New Items; Second Blog!

I've created another blog that is for all of the different types of upcycled projects (or, as my husband calls them, bullsh-- projects) that I am always pursuing.  These items, for the most part, will be placed in my new shop in the antique mall called UpDo.  That's why the blog is http://www.updoshoppe.blogspot.com/.

The latest post on UpDo are the Easter baskets I've made after reading the tutorial on Resweater's blog.  Mine follow the style she posted last year.  Warning!  Creating them can become addictive.  You can't make just one.

These, of course, were all made from felted (fulled) wool sweaters.

But, the other project that had me thinking "outside the sweater" was a vintage storage ottoman I picked up at Goodwill for $8.00.  It was the classic late 50's vinyl - but with a cigarette burn on top.  It was on four wooden legs and the lid lifts to reveal a pocketed lining.  Once again, I failed to take a before picture!

I decided that I would use sweaters to recover it.  The first thing I did, though, was unscrew those awful legs and spray paint them silver (have I mentioned how much I love spray paint???).  I covered the top with a poly cotton blend sweater with a rough texture that reminds me of popcorn.  The original lid to the ottoman was tufted with a button in the center.  I decided to make mine appear more modern by overstuffing the top.  I added some fiberfill from my stash and got out the staple gun.  I covered the bottom portion of it with a lightweight lambswool sweater in a complimentary stripe.  I took the waistband and cuffs from that sweater, stitched them into one giant band, and hand sewed it onto the ottoman's lid.

UpDo Shoppe

So, I've decided to open a bricks & mortar store front - well, sort of.  It will start as just booth space in an antique/flea market mall.  I plan to call it UpDo and will sell all things upcycled or recycled.  What do you think of the name?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!


I have been busy making as many things as possible, including the objects that will hold all of my items.  I want everything in there to be green!  One of my projects is a sweater project, though.  I'm nearly finished and will post pictures soon.  It is a vintage 50's storage ottoman with legs.  It was the typical off white vinyl with plane wooden legs and a cigarette burn on top.  Not anymore!


Aarrgghh!  Once again, in my haste to get started reinventing an item, I failed to take before pictures.  When will I ever learn?  Well, regardless, now it is awesome (if I may say so myself!).  I used sweaters to recover it!  I used one black and white, bumpy knit sweater on the lid that has hinges and lifts up.  I added some stuffing under it to give more of a pillowed look than it was previously.  I used a black and white striped lambs wool sweater to recover the base of the ottoman.  Then I used the waistband from one sweater to go around the edges of the top part.  I spray painted (have I mentioned how much I love spray paint???) the legs silver.  I can't wait  to see it all put back together!  I just have to finish hand sewing the waistband on and screw the legs back.  Then I WILL take pictures and post them!


I've also opened a new Etsy site that is strictly upcycled items that will be in the shop.  You can find it under UpDo Shoppe, too!  Wish me luck!!!

Cashmere Christmas dress

I made this in December.  It was quite a project!  I kept sewing, then cutting.  Sewing more, then cutting more, because I was never happy with how it was hanging on my body.  Eventually, I ended up with this.  I made it out of all cashmere sweaters, so it is super soft and super warm!


Front



Back


I was too lazy to take down the upstairs Christmas tree this year, so I just redecorated it for Valentine's Day.  Haven't decided yet if it is staying for St. Patrick's!

Busy, busy

I have been on a sewing kick this week!  With my hubby working out of town, I have been staying up late and creating new pieces. 




Child's zippered jacket/cardigan

   I was really pleased with how this one turned out.  I love that pattern from the sweater with those great colors of teal, mint green and gray. 








Long cardigan



                 I wore this long orange and blue cardigan to work and received so many compliments on it!  People asked where I bought it!  I love that!  I made this one out of four wool sweaters.  If I had to change anything, it would be the shoulders.  I would have put the serged seam on the inside.  It makes me look too linebacker-ish as it is!




argyle mohair skirt

  This skirt I made from an oversized men's sweater.  I added a jersey knit band at the top with a tie so it can be adjusted to various waists.  I wore it to work one day with brown boots, and it looked really cute!

Long hooded cardigan with buttons

Here's another long cardigan.  This one was made from three sweaters.  Two were already cardigans, so I kept the existing buttons in place.

One World One Heart

In order to meet other bloggers, particularly other crafty and creative ones, I am taking part in this event, One World One Heart.  I've never done anything like this, since I am relatively new to blogging.  I hope that it will be a chance for me to learn more about successful blogging and make friends with artistic individuals around the world!
As a part of this event, anyone who comments is eligible for a door prize to be awarded at the end of the event.  My door prize is a set of greeting cards that I have created.  In addition to the two pictured below, I will add three others with them.  I know my blog is all about making stuff from sweaters, and it would make sense to give away an upcycled sweater item.  However, since it could be shipped anywhere in the world, my cards would probably travel more easily.

