From thrift store sweater to hat (and also mittens!)

AIMR · November 30, 2025, 5:58pm

I’ve had a wool sweater in my stash for some time. I was going to felt it to make some bowls but it just wouldn’t felt properly no matter how many times I ran it through the washer and dryer. Plus, there were so many large and tiny holes throughout the piece and it was very itchy.

My original plan was to make some mittens and a hat, but there just wasn’t enough salvageable parts by the time I cut away all the holes. I had to piece on a “brim” to make the hat tall enough for my head. I added a pompom that I made from a scrap of fake fur.

Since I have a lot of hair, it doesn’t seem to itch, but not sure what will happen when I wear it for a period of time. I could line it, but I don’t like it enough to put in the work.

At this point, I am not sure what to do with the rest of the sweater. Any ideas?

ceep · November 30, 2025, 9:33pm

Is there enough to make mittens?

AIMR · November 30, 2025, 9:40pm

That was my original plan but I don’t think there is enough. I’ve made mittens from old sweaters but this sweater is not really the best quality so I might just let this one go.

MissingWillow · November 30, 2025, 10:25pm

This is SO cute!

AIMR · November 30, 2025, 10:37pm

I don’t have enough with ribbing. The ribbing on the bottom of the sweater is smaller than the ribbing on the sleeves and the patterns don’t match up. So I basically have two sleeves and part of a back left over. I used some of the back to test felting and it failed so I have a big square piece of partially felted wool.

I am going to try boiling the wool. It could be the water temp in my washer is not hot enough.

AntBee · December 1, 2025, 12:31am

If boiling doesn’t work then it’s ok to let it go. Or use it to stuff something else. You have given it the ol’ college try and that’s something. Plus, you have all that other craft stuff that wants a turn on the table.

endymion · December 1, 2025, 3:22pm

Oh Linda, how can you not love this hat enough to line it? I think it is beautiful!

I once used sleeves of a sweater to cover a styrofoam wreath, and then attached things like wool flowers, etc to cover the places where the sleeves joined.

AIMR · December 1, 2025, 3:28pm

I haven’t given up yet! I actually had an thought last night that I could make mittens that are reversible…the palms and back do not have to “match” so I am working on that today. I am stubborn to a fault, but I bought the sweater for a reason, so I am moving forward with determination! ha ha

AIMR · December 2, 2025, 12:20am

I made matching mittens! Thanks, @ceep , for the link and the push to make it work! The palm side is a different pattern so I can switch them around. I also lined them with some very soft fleece. I just need to tack down the lining at the cuffs.