Recycled Sweaters Into Cute Flower Accessories

<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ii1XyqQFbKL6JQsen4EAm6gfw1rn9lX27yQ-uUQWcJiDN_BxYGWEyRWjdyuxDGyxtk3YaC-kIDkVINL0vUQ-TX5dPjHAYRx6DEP7f6nD4gq3fIE8gt5P1wPKv5gAM3JZTUOmnnW-oyM/s1600/sweater+brooch+3.jpg"></a> </p><div align="center"> Did some sewing last night and made these cute layered flowers using <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">upcycled</span> cashmere sweaters. I'm really pleased with how they came out.<br /><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60734784/upcycled-cashmere-sweaters-flower-brooch"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535464326472417346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxjq0lOhT4rizmetRp1jB_rPRNb-QT3rEIAHPCGGas75gg7VSnEUQqpye2ZtKbqwCiSfy4g8_J-NzXBhUQJL2ihZE_ZDlIJh4w61PHgLiEtt8UfWsJvqN_UtlBqpaZrXyE_G7quATPqSc/s400/sweater+brooch+collaged+.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 368px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60734784/upcycled-cashmere-sweaters-flower-brooch"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535464342571111906" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ii1XyqQFbKL6JQsen4EAm6gfw1rn9lX27yQ-uUQWcJiDN_BxYGWEyRWjdyuxDGyxtk3YaC-kIDkVINL0vUQ-TX5dPjHAYRx6DEP7f6nD4gq3fIE8gt5P1wPKv5gAM3JZTUOmnnW-oyM/s400/sweater+brooch+3.jpg" style="WIDTH: 268px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60734784/upcycled-cashmere-sweaters-flower-brooch">Recycled Sweater Brooch</a> $12<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60732506/lola-chic-gray-and-black-recycled"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535464312610285762" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPVY1NgEEkYM616kQrbGTjG5qxYOG2c0FDFJevfT2w0dIY7F4nAe89jBC5R0rWR7omaO9A6x4jmBaAqnVdbSc1dKdG0Ddz__E9iSVXqIYGXHmkEkr3zVmLSWQTiPxQmATVqCTfIh8IZo/s400/Headband.jpg" style="WIDTH: 255px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60732506/lola-chic-gray-and-black-recycled"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535464318850175842" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbHoenpPhDXXpPiOZt4ncfBd-YWM5yrFrCEqBPkwnXvHPlWuzEzWotldf-R9290XfsSvH57XkfhyphenhyphenZqpDK17jTSfh1t6AQIoxi9HndIwt_anDec4ZGV5j2PYP8MvapCOXxQ5qdkGhAzQY/s400/headband+gray+2.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br />I kind of want to keep this one! It went so perfectly with my "Mad Men" outfit today! I had fun shooting this one too--it's just like a photo I took about 12 years ago.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60732506/lola-chic-gray-and-black-recycled">Lola Chic Sweater Flower Headband</a> $18<br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NVy7G63dhaX0bXyXjCh6rkzgr-P7X8G9ApiRWpbxgaC8e3vv9CfUFyebJ9dKdUxI-m9_93sdRhn8zTsxJpf-Rg9V-12OMsm22kgLRm0mBSTcLGF6pjTW0TeMaopLVD_4EDomPmHbbsU/s1600/Headband+2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535464308020211298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NVy7G63dhaX0bXyXjCh6rkzgr-P7X8G9ApiRWpbxgaC8e3vv9CfUFyebJ9dKdUxI-m9_93sdRhn8zTsxJpf-Rg9V-12OMsm22kgLRm0mBSTcLGF6pjTW0TeMaopLVD_4EDomPmHbbsU/s400/Headband+2.jpg" style="WIDTH: 255px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60734034/recycled-sweater-gray-and-black-choker?ref=v1_other_1"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535458696998498114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9DDv0yxBwB8opjoLL5Vzhirp3IO2WK8EZ9RIBp6WVfXgwFQDbHiqfm7frEusWISTCZn1MF19Q8FAjdHqobjpwCwr8I2Ia61AtzbCfhy6G4hV9gNIq8MI29U0C52NMOPAx8k30eIilovI/s400/gray+sweater+choker+collaged.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 368px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div align="center"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/60734034/recycled-sweater-gray-and-black-choker?ref=v1_other_1">Recycled Sweater Flower Choker</a> $16<br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBy0A6YZynKjarkGMGDhIB1RBWDVTZ4yW35oIP6s5IJEQrcmUW6epEZ1gPprwYoiFqLT-mQ2LBGGz-5SPzTrCA24M4uXxw2FwfOrxoXdRxYhAEU0y7nfPR8QddYMs_gKTvk7qdp-uM4Q/s1600/DSC_8838.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535458681557393330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVBy0A6YZynKjarkGMGDhIB1RBWDVTZ4yW35oIP6s5IJEQrcmUW6epEZ1gPprwYoiFqLT-mQ2LBGGz-5SPzTrCA24M4uXxw2FwfOrxoXdRxYhAEU0y7nfPR8QddYMs_gKTvk7qdp-uM4Q/s400/DSC_8838.jpg" style="WIDTH: 318px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNbUz6JsVXSnbMJr4jeoRReS14I0OGw75G4ce3BH1dU6EvtBfFlRLhFa2u7SChOxBaRKhrAbKh1WtIVTJztuEE2Neb4FJIx4umcVKZwYOHUnIPWIJh0BPtR40XcUnYjV3a0NMGsK0hjc/s1600/DSC_8840.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535458669680598050" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNbUz6JsVXSnbMJr4jeoRReS14I0OGw75G4ce3BH1dU6EvtBfFlRLhFa2u7SChOxBaRKhrAbKh1WtIVTJztuEE2Neb4FJIx4umcVKZwYOHUnIPWIJh0BPtR40XcUnYjV3a0NMGsK0hjc/s400/DSC_8840.jpg" style="WIDTH: 291px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyTLUAp7vsxGQ5n3JSofHllZPUAArVUh779fyoXCueremCRJfCiwRpWfMeGvaCJAJrtepjrTi-VpDS7pO-g1UL8OGtoN2xnAM3HXu1MX1OgDuU5UZXq63icnFKVUwromQRpsVxqGl0tI/s1600/DSC_8843.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5535458657387769170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeyTLUAp7vsxGQ5n3JSofHllZPUAArVUh779fyoXCueremCRJfCiwRpWfMeGvaCJAJrtepjrTi-VpDS7pO-g1UL8OGtoN2xnAM3HXu1MX1OgDuU5UZXq63icnFKVUwromQRpsVxqGl0tI/s400/DSC_8843.jpg" style="WIDTH: 268px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p>

Recycled Sweaters Into Cute Flower Accessories

Did some sewing last night and made these cute layered flowers using upcycled cashmere sweaters. I'm really pleased with how they cam...

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How to Fix A Sweater That's Too Big

<div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">You spend hours, I mean HOURS, knitting a sweater and finally try it on and realize it's too big! What to do? Fix it!</div><div align="center"><br /> </div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h4HKseu4Yy3QdVlEZBD2ri-5dqYFKPA-oPVtSDfMIqOxI3D5cWOCKeh5R7s-X4PT3bIIUxS5OlkFlOi-zz_5VeFpKZNAtKgdfXldzrK0-AsjFYEA51tYHk1r6OdP_GelE-wQ5Re8gXY/s1600-h/DSC_9707.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423294743394967810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h4HKseu4Yy3QdVlEZBD2ri-5dqYFKPA-oPVtSDfMIqOxI3D5cWOCKeh5R7s-X4PT3bIIUxS5OlkFlOi-zz_5VeFpKZNAtKgdfXldzrK0-AsjFYEA51tYHk1r6OdP_GelE-wQ5Re8gXY/s400/DSC_9707.jpg" style="WIDTH: 268px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /></p><div align="left">Over Thanksgiving break I knitted my first sweater for myself. A beautiful orange cardigan style one with a fancy lace pattern down the front only to try it on and realize it was too big. I would have tried it on as I knit it but I left the sleeves for last and they were cinched up in circular needles so I couldn't until I was done. I toyed with trying to cinch the back, corset style and I even knitted a rectangular piece with a button on each end to sew on the back and cinch it. After I pinned it I realized it just didn't look right and was very bulky in back. I refused to give up. I mean all that work! And it was my very first sweater for myself. I usually knit things as gifts or to sell on etsy. I ended up taking it in under the arms and it really worked! I would suggest using a sewing machine rather than hand stitching it because it really needs to hold it well so it does not unravel. </div><div align="center">Here is what I did:<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqeNBPOnl_KasOtzhVuBhMhCG2sZiUN2xK7ziBv_-AQTUMte4-iGR-_X-AtFfWyx0t5BUrvGNyDQnAQxo895g8PBn9pdymletn1DOPSCl0HFTpgP7p89hyphenhyphenzOMT82ZZTD73h0-w7n7y3g/s1600-h/DSC_9687.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423294733040070450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqeNBPOnl_KasOtzhVuBhMhCG2sZiUN2xK7ziBv_-AQTUMte4-iGR-_X-AtFfWyx0t5BUrvGNyDQnAQxo895g8PBn9pdymletn1DOPSCl0HFTpgP7p89hyphenhyphenzOMT82ZZTD73h0-w7n7y3g/s400/DSC_9687.jpg" style="WIDTH: 268px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wn3h3nWoHAMKXn-2_UJMUafKK_SpNL2z2JyAdEeX7Y7oNy8g3vwupxkN8GhzMINtXAjbXjvkbFxua6WS-BsiWnaOpe1wd1EAJjOaTElPJn9tvBtVABKhmzxDzX5PV5UGYMI-Mzt5sl8/s1600-h/DSC_9689.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423294730115095714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0wn3h3nWoHAMKXn-2_UJMUafKK_SpNL2z2JyAdEeX7Y7oNy8g3vwupxkN8GhzMINtXAjbXjvkbFxua6WS-BsiWnaOpe1wd1EAJjOaTElPJn9tvBtVABKhmzxDzX5PV5UGYMI-Mzt5sl8/s400/DSC_9689.jpg" style="WIDTH: 291px; HEIGHT: 263px; CURSOR: hand" /></a><br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left"><br />First, turn the sweater inside out and put it on. Then pin it under the arms and at the waist until it fits comfortably. You may need help with this part because as you twist to put the pins in you may not end up with a straight line down. You could also lie it flat, pin it, then carefully try it on. This sweater was knitted almost in the round so there were no seams to go from but it still worked out great.