Repurposing fabrics to make yarns

Repurposing Fabrics to Make Yarns

There is a huge variety of yarns that you can buy, but I want to encourage you to repurpose materials that you already have to give them a new lease of life.

A Basic Guide to the Different Types of Yarns

Yarns can be made from repurposing:

• T-shirts
• pillowcases
• tablecloths
• duvet covers
• curtains.

When repurposing fabrics, it's especially important to make wraps and to weave small samples to see how the yarns behave. This means that you can then adjust your design before you begin.

You will need:

• a T-shirt
• scissors
• ruler
• permanent marker.

Cutting T-shirts into Yarn

STEP 1: Lay your T-shirt flat on the table.

STEP 2: Remove any labels from both the inside and outside of the T-shirt.

STEP 3: Remove the top half of the T-shirt by cutting in a straight line from one armpit to the other. You will now have a tube of fabric.

STEP 4: Turn the tube of fabric to lie sideways on the table so that the side seams of the T-shirt are at the top and bottom. Make sure it is lying flat.

STEP 5: Cut away the bottom seam of the T-shirt.

STEP 6: Fold the side seam closest to you up to meet the other side seam but place it around 2 inches shy of the seam. Again, ensure the fabric is lying flat.

STEP 7: Make another fold, taking the bottom edge up in line with the bottom side seam ensuring the 2-inch gap remains.

STEP 8: If you want your strips to be even, take a ruler and permanent marker and measure the width you want your strips to be all the way along the fabric. I recommend a width of between 1 and 2 inches.

STEP 9: Using scissors, cut into the double layer of fabric to create strips, stopping just short of the 2 inch gap you have left. Do not cut into this section.

STEP 10: Once you have cut all the strips, pick up the fabric and insert your arm through the tube so that the uncut section rests on your forearm. The next part can be tricky, but I find holding the fabric this way makes it easier.

STEP 11: The aim is to create a continuous length of yarn. Start at the end closest to your fingertips and cut the outermost strip to release it from the main body of the fabric. This is now the end of your yarn.

STEP 12: Now cut through the 2 inch section diagonally from front to back for each strip to form a continuous length of yarn.

STEP 13: Once you have finished, roll the yarn into a ball, stretching it out as you go to make it thinner and smoother.