10 Things Made from Upcycled Sweaters

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Sweater season is almost over (although here in Chicago it's taking its time to leave). As you're moving your winter clothes to the back of your closet, don't toss those old sweaters with holes. They can be put to new use. Crafty types will be inspired by this roundup. If, on the other hand, you like a piece but you don't have the time or inclination to make your own, most of these products are available for purchase...

FIRST ROW
• 1 This argyle quilt ($200) from SunMoonLake is made from reclaimed cashmere.
• 2 Wool sweaters were used to make this handwoven rag rug ($240) from fiveforty.
• 3 Chicago-based plytextiles makes modern pillows ($79) from recycled sweaters.
• 4 Danny Seo's re-upholstered sweater chair redo cost him next to nothing to make.
• 5 Rachel Denny creates sculptural deer heads from upcycled sweaters.

SECOND ROW
• 6 TrishaBrinkDesign transformed a red sweater into felted wool coasters ($24).
• 7 Cover your computer in a laptop sweater ($20) by Davey Sommers.
• 8 This collared sweater is actually a hot water bottle cover ($30).
• 9 These wine cozies were repurposed from felted sweater sleeves.
• 10 This monkey ($22) from Handmade Geekery was an argyle sweater in a past life.

Comments (8)

love it.

going sweater-hunting.

posted by everyeskimo on April 22nd 2009 at 10:33am
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Hm, wondering whether the sweaters will pill and get worn out when used to cover seats like that.

posted by slowdown on April 22nd 2009 at 10:55am
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Well, any fabric is going to get worn out when used as a seat cover. That's just how it goes. Since sweaters usually pill after going through the wash I don't think they COULD pill when used for most any of these uses as long as they weren't going through the wash.

posted by mabith on April 22nd 2009 at 11:11am
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I really like those coasters, cute!

posted by Lizzykewl on April 22nd 2009 at 11:49am
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love the deer head!

posted by wanderinglight on April 22nd 2009 at 12:06pm
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slowdown, you can fuzz them back up (and this goes for wearable sweaters too) by rubbing them with light, quick strokes with a pumice stone. There are also depillers at fabric stores... I'm not sure how they work; I imagine tiny lawnmowers.

posted by whytephoenix on April 22nd 2009 at 12:08pm
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felted wool would be very durable. also, another great thing to make from sweaters (after felting) is mittens. not really an after-sweater-weather thing, but the cuffs and waists make great ribbed cuffs for the mittens. Just use a blanket stitch around the rest. I wear mine all the time (made from a L&T black merino sweater i couldn't part with, even after the elbows had holes) and they're amazingly warm and dry.

posted by darlingcaro on April 22nd 2009 at 3:29pm
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"Upcycled"?

Please don't.

posted by Blandwagon on April 22nd 2009 at 8:36pm
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