40+ ways to upcycle sweaters! Whether you accidentally shrunk a sweater, found one riddled with moth holes, or can’t resists buying cashmere and merino when it’s $1 at the thrift shop, I have some project ideas for you! If you don’t have a wool sweater stash, check out these tips for thrift shopping to upcycle & refashion before you hit up the store, but beware it can be hard to stop buying soft sweaters once you’ve started. This post focuses only on sweater upcycles, as in cutting a sweater up and turning it into anything but a sweater; if you’re looking for ways to refashion a sweater and keep it a sweater, that will be coming soon!
Working with wool is great because it doesn’t fray, is so soft, and feels extra cozy. Many tutorials will call for you to “felt” the sweaters and make them super thick but remember you can just wash them on delicate and hang dry if you want a thinner or stretchier feel! I love keeping even the smallest scraps and shredding them to use as stuffing, wool is my favorite.
While you’re here, check out these other posts too!
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Ways to upcycle sweaters
Make something for your home
This adds such nice texture to something that is normally boring and bland, a sweater covered lampshade from Beth Bryan.
This would be cute in colors too, make an upcycled sweater garland with this tutorial from Danse Le Lakehouse.
I never get tired of tiny house projects and these upcycled lavender sachets from Sum of Our Stories are so sweet.
For your fur children, sew an upcycled dog coat! You could also just use sweaters and sew one of these dog clothes patterns or tutorials too.
No tutorial, but keep in mind that wool makes for a super snuggly add-on to any stuffed animal as applique or part of the pattern, like these inner ears!