How to Repurpose a Cashmere Sweater

Your favorite cashmere sweaters are doomed to looking worn eventually. Unfortunately, cashmere is not easy on the pocketbook, so give worn sweaters a second life by repurposing them into new accessories or other useful items. Cashmere, an extremely soft product of Asian cashmere goats, is in short supply, and lends itself well to updating your wardrobe, home decor, or other projects. With a few tips on repurposing a cashmere sweater, you can find projects and patterns to suit your needs and personal tastes.

Pre-repurposing Tips

Regardless of the repurposing idea or project you choose, from throw pillows to phone covers, stunning scarf to sweater boots, there are a few things to do before cutting into that lovely cashmere sweater.

Check Carefully for Holes

Inspect the sweater closely for any holes, and then sew them up using a sewing needle and thread. This is important to keep the sweater from unraveling as you cut it to use again. Using the fewest stitches possible, with a fine yarn in a matching color, helps ensure the repairs blend into the cashmere.

Create a Denser Fabric

Normally, when washing a cashmere sweater, you take great care to ensure the sweater does not shrink or stretch out of shape. Before repurposing, however, it is a good idea to create a denser material by shrinking the cashmere. Wash in warm water, and then dry on medium heat in the dryer. You can do this multiple times, until the cashmere shrinks and the fibers are matted. If necessary, brush the fabric gently between washings, as this encourages the fibers to felt together in the wash process, making the cashmere even softer.

Disassembling the Sweater

Begin by smoothing the pre-shrunk cashmere sweater on a flat work surface inside out, so the seams are readily visible. Using very sharpsewing scissors, remove the sleeves, cutting after the seams attaching them to the sweater. You can use these for a project that requires long, slender pieces of fabric, such as arm and leg warmers, or doll dresses. Next, cut along the right side seam, working up toward the neck. Leaving the left side intact creates the largest continuous piece of usable fabric possible. If your project does not require this large piece, you can cut along the left side seam and shoulder seams as well.

Steering Clear of Unraveling

Always be careful to keep the sweater from unraveling when cutting. The most important step you can take is to use very sharp scissors. Additionally, small-gauge knits, such as thin, mass-produced sweaters, fare better than chunky hand-knitted types, which require special attention. Using an existing cuff, hem, or seam to guide cutting helps avoid unraveling, at least along that edge. When avoiding a raw edge seems impossible, try folding it over, and then securing it with hot glue. If your project is for a clothing-type accessory, and you are handy with a sewing machine or needle, you can sew a line of stitches about a half inch from the raw edge instead of gluing.

Using a Pattern

First, lay out your newly cut cashmere fabric on a smooth, flat work surface. Make sure you carefully cut out your pattern if applicable, and then pin it to one side of the cashmere. If possible, trace the pattern with tailor's chalk; otherwise, you have to cut around the pattern itself. Using very sharp scissors helps avoid stretching the cashmere out of shape or unraveling it as you go. Continue cutting until you have cut out all components of your chosen project. If your project does not require the use of a pattern, such as a scarf or quilting squares, use a ruler to draw straight lines with tailor's chalk to ensure your pieces have straight edges.

Repurposing Project Ideas for Cashmere Sweaters

Now that you know how to prepare cashmere fabric from a pre-loved sweater, you are ready for a whole host of crafting possibilities. Some potential projects include:

Project	Pattern Needed	Sewing or Gluing	Other Supplies Needed
Scarf, Hat, and Mittens	Yes	Sewing	Bias tape Matching thread
Supple iPad or Smartphone Cover	Yes	Gluing	Ribbon or other embellishment
Velvety Bookmarks	No	Gluing	Ribbon or yarn
Silky Arm or Leg Warmers	Yes	Sewing	Bias tape Matching thread
Hair Band or Ear Warmers	Yes	Gluing	Plastic hair band Optional ribbon
Sweater Boots	Yes	Gluing	Paintbrush for glue
Infant Leggings	Yes	Sewing	Bias tape Matching thread
Dog Sweater	Yes	Sewing	Matching thread

With only a handful of supplies, a well-loved cashmere sweater can become a myriad of items useful in your life, or a lovely gift for nearly any occasion.

Buying Repurposing Supplies on eBay

While a well-worn sweater is most likely to be found in your closet, you can use it in a variety of locations. Supplies needed to repurpose those golden thrift-store finds are available at great prices on eBay. Simply enter keywords such as "hot glue gun," "bias tape," or " sewing scissors" into the search box found on every eBay page. Narrow results using eBay's convenient filters, or by entering more descriptive terms. Find new projects and helpful advice on eBay Talk, where other crafters ask and answer questions. Today is a great day to put your favorite sweater back to work.