Super Suggestions for Old Sweaters!

Photo: Stitch-N-Save

Got a few old ratty ones kicking around? Accidentally shrink your favorite cashmere? Are the kids outgrowing Grandma’s home knit creations faster than she can keep clicking her needles? Or maybe you have a few with sentimental value you’d like to hang on to. Here's a list of ideas from around the web.

1. Make a shrug and mini skirt set.

Here’s an awesome how to video from the folks at Thread Banger. They take one original old sweater, cut it up, add a lettuce edge (slightly different from the picture above) and turn it into a two piece coordinating set.  

2. Like the coordinated combo idea above?

Here’s another how to video from Thread Banger that gives you a three piece accent set of hat, poncho and mittens. They demo the directions with an animal print sweater, but you could use any older sweater where the pattern is fab but the cut might be out of style. Super cool!  

3. Unravel and recreate!

This is a great way to get a cheap or free materials source. If you knit, and see a great price on a thrift store cashmere, you know what to do. Here’s a link on how to do it, and a discussion thread on the subject.

4. Make some mittens.

Here’s a link with instructions. I particularly like projects like these with recycled fabric that allow youngsters to explore DIY fashion projects with a high success factor and low cost. You can do mitten projects with old sweaters where you felt the sweaters first, just cut them out and go for it, or even go nuts with embellishmets and embroidery. Lots of room for individuality with these.  

5. Turn them into quilts. 

Here's a link on how to approach such a project. It's also the source for the main picture at the head of the article. I would think these would be extra warm, for sure.

6. Make a hand puppet.

Here’s a link to an Etsy artist who makes cool puppets out of felted sweaters. It's also the link for the hand puppet image above. Another fun company that makes products from recycled sweaters? Crispina.

7. Turn them into Christmas stockings.

Love this idea! Here’s the link from Martha Stewart. What a great way to preserve sweaters that might be particularly sentimental. Also workable for those "not so fashion savvy" holiday sweaters you might receive every year from a well meaning relative. At least they'll be put to use somewhere instead of ending up in a landfill.

8. Make a bed for your cat.

Wanting to pamper your kitty, but short on cash? Here's a link to directions (and the image above) for a super affordable kitty bed made from an old sweater.

9. Create a whole new medium.

Felting appears to be a popular way to recreate new items and material from old sweaters. Here’s a link on the subject. 

10. Make Christmas tree decorations.

Who knew? Fun for incorporating a different color scheme into your holiday decor, and again for those . . . ahem . . . thematic sweaters popular over the holidays.

11. Whip up some cool tote bags.

These look super fun. Here’s a set of sample directions.      

12. Make a diaper cover.

Here’s a link to a pattern for them and also for other homemade cloth diaper options from recycled clothing. Great when even buying the standard used cloth option is a bit too pricey.

13. Create some leg warmers.

One for the dance crowd! Here’s a link for the instructions.

14. Cool pillows from sport sweaters.

Here’s a link to a place that’ll do it for you if you don’t feel so inclined.  

Were there other ideas out there in internet land? Sure. But truth be told, anything else I ran into crossed the line into what in my opinion can only be considered true tackiness. However, there are always hidden gems waiting to be discovered. If you know of any, fill us in!