick.
Pre-loved sweaters split into four and ready to unravel
Then I thought – this makes lovely soft yarn with an extra feel good factor because it is made from pre-loved, but currently unloved, sweaters that might otherwise just go to waste. But why keep all this to myself. So I decided to sell some of it too. Don’t worry though, I’m keeping loads back for myself.
Skein of green merino recycled sweater yarn
Have a look at the yarn I have been making so far on my new yarn page!
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[...] the bottom one a pink wool and the right hand one is a green cotton. The first two are going to be unraveled and re-used as yarn I think. I have great plans for knitting a toy pig out of the pink yarn. The last one however, I [...]
[...] began recycling yarn from sweaters last year because I wanted to have really nice natural yarns but I don’t want to spend all my money on [...]
[...] began recycling yarn from sweaters last year because I wanted to have really nice natural yarns but I don’t want to spend all my money on [...]