Ever have a favorite pair of socks - or a special hat - or an old baggy pair of pants that you just love? When the time comes that they're no longer wearable it can be hard to relegate them to the trash (in my case these favorite pieces of clothing are kept until they are no longer even fit for donation). I had just such a pair of socks. They were a teal color in a wool-like knit. I loved them! When they wore out I couldn't just throw them away - they were placed in my 'stash of stuff' just in case...
Here is the result of my recycling. "Socks" just grew and became a special repository for my favorite pair of socks. Part of one pair became a sweater -- another part became actual socks and the last portion of the second sock became a hat quite by accident.
When I had finished "Socks", except for a head covering, I was experimenting with various 'hat' designs. All of a sudden I grabbed up what was left of a cut out sock section, placed it on his head, gathered the top, hemmed the tails hanging down and voila!
"Socks" is now ready for what will surely be cold weather and my old socks are keeping his little feet warm.
"I think winter wear is communal. You get some gloves and a scarf from a lost-and-found box, wash them, wear them for a while until you lose them. Then somebody else does the same thing." - Adrian Grenier
It used to be the rule that you don't wash a wool sweater in hot water. If you did, it was ruined as it had shrunk down to child size. Those were the 'old days' -- these days we purposely pick up a 100% wool sweater (or skirt or anything), bring it home and shrink the dickens out of it. After that we cut it up and stitch pieces together. We add pieces to mixed media artwork. We create purses, hats, scarves and any number of wonderful things. This is definitely a case where I don't long for the 'good old days'!! As a side effect - what a wonderful recycling tool wool has become.
Coat by Elynn Bernstein
Then there are those who make their own felt. This is an arduous task - taking a lot of muscle because you literally have to 'beat' the wool into submission. I take my hat (wool felted?) off to these creative and 'strong' women. One of those women is Elynn Bernstein. Elynn is a member of our InspiredArts Guild. She dyes wool, felts it and creates beautiful and whimsical pieces of wearable art.
Hat by Elynn Bernstein
I love to use wool felt on the back of my punchneedle embroidery pieces. It is malleable and yet strong. The texture and colors are sooo perfect for stitcheries. Here's to a new use for an old 'product'.
"A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water." - Eleanor Roosevelt