So don't forget to comment so your information will be available for the doorprize!  For more information on adding your blog to the event, visit: 

 http://awhimsicalbohemian.typepad.com/a_whimsical_bohemian/2010/12/annoucning-the-fifth-and-final-one-world-one-heart-event-.html

Wool Cape



Lily was being goofy

Lily wasn't being very cooperative as a model last night, so I couldn't get the best pictures of one of my latest creations.  Typical fickled model...she wasn't in the mood to pose and wanted to just goof off!

This cape started out to be for me; however, it ended up being too short.  So, it's perfect for a child.  Even Lily, at nearly 12, is a bit too big for it. 

I started with a wool jacket that was fulled in the washer.  (One of these days I need to remember to take Before pictures!)  I inserted triangles of wool cut from fulled/felted sweaters.  It was a bit scratchy around the neck, so I added a collar of lambswool that is super soft.  It is doubled over and attached irregularly to have a scarf-like appearrance to the collar.  There are small slits in the front for arms to come through, pockets from the original jacket remain and the collar closes with Velcro and/or toggle buttons.

 

Less than 24 hours later...

My shelves to store the thrifted sweaters

Yaayy!!  I actually completed it!  I built the shelves, organized the sweaters and even put little bins to organize the scraps.  The only thing left is to label the shelves, but the batteries were dead in the label maker.  It will probably take me a month to get the labels on there...some things never change!

The closet under the stairs in the basement...perfect hiding spot so no one thinks I'm a hoarder!

Out of Control Sweater Overload

I didn't quite realize how many sweaters I have acquired until my niece and I start rummaging through the bags I had tucked in the closets. After washing (fulling) them, I have been just putting them into bags until the perfect project pops into my head. Needless to say, there was a mountain of sweaters on the floor after the quest for her pink sweater. I decided I would build shelves in the closet under the stairs - I mean, really, what else can you do with a weird shaped closet like that?

I went so far as to purchase the materials I needed, took all of the sweaters out and folded and sorted them based on type of yarn. And, that's where the story ends. I was looking at a fashion magazine that suggested capes are hot right now. Ding, ding, ding! The little epiphany bell was going off in my head, and I started to embark on another project. That's the love/hate relationship I have with my ADHD. It feeds my creativity, but certainly impairs my organizational skills!

Heather's Handbag

My niece visited last weekend and asked me to make her a bag.  She liked my iPad bag, but needs something bigger as she has three little ones and is always hauling around extra diapers, snacks, baby wipes, etc.  Her favorite color is pink, so she selected a hot pink wool sweater (it was a Forenza from the 80's, anyone remember those?).  She also liked this gray cableknit.  It was pretty loose and stretchy, as it was a blend, so the bag doesn't have the same stiff structure that my bag has.  I even had to sew in some pieces of leather inside in order to add support.  She also wanted a zipper on top rather than a flap, so I purchased a heavy duty jacket style zipper.  That way it completely zips apart so she can even overstuff it with the kids' clothes, diapers, etc, since the fabric will stretch somewhat.  I had some gray angora scraps, so I felted those into the already existing sweater pocket for a monogram.  We'll see what she thinks!

Upcycled Doll Bed

Just finished this Christmas present for my little niece, Paiscey.  Other than the spray paint and some polyester fiberfill I already had on hand, this is made from all used materials.

The vintage doll bed was an empty metal frame when I found it at a flea market.  First, I spray painted over the rusty white.  Then, I made the bedding from sheets purchased at the Goodwill.  The mattress was a piece of foam from a former mattress pad stored in my attic.  So, what does this have to do with sweaters?  Well, look closely. 

The foam is covered in an old sweater! 

I knew the fabric from the old sheets wouldn't really cover the yellow memory-foam very well (as it wasn't exactly a high threadcount!).  So, I took a very soft acrylic sweater and stitched it into a pillow case of sorts.  The foam went in, and then I stitched the dust ruffle around.  The problem came when I put the mattress in and realized that this is more of a crib then a bed so I will have to make some adjustments. 

I seem to recall making a similar mistake when sewing a dust ruffle for my daughter's crib twelve years ago.  I guess we never learn!

Holiday Party Dress

I made this for my 11-year old daughter to wear to our holiday party. For those who have tween daughters, it can be a difficult time to find dresses that aren't too cutesie childish, but aren't too hoochie either!  This was my solution.

