Thursday, May 10, 2007

How to Make a Wool Soaker from a Recycled Sweater

Should you ever decide to destroy one of your own grossly expensive sweaters-- or do the smart thing and pick up a wool sweater from the thrift store-- here's how you can turn it into a woolie diaper cover:

1) Cut off the sleeves where they meet the body of the sweater:
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2) Measure your child's inseam. Then, starting from the sleeve cuff, measure off that same amount (or less, if you want it to be short pants rather than long). Knick the fabric with your scissors to mark your spot. Then cut a slit in the sleeve that goes from your mark to the top of the sleeve. Repeat steps on the other sleeve:
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3) Trim the edges at the top of both sleeves to even them:
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4) Using an overcast stitch, finish off all of the edges which you have cut. ** Be sure to use 100% polyester thread, which repels moisture**
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5) Turn the sleeves inside out. Then sew them together at the place where you first cut a slit in the arm:
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6) With the pants still inside out, fold over the top. Sew it down, creating a casing for your elastic, leaving one inch of the casing open in order to insert elastic. The casing should be about 1/2" wide. Then cut a piece of 1/4" elastic to the size of your child's waist. Attaching a safety pin to each end, thread the elastic through through the casing and sew it in place at the opening.
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7) Remove safety pins, put the long woolies on your kiddo, and let him admire your handiwork:
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Oh, and don't forget to lanolize it before use.
Next I'll show you how to use the rest of the sweater to make a t-shirt!

19 comments:

Susie said...

That is awesome! Almost makes me wish I used cloth ... but I suppose cashmere pants would be nice for cool weather even if they're not lanolized and used for a diaper cover.

Elena said...

Oh, gosh! Thank you SO MUCH for these instructions... I have a ten week old and hate to use disposables on him... but all the diaper covers have vinyl or some kind of a plastic laminate on them, except for WOOL, which until now I couldn't possible afford!!! I am so excited to make my own now, - what could be better than a 100% wool diaper cover and pants made by mama with LOVE! And, nothing can be "greener" than this! Thank you again! :)

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Kathy said...

Do you need to do anything to the sweater first? I read somewhere to wash it hot so it shrinks first but other instructions (such as your which are the easiest I've seen) have no mention of shrinking the sweater first. Thanks!

Mutuelle sante said...

Thanks a ton it has been a very good help, now to make a wool soaker from a recycled sweater is simple utilizing your information. Thank you

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Julie said...

Found your site last night. Went out and bought a 100% wool sweater from Goodwill. It's been washed shrunk and has felted up nice. I just finished sewing it per your instructions and it came out wonderfully. Thank you for sharing this! It's to bad I just bought 3 soakers yesterday morning. I could have made 15 for what I spent on them. Thank you!

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Tyler said...

I'm excited to try this. Great posts by viagra, too! hahaha! I used cloth on my first and now on my second kiddo and am excited to make some pants for the winter. Hopefully my less-than-desirable sewing skills will hold up to your great tutorial. Best wishes to you and thank you so much for sharing!

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