When we say that knitting gives you unlimited options, one of the things we mean is the products that you can knit with. Yarn is just the beginning! In this class we will learn about knitting with all sorts of non-traditional materials, including old t-shirts, fabric, paper and even plastic bags. Working with these types of materials has a few challenges but many offer a way to knit sustainably, using everyday materials that might otherwise lay at the bottom of your closet or head off to the landfill.
As far as materials and tools go, part of the idea of these projects is to use things that you already have. For the paper session you will need a drop spindle but otherwise some sharp scissors, a variety of knitting needles, and some leftover fabric, plastic bags, T-shirts or paper will do the job.
Use your old worn-out T-shirts or the ones you have lying around from a company event or college fair to easily make and knit with your own T-shirt yarn. T-shirt yarn is terrific for home décor items like baskets, rugs, placemats, etc.
Plarn, or plastic bag yarn, is used when making items that need to be lightweight and water resistant, and I will talk to you about how to make your own. Many charities use plarn to knit mats for the unhoused that are light enough to carry around and can help keep the damp away. If you get different colored bags from different vendors in your area, you can even sort them that way and do some color blocking.
While some of you are saying “Leftover fabric? What is THAT?” the rest of you are thinking about those too worn sheets, or the random strips not used up in a jelly roll project. In this session we will prep fabric into balls of “yarn” we can knit with.
I did lots of experimenting with paper yarn and can’t wait to show you my results. While I had some success with newspapers, I really enjoyed working with some brightly color tissue paper. You will need a drop spindle, whether you have a commercial one or can make one from parts is up to you.
Mary Beth Temple
Mary Beth Temple is a long-time designer of knit, crochet, and sewing patterns, as well as a lover of any type of craft that comes across her path! She can often be found crafting by the beach near her home in Wilmington, North Carolina, and makes no guarantees that there won’t be sand in her samples.
With more than a dozen books to her name, Mary Beth is a prolific designer whose independent work can be found under her brand name, Hooked for Life. You can check out her doings at www.HookedforLifePublishing.com, where you'll also find links to her social media outlets. Mary Beth is particularly fond of making videos for her blog and her YouTube channel, www.YouTube.com/c/HookedforLifewithMaryBethTemple.
Knit Beyond the Basics with Unique Fibers
Bonus Materials available for download after purchase.
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