Unravelling a cardigan?

Alfietinker

Having just got inspiration from JackiO in the Make Do and Mend thread, I've got a huge arran-type cardigan that I never wear and so was going to give to the charity shop. Instead I want to re-use the wool and make a crochet blanket.

So, how do I unravel it? How do I know where the end is, and do I have to take off the sleeves or anything?

Sorry if it sounds thick!

carly

This will probably only work successfully on a hand knitted garment.

First of all separate the garment into it's constituent pieces by undoing the seams.

You should have a back, two sleeves and two fronts. ( left and right ).

You will also have to remove any borders, buttonhole bands and collar as these will have been knitted separately. Remove these carefully by gently snipping through the stitches holding them to the garment, Do NOT cut into the main piece of knitting.

These pieces may not be long enough to be usable ,depending on what you are going to knit, but will be handy for sewing up etc. so keep them.

Take one piece, a front will be good to start with , as it is smaller. Locate the last row of knitting ( where the edge has been cast off ) this will be the furthest point away from the ribbinh/hem at the waist.

Try and find an end piece of wool ( at the far end of a row ) and either tease it apart from the next loop of knitting or snip throgh the last stitch with scissors and free the yarn. ( this is much easier to do than to describe )
now pull gently and you should find that each stitch unloops itself from the next one as you pull. Dont pull off too much loose wool at any one time cos it will get tangled.
You can wind this into a ball for re-use or you can wrap it loosely into skeins and wash it . This loosens up all the curls in the wool, but is a bit awkward for a beginner and might get tangled.

Repeat with the other pieces.

I'm sorry if I have made this sound complicated, it really isn't. But there are a few stages to go through. HTH

pol

First undo all the seams at the sides, front bands, armholes and collar if there is one. When you have all the pieces separate, look at the top. In one corner there should be a small knot where the piece was fnished , undo this and it should unravel. If not, cut through one stitch at either end and unravel from this. Only wind the wool loosely and it should re-knit up ok.

pol

Alfietinker

Thank you. I think it must be hand-knitted - it's really thick, warm wool and there are no lables in it - it's really chunky too. I think it was a hand-me-down that I've had for years!

If I wash it first, then presumably I wouldn't have to worry about winding the wool into skeins?

Something to keep me occupied for the next few days

carly

No, washing it whilst it is still knitted up will not smooth the wool out . It needs to be unravelled for this to have any effect.

If you dont need the wool to be super smooth ( and i wouldn't have thought you did for a blanket) i would omit this stage. Only really critical if you are knitting a new garment where final appearance is paramount.

Alfietinker

Aahh, I see. I won't worry about it then. I'm not very good with wooly stuff but I can crochet granny squares and it's getting chilly in the evening so I thought I'd put it to use. I'm not at all worried if its not smooth.

Thanks!

[Deleted User]

A good way to get rid of the curly wool bit, is when you unwind it, rewind it around the back of a dining chair-back. I then slip it off in hanks, and pull it through a cut off old leg of a pair of tights and wash it, or dip it in warm soapy water (Dreft flakes are good ) and rinse, and gently imerse it in a bowl of warm water with some fabric conditioner in. If you manage to keep it all together in the tights leg you can then peg it on the washing line from the top of the tights leg and it will drop the curly bit out . I have sometimes draped it over the thingy that sits across my bath, that holds the soap,wash flannel ect,then it can drip into the bath.Good wheeze if the weather is rotten. It's worth doing as you will be amazed at how much wool you can recycle if your careful.
If you have a dressmakers shop near to you buy one of the little hem cutters in there they are only about a pound and much better than scissors as they can help tease out the sewn up bits of a cardi or jumper. Happy knitting

Alfietinker

Thanks JackiO - you inspired me not to chuck the cardi out in the first place :T

[Deleted User]

Your welcome, never chuck owt out, is my motto

[Deleted User]

My mum used to unravel jumpers regularly and I sat there many a time with my arms outstretched while she wound the wool. She then wet the hanks, hung them on a line with a strip of rag and put something heavyish on the bottom to stretch out the kinks

I used to use a knitting machine and made big lengths to cut and sew. If the garment has been previously washed then it should be pretty stable. It can then be used like fabric and smaller garments can be made from the pieces

janb5

Can anyone direct me to the make do and mend thread- tried to search but without success...........