Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Don't get used to this!


It won't be every week that files will be uploaded to this blog. I'm still working about 60 hours a week, but stealing 15 minutes or so a day in the studio to stitch.


Someone posted photos of a couch throw made from re-purposed plaid sweaters on Pinterest. That's like waving a red flag in front of me. "What if..." and I'm off! This is a 54" x 60" throw made from cotton sweaters. I made one from acrylic sweaters a couple of weeks ago. It was wonderfully snuggly, but I like the weight of a blanket when I'm really cold, so wanted to try it in cotton. It's machine washable in cold water and can be dried in a home clothes dryer.


This detail shows the contrasting textures of the knits. I really like trim as the edging on the sides. This one is for a long-time friend (since 7th grade), who isn't a fringe kinda girl. Eventually, I'll make one for myself with chenille looped fringe on the top and bottom.

The pieces are cut from freshly washed sweaters, the edges are serged, and then stitched together with a straight stitch to make strips of irregular size (but same width) pieces of sweater. I think I can get two throws from 10 sweaters.

I had a ball searching through Good Will ($4.50 a sweater) and Salvation Army ($3.00 a sweater), but hit the mother lode at St. Vincent De Paul at 50 cents a sweater.

Enjoy!!