Snow Days Inspire Mittens & Hats

 Last month I went to one of the local thrift stores and bought a dozen wool sweaters.

Part of my cache of sweaters.

 Since then I've been deconstructing the sweaters, felting some, toying with others, and even undoing a scarf that I made because it didn't turn out like I envisioned.

Cut apart and ready for new action.    

Too short, too blah. Needs to be something else.

 I think I was just waiting for inspiration to hit.

And then it started to snow and snow and snow and voila - inspiration hit!  My mind unclogged.  Finally pieces began to fit together.  No lofty, cool objets d'art just simple, useful mittens and hats!

Here are the beginning, the finished product soon to follow.

Pinned together, waiting for stitching.

Beginning of a mitten.

Sweater Project Progress

 This is the original sweater from the thrift shop.  The style is not something that I would ever wear but I thought it would work for my first project.  Actually I scored a dozen sweaters that day and thought this would be the easiest to work with first.  I'm not really feeling that way right now but will persevere because in the end it will probably be ok. 

Originally I thought that the body of the sweater would make a nice purse.  Once I cut the body, basted the sides together and felted it, however, the shape seemed a bit too long and narrow for a purse and the pattern too businesslike to become a market bag.  So, once measured, it turned out to be a good size for a laptop computer sleeve.  Now it needs to be sewn together with a lining and padding to provide some protection for a laptop.  Then all that remains is to decide what kind of fasteners to put at the top so the computer doesn't fall out.  It would be great to have feedback from visitors out there.  Possibilities include Velcro, buttons with wool corded fasteners or snaps(?).   

Please excuse its present state.

The arms of the sweater yielded a scarf.  The arms were sewn together with the hope that they would felt nicely into a free flowing scarf.  Alas, that didn't really happen and I ended up sewing the two pieces together more tightly and I am not happy with the line that now appears in the middle of the scarf.

It is actually more pronounced in person.

       

My thoughts then are to hide the unsightly seam is to somehow use the soft backing that I have to put on it to cover it.  I need to play with it some more.  Also I thought that because the scarf is not real long, that it could be used like this picture and I would add either  hidden snaps or a nice large button making it more like a cravat.

                        Thanks for visiting!     

                                         Gail                      

Always Late But Working on It

Last week I tried to post but was waylaid by a stuck button.  But that's not an excuse.  It is a new year and there's lots to do, including turning a new leaf!  And to that end, today the girls were at their viola and violin lessons on time!!  Quite an accomplishment for me and one that I plan to continue as the year moves on.

After reading several of the blogs I follow I decided not to make resolutions but rather set goals instead.  So here goes.

Projects currently in progress:

• A hat for Abby.  This is my first try at knitting a hat so it's a simple simple pattern.
• While we're talking about Abby, finish weaving in the ends of the quasi-infinity scarf so she can wear it this winter.
• Add a soft lining to Abby's cowl so she doesn't have any scratchiness next to her neck, poor child.
• Embroider or needle felt "Sam" on the little orange purse I made for my granddaughter.
• Sew a soft back on the scarf that was re-purposed from a thrift store sweater.
• Finish the laptop sleeve also created from said thrift store sweater.
• Have all the above projects finished by the end of next weekend.
• Continue writing the mystery novel I started in November as part of NaNoWriMo (not to be completed by next weekend.

I would love to hear what projects you all have cooking right now.  So leave a comment below.

Ta ta for now.    Gail

The Sweater Project

Last month I stopped at two second-hand shops and bought a dozen wool sweaters for just a few dollars a piece.  My intent is to re-purpose the sweaters and sell my end results on my now empty Etsy store.  I named my shop "Whimsical Necessities". Stay tuned and keep watching because you will be able to see my progress right here! 

Here is the first sweater.  The sleeves are now a scarf awaiting a soft backing.  The body is being transformed into a computer sleeve.  Pictures of the progress will be forthcoming soon.

Most important, suggestions are highly encouraged!  Please leave comments on how the project can be improved.