“When choosing a pattern, look for ones that have words such as “simple”, “basic”, and “easy”. If you see the words “intriguing”, “challenging”, or “intricate”, look elsewhere.
If you happen across a pattern that says “heirloom”, slowly put down the pattern and back away.
“Heirloom” is knitting code for “This pattern is so difficult that you would consider death a relief”.”
― Stephanie Pearl-McPhee, At Knit’s End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much
Reasons to recycle:
• ECONOMICAL and environmentally friendly.
• Yarn quality – thrift store finds such as angora, cashmere, alpaca, merino.
• Yarn colour – just the shade of pink you need.
How To:
1. Choose simple hand-knit garments made with good quality yarns and in good condition.
2. Unpick all seams and remove findings (buttons, zippers, etc.). Do not use seaming yarns for knitting. Use it to tie the skeins before soaking. www.youtube.com/watch?v=BalhEiwdLd8.
3. Unravel yarns – Use a ball-winder for speed. Tie any short lengths together in the same ball.
4. Wrap yarn in long skeins – use a ‘Niddy Noddy’ OR the back of a chair. Tie ends around skein.
5. Soak 10-15 minutes in HOT WATER with non-rinse soap such as ‘Eucalan’. The hot water is necessary to remove the kinks from acrylic yarns.
6. To wring out excess water in a top loading washer, rinse yarn in cool water. Then place skeins in the bottom of the empty washer and advance to spin cycle. DO NOT ADD WATER or AGITATE. Just spin.
7. Remove skeins and shake out. Hang to dry.
8. Using an umbrella swift and ball winder – wind yarn into balls.
9. And you are ready to knit or crochet!