),

I had been planning to repurpose the jeans in some way for awhile. Most of the jeans are the ones that I wore before my weight loss, with a few pairs from Kris with holes in the knees and pockets. At first I was thinking about a quilt, but I just have never gotten the real urge to try quilting… so, with my new fascination and love for weaving, I figured the jeans would be a great way to practice rag rug weaving! My used loom came with several rag shuttles, and after reading the aforementioned books, I think the process sounds like a lot of fun. So… I just shredded my jeans. Here’s how I did it

Gathering all of the jeans up, I determined that the best way to repurpose the fabric was to cut in continuous strips. I started the process by cutting off the hem of the jeans. Of course, the hem could be used, but I thought that the double layer of thickness would throw off the texture of the final project. *snip snip*

This process is tough on the hands – especially around the heavy seams, so take frequent breaks to stretch your hands, and expect a little soreness in the morning. Your best bet is to get some strong sharp scissors.

Because the pant legs are tubular, you are going to cut left to right, at a slight diagonal. This will help you maximize the fabric for your strips, and make it one continuous piece. When the cuff (hem) is cut off, make a cut next to the side seam, about 1″ or 4-5cm. From there, begin cutting on the diagonal.

Just like your old cut-off jean shorts, the strips are going to be a little raggedy. If you want a cleaner edge without the fray, it may be better to use some other kind of material for your rag base. I have a pile to t-shirts and old cotton “work” shirts” that are next in line for rag rug weaving.

As you work your way up around the pant leg, you can decide how far you want to go. I chose to go up to the hips, where the inseams meet between the legs, and where the back pockets were added. This still leave quite a bit of material – but it is harder to use – and to cut – because of all of the seams. If you want to use all of your scraps, you may look into some other denim crafts. I have seen some versions of pillows and even tote bags and purses that use jeans.

Each leg that I cut yielded a good amount of fabric. I did not count the yardage, but one pant leg made a nice ball! As I cut more, I had many cute little denim rag balls to play with…

Now comes the fun part. I need to choose an appropriate warping yarn. I am planning to use cotton, probably some of the Sinfonia mercerized cotton in the stash. Just need to measure it out and then put it on the loom… I am hoping that the cotton will be strong enough. I have had a few problems with broken warp threads lately… any tips from seasoned weavers out there?

I am hoping to have the same kind of success as Felicia had with her denim rag rug - although my strips are a little larger than hers. My loom should be strong enough to handle the heavy beating that is required to make rugs. (It handled the heavy beating of the weft-faced sampler I did…) I know the previous loom owner used it for rugs (hence the rag shuttles) so I am gonna give it a go!

Of course, rags can be used in a number of ways. Weaving is only one of the many (see the Worsted Witch post about rag weaving). There is a great rag rug in Mason-Dixon Knitting, and a number of ways you could use the recycled materials for knitting, crochet, or braiding. There are a number of helpful books on the subject too – full of ideas and inspirations to reuse and repurpose old, outgrown, or holey clothes.

Some resources:

• DIY Network’s Crochet Rag Rug
• Knit and Crochet Rag Potholders/Hot Pads
• “Rag Rug” article from 1871
• A tutorial about using cotton flat strips for rags

What can be more rewarding than making something new and functional out of something old and raggedy?

…and until I get that warp ready, I will just practice my juggling…

A knitter fell in love with this beautiful tweed.

A detailed Fisherman’s sweater pattern was chosen.

Lovingly knit row after row.

Carefully crafted and wonderfully finished.

…

Scene: Value Village Thrift shop in Decatur, Alabama. Handknit sweater on the rack, stamped with a purple badge labeling it for $5.96.

…

Shopping with my family.

Seeing the sweater.

Doing a double take.

Purple tag = 50% off of regular price.

$2.98 for a men’s handknit sweater.

…

Unraveling with my sister over Thanksgiving break.

Dreaming of the possibilities.

Nearly 3000 yards to work with.

I will call this my Good Fortune Tweed.

