KnitWerk

I’ve tried some variations—some offshoots—of knitting during these last few weeks of work craziness. I’ve had varied success. I thought a quick trip to the thrift store between meetings might be fun for some cheap yarn frogging adventures.

Attempts at lateral fiber crafts:

Project 1: ripping lovely thrift store sweater for white lambswool

Thumbs down in the stress knitting department. I HATE ripping thrift store sweaters for the yarn (at least when I’m stressed out). It’s all curly and tangle-y, and has that thrift store funk smell. The yarn becomes an unholy tangled mess. Not pleasant. One of the popular tutorials shows cuts to seam thread with big, ol’ honking scissors. Is she nuts? Because I broke my seam ripper, and couldn’t find little scissors (no time for tracking down missing tools this late at night), I tried the scissor technique, and was not impressed. Normal scissors are way too blunt and horsey. This is a job that requires precision. Finesse.

Lessons learned:
1. a) Buy another seam ripper, dummy. (done)
1. b) Wind the yarn as you go—from your palm to your elbow, on a ball winder, whatever—or face the hellish, knotty consequences. Tie often and liberally—certainly before you get up from the couch. Do not, under any circumstances, rip without coralling your yarn while you do it. Twist ties will work in a pinch.
1. c) Positive note: crocheted seams are actually kinda fun to rip, once you have the right thread. Ziiiiiiippp! This is the kind of fun I was looking for from this project.
1. d) Washing the sweater and allowing it to fully dry before attempting to rip it would probably avoid the aforementioned funk.
1. d) Abandon the project early if it’s no fun, or at least postpone for calmer days.

Project 2: Felting (fulling) thrift store sweater

After the previous experience, I thought I’d try something new. After the demonstration of needle felting at Stitches, I thought I’d throw the next sweater in the washing machine to create needle felting substrate. Into the washer it went, on hot wash/cold rinse, heavy agitation cycle, and BAMM! A felted sweater (or “fulled,” if you’re going to get all fussy about it).

Lemme tell ya, this is FUN. I grew up in my mom’s yarn store, and like her, I’m very particular about the way I care for clothes—especially hand knits. There’s something delightfully naughty about throwing a 100% wool sweater in the washing machine. Hot wash/cold rinse + heavy agitation = serious rebel knitter good times (yup, I’m a nerd). Think I’ll make a bag out of it.

Project 3: Needle felting onto felted thrift store sweater

More big fun. I’m using some of (ahem) Husband’s needle felting present to embellish my felted-sweater-soon-to-be-bag fabric. He wouldn’t use the purple, anyway. Punch punch punch punch. Something calming, meditative even about needlefelting. Punch punch punch punch. Punch punch punch punch punch.

And behold: fabric for a pretty purple bag

a close up: