Chalk it up for another one

I am moving at a steady pace, using up some of my stash and putting together a stylish, comfy wardrobe. And as I said before, I have committed NOT to buy any clothes for the next 2 months.

Here is my latest completed project. I knit this from a 1976 pattern with some minor changes. Used a seed stitch for the bands and collar instead of garter stitch and I eliminated the pockets. Pockets would have been nice but considering that this is what I had left, I think I leaving out the pockets was a good choice.

I still need to add buttons. I went shopping today but the selection was mediocre and if I bought the ones I found, they would have cost me more than I paid for all the yarn!

Speaking of yarn, I made this by unravelling 2 Gap sweaters. I didn't even realize I had bought two identical sweaters because I got then on two separate shopping trips at two differnt thrift stores (total cost about $5). The yarn is part wool, part acrylic and is incredibly soft.

I've learned that the best defense against the weather here in Texas is to layer. Summers are hot but indoors are arctic. And winters can be chilly, especially when the sun goes down.

Wardrobe Refashion

I have taken the Wardrobe Refashion challenge for 2 months. I have pledged not to buy any new clothes (except underwear) for the next two months. I can buy clothes from the thrift store and refashion them, sew or knit new ones though. Of course, I picked the two holiday months, not sure what I was thinking but I've done it before so I can do it now.

What many people don't realize is that the fashion industry is NOT very environmentally friendly. The manufacturing process, dyeing yarn, threads and fabrics, fuel to ship clothes from overseas, etc are very damaging. Then factor in that most people wear their clothes for a season or two and then get rid of them creating a landfill issue. Using natural fibers is not any better usually because cotton is a crop that uses more pesticides than any other and those pesticides leak into our water supply.

By using materials that have been reclaimed (much of my yarn has been purchased at my local resale shop), repurposed (taking a garment that someone might have thrown out and refashioning it into something different) or recycled (such as unraveling a thrift store sweater and reusing the yarn so you can knit or crochet it into something else), you are actually being eco-friendly.

So for the next two months I am going to try to do my part. Here is my first item a sweater that I knit from a cotton/acrylic blend yarn that I got from a resale shop. I didn't follow any pattern, just used my own measurements.