[barbara perpoli]

Saw the recent picture of sweaters bought at a charity shop. Can you unravel store bought sweater and how?

 

[rainie]

Usually store-bought are machine made and knitted like fabric to be cut and sewn together. When unraveling these you get 2-3 foot long pieces of yarn. True hand made can be recycled.

 

[StitchDesigner]

Here's how to tell: if the seams are serged, you cannot unravel it.

 

[Nancyn]

I went to a goodwill/charity shop and bounty a couple of sweaters that said hand knit. I was able to salvage one of them and rewound the yarn. The other two not so well. Since I only paid $4 for all, I consider not a waste. I will say it took me a whole evening to unravel and I have not knit up anything yet. I did find a man's large cotton sweater so I know I will have plenty of yarn to knit something for myself.

 

[inishowen]

I've only tried it with hand knit garments. I think machine knit would be hard to unravel.

 

[chickkie]

I purchase sweaters at thrift stores and unravel them. The secret is that the seams cannot be serged together - they must have a seam that can be undone. You can't always recover every inch of yarn, but enough to make it worthwhile.

 

[ceejay42]

Here's how to tell: if the seams are serged, you cannot unravel it.

OK a non-sewer's dumb question: Exactly how do you tell if it's "serged"? Would it just be indicated by the presence of sewing thread or not? No sewing thread = can unravel?

 

[chickkie]

OK a non-sewer's dumb question: Exactly how do you tell if it's "serged"? Would it just be indicated by the presence of sewing thread or not? No sewing thread = can unravel?

go and look at the seams in a t-shirt. They are usually done with a serger.

 

[ceejay42]

go and look at the seams in a t-shirt. They are usually done with a serger.

Oh ok, I think I see what you're talking abou. Yup, a picture's worth a thousands words... Thanks!

 

[obsessedinseattle]

I have recycled some good cotton yarn this way, it seems more amenable to ripping and winding. Yes, sometimes you get shorter pieces, but can get enough to make dischclothes or small things. Look carefully at thrift stores, you can see if it will unravel by looking on the inside. Men's sweaters have a lot more yarn, and don't cost any more. Its fun but time consuming.

 

[Blumoon]

If you google recycling sweaters there are tutorials out there. If your a Ravelry member check out the group: unravelers. I believe they have links for tutorials.Many sweaters are machine made that are not serged.

This is a great way to find cheap yarn! Be forewarned, it's addicting.

 

[Jessica-Jean]

Saw the recent picture of sweaters bought at a charity shop. Can you unravel store bought sweater and how?

Google 'gridjunky' and read what that guy does with store-bought manufactured sweaters! Amazing stuff and pricey products.

 

[inishowen]

Jessica-Jean, I just googled Gridjunky, very interesting, thanks for the recommendation.

 

[Joyce19]

I believe serged seems are called overlocked in the UK. The machine cuts the fabric (knitting) as it overlocks the edge making it virtually impossible to unravel more than one rows length without a break in the wool.

 

[Jessica-Jean]

I believe serged seems are called overlocked in the UK. The machine cuts the fabric (knitting) as it overlocks the edge making it virtually impossible to unravel more than one rows length without a break in the wool.

Ah, but even a row's length can be used, especially if it's a feltable wool. Also, since you're probably working with much finer (diameter) yarn than usual, you will probably also be using it doubled or more. Replacing one strand as it ends and adding in another would be quite do-able. If it were a somewhat exotic fibre, I'd do it. I cannot buy ramie yarn for love nor money, but I can find ramie sweaters in the second-hand shops. I can't afford linen yarn, but I can find linen knits in the second-hand shops.

For whatever reason - or none whatsoever, here the term 'overlock' applies within the clothing industry, while 'serged' is applied to home machines. I've no clue why that is. In both cases it's as you said; the machine sews the seam and trims the fabric.

 

[eshlemania]

Here's a video that shows what to look for and how to undo a seam.

DD is down for the weekend which will involve a trip to Goodwill to look for gorgeous yarn in sweaters. My best find was a royal blue 100% cashmere.

 

[AmyKnits]

Usually store-bought are machine made and knitted like fabric to be cut and sewn together. When unraveling these you get 2-3 foot long pieces of yarn. True hand made can be recycled.

:thumbup: :thumbup: I am not interested in reclaiming ANY yarn, but especially a commercially made sweater unless you have a need for spending lots and lots of time to get lots and lots of small lengths of yarn.

I barely have enough time to run out to the LYS... I don't think I would ever have the time/inclination to undo a sweater and try to reuse the wool... I have heard it can be done with some success with a hand knitted sweater..... If that is something you have your heart set on doing.

 

[RoxyCatlady]

Another option for the machine made cut and seam type sweaters: if they are pure wool that can be felted...

Wash them, felt the crap out of them - then, cut shapes!!

Cut out and sew a tote bag, a hat, mittens, whatever you want!!

It doesn't felt? That's ok - make non-felted tote bags, hats, mittens, etc. from the fabric anyway! Cut and sew!! Pick up and add crochet trim! cut squares from the body and make an afghan! Lots of possibilities!

A dear friend once mentioned - take the sleeves off, sew up the "shoulder" end, and you have a pair of socks (she wears them in her rubber boots on the farm). When the feet wear out, cut them off, sew a new seam, and you have new shorter socks!! Keep going until they are too short to wear

 

[past]

There is a YouTube video on recycling store bought sweaters. In the video she says to look at how the sweater is constructed. If a serger was used to sew together then you will find that the yarn is all in short strands.

 

[Lil Kristie]

Some sweaters I've seen in thrift stores have side/underarm seams that can be undone. The shoulder seams may/may not be serged/overlocked seams. I have to look at all seams to see if they can be undone.

Don't assume the shoulder seams will be the same as the side seams.