How to Reclaim Yarn That has Been Knit

howtoknitasweat...
sweater101.com
How do you treat yarn that has been ripped out (tinked or frogged) so that you can knit it again? Here's how.

[@MrMaxmetro]

Hi Cheryl, I have just soaked and currently drying my reclaimed yarn and suddenly remembered something I read recently about hand washing wool socks. The woman used a salad spinner to spin out the excess water and although I don't have a salad spinner I thought it would be great drying reclaimed yarn. Thanks for the tutorial and I hope this idea will help you and others.

[@MagdalenaDeac]

Thank you! This video is exactly what I was looking for. I am a total novice in yarns and knitting, but I love the colour and texture in some second hand sweaters I have. I'm going to unravel the yarn, do the procedure as you show it and knit them again into something that fits me. I am so grateful for your teachings.

[@rosamunda4713]

Using a salad spinner is a wonderful way to get water out. It's even gentle enough to use on roving. Just place your skein/roving in there after you have squeezed out as much water as you can gently and prepare to be surprised! It's amazing how much more water comes out, Really speeds up the drying process. Great video - thank you so much for sharing this.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Yes! I've used a salad spinner before . . . when I had a big one. My current one is smaller but still works for small hanks. You are so welcome and thank you for commenting. Have you joined my email newsletter tribe over at cherylbrunette.com yet? If not, I hope you'll consider it. That's where I keep in closest touch with knitters and I give out a ton of good information.

[@dees350]

Cheryl, thank you so much for your informative video. History: I learned to knit about 50 years ago but have never made any projects that I considered “meaningful” until last year when my sock-knitting SIL gave me a skein of yarn for children’s socks. Apparently she bought it for her grandkids, and waited too long (they grew up). My first pair of socks turned out beautifully. My grandson loves them and calls them his “right and left” socks. I was hooked and decided to make something for myself, but I was shocked when I saw how much good yarn costs! So I went to my local thrift store and looked for knitted items that appeared to be of fingering-weight yarn. For a pair of knee socks, I picked a sweater of 60% cotton 40% acrylic. I unraveled it and just started knitting with lumpy yarn. I have finished the first sock, and the pair is turning out okay, but I wish I had seen your tutorial first. I chose this pattern www.garnstudio.com/pattern.php?id=7361&page=1&cid=17#comments and I will wear them proudly, even if they aren’t perfect because I used lumpy yarn. But now that you have educated me, my next project will be from either the 100% cashmere or 100% merino wool sweaters that I got for a couple dollars each. Here’s my question for you, since like I said, I really haven’t made any “meaningful” projects until now. How can I determine what is the best use of these yarns? My SIL says that 100% merino and cashmere are not good for socks because they will quickly fray. I’m guessing that I should knit them into new sweaters? Or is there some other garment to make of fingering yarn that would be a good use? Thank you! You rock!!!!! So happy to have found these instructions to properly reclaim yarn. I’m on my way back to the thrift store soon. :-)

[@HAnna1627]

Such a joy to watch a person in the know share their knowledge in an equally professional manner! By the way, you could be a hand model.

[@jelen2579]

Thank you for this! I have so much unfinished projects years ago, and I had forgotten about them from the bottom drawers and I want to use them again.

[@itznora]

I'm so happy to have found these videos. I love thrift stores and knit projects and have often thought about re-using yarn but never quite knew how. I got a cashmere sweater that I'm going to play around with. ... It's just amazing that you have already solved my questions.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

So happy they help you Nora! Are you on my newsletter mailing list yet at cherylbrunette.com? If not, please join us.

[@judithhermes9821]

Excellent presentation!! Thank you. I'm not a knitter but I have a beautiful sweater that is very misshapen; I"ll take up knitting to reclaim the beautiful yarn. I will be looking at your other videos as I go along!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

I'm so grateful this well help you Judith! Beautiful yarn is worth saving. :D

[@karinberryman7970]

Thanks for encouraging us to be brave! Some of us really need that!

[@ellyallthingsfiber4275]

I to use a salad spinner. I found a huge one for 99 cents at the Goodwill store what a find love it thanks for your videos

[@loisschock4173]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge! You did a clear and concise presentation!

[@sineadconnolly6979]

Thank you so much Cheryl, this is so helpful. I've been watching your KZbin videos for years now and they've helped me so much with my domestic machine knitting. Thank you for all you do, you're an inspiration!

[@abbynormal4740]

Thanks for the video. Reclaiming yarn is a bit like treating it to a day at the spa - unwind, realign, get in touch with yourself, a long relaxing soak, light massage, wrap up in a luxurious towel, deep massage then rest til you're ready to go! Lol

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Yes Abby . . . a lot like that. Have you joined my email newsletter tribe over at cherylbrunette.com yet? If not, I hope you'll consider it. That's where I keep in closest touch with knitters and I give out a ton of good information.

[@abbynormal4740]

+Knitting with Cheryl Brunette Thanks; I'll check it out. Although my crochet skills FAR exceed my knitting, I really enjoy learning about it : )

[@judyanddavid]

Abby Normal is the eternal

[@phialencar1350]

Thank you so much for this video! I'm a novice knitter and was thinking of a way to recover some yarn I had used on a failed project years ago. That yarn was gifted to me by a friend from Norway and I couldn't buy it anywherr where I live. I'm so happy