Recycling the wool of an Old Navy men’s sweater – bought at the thrift shop for repurposing the yarn. I only unraveled one of the sleeves, which will be more than enough for what I have planned.

Aftur from Lopi 25

I am planning to change the color scheme of the traditional Icelandic yoked pullover – not because I don’t like the original, but because I am making it work with the yarns in my stash!

The indigo blue in the back row will be the main color. The yarn is Botanical Shades, a small natural fibers/natural dye company that sold at Maryland Sheep and Wool festival in 2006. This particular yarn is a alpaca, wool, and mohair blend. The main yoke will use the Lite Lopi colors, paired with the one skein of the recycled wool. The yarns are all similar in gauge, and should yield a very nice sweater – I hope I can do it!

…and just in case I finish this pullover with some time to spare, I will have plenty of time to devote to the long-suffering Cabled Hoodie and the Aran Accent Vest.

Kathy and I made plans in early November to meet up – once and for all. She and I have been blog friends for two years, and she lives only 20 miles north of me, but until this weekend, we had never met! We missed each other year after year at Maryland Sheep and Wool, and despite our best efforts, we also missed each other at this year's Stitches show. So, we resolved to set a definite place and time for a meeting, and it finally happened!

Kathy invited me to her Baltimore home on Saturday, and we chat, drank delicious tea, and even knit a bit for the entire afternoon! It was a wonderful time, and we hope that two years do not pass before it happens again!

As you may recall, Kathy was the leader of the Norovember knitalong. She has created some lovely Noro garments and accessories herself, and was even working on a beautiful scarf while we were chatting. She presented me with the lovely Noro Shinano yarn that I won during the Norovember contest. I am thrilled with this colorway, and thought it would make a great Edgar or a Wavy (like Caro's), and possibly some wristlets.

Thank you, Kathy!

Saturday's crafting involved scrapping things together… literally! I went through my stash, gathered up my leftovers, and samples from Yarn of the Month Club packets, and decided to make another version of the Rapunzel scarf (inspired by Anthropologie's Winter '05 collection – I guess I am behind the times?). I made version one for Project Spectrum March – a nice mix of pinks, and reds. Version two was not color specific, so I threw in ribbons, leftovers from finished objects, and samples of all colors. I love the results!

The tassels are long, unruly and kind of messy, but it is a fun and funky scarf, so it goes with that aesthetic.

Can you identify any of the yarns in the scarf? (click to see larger)

I measured the threads and leftovers to about 6.5 feet. The cutting and measuring took about one hour. I tied a huge knot in one end, and Kris held it while I made the big braid. The hardest part, just like braiding hair, is getting out the knots and the tangles. A wide toothed comb came in handy! Next time I do this, I will probably avoid the mohair leftovers, as they tend to tangle into everything else, and cause some problems. Word to the wise…

There are so many ways to use up your leftover yarns, and to recycle ribbons, embroidery floss, etc., It is like an oversized friendship bracelet! It also makes for a quick and unique gift. If you decide to make one too, let me know!

Six months ago this was a near-perfect fit…  no so much anymore.

I finished this sweater right before I started my weight loss regimen in February. Now, it will not even stay on my shoulders, and hangs in a very unflattering way around my torso.  I have lost the majority of my weight on top – down three cup sizes, and several inches in my arms and ribcage – so there aren't many tops that fit anymore. Now to get some of that reduction in my hips…

No last rites – no swan song. 

Just some scissors and the trusty ballwinder. 

Yeah, it was a little liberating.  Kind of the whole creator/destroyer aspect; "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out of it!" Good news is that I now have some thousand yards of worsted weight alpaca/silk blend to do whatever I want.  The possibilities are endless! 

I was on a roll.  The fun did not stop there. 

