You say shrunk, I say felted
Look at all these beautiful sweaters I got thrifting the other day! They are all wool and cashmere or blends of the two. Most of them have already been "felted" by accident which kind of brought a smile to my face knowing how many people this has happened to. The first time I ever "felted" a sweater was when I was in high school. I had one of my boyfriend's sweaters, a beautiful oatmeal colored v-neck cashmere that I just loved and I oh so ignorantly decided to run it through the wash. When I pulled it out of the dryer I'm sure my eyes were bugged out like a cartoon character - I truly couldn't believe what I saw! An infant sized version of that beautiful sweater that was mine but one hour ago. Even then I thought, well, maybe I can stretch it back out; uh, right, I couldn't even get my arm through the sleeve much less give it a good tug. Now I see all these beauties as victims of a fortuitous accident and dream of the crafty goodness that they will become.
YOu gotta check out www.crispina.com and see the gorgeous blankets she makes from felted sweaters. I have made my own fleted quilts too...I posted pics at the flickr use what you have group
Posted by:Mimulus | 03/31/2006 at 09:55 PM
It's so true, everyone has a accidental felting story! That's how I explain the process to people. Score on all of those cashmere blend sweaters. They're so soft!
Posted by:Rebecca | 02/06/2006 at 08:34 AM
Your story made me laugh - I love it. My girlfriend and I went thrifting a few months ago for that specific reason - to find sweaters to felt. The problem is we live in Hawaii where it's so hot. We thought we might find some since people who move here don't really need them anymore. We did find a few, but nothing like the great ones you found. isn't it fun to find treasures?!
Posted by:stace | 02/04/2006 at 02:58 AM
I just recently found out about felting, if only I knew what treasure I was making by mistake...LOL
Posted by:Gina L | 02/02/2006 at 12:27 PM
Oh please share what great treasures you create from these!
Posted by:Arlene | 02/02/2006 at 11:06 AM
Wow, great stash! I have now been inspired to deal with my felted sweaters, instead of hiding them away with embarrasment.
Posted by:Rose | 02/01/2006 at 09:06 PM
*laughs* Yes, it seems that we have all done this at one time or another. Isn't it great all us crafty nuts know what to do with them now? Hehe.
Posted by:shell | 02/01/2006 at 06:37 PM
:)
I like your h.s. story! I'm sure your boyfriend wasn't too pleased! Hee hee.
What a great stash o' goodies you got there!
Posted by:Leslie | 02/01/2006 at 05:56 PM
Cassie, you hit the jackpot on all those gorgeous sweaters. I can't wait to see what clever uses you find for them. I enjoyed hearing about your first "felting" experience. It made me laugh, remembering how my own eyes bugged out the first time I accidently did that too!
Posted by:~Vicki | 02/01/2006 at 05:25 PM
Would you mind giving a total novice a quick lesson in felting and the types of sweaters that I could felt? Thanking you in advance and looking forward to fun.
Posted by:Stephanie | 02/01/2006 at 02:51 PM
I felted a jumper, but it is so thick it won't go under the sewing machine foot and I'm too lazy to hand sew.
Posted by:Jackie | 02/01/2006 at 01:32 PM
You brought a smile to my face. I used to have a lot of cashemere sweaters. Some of them "felted" and I wish I had them with me now...
Posted by:Lizette | 02/01/2006 at 10:20 AM
I just went through some old "too small" clothes that I haven't looked at in years. In the collection were 3 felted wool sweaters. When they shrank, I had assumed that it was because I had gained weight. Now that I'm a knitter, I knew immediately when I saw them this time that I had shrunk the sweaters! I immediately threw them in the laundry for another felting.
Posted by:Cathy | 02/01/2006 at 10:07 AM
I just finished my first felted tote. It was great funa and I am on the lookout for more sweaters!
Posted by:jacqueline | 02/01/2006 at 10:00 AM
nice collection! I remember too felting a sweater for the first time. It was my very first hand knit sweater, wool by Pinguoin, Seed Stitch pullover in DK weight, long and slightly oversized... and it took me about 6 months to knit. I was in college, and pulled it out of the washer (not knowing I had put it in) in a laundromat, and sat on the dirty floor and cried. I still flash back to that moment sometimes. Ah well, nice treasures you found.
Posted by:Liz | 02/01/2006 at 09:17 AM
ooo, nice colors! Lucky you, to have a delicious felted wool stash!
Posted by:mimi k | 02/01/2006 at 05:50 AM
I'm so impatient to see what they'll become !! With your talent I know it'll be a "chef d'oeuvre" !!!
Posted by:Sandrine (alias Didine!) | 02/01/2006 at 05:03 AM
Your pile is so colorful! I have a small one myself sitting by the washing machine ready to go in. I even found a vintage, pink cashmere blazer a few weeks ago!! I'm dying to get to it with the scissors ;)
Posted by:Toni | 02/01/2006 at 02:32 AM
My first recollection of 'felting' is when I finally got to pick a cardigan I liked as maybe a 13 year old... and the very next week my mum spoilt it by washing it in the machine - I was devastated! Now I see the opportunities in it like you do...
Posted by:Jo | 01/31/2006 at 11:04 PM
i love all those colors. I can't wait to see what they become in your talented hands!
Posted by:molly | 01/31/2006 at 08:48 PM
Those look fantastic! What will they become? So many possibilities.
Posted by:Blair | 01/31/2006 at 08:34 PM