Why make the 2 piece recycled wool longies?

[lhowlett]

Sorry if that title was unclear. I'm talking about the wool longies you make from a sweater by cutting out a soaker shape and then sewing on legs seperately. I have always thought they looked a bit odd. Is there some fit or function advantage to them over normal pants?
Thanks!

[Kari_mom]

The main advantage that I can see is length. It can be difficult to find sweaters big enough as your child becomes a toddler. I look for XXL mens crewneck sweaters and make the pants from the body of the sweater rather than the arms to get the sizing I need for my 2.5 yo.

I agree, the soaker=leg look is a little odd to me too.

[lhowlett]

Good point.
Man it's getting late. We need to dream and stop talking it!

[Kari_mom]

I meant to go to bed earlier, but I started downloading on my new ipod and now I want to stay up and listen to it!

Good chatting with you!

[lhowlett]

Yeah, you too!
While we're still up though ...I think I would like to lightly felt a sweater I'm getting ready to work on, but I'm just so nervous. I don't want to distort it's shape! Talk me through an "almost" foolproof light felting.

[Kari_mom]

OK, it is the next day, I went to bed!

To lightly felt, I put the sweater in a pillowcase and rubberband it closed. Then I put it in the washer, lowest water setting, hot/cold water, normal cycle. I add a squirt of Dawn as well. Wool felts when it undergoes a rapid temperature change from hot to cold. Dawn helps to open up the scales and to remove the thrift shop odor. After the washer, I dry it on medium heat for about 40 minutes. This gives me a bit of felting with a lot of stretch left.

[lhowlett]

So just a normal cycle huh, not gentle or anything?

Alright, here we go! :

[Kari_mom]

Good luck!

[lhowlett]

Well, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that it didn't shrink into a doll sweater and isn't stiff. The bad news is that there are now 3 or so small holes in the front of the sweater Not even at one of the ends or anything, right in the middle : And I don't think it really closed the weave any, it kind of just made it fuzzy. I've heard of wool shaving, how do you do it and where do you get the tool?
So anyway, I can still use the back and the sleeves and would really like to use the front, but I'm not sure how. Even if I sewed up the holes (which I assume I can do, right?) how can I hide them?

[Kari_mom]

I've used a sweater shaver, you can buy them at stores like Target. There is also a sweater stone, it is suppose to take off less of the wool. I'd like to get one.

Sorry to hear about the holes. Can you work with them at all? Sometimes you can darn them from the back or add embroidery or appliques over them.

It does sound like the sweater is partially felted. If you want more, run it through again. It is so hard to advise without seening the sweater though, kwim? It doesn't have to be solid and tight to work well as a cover, handknitted longies aren't felted and work great.

[EastonsMom]

So glad i found this! I just posted a felting question today! I am addicted to recycled longies. I have made them both ways and I prefer the arms only. If you do the three piece way you can add extra in the crotch ( shoulder of the sweater or the half moons form the left over arms) but they aren't as pretty. Plus I think they are more work.

How do you do the waist, drawstring or elastic, I love the drawstring. I loop the bottom hem from the sweater over the top and run the drawstring on through!

I like to make lil matching bags from the body of the sweater to make sure I use EVERYTHING!! I can't stand waste! That way I match the Pootie!

[MonkeyAndOtterMom]

wow, i never thought of doing a drawstring. i always hate the little hole left where i turn the hem over. do you use elastic also? once i made dh some sweats with tis elastic that had a drawstring alreadt in it! you just snip the elastic and pull the sord through.
great idea!

[lhowlett]

How do you do the waist, drawstring or elastic, I love the drawstring. I loop the bottom hem from the sweater over the top and run the drawstring on through!

I don't get it. You use the wristband end of the sweater as the waist? What do you mean loop the bottom hem over the top?

[EastonsMom]

"What do you mean loop the bottom hem over the top?"


Instaed of turning over the edge to make a hem I use the bottom hem from the sweaters body. I lay my braided cord down and then sew the new hem on top I just like to see more clean definition in the waist than a turn over. Does that make sense? I have to find my camera so I can take a pic and show you.
To answer MonkeyandOtterMom, no no elastic here. Not a fan. That is why I posted in DM if anyone knew of a pattern that does need elastic. ( Fitteds?)