Old knits etc,,,,,

I've seen people make purses from felted sweaters as well. Good luck. Shana

That article in threads gave me the impetus to make a vest out of old felted wool sweaters.

They were good memories and the vest wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.

Arlene

That sounds very interesting. It's on my list of items to look for when I go to the library this afternoon.

I have been doing this for several years now, I tend to buy the sweaters from church or other rummage sales at the end of the day when they are getting rid of stuff cheap, and I buy all their leftovers in 100% wool. I put them several times through the washer and dryer until they have felted as much as they are going to and have discharged all the superfluous dye - you'd be amazed, some colours remain untouched, others really run. I have had burgundy turn into pale pink, for instance.

Three years ago I made vests for my DD and DGDs, solid colors of felt with brightly colored felt flowers and leaves appliqued on. Warm, machine washable and dryable, unique (each one was different)and they loved them. Then, the next year, I made purses for DD and DIL and slippers for DS and DSIL. I am currently planning a full length coat for myself out of felt patchwork. This has been in the planning stage for a while, but has not quite "jelled" yet. It was going to be done for this current winter, but a certain hurricane got in the way of all my plans.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans.

Wow -- this is really interesting. I would love to see pictures. Any chance of getting your DD or DGD to model them for us?? I have a great sweater that my mother felted by mistake in her later years that I haven't been able to toss. She had made it for my DS#1and it was a very complicated colorwork pattern but she was beginning to be forgetful and when she visited me, she insisted that it wasn't wool (it was) and threw it in my washer with the expected result. I could experiment on that. I have felted things that were knit to be felted, but I have never cut and sewed projects from old sweaters that have been felted.

the only pix I got of the vests came out very dark and gloomy - I forgot to take any before I shipped them off and DD didn't do very well - they don't show the buttons, beads etc. that I used for the flower centers. I may have pix of the purses and slippers which I could forward to you if you send me your e-mail addy.

Why not go ahead and try it? Blow ten bucks on wool sweaters from the thrift store and play with them. Once I have them felted, I just cut it up and use it as fabric.

Olwyn Mary in New Orleans

Lately it happened to 2 hats of mine a crocheted and a double knitted one i made on a knitting board ,,, , the crochted is a sort of meshy felt the other is heavy ,,,, both are interesting , but my crown piece was my Cabled Felt ,,, which i made into a bag and gave as present to somebody [ appreciative] ,,, i embroidered beads onto the cables ,,, it was realy a beauty ,, as a wever i also own some Woven felts ,,, People are amazed when i show them the before and after result ,,, since My late mother used a part of a long sampler i made , into a tablecloth , and she `felted` it ,,, mirjam