Make Wool Long Johns From Old Sweaters

By Mother Earth News Staff
Published on January 1, 1979
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Recycle old wool sweaters into a pair of comfy, economical long Johns using tips from our long underwear pattern!
Recycle old wool sweaters into a pair of comfy, economical long Johns using tips from our long underwear pattern!
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Sure they look funny, but these long Johns are warm and the price is right. This set wool long underwear cost only $2.00 and took less than an hour and a half to make.
Sure they look funny, but these long Johns are warm and the price is right. This set wool long underwear cost only $2.00 and took less than an hour and a half to make.
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Old wool sweaters can be recycled into long johns.
Old wool sweaters can be recycled into long johns.
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Custom-tailor your long underwear to fit loosely or snugly, and — with a few extra sweater sleeves — it's a simple process to make the legs as long as you like.
Custom-tailor your long underwear to fit loosely or snugly, and — with a few extra sweater sleeves — it's a simple process to make the legs as long as you like.
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If you can thread a needle, you can sew your own long Johns, and it'll take just a few hours done by hand or by machine.
If you can thread a needle, you can sew your own long Johns, and it'll take just a few hours done by hand or by machine.
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It doesn't take much to sew
It doesn't take much to sew "woollies" of your own. All you need are scissors, thread, a needle and a few sweaters.

Don’t throw away those old wool sweaters! Instead, use our long underwear pattern from Mary Schantz and recycle your old sweaters into custom-tailored winter “woollies.”

There is nothing like a pair of old-fashioned wool long Johns to take the bite out of a cold winter day. A layer of wool next to the skin is, even when wet, about the best insulation imaginable. And, since this material has fibers that lift moisture away from the body, a good pair of “woollies” provides ventilation as well as insulation.

In fact, the only problem with yesterday’s answer to the cold is today’s inflated economy. It’s nearly impossible to find a pair of woolen long Johns for under $25, and even the blended cotton or synthetic imitations (which are often anything but warm when they get damp) are not cheap.

So, how can you afford to stay cozy and dry while you work or play in the snow? It’s easy; just make your own set of long underwear! Even the most inexperienced seamster or seamstress can custom-tailor a couple of old sweaters into warm, winter long underwear in an hour or so, and the necessary materials shouldn’t cost more than a few dollars (if anything at all)! Here’s how:

Where There Is Wool, There’s a Way

First, you’ll have to locate two or three old wool sweaters, one for the top portion of your long Johns, one for the bottom and a third that can be cut up to extend the arms and/or midriff of the other two.

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