There are several ways a knitter can recycle. I'm going to venture into just a few in this post. There are plenty of good ideas out there, just Google the two words. And most of these good ideas require a certain amount of effort on your part, so plan ahead and leave plenty of time before you intend to pick up a pair of needles.
A common way to recycle while you knit is to purchase thrift store wool sweaters. The process begins by checking labels to insure you are purchasing wool, deciding if it is worth the price, purchasing it, taking it home and then unraveling it. After a few hours of dismantling you'll have wool that may be clean, maybe not, but is definitely wiggly because it has been previously used. This is the time to make the wool clean and in the process also reduce its wiggliness. I have found the best way to approach this is to either hand wash or gently machine wash the entire hank(s). (Watch out with the machine process, you can felt the wool before you start the project.) Allow for an appropriate time to dry and in just a few days you'll have wool ready to live on again in a new life.
I have done this in the past to satisfaction with the results. One of the downsides to recycled wool is the colour or style of wool can be dated. However, if what you want is a vintage, yet updated look, this recycling process is the way to go. And it is so economical to boot.
Another way to recycle while you knit is to cut up colourful plastic bags in such a way they make one continuous string, or cut them into strips then knot or slip them together and use the end results for knitting. Again this process to prepare the "yarn" can take as long as the knitting of the project itself; but once you have made your plastic yarn, often referred to as plarn, you can go wild. Make yourself a reusable market bag:
or a even wedding dress. Yes, this dress was completely made by knitting with plarn and netting.
I have knit with plarn and can say it is not easy to use. It has a tendency to stick to the needle and requires a lot of extra help slipping from one needle to the next. My finger tip was raw by the time I completed a small project, but it did give me the effect I was after. I used plastic and yarn combined to make a donut look glazed. See below how shiny the middle donut is? That's because it is glazed!
My personal favourite recycling project is photographed below. This is a ball of blanket ends from the Pendelton Outlet in Washougal, Washington. This store sells seconds of Pendelton clothing, house accessories, and blankets. I bought a beautiful Pendelton wool camel coat there for less than $100 which was very satisfying. But the big find was the trimmings leftover from the blanket making process. This can be seen in action if you take the time for their tour. The tour also shows how wool is dyed, dried, spun and then actually used. (Click on the link above if you want more details.) I bought two of these huge balls of leftovers and have plenty to make table trivets, place mats or protectors of tables under plants, I haven't decided. Oh and I spent a total of $2 for both balls.
Just note how big the needles are dwarfing that poor pencil. These are size 35 US or 19 mm needles and are often referred to as broomsticks. Knitting with a pair of these behemoths is a challenge because of their circumference and the weight of the leftovers yarn; but most good things are a challenge to achieve!
Recycling might be unconventional but make up for it by being economical; so for those of us who want to be thrifty, if only at times, recycling is perfect. See if any of these options make any sense for you.
A common way to recycle while you knit is to purchase thrift store wool sweaters. The process begins by checking labels to insure you are purchasing wool, deciding if it is worth the price, purchasing it, taking it home and then unraveling it. After a few hours of dismantling you'll have wool that may be clean, maybe not, but is definitely wiggly because it has been previously used. This is the time to make the wool clean and in the process also reduce its wiggliness. I have found the best way to approach this is to either hand wash or gently machine wash the entire hank(s). (Watch out with the machine process, you can felt the wool before you start the project.) Allow for an appropriate time to dry and in just a few days you'll have wool ready to live on again in a new life.
I have done this in the past to satisfaction with the results. One of the downsides to recycled wool is the colour or style of wool can be dated. However, if what you want is a vintage, yet updated look, this recycling process is the way to go. And it is so economical to boot.
Another way to recycle while you knit is to cut up colourful plastic bags in such a way they make one continuous string, or cut them into strips then knot or slip them together and use the end results for knitting. Again this process to prepare the "yarn" can take as long as the knitting of the project itself; but once you have made your plastic yarn, often referred to as plarn, you can go wild. Make yourself a reusable market bag:
 |
| Can double as beach bag as well |
or sandals:
 |
| Don't know about the support in this model, which is crocheted, BTW. |
or a even wedding dress. Yes, this dress was completely made by knitting with plarn and netting.
 |
| Wonder how hot this can be to wear? |
I have knit with plarn and can say it is not easy to use. It has a tendency to stick to the needle and requires a lot of extra help slipping from one needle to the next. My finger tip was raw by the time I completed a small project, but it did give me the effect I was after. I used plastic and yarn combined to make a donut look glazed. See below how shiny the middle donut is? That's because it is glazed!
.jpg) |
| Glazed donut, anyone? |
Just note how big the needles are dwarfing that poor pencil. These are size 35 US or 19 mm needles and are often referred to as broomsticks. Knitting with a pair of these behemoths is a challenge because of their circumference and the weight of the leftovers yarn; but most good things are a challenge to achieve!
Recycling might be unconventional but make up for it by being economical; so for those of us who want to be thrifty, if only at times, recycling is perfect. See if any of these options make any sense for you.
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