This started out as two adult sized tops.  One was a silvery gray angora blend sweater that I fulled (aka felted) in the washer,  and a the other was black velour pullover.   

I began by cutting a band off the bottom of the angora sweater, which I later used at the bottom of the skirt to give a slight "bubble" effect.

Because my daughter only wears a size 10-12, I needed to take in the sweater a little.  I used my serger to stitch in one inch on each side of the sweater.  I also took in the sleeves just a bit.

I cut the torso portion of the black velour top off to use as the skirt portion of the dress.  I attached it to the sweater using the serger, pulling tight to give a lettuce edge.  I left this serged seam on the outside of the dress.

I then attached the bottom band of the sweater to the skirt following the same procedure.  I used leftover pieces of the velour to make three roses that I hand stitched onto the front of the dress near the shoulder.  Voila!  Instant party dress that is totally unique.

Poncho!

I made this little girl's poncho for no one in particular.  I might list it on Etsy.  The shape of the sweater it was previously just seemed so perfect for a poncho (I really need to start taking before pictures!), so I just cut the top off in a circular pattern.  I stitched the bottom with a zigzag just to be safe since the sweater was a wool blend.  I made the little flowers out of scraps from other sweater projects and buttons that were in an old box of buttons I got from my mom years ago!

Today, I had a few moments to pop in to the Goodwill, and I found another sweater like this one but yellow.  Looks like I'll be making another poncho soon!  I also picked up some things to make a dress for my daughter for a Christmas party.  Look for it soon!

Olivia's dress

I decided that this year I want to be as green as I can for the holidays, and one way is to give up cycled gifts. I decided to make a sweater dress and hat for my niece. I used a large, loose-knit woman's sweater in colors that were just obnoxious for adult attire, but perfect for a 5-year old!

I first cut off the sleeves - and later used one to make a hat - and then stitched down each side seam to make it slimmer. I cut the sleeves off of a junior's wool sweater. I also cut the neckband off to attach to the dress in order to decrease the size of the neck.

In order to make the dress flare at the bottom, I cut out irregular triangles from the rest of the wool sleeves. After making a slit in the hemline, I stitched the triangles to the dress. For an extra touch, I made flowers out of the leftover pink wool, added a pearl button I already had to each flower, and attached them to the front of the dress and the hat.

The hat was simply the sleeve of the large sweater. The shoulder end became the bottom of the hat. I stitched a diagonal line across the sleeve and cut off the extra. This gave it an elfin look, but I tacked the point down with the wool flower.

I was really happy with how it turned out.  I hope she likes it as much as I do!

Treasures found today!

I had to run to the thrift store quickly today to pick up some baskets to be used as gift baskets (Never buy new baskets. You can find great ones for $1 or so at most thrift stores).
Of course, since I had to walk past the sweaters to get to the baskets, I had to browse. Considering I was just in there on Wednesday and bought a ton of sweaters, I was surprised to see so many "new" ones out. I found three cashmere ones for just $2.50 each! Yippee! Most had already been somewhat felted, as they were all a bit shrunken. That's the benefit of living near the university. Freshman who don't read labels will end up washing their 100% wool and cashmere sweaters. Add that with the Freshman 15 equals bargain cashmere!

Doggie Poncho



Doggie Poncho

 This wool sweater had seen better days, but after I felted it in the washing machine and dryer, it looked much better.  Because of the design and the neckline, I thought it would make an excellent poncho for a dog.  Since it is 100% wool, there was no reason for any machine stitching.  I cut the neckline out in a circular pattern.  I then cut through the radius of the circle to the neckline.  I added a cute, decorative button and cut a button hole.  How perfect!

IPad bag

I found this great wool sweater at a thrift store for $2.50. I loved the bright colors and stripes, so I knew it would make a fun purse. The first thing that I did was wash it in HOT water in the washing machine, along with several other bargain sweaters I had just found. Then it was into the dryer for more felting. This had the "Jenny Craig" effect on the sweater, as it dropped several sizes, which was exactly what I wanted. Now I had a thick, heavy wool that could withstand weight as a purse. I decided it would be a satchel-type with a flap. I used scraps from another felted wool sweater to make solid color sides. I cut the bottom black and red stripes off of the striped sweater, cut the piece in half, and sewed the two pieces together to make the strap. I stitched wih the smaller red stripes together to look like one larger red strip. After finishing this, I realized it is the perfect size for my iPad. Since it is felted wool, it is water repellant and nicely padded to protect my precious "best friend.". Upcycling old sweaters is truly an emergent process, as I never know where a sweater will take me!