A question about wool.

Lizzieanne

cheerfulness4 wrote: »

What happy memories this thread has evoked. As a little girl we were always having our school jumpers unraveled and then made into other things for the new year. I spent so many happy afternoons as a little one helping mum do this and it seemed that wool and knitting was always on the go in our house. Maybe that's why I love knitting so much now.

I was just thinking the same thing -happy memories!
My Nan was always unravelling something to re-use the wool. I remember, as a little girl, sitting with my hands oustretched as she unravelled it around them into a skein. I always lost interest after 5 minutes! Unless of course she was unravelling it to knit me some new dolls clothes - I had the best dressed dollie in the street!

cheerfulness4

Lizzieanne wrote: »

I had the best dressed dollie in the street!

Me, too. My nan used to knit my doll lovely clothes and I remember spending many an evening watching Dr Who chewing on the ear of a gorgeous knitting rabbit that she made me from the woman's weekly patterns she collected all her life. (and later saved for me).

Got me wondering, from the knitters on here, where can you buy cheap wool. The OP has given me the idea of unravelling charity shop finds but does anyone know of a cheap online shop. I've tried ebay but is there anywhere else? I used to buy tangled wool off the markets that came straight from the mills and was throw away prices for the very best makes. Can't find anywhere that does anything similar now sadly.

moanymoany

Cheap yarn is not worth using. All that work and the end result will not wear or launder well.

I've found good quality yarns at boot sales. It does depend on how much you need, sometimes the end of range baskets have enough to make smaller items.

moanymoany

The sewing and cutting of knitted items is called steeking - yes truly!

Here is a site to tell how it's done.

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring03/FEATsteeks.html

teeni

when I first got married and money was tight i used to re knit a lot, used to knit something to wear out on saturday night and then rip it apart on sunday to reknit in a different design for the next week.

It may always have been the same colour but the style was always different.

allIcouldwishfor

allIcouldwishfor wrote: »

There are books available about taking jumpers apart and reusing them for other things (can't find it on amazon at the mo but will have another look later). Might be worth checking your local library.

Knew I'd seen it somewhere.....http://www.amazon.co.uk/Second-Time-Cool-Art-Chopping-Sweater/dp/1550379100/ref=pd_sim_b_5/202-6753020-6753445

Just to add, I ordered this book and it came today. It's fab! I'm really pleased I bought it as it has some really great ideas in it. Some of the stuff is a bit far out but it's great for inspiration.

meanmarie

Oh dear you lot, you have me in tears...my late mother spent my childhood knitting from woman's weekly patterns ( I learnt to read on w.w.). She often ripped things and reknitted them into something else...excellent money saving idea and great recycling. Must see what is due to go into bin.....

Sorry, miss my mother who died in 1994 and this just struck a chord, haven't wept for a while

cheerfulness4

:grouphug: hugs meaniemarie, sounds like she left you with some lovely memories to stay with you always.

Hardup_Hester

Hi Marie, did you read the little stories about a bird, I think it may have been a robin, I remember reading them