Recycle Old Sweaters: Learn How to Felt Wool

Image Gallery In “The Sweater Chop Shop,” recycled wool knitwear becomes the gateway to everything from a beautiful blanket or throw pillow to a holiday wreath or a child’s stuffed toy. COVER: STOREY PUBLISHING

The following is an excerpt from The Sweater Chop Shop by Crispina Ffrench (Storey Publishing, 2009). Using recycled textiles to create home accessories, sweaters and even furniture, Ffrench has rescued nearly 500,000 pounds of clothing from landfills throughout the past two decades. In The Sweater Chop Shop, Ffrench shares her techniques and designs for more than 20 recycled sweater projects — functional art that’s good for your wallet and even better for the environment. 

Pot holders may sound a little hokey — like something you may have brought home from summer day camp. I like “hokey,” and find pot holders useful every day. They can really add a bright, inexpensive handmade spark to a kitchen.

Making pot holders is quick and simple, and they are a great gift any time of year. Plus, because these are constructed with wool, they are fire-retardant and insulating, making them super-functional yet cute (of course).

The simplest design is to use a single 7-inch-by-7-inch square top. After you’ve learned the basic technique, try patching pieces together to make colorful tops, such as the ones shown in the Image Gallery.

Supplies

Felted wool sweater (see “How to Felt Wool,” below)
Sharp fabric scissors
Rotary cutter, pad and extra blades or a 7-inch-by-7-inch pattern made from cardboard
Permanent felt-tip marker
One 7-inch square of woven cotton cloth for backing (an interesting patterned cloth is nice)
One 1-inch-by-6-inch strip of nonraveling cotton jersey (such as T-shirt material)
Extra-long straight pins
One size-16 yarn darner needle
Persian wool or embroidery floss 

How to Felt Wool

Felting wool requires three conditions — heat, moisture and friction — which can be provided by your home washing machine and dryer. Here are a few tips for successful felting.

• Use a hot-water wash, a cold-water rinse, and the usual amount (per load) of whatever laundry soap you have on hand.
• Set your home washing machine for the load setting that will allow free movement of your goods, but don’t use too much water or they will float at the top and not get enough agitation or friction. If you desire a thicker, more shrunken finish, wash the sweaters in a load with your regular laundry. The weight of jeans and towels agitates the wool and enhances the felting process.
• Dry the sweaters in the dryer on high heat. This step tightens the felt further, and sometimes makes felt that lacks body become full of it!
• If, after one cycle of washing and drying, you still haven’t achieved the desired felted texture, try repeating the process one or twice more.
• After your sweaters have felted enough to hold a crisp edge when cut, remove them promptly from the dryer, smooth them out, and stack them flat to store until you’re ready to use them. This keeps wrinkles at bay and the need for ironing to a minimum. It also allows for maximum visibility of your material palette.