Hello from Eleanor up in the Highlands, where cotton jumpers are just NOT the thing, one of the reasons being this (and this was just 5 days ago):
Years ago I had a bit of a thing about jumpers from Jumper - the cotton cabled ones.
I wore them a lot. With a crisp white shirt underneath, a soft polo shirt, a skinnyrib poloneck sweater, or a silky scarf peeping out from the neck - I loved them.
But this little pile of sweaters have finally had their day, moving over for fleece, microfibre and more fleece (and maybe, just maybe, if I'm very lucky, some cashmere yarn to knit a soft cardigan), and so, what to do with them?
Well, I fancied a cabled cushion or two, having lost all our loose cushions to mildew (long story, damp storage whilst in housing transition).
So, I took the scissors and sewing machine to my jumpers and this is the result:
This sage green one is filled for now with a fleece blankie, just to show it off.
These below await their filling when I've been shopping for inners:
It was fun choosing buttons.
Have you got a jumper which could be a cushion?
Bye for now.
Edited to add - some of you are asking about the technique to prevent unravelling.
I turned the jumper inside out, laid it flat, pinned a length of cotton tape (but any strip of cotton fabric will do, just over an inch wide) from armhole to armhole and stitched along the tape and jumper together, using a long (4mm) straight stitch. Fold down the tape, and trim the jumper 1/4 inch from the stitching, but don't trim the tape, leave the approximately half inch free. Then, with the top part of the jumper gone, fold over the tape to enclose the raw edge, and stitch again.
I'll try to find another jumper to alter, and take photos next time!
xx
Oh, I really like this idea. How did you prevent it from unraveling? Did you first sew and then cut? Did you use a straight, zig-zag, or overlock stitch? I know I'm asking a lot of questions. I'd really like to give this a try but I'm afraid to start cutting and then have the whole sweater unravel before my very eyes!
Blessings,
Kim
Posted by: Kim | November 18, 2010 at 04:35 AM
Eleanor, you are a legend! Love the cushions, shivering at the snow x
Posted by: Trees | November 18, 2010 at 06:50 AM
Love the cushions, Id like to know how you stop it unraveling too.
The buttons are beautiful too
Debbie x
Posted by: Debbie Roberts | November 18, 2010 at 07:05 AM
Have you velcro'd the open end together and just sewn the buttons on. This is a brilliant idea. X
Posted by: sharon Peters | November 18, 2010 at 02:19 PM
Great idea and love the buttons - I see your cats like your cushions too :) Jaqui x
Posted by: PepPop | November 18, 2010 at 03:45 PM
Thanks.
Sharon I stitched the buttons on through both layers of the sage one for now, but I will either make buttonholes or stitch poppers on the others when I have my inners. If the inners are washable I may not even make the covers removable, lol.
xx
Posted by: Eleanor | November 18, 2010 at 04:06 PM
WOW! Love these.
Posted by: Joy | November 18, 2010 at 04:49 PM
Love these perhaps photos on how to make would be good as i'm not a sewer and it all sounded a little complicated...I'm a bit thick you see :)
Posted by: jayne | November 18, 2010 at 06:08 PM
Welcome to Scotland Eleanor-you will need lots of fleece and cashmere now!! LOVE the cushion covers.
Posted by: Catriona | November 18, 2010 at 07:08 PM
Beautiful cushions:)
What a great way to preserve your favourite jumpers, I love the buttons too.
The snow looks great, I am hopin we'll get some so I can go sledging again.
Posted by: Lynne V | November 18, 2010 at 08:33 PM
Gorgeous Eleanor, just love them.
Posted by: Carmen | November 23, 2010 at 01:29 PM