Felted Sweater Garland
Celebration , Winter 2012
Rhythm of the Home3 Comments
Last winter my family of four lived in a bus ten hours from our home for my husband’s work. We had about 400 square feet of living space that included our beds, bunks, bathroom with a shower, small kitchen, and couch space. Needless to say, we had a tiny tree come Christmas. It was four feet tall, maybe 1 foot wide, and it was perfect!
With limited space I tried to keep only the most important and beautiful things around us. Our tiny Christmas tree was loved because the few ornaments on it were truly meaningful. It included photos of the boys as babies, handmade pompon glued bears, pipe cleaner candy canes, and finger knit creations.
My lesson from last year’s tree is that handmade items are the most meaningful to us. In this spirit I created a felted sweater garland project for this year’s decorating in our home.
Materials
8 Foot Felted Sweater Garland
2-3 100% Wool Knitted Sweaters
Scissors
Rotary Cutter and Quilting Ruler OR Scissors and Freezer Paper
Sewing Machine OR Needle and Thread
Directions
Felt the Sweaters
Acquire 2-3 100% wool knitted sweaters from resale stores, closets, grandparents, or garage sales. The sweaters MUST be 100% wool. They must NOT be beautiful or without imperfections.
Run your 100% wool sweaters in your washing machine on HOT wash cycle with 1-2 tablespoons of dish soap, not laundry soap. Air dry.
Repeat this process until your sweaters shrink and you cannot see through the knit stitches (see above photo). Usually after just two wash cycles you have created your felt.
Cut Your Felt (Follow Option 1 OR 2 Below)
Option 1: Rotary Cutter and Quilting Ruler
With a pair of scissors cut your sleeves off of your felted sweaters.
Cut along the seam from armpit to wrist to open the felt and have it lie flat.
Lay your quilting ruler on your flat felt and cut 1 ¾” strips with your rotary cutter.
Now go along your 1 ¾” strips and cut out 56 total 1 ¾” squares from all of your sweaters. Be sure to avoid seams, holes, or anything you don’t want in your garland.
Lay your felted sweater squares into a pleasing repeating pattern.
Option 2: Freezer Paper Template and Scissors
With a pair of scissors cut your sleeves off of your felted sweaters.
Cut along the seam from armpit to wrist to open the felt and have it lie flat.
Cut out a square freezer paper template that measures 1 ¾” x 1 ¾.”
Pin your square freezer template onto your felt and cut out 56 total 1 ¾” squares.
Lay your felted sweater squares into a pleasing repeating pattern.
Sew the felt squares into a garland (Follow Option 1 OR Option 2 Below)
Option 1: Sewing Machine
Begin by placing your first 1 ¾” felt square into your sewing machine at the top center of your square and stitch a line down the entire center of your square. Stop at the end of the square.
Place your next square directly behind the first and continue stitching through the center of this and all remaining squares in your pattern.
If you like you can go through and stitch the entire chain again for additional strength. Affix ribbon hangers on the ends or hang as is.
Option 2: Needle and Thread
Grab your needle and thread and begin a running stitch through the center top of your square to the center bottom of your square. Stop at the end of the square.
Using this same piece of thread continue chain stitching the squares together in your pattern to form your complete garland.
If you like you can affix ribbon hangers on the ends or hang as is.
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Brenda Massei recently moved with her family of four from rural IL to live down South. The family is enjoying the warmer weather while exploring their new surroundings. She blogs at Pioneer Kids and has an Etsy store Pail and Pie.
Rhythm of the Home is an online magazine for families that focuses on creating with children, nature explorations, seasonal celebrations, conscious parenting, and mindfulness in all that we do.
