submitted by Diane Weiss-Rhodes
I am an avid knitter and yarn can get very expensive, especially when knitting larger items like sweaters!
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While at the thrift store one day, I looked at beautiful 100% cashmere (machine manufactured) designer sweater that was selling for $6.50. I complained to my daughter about it being the wrong size.
She suggested I unravel it and knit a sweater that would fit me. I checked seams to make sure they hadn’t been surged or cut. After purchasing the sweater, I began de-constructing it. I cut an inch off the top and sweater unraveled pretty quickly.
I then wound the yarn around the back of my kitchen chair and tied several spots with yarn ties. I rinsed the yarn in mild dish soap and hung it outside on my gate. After it was dry, I cut the ties holding the yarn in place and rolled it into several balls.
I have already knitted a beautiful cowl and probably have enough yarn left to make a small sweater. If I had bought that same yarn, it would have cost me well over $100!
I purchased several sweaters from the thrift stores that I will unravel and reknit this summer.
The re-use of yarn could be done by anyone that uses yarn for any kind of project. Items that are hand knit or hand crocheted could also be unraveled and re-used.
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