I have an over abundance of too small, ill fitting, streatched sweaters that I can't seem to part with. Does any body have any ideas of what I can do with them? I have heard of people taking old sweaters apart and reconstructing them into a new one. Anyways, if anyone has any sugestions i would really appreciate hearing them. Untill then , I'll continue to pull them out of the closet, hoping they have mysteriously returned to their origional, belly covering size.boo hoo.

Hey, if you have a serger, or a good interlock stich on your machine, you can make tonnes of cool things with old sweaters!
Last winter, I made a pink touque with bunny ears just by cutting out a pattern and sewing up the sides. ( if you want better instructions, e-mail me)
A friend of mine works for a mascot company (she made a lifesize Sugarbear!) and she makes fuzzy cuddly teddie bears, people bears, and strange animals with old sweaters aswell. Sweaters are nice aswell because theyre easy to stich features onto.
well, hope these ideas help...

ciaobaby

I've been seeing a lot of cozy-looking home dec with sweaters lately. You could cut them into squares and stitch them together to make a big quilt, or blanket, so you can still enjoy them, but you'll need to really zig zag or serge the edges. If they're not too badly shrunken, you can wet them and stretch them back to size (called "blocking") but this usually only works if they're not too far gone and it sounds like you're in dire straits!

if they are wool that has been felted from washing, you could use them to make mittens/hats/oven mitts/etc.... I don't thinkyou really even need to stitch the edges to keep from fraying since the felting will bind 'em pretty well. Use or make a pattern that is based on using felt or fleece....

i have a couple of felted thrift-store sweaters that I am planning on using to make mittens for my friends' daughter...

Felting, so that's what you call that. I knew it was a part of traditional yarn making, but didn't understand it. So is "boiled wool" sort of felted? It sure looks like you could punch holes in it without unraveling. I have always washed wool sweaters, by hand for years, and now by machine, just as absolutely necessary. But of course I've had some that have shrunken to doll size. Got rid of them as useless, too. Damn. When I think of all the lambswools shells I've thrown out over the years...

Beth

yup, that is boiled wool for you! I actually got the idea from a little piece that was in Interweave Knits a few seasons back--- had a small feature bout someone who was making over mitts with sweaters she felted from thrift store runs!

you can get the sweaters at the thrift store or simply from your closet if they are moth-holey enought that you aren't wearing them anymore, thenthrow them in the washer machine on hot with a bit of soap.... VOILA! a felted bit of material! (you could also do it by hand in the sink, but it is easier via washer...)

sallyann

I'm not sure how much too small these sweaters are, but if they're not TOO seriously shrunk, then there's lots of stuff you can do with them. If the sleeves are just too short (I get this problem a LOT!! I'm long limbed..), then you can amputate them, and have a nifty vest that just happens to be very preppy and trendy right now. Or crop the sleeves to 3/4 length and the body to a little above the belly, and it looks cute to go clubbing in. If it's WAY gone, preserve any usuable parts: fur collars, if you're lucky enough to find them, to reattach to a denim jacket, any neat trim, try sewing cuffs or partial sleeves on another top. Use the body of the sweater for other crafts. And you could send your leftover sweaters to me!!

I have long arms. I have tons of sweaters too. I live in sweaters. Even in summer. what I do is wash the sweaters in the machine and take them out before the dryer and lay them flat on a table or somethin and streatch the limbs and torso. it works great withthose fishnets without the holes in the sleaves for your thumbs.