 Walk into any Goodwill, Salvation Army or local hospital secondhand shop, and you’d be hard-pressed not to come across oodles of neglected wool knits. Thanks to a process called felting, those woven cast-offs can now be transformed into scarves, blankets, bags or cozy cushions. So dig out your old oversized sweaters from the ‘80s, organize a few sewing supplies, and get ready to make a throw pillow (or three) that will have your eco-friends green with envy! |
I Felt for You
Machine-wash the wool sweaters in hot water along with similarly colored items, like towels or jeans. Water temperatures tend to vary among machines, so it may take a few washes to give you the degree of felt you’re looking for. For the kiwi pillow, you’ll want the fabric to be dense, with stitch definition almost invisible. After washing them, throw the sweaters in the dryer (note: this may cause more shrinkage), or lay them flat to air-dry.
Cut a Rug … I Mean, a Pillow
Cut out two 14-by-14–inch squares from your main sweater. If you have them, a rotary cutter and straight edge are awesome for this task. If not, fabric scissors work well, too. Using the dinner plate as a template, cut out a 9-inch “kiwi slice” from your secondary sweater. For the “seeds” and center, cut out a 2-inch circle and eight raindrop-shaped bits from the felt scraps—they don’t need to be perfect.
Sew Be It!
With the heavy-duty needle and thread, machine-stitch the kiwi slice onto the pillow front. Next lay out, pin, and sew the seeds and kiwi center on the slice. To avoid breaking the needle, don’t sew around the perimeters of the smaller pieces. Instead, stitch a line or an X across their centers.
Finally, with wrong sides facing and leaving a ¼” seam allowance, sew the pillow front and back together on three edges. Turn the cover right side out, and stuff the pillow form in through the opening, then pin it closed and sew it shut.
For a quick no-sew option, use fabric glue in place of sewing machine and thread. Your pillow won’t be quite as durable, but it will still look fantastic. |