I fell in love with the yarn, and the amazing color, and bought it all up at my LYS with my Christmas 2004 gift certificate.  The Tempting pattern called for this same yarn, and in my opinion, it was not a good match.  The yarn is too heavy for the sweater – even after one wear, the yarn begin to droop and sag, being pulled down by its own weight!  In retrospect, I should have used a cotton or a blend for this pattern.  As you can see, the sweater is a huge mess.  Ribbing is supposed to be slimming, no?  (There was a ribbon that was used to "cinch it" through the eyelet holes up top, but even that could not save this sweater, unfortunately).

While ripping this one out, I fell in love with the Cashmerino Aran all over again.  It is beautiful and soft, and while it does "fuzz" a little with wear, it is really a great yarn. The most important thing however, is finding a pattern to support it.  I actually got a crazy notion in my head… this Cashmerino would make a really nice Hourglass sweater…

I am happy with my decision to rip these sweaters.  Although they may not be knit up again anytime soon (who knows?) I am happier knowing that there are possibilities for them.  Plus, since I have not purchased any yarn for the last three months, it kind of feels like a stash enhancement!   

I will be meeting up with some friends at the yarn shop this afternoon for some knitting… wonder if I can keep the yarn diet strong… only one more week (officially) left!  We'll see what happens!

Fiber does the body good!

I got this lovely lavender ball of yarn (and some matching shades) at a thrift store in Alabama (my trip last January).  Unfortunately, there is no label, so I don't know the content, or the yardage, but I think it will make a beautiful piece, whenever I get around to it!

Some more of the purples in my stash…

Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool and Patons Fresco

Blue Heron Cotton Laceweight, Classic Elite *Star*, Debbie Bliss Aran Tweed

Sweater patiently waiting for seam ripping and frogging – this was donated to my "frog pond" from my dad's closet. Mulberry purple wool that appears to be a perfect DK weight. I am thinking about a vintage Rowan pattern… I am hoping to unravel this one before the purple month ends.

Yarny fiber is definitely good - but you can't forget about the yummy fiber in fresh veggies and fruit… and that is what we got at Thursday's Farmer's Market!

Purple egglants, some fresh greens, and the biggest purchase …

APPLES!

Peeling and coring…

…and drying to a crisp!

It takes about two days before they are completely dried out with the dehydrator.  They make a perfect tasty snack! 

I fully intend to finish my sister's secret knit this weekend, despite some busy plans.  Her birthday was last Wednesday (she's 23 now!) and still waiting for the present from her big sister.  Here's a sneak peek … this should not be revealing too much

Have a good weekend!

PS — Bye bye plateau!  I lost 2.5 pounds this week!

I picked up four sweaters to unravel and recycle – the others are in various stages of washing and drying, so I’ll show off the one that was already cleaned at my aunt’s house, disassembled on the car ride home and unraveled on my ballwinder: An aquamarine (same color as my Diagonal Ribs socks!) Gap sweater – a 50/50 Wool Acrylic blend that has a nice texture and a large gauge. Perfect for knit accessories, or maybe even a vest…

Cleaned and ready to unravel

Using a seam ripper, I carefully took out all of the seams in this simply constructed sweater. The ripping took about 90 minutes total – it is delicate work and easy to cut the wrong thread! Thankfully that did not happen to me this time!

Hook it up and let her rip! Easy as pie.

Each sleeve yielded one big ball – the turtleneck was the small ball at the top, and the other 5 were the body. I estimate this at about 800 – 900 yards of yarn… pretty good for $1.49!

Several of you mentioned that you have only been able to find cheap acrylics at your local thrift shops – you should give the recycling a try! You need a good eye for nice quality fibers, and for the proper kind of seams that are condusive to ripping. A serged seam will not work – it has to be seamed like a handknit garment: with mattress or a related stitch. You will see the seams sewed in the sweater’s main color yarn, or in a sewing thread. Both as fairly easy to rip. Keep a steady hand as you use a seam ripper or small scissors, and only cut the connecting thread, not the sweater’s main yarn.

