Make one or all of these "gorgeous" totes with rescued wool sweaters from thrift stores!

These totes are made from old sweaters that are felted in the washing machine. You can create the handles by cutting the sweater strategically after you felt it or you can take the felted bag to a shoemaker or tailor and ask him or her to attach leather handles for you. Once you start making these bags, I warn you that you may become obsessed with finding "new" sweaters to work with at thrift stores, even in the drawers of family and friends.

Finished totes shown are approx 42 cm (16-1/2 in) wide and 30.5 to 52.5 cm (12 to 20 in) tall.

You need:
Pure wool, large-size, adult sweater (not recommended on care label for machine washing)
Matching thread
Dressmaker's chalk pencil, set square and ruler

 
To make:
1. Fill washing machine with hot water to the lowest level possible, then add 1 to 2 tbsp (15 to 25 mL) dishwashing liquid. Immerse sweater and set machine to agitate. Check results every few minutes – you want to shrink or “felt” knitting into smooth, impermeable fabric with no visible stitches. Felting time varies; it may take several wash cycles.

2. Finish felted machine-knit sweater by spinning, then machine-dry or lay flat to dry (avoid machine spinning or drying hand-knit sweater; squeeze out excess moisture, then lay flat to dry, instead).

3. Turn felted sweater inside out and lay flat on work surface, so neck/shoulder edge is closest to you, then straighten side and bottom edges perpendicular to one another.

4. Using chalk pencil and ruler, mark line from armhole to armhole, parallel to bottom edge, for top edge of tote.

5. Using set square, mark 2 wide handles as shown in Diagram I, perpendicular to first marked line.

6. Cut along chalk lines as indicated, then set aside sleeve and neck sections. Turn right side out, then open and refold so side seams are at center front and back. Top stitch or machine-zigzag bottom edges together, approx 13 mm (1/2 in) up from hem.

7. Top stitch single layer of top and handle edges, approx 13 mm from each edge. Aligning shoulder seam, fold each handle in half with wrong side together and cut edges even; stitch edges together, beginning and ending 6.5 (2-1/2 in) from seam.

8. If desired, cut patch pocket from neck section, so curved neck edge is top edge. Center on tote front; top stitch in place along side and bottom edges.

Note: To make tote with leather handles, you need 91.5 cm (36 in) length of recycled leather belt, strap or dog leash. Follow steps 1 through 4, then Step 6 and Step 8. Turn wrong side out. Set tote, upright on work surface so base lies flat, creating triangular flap at each side as shown in Diagram II. Approx 5 cm (2 in) from point on each flap, stitch straight across base between folds on front and back. Turn right side out. Ask shoemaker or tailor to use belt to make and attach two 46 cm (18-in) handles.

Diagrams

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