I’m not a knitter, but I play one on TV. Actually, that’s not true at all, but I have been mistaken on a number of occasions for local knitting celebrity Lorilee Beltman, on account of our same name. She owns City Knitting here in Grand Rapids. Still, I was inspired by these tres adorable mittens I spotted while on holidays this summer, at a candy store in Wisconsin.
They were so chic and cute, and made from recycled sweaters. What a nifty idea for those of you who do knit (can I get a witness?). Check out the sweaters in your closet. Can you find any that have passed their fresh-by date? No? Who are you–Stacy London from What Not to Wear? 
Most of us have sweaters that are A) ugly, or B) don’t fit, due to laundry accidents or too much time at the buffet. I think these were actually sewn, and not knit, on second thought. At any rate, I could see many unfashionable sweaters gaining a fashion forward second life as cozy, fetching mittens. You could give these as gifts, or even sell them at craft fairs or etsy.com.
I found some similar pairs on etsy, ranging in price from $17-$26!
And here we have one of my favorite cousins of all time, Reginald of Rosenort, holding a jean blanket made by his MIL, from the outgrown jeans of his wife and daughters. Again, an idea for sew-ers, but what a fantastic idea! I found one similar on etsy for $65. $100 with shipping. Here’s the description:
“Versatile, is the best way to describe a jean blanket. It can be used anywhere for anything. All seams are enclosed. At the beach (sand shakes off easily), for camping/picnics (grass and twigs won’t stick), have around the house as an extra blanket for those chilly nights, or use as a lap blanket when snuggling on the couch.”
I love these ideas!!! i will be looking threw my sweaters, and old jeans!!! thanks
Do you have a plaster patniing shop by you? I painted my niece a piggy bank for her 1st birthday. You might also be able to find a bank at a craft store.When I had my baby my brother’s girlfriend made her a plaque to hang on her wall. She bought a wooden plaque and some letters to spell out her name and painted it all and glued it together. Of course you would have to know the name to do this. You could tye dye/decorate (or something similar) some onesies for the baby.At my shower the ladies used fabric markers to decorate burp cloths.You could make some sort of mobile, maybe if you know some origami or something like that.You could take photographs of baby like things/paint pictures and create wall hangings.Create some sort of photo album or baby book where they can record memories. You can get a lot of stuff for that in the scrapbooking section at craft stores. Best of luck! Handmade gifts are the best.
Nice job, Lorilee!
-the other Lorilee
Amazing co-incidence! Today, before I read this, I was sewing up some dress gloves out of vintage sweaters! Will send pics. LOVE the jean blanket… also very do-able. Up-cycling old sweaters into pillows sure tweaks that creative streak. This is all just too much fun. Love the topic!
When I was younger and first married and had my children, my grandmother taught me how to make mittens out of old sweatshirts…. From the body of the shirt measure the child’s hand and sew them together and then cut of the cuff from the sweatshirt and sew it on to the mitten for the cuff… Myself, my grandmother and some friend’s of ours, especially this one lady friend used to make them all the time for their children and also for some of her grandchildren and greatgrand children who were in preschool and Kindergaten… They are very easy to make….