In my fabric stash, I had two wool sweaters. A red turtleneck that was too big for me and a really nice green cardigan with a Fair Isle design from LL Bean. Unfortunately, the green one shrank a bit and was too small. I have been holding onto them because I knew they would make a great project one day. This week I washed and dried them so they felted. It was a tough decision about whether to felt the Fair Isle. I kept debating if it was better to give it to Goodwill so that someone else could wear it or to repurpose it myself. I decided on the latter.
I made them into several items for the little babe. She really likes what I made and they will keep her nice and warm this winter.
First project - a pair of simple mittens. I used one of her current mittens as a pattern. Figuring out the angle of the thumb was the hardest part.
I then cut the neck off of the red turtleneck sweater to use as a cowl for the little babe. That was all I had to do - just one cut! No sewing required. Doesn't get much easier than that and she has been wearing it everyday since I made it.
Almost as simple were the leg warmers I made from the sleeves of the Fair Isle. I cut them to a length that reached the little babe's thighs, then I folded the top over a piece of elastic and sewed it down. You can't see it in the pictures, but the Fair Isle design is around the ankles - they are really pretty!
Then for the project that required a bit more head scratching and sewing. I have not really made a good usable pair of pants for her. All my ones in the past have been a bit restrictive. So I am finally happy to announce that I sewed a pair that fits! The pants will not win any prizes for aesthectics or sewing skill, but they will keep my little babe's buns warm this winter. Using a pair of her pants as a pattern, I placed the legs on either side of the buttons on the cardigan, using the bottom ribbed edge of the sweater as the bottom of the pants. I then cut up as far as I could to the neck of the sweater. It wasn't going to be enough to cover her butt, so I then cut two pieces from the body of the red sweater to extend the top of the pants. I added a piece of elastic at the top.
All warm and toasty! And she just happened to be wearing her new red and green pajama top, so that is why she is ready for Christmas. We weren't taking early holiday card photos!
I shared this post on The Self-Sufficient HomeAcre for the HomeAcre Hop.