I did find some wool/cotton/rayon blend in a $1.00 grab bag that I thought would work very well for a purse (like the one I mentioned last week, perhaps?) We were on a crafty binge, so we also stopped by Hobby Lobby where I ran into a 50% off sale. Purchasing ensued.

It was not until I got home and photographed it before I realized how much purple yarn I actually bought…

Two skeins of acrylic, and two of the rayon/cotton blend.

Three and a half skeins of the same rayon/cotton blend.

Nine skeins (half price – $2 and some change! – 4 in dark lilac and 5 in dusty lilac. No idea what to make with it, but the yarn sure feels nice… Yarn Bee Dreamy Chenille, Hobby Lobby’s store brand.

My aunt also knows that I am a big fan of the vintage craft books and pattern pamphlets. She picked up these goodies for me – 70s style, baby!

Would you still come to visit me if I made that yellow box sweater on the front of the crochet book? It is so my style! There are some cool patterns in these books, though- stay tuned for some glimpses in the coming days.

While I did come back from Alabama with some nice new stash enhancements, I also came back with some nice warm fuzzies – it was great to spend time with my family, and see my Grandaddy!

Here we are celebrating a late Christmas. I managed to get a smile out of him!

And while we missed our girls, I still got some puppy love from my aunt and uncle’s cute dogs! Here I am holding Nate, and Toby is at the right.

I am still so behind on my blogging – I have many more things to show and tell you about our trip, the holidays, and other knits and crafts – so look for more entries! I am also slowly working my way through the 800+ Bloglines updates… I am woefully behind…

My Trekking socks are making slow progress. They are relegated to my "transportation" knitting–on the train and in the car (with Kris driving, of course) so they don’t see much action other than that. I am very impressed when knitters can whip out a sock (or pair of socks) in a few days (Carolyn and Margene for example!) but I am just not one of them… although I can knit other stuff very quickly. I don’t know where the disconnect it…

My Lucky Clover cardigan has been "on ice" for many moons now. It would be a lie to tell you that I like to knit this cardigan. I am not very far into it, and I am already frustrated. (Yes, I know I started the knitalong and it is my duty to knit the cardigan) but I think that this baby may stay on ice until I am in the mood to tackle it again… whenever that may be. However, there have been some very brave knitters who have completed the cardi in recent weeks! Check out Tara’s and Pinky’s–they both look great.

So, it is natural that I am looking forward to the wonderful world of fall knits. Don’t all knitters look forward to the return of cooler weather?

Here’s what I have planned:

The Hourglass Sweater in KnitPicks Andean Silk (Lettuce colorway): a match made in heaven? I think this one is next on my list. I hope mine turns out as great as Dani’s did! (Can you believe that is her first sweater ever?)

The Rowan Calmer in the foreground was a gift from Leanne, and I have decided to make Knitty’s Shedir with this lovely yarn.

It is such a nice pattern, and I have seen some lovely versions out there. This will probably come a little later in the fall season, and may be for some holiday gifts. The other yarns in this picture are Blue Heron laceweight silk/cotton which is destined to be some sort of lace shawl (which I am not in the mood to do now… maybe later), and for the orange recycled tweed in the back? a GIANT felted tote is precisely what it will be.

On the note of recycling yarns, I acquired two large men’s sweaters last year when my dad was cleaning out his closet… they are both wool tweeds with lovely flecks of color.

They are just screaming for a Rowan pattern once unraveled… I plan to rip the seams and hit the books looking for the perfect pattern. I am quite enamoured with the Vintage Knits Salina (recently made by both Becky and Jacqueline) and this one may be in the running for one of these yarns…

Over here are the "W" Haus, the warm weather means one thing: GRILL TIME!

So, I needed some yummy food to fuel my paper writing… and it worked! I made some nice headway this weekend, but my work is not done! Very very soon, and then the Spring 2005 semester will be a mere memory–until I have to dig up all of the bloody notes for comprehensive exams! (The rate I am going, that will be a few more years!)

Last week was my mom’s birthday, and I gave her a very springy self-fringing wrap. I made it a little smaller than the pattern calls for–more like a triangular scarf. The green of the K1C2 Tartalette matched her outfit perfectly! Happy Birthday to Mom!

Mimi and mom have been working on the wedding invitations, and she showed me the prototype… they are lovely. You can’t really see it well right here, but trust me, it is nice! I can’t believe that my little sister is getting married in 48 days (June 4th)… but what I can believe is that I am saving up to go see her and D when they move to Oahu!

A big shout out to Dad: thanks for the awesome sheep doll! It was made by a Navajo artist in Arizona, and he knew I would love it. She is sitting here right now, helping me write this blog entry! (She is SO soft!)

Since I spent some good time on the research today, I rewarded myself with some TV, and some fiberlicious activities. I am this close on my Tempting (will reveal it this week, I promise!)… but this ReKAL pullover has been staring at me for far too long… so I ripped it… ripped it good.

This is some nice quality wool–approximately 1200 yards (men’s medium sweater) at the Salvation Army thrift for $2.00. I wish I could find deals like this everyday… This is only 2 of the 4 skeins I ripped tonight. I still have the whole back of the sweater to rip, which will probably be another 2 or 3 hanks! They are soaking in a Eucalan bath as we speak… getting all softified so I can make something really cool!

I wanted to find a nice late summer / fall pattern for Kris, and we decided on this one. I have not done any cable work in a while, and I am itching to get back to it! This pattern is in the Spring 2005 FCEK. It calls for a pretty expensive cotton blend (yeah, like $10 a hank? not for cotton…) so I found an alternative yarn: Carezza cotton from Yarn Forward. Has anyone ever ordered from them? It is pretty hard to turn down $2.95 / ball… let me know if you have had experience with them… I will probably order the yarn a little later this month.

Specs: Abercrombie & Fitch 100% Wool pullover, ca. 1975; Great tweedy wool with little flecks of color mixed in with all the orangey goodness; One sleeve missing because I "pulled this thread and walked away…"

I couldn’t get a good picture, so I missed a step here… after unraveling, I washed it and weighted it to dry without the kinks. Then trying to make some order out of all of this, I measured the yardage. Then it was off to the swift and ball winder with this little baby…

…and a little orange tuffet with a center pull was born! One sleeve yielded about 200 yards, so I am probably looking at 1000-1200 for the whole sweater… and what do I want to do with it?

Well, believe it or not, I have never tried felting, so I think that this yarn will be perfect for it! I am thinking something big and functional–like the Farmers’ Market Bag in Weekend Knitting, or one of the Candy Stripers Messenger Bags from SnB Nation. More to come on this front…

Well, the first installment of Lolly’s Favorite Things was more of a success than I expected! I just wanted to show off all of my scarves! About the Hump Day tee–picked it up at a discount store for $5. (More than I would usually pay, but it is all about the message!) It is manufactured by Hollister Co., and while I could not find this shirt on their site (it is SO 2004!) I did find other shirts that were equally funny / cool (this one, and this one in particular). I am considering the Lolly’s Favorite Things as a weekly installment. I think I like enough things to keep it going for awhile… but, I definitely could write about things I don’t like too… I am an opinionated girl!

Balmoral is in the decrease section now, but it pretty much looks the same, so no picture of the same ol’ same ol’… this time, I will show you the bag that it lives in! This was a free gift from my other LYS, All About Yarn in Columbia, Maryland, when I bought all of the Sisik and needles for this project. Nice little perks!

The Dulaan Project is my other focus right now, and I am churning out scarves of all sizes for the people in Mongolia. I will share my love of scarves with them! I started this variegated one last night. Yes, it is Red Heart. Yes, I like it. Enough said.

My Lucky Clover Wrap knitalong has had a great response with 30 knitters signed up so far! Although we officially begin on March 1st, you can join and start knitting at any time. Check out the blog for all the info!

Oh, I have big plans for this long weekend! I can’t wait to tell you about them… you will just have to wait!!