Reclaiming Yarn From Old Garments
This workshop will talk about the basics of deconstructing existing garments, namely sweaters: identifying good candidates, taking them apart, and what to do with the yarn after it's been harvested (including plying and dyeing).
Participants will spend part of the workshop taking apart provided sweaters in partners or small groups, and will take home any yarn they unravel.
details
- when: sunday, may 30th, 2010, from 3:15 pm - 4:45 pm
- to attend: Please see the info page for more information on attending any of the workshops at the 2010 Boston Skillshare.
- facilitated by: Grace Mrowicki
lesson plan
Presentation Portion:
-Identifying likely candidates: where to look, reading labels, properties of different fibers, seams, gauge, felting
-Breaking it down: typical sweater constructions, where to start, unlocking seams, unraveling
-What to do next: determining weight and yardage, skeining, plying, dyeing, deramenizing (side notes about making CD spindle and PVC niddy-noddy)
Hands-On Portion:
-taking apart sweaters in partners/small groups
Handout list:
-fiber properties chart
-WPI/measuring yardage
-making a CD spindle
-making a PVC niddy noddy
facilitator experience
Grace teaches middle school math at a charter school in Western MA, where she tries to assert the rightful place of arts & crafts in the math curriculum as often as possible. She has been a knitter for nearly 20 years, yarn harvester for the last 5, spinner for the last 2, and sells recycled yarn online.
intended audience
Fiber artists of any age, ability and craft (kid and grown-up friendly).