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left">Next, use a basting stitch (set the sewing machine on the largest stitch possible) and follow your pinned lines. Turn it inside out and try it on again just to make absolutely sure it fits. There's no going back after this point!</div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvQA9Ry3aTuaHG48-MVfcrkZwgyWzlZV3pXDb8zkhVLRyFj2-yoRclQeyy1nvYr92dDKaL72XdU0W22Z60I4bMnORObt99KfjDh2wf5GVdut9vtdFDZBY6fIzbBlGiI6qDXCJhsM6pUk/s1600-h/DSC_9709.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423294725875549058" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvQA9Ry3aTuaHG48-MVfcrkZwgyWzlZV3pXDb8zkhVLRyFj2-yoRclQeyy1nvYr92dDKaL72XdU0W22Z60I4bMnORObt99KfjDh2wf5GVdut9vtdFDZBY6fIzbBlGiI6qDXCJhsM6pUk/s400/DSC_9709.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 327px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="left">Then, switch your machine back to a standard stitch size and stitch a little bit inside your baste stitch. And after that, do it again right next to that one so you end up with a double stitched line. Then, you are going to stitch it again (see why it would be crazy to hand stitch it) on the other side of the baste line. Now the scary part: cut the seam!<br /><br /></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423300159297935074" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-wxW3_AmjBeoc7Avx3xr2xF95yXgPf_mKL9t9O4ql5YV75a-QkrUnuhqOb13WQhrMHcyGjKQTZtT_MAlU4HKVtRLuWk3Ag_-X55A-3XUZr2myJHMtUQN-Q9K750Pkd8N5J8OulXaEPw/s400/DSC_9710.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 268px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" />You should have 3 seams and it should look like the photo above. Two side by side and then one on the other side of the baste line.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCX9M2A3oFK-YP9NZFmh1rzePsPUNrFGSf-mizebWUEVBmmT9r-AborL5xaNEPpuv7eE9JWq97r0mdnp-xLbLxvUsTrmdGI1nnpg6EvAzvDvYoBB5-lq_H_tvZGYAlChxHUo8e9UrLNUU/s1600-h/DSC_9708.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423294714619490834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCX9M2A3oFK-YP9NZFmh1rzePsPUNrFGSf-mizebWUEVBmmT9r-AborL5xaNEPpuv7eE9JWq97r0mdnp-xLbLxvUsTrmdGI1nnpg6EvAzvDvYoBB5-lq_H_tvZGYAlChxHUo8e9UrLNUU/s400/DSC_9708.jpg" style="WIDTH: 308px; HEIGHT: 276px; CURSOR: hand" /></a></p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Perfect Fit!</strong></span></p><br /><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423295061845948866" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguZ81IRy5NP8NFHpU7psEbgGuIxmXHu_CNGKKv_YzapiPssBJo3gpkt38n8aFrW5Kup81HOTaMkzltdOBprk46H6UHf3gVukJmguMAdP19jF9Bj_tzJKdCJJoTUlTI4bPgrVp0dnoWceY/s400/Janna+Sweater.jpg" style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 255px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" /> <p align="center"> </p><p align="center"> </p>

How to Fix A Sweater That's Too Big

You spend hours, I mean HOURS, knitting a sweater and finally try it on and realize it's too big! What to do? Fix it! Over Thanksgivin...

Read more »

WooHoos

<div><br />I sell gently (sometimes new) clothing on eBay and have been doing so for years. I love it, although it is a lot of work! Mostly because I am so anal about the photos being perfect. I also try to find stock photos of models wearing the clothing and that takes a lot of time. But it also helps it sell so I guess it is worth it. I get my clothing from a variety of places. Most of my merch (like my cool lingo?) is from area rummage sales at churches. I am very fortunate to live near affluent areas where people will spend hundreds of dollars on an item, wear it a few times, then give it away. I am really serious about these rummage sales and actually put the dates on the calendar and plan around them--really they are THAT GOOD! Right now in my closet I have a pair of black wool Jil Sander pants that are worth about $400 and I got them for a mere $1! I have many more stories about my various finds and where I get stuff but I will save that for another post...plus I just am not sure I want to share my secret bargain hiding spots yet!! Ha!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQcEesjffbwFoCGbn91awAfvfMZKVolY2hKJcE2xbBJ4Oefw6UBYWZ5aAtZD3P89usIGG1hFq0MdcqrlkfzRlHqjpYiHf9gUKWxCripsMyMhAxOSZ3GavHaLJ8jjRWpvHSOxrgTkgmzH_/s1600-h/ralph+lauren+sweater.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302682062834018610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQcEesjffbwFoCGbn91awAfvfMZKVolY2hKJcE2xbBJ4Oefw6UBYWZ5aAtZD3P89usIGG1hFq0MdcqrlkfzRlHqjpYiHf9gUKWxCripsMyMhAxOSZ3GavHaLJ8jjRWpvHSOxrgTkgmzH_/s400/ralph+lauren+sweater.jpg" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 211px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 232px" /></a>Anyway, on Etsy I peruse the forums quite often so I decided to take a look at the eBay forums. I don't know why I've never done this. Someone started a threat called "Have a Woo Hoo this week?" and I was intrigued. People posted items that they sold last week and made a "woo hoo" sale. I am so amazed at what people will buy and especially how much they will spend! The most woo hoo's posted were vintage (if you can call 1992 vintage...this means I am vintage! Ahhh!) Ralph Lauren sweaters. We are talking the super tacky sweaters with big flags or bears across the front! And one of them actually sold for...drum roll please...$299!! Really? Really. So when spring finally gets here I will be on the search for old Ralph Lauren sweaters. The tackier the better I suppose! Feel free to post your woo hoo story here if you are an eBay seller too. And in the meantime, if you see someone walking down the street wearing a really tacky bear sweater from the 80's or 90's, grab it and run...or better yet just offer them about $10 for it and see what happens. Who knows? Maybe you will have your own "Woo Hoo."<br /><br /></div><br /><p align="left"></p>

WooHoos

I sell gently (sometimes new) clothing on eBay and have been doing so for years. I love it, although it is a lot of work! Mostly because I a...

Read more »