Knitting is a very enjoyable hobby as well as being a very useful skill. To be able to make your own clothes, toys and accessories is a brilliant way of being self-reliant and can also be eco-friendly.
As a vegan shopper you won’t want to buy wool or alpaca or silk, but as an eco-minded shopper you won’t want to buy acrylic. The problem is that organic, eco-friendly, natural yarns are very expensive.
So what do you do if you can’t afford the eco-stuff? Simple – you Re-Knit!
Browsing in charity shops and second hand shops you’re bound to find knitwear that is a pretty colour, but unattractive design. If you buy it, wash it and unravel it, you can re-knit that colour into something beautiful. It’s just another way to recycle, or upcycle if you like, and it’s very enjoyable and satisfying. Here are a few things we made with unravelled yarn and oddments:
This matching hat and mittens was made with acrylic yarn unravelled from 2 different machine-knit jumpers. The problem with unravelling mass-produced machine-knits is that the yarn is cut at the end of each row, it’s not continuous like with hand-knits. So the ends of the yarn had to knotted together as each row was unravelled. Quite tedious and time-consuming but it results in interesting balls of yarn which, when knitted together, produce a unique effect. Leaving the dangling ends of each knot untrimmed creates a shabby chic effect .
Blanket made by sewing together little knitted squares
The yarn from these saggy old hats was unravelled and knitted into …
… this gorgeous beret
An enjoyable way to give new life to old knitwear and keep it out of landfill 🙂
Don’t know how to knit? No problem – watch this brilliant video:
And for the left-handed:
UPDATE:
I’ve just finished the hoodie I was knitting in the photo at the top. I wanted a warm chunky knit but didn’t have any thick yarn so this is knitted with 3 strands of unravelled DK acrylic; lots of different colours and oddments. It’s so soft and warm, like wrapping yourself in a blanket before you go outside. Now I’ve just got to find a zip for it 🙂
Further update:
I’ve just finished another one here and if you would like to make one yourself, the pattern is at the bottom of this post 🙂
Violet's Vegan Comics 
This is such an awesome idea! I’ve heard of re-knitting but I’ve never actually tried it. I’m now feeling motivated to give it a shot.
I love that hoodie by the way. It looks deliciously warm.
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I’m so glad 😀 and thank you, yes, it is very very warm 😀
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I have done this. It is a bit harder because you have to visualize the amount you need rather than go by the numbers on the yarn package, but it is worth it to save and reuse the materials. This is a great post and I love the hoodie!
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Thank you so much. It is very satisfying to make something new out of something old isn’t it? 🙂
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Great idea! Thanks for stopping by my blog…I enjoyed visiting yours in return. Blessings!
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Thank you so much 🙂
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I have tried this before with an unwanted jumper that had been sitting around in my wardrobe, unloved. I turned it into a lovely lace beret (with plenty of yarn left over) and gave it to my sister. You’re right that unravelling can take some patience but definitely worth it. Love your hoody!
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Thank you 🙂 yes it is very satisfying isn’t it? I’ve also just turned two old hats into one new one – but it turned out too big for me so I had to give it away. Still, it was worth doing 🙂
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It’s a great idea! I used to do a lot of knitting. It’s so satisfying. 🙂
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Thank you, yes knitting is satisfying, although you have to be in the mood for it don’t you? It’s a great winter hobby 🙂
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I love the recycling ideas! I’m always looking for ideas to save money!
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Thank you, it is very satisfying 🙂
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Love, love, love that sweater! And your dog is a beauty!
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Thank you so much, on both counts 🙂
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You can see a photo of my two cats, Prudence (Prudie) and Charlie. They were both recently rescued from the Humane Society after the last of our four felines dating back to 1993 passed away. I need to get a head-on photo of the two of them together – they are both gorgeous (proud mama).
You’re a very talented woman. I love your blog!
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Aw, that’s a beautiful picture of the two of them together 🙂 You have every right to be proud!
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Great re~use of materials, Violet ~ my mum used to unpick hand~knitted items, holey or outgrown and use the natural fibres to crochet multi~coloured blankets. They were so warm and snuggly, in the days before central heating had ever been thought of. I loved the colour combinations and it was fun identifying the garments from which the rows were constructed! I mostly use acrylic yarn for the vibrancy and variety of textures ~ and, although I check out all the charity shops for pure wool sweaters to re~purpose, I’ve yet to find any. I think felters have got there before me and snaffled all the bargains! Great post, fabulous site! Thanks for visiting my blog (http://taoofscrumble.com) and for the ‘like’! 🙂
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You’re Mum was obviously very resourceful. I wish I’d thought of it years ago when my children were outgrowing things 🙂
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When I was born in 1952 clothing was still rationed in Britain, following WW2 Violet ~ so ‘make do and mend’ was the norm. Modern consumerism mocked that ~ but I’m pleased that it’s making a comeback. My hippy~trippy philosophies are not so crazy after all! 🙂
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I couldn’t agree more 😉
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Not all commercially knit sweaters have serged seams that cut the wool at the end of each row!
The best sweaters to unravel are made in pieces and then sewn together. Since I crochet almost exclusively from recycled yarn, I actually blogged about this a few years ago: http://gossycrafts.wordpress.com/2010/09/20/unraveling-a-sweater/
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That’s fantastic 🙂 I just popped over to look at your brilliant post, thanks for the info
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I like your philosophy! I buy used mason jars to use when I buy vegeables and fruit on sale and can my future meals, along with tons of other re do’s of other items. Nice to know I am not the only careful with money person.
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I love this idea. Will definitely try it! Thanks for sharing 🙂
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Excellent 🙂
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Love the blanket idea. I’ll have to try that for a baby blanket! Thanks!
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Beautiful post, Violet. I never thought about being a vegan in the context of knitting. It was interesting to learn this new perspective from your post. I loved the word ‘upcycle’ 🙂 The blanket and the cap and mittens look very beautiful.
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Thanks for the info on reusing existing knitted items. Love the blanket, btw!
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