Recycle / Repurposing an Old Wool Sweater for the Holidays

Think you can't use that old wool sweater you shrunk in the wash? Or the one you found for 50 cents at a yard sale this summer? Felting is very hot right now among crafters, and old wool sweaters are perfect for most felting projects.

To felt an old wool sweater, just pop it in the washer using hot water. Don't use the gentle cycle as you want it to agitate. Dry in the dryer if you have one or lay flat to dry. Voila, instant felted wool!

So what can you make with your fabulous homemade felt?

* How about a Christmas stocking? Cut out the basic stocking shape and sew together. Finish off the cuff with other fabrics, buttons, rick rack, ribbon, what have you.

* Mittens make great gifts for the younger ones, and the young at heart. Just start from the bottom of the sweater using the premade binding for your cuff, lay your hand over the fabric to make your "pattern" and cut. Sew around the edges on the wrong side leaving the cuff open, turn out to right side and you're done.

* Felted purses are fun to make too. Just cut your shape out of the body of the sweater, say two squares, two rectangles, two half circles. Sew the edges wrong sides together, trim the edges or add a lining. You can make a strap out of the felted wool, add some premade webbing for a strap, an old belt, or make one out of fabric. Add pockets to the outside or inside if you like, button closures etc.

* Old sweaters also make great pillow covers for colder months. Just cut and sew to size. If you're lucky enough to have a cardigan that you want to felt, just cut so that the buttons are in the center and you have an exceptionally unique accent pillow.

* Adult size sweaters can also be cut down to fit little ones. Just shorten the sleeves and bottom, take in the sides (if you need to after felting, which should shrink the sweater considerably) and add your final touches.

* Sleeves of sweaters make great leg warmers for kids. Make them a matching pieced hat from the body of the sweater, or make the body into a vest.

* Sometimes our furry friends get cold too. So if you have an old sweater lying around, maybe you can repurpose it into a sweater for your pooch.

* Other uses include advent calendars for the holidays, tree skirts (cuts from multiple sweaters pieced together,) wool blankets and throws (same as tree skirts), potholders and mitts for gifts (you may want to line them with some batting or maybe some fabric cut from an old towel), slippers, stuffed animals, the list goes on and on.

All it takes when thinking of repurposing items is to open your mind and let your imagination wander. You just never know what you might come up with.