Repurposing Yarn from Old Sweaters

I originally posted this on my other blog last year but thought it bore repeating here.

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In the picture above is what remains of two sweaters I've been unraveling (aka frogging) for yarn. The hat is one I made out of the yarn from the dark sweater. It's hard to see the colors but that sweater had large blocks of 4 different dark colors, using three of these held together I made the hat on a knitting loom.I am a devotee of recycling and thrift shops and am always looking to save money. It takes some time to unravel a sweater but it takes time to earn the money for yarn too. Where I live we have a thrift shop where you can buy a brown shopping bag full for $3. I can fit 6 or more sweaters in the bag and I get a lot of yarn from these sweaters.This link will take you to a site that explains how to do it better than I could. Read it before you go out to buy because not all sweaters are suitable. Then go looking, you can find some awesome yarns if you keep an eye out for the right sweaters!!

More Plarn Patterns

I spent a lot of time today looking for patterns other than totes and handbags using plarn. I didn't find much. I guess I'm going to have to start experimenting as soon as my arm heals up. i did find these though:

This dishcloth has a plarn scrubbie in the middle
Sunshine Dishcloth with Scrubbie

and a nice little mat
Plastic Bag Doormat Rug

An accessory bag for your solar dryer
Clothes Pin Bag

And a small bag for gifts
Plarn Gift Bag

Using Brown Paper Shopping Bags

OK so you forgot your reusable bags the last time you went to the store and opted for paper rather than plastic. Now what are you going to do with them? Here's a few ideas:

I've got to try this one, I think my cats would love it!
Make your own Kitty Condo

Some Christmas crafts
Christmas Tote Bag Craft
Recycled Brown Paper Bag Christmas Place Mat

And Gift Wrap and Bags
Wrapping Paper
Gift Bags

Making Your Own Recycled Paper

Even if I can't do any crafting with a broken arm, I can still do some research and bring you some great ideas to inspire you to reduce, reuse, recycle. It's kind of hard for me to type with only one hand but I'm getting better at it already.

I have always wanted to try to make my own paper but have never gotten around to it. The links I found use all kinds of things to make paper out of. The more I read the more I want to try it!

Here's the links:

Tutorial

From old newspaper

From scrap paper

From old jeans

Wrapping paper from jeans

From straw

From plants

From the garden

Ideas from My Readers

You remember that barbeque I mentioned in my last post? Well, it was also my grandson's birthday. Which has very little to do with what happened. as I was getting ready to leave, I fell on my daughters back steps and broke my wrist. So, no more crafting for me for awhile. What I am going to do here, though is go through the comments and copy and paste some of the good ideas my readers have mentioned.

On using plarn, Kathie says: "have made mats to clean your feet on, scrubby pads for washing dishes, market bags, and more."

On driving Cay says"If I have several stops to make, I try to make a circle and that takes me out and brings me home again." and Kelly says "I went out and picked myself up a new backpack and put air in my bike tires. Now if it is just a quick trip in town (I live in a fairly small one) I take my bike and leave the car at home. I've also slowed down the same way you have."

Linda's idea for using plastic bottles " I was given a large terra cotta pot for flowers recently. They get heavy once you fill them with soil so, I plan on taking some plastic bottles I found and filling up half the large pot with them. Then I'll fill up the rest of the pot with soil. This is a good way to reuse those plastic bottles and will make it easier on the back when moving that pot around."

Quiltmac says "My personal "green" thing is using vinegar instead of chemical weed killer. It's wonderful especially on a hot sunny day, cooks those weeds!!!"

Jen's green thing "I stopped buying bottled water in bottles, now buying it in the Gallon size and using a sports thermos for my water all day. Not only am I going green, but I'm saving a little bit of money too."

Sonya has a good idea too "I like to stuff the toys I knit with plastic bags. It gives them a great crinkly sound. I does make them surface washable only."

On other ideas for brown paper bags from Libby "I use the paperbags for draining grease off of thing that I have deep fried, THe brown bags can also be cut up for wrapping paper or put down for a weed barrier"

Do you have an idea you would like to share? Just leave a comment!

Green Grocery Bags Given Away #27-50

27. KnittingRose from contest #1
28. Deb in Kansas from second contest
29. Kim Lincoln in second contest

Contest Winners and New Contest

The contest is now closed, my grandson, who turns 8 tomorrow, picked the winner and the winner is:

margaret

There is one slight problem though, while at the birthday party today, I feel down my DD's back steps and broke my wrist. It might be a little while till I can make the bag. lol But you will get it. So margaret, please contact me at tha email below.

OK this one is going to be a quickie because I'll be back home Saturday and that's when it's going to end. Only one bag will be up for grabs this time, I haven't had much of a chance to sew, they've been keeping me busy at work. Tell me why you either don't use your own bags when you go shopping or about the last time you had to use paper or plastic if you do usually use them.

The winners to the last contest were:

1. Poolesd
2. Deb in Kansas
3. Kim Lincoln

The winners for the first contest who have not contacted me yet are:

2dachies
undeadgoat



Please email me at debsstuff55 at yahoo dot com with your address so I can send you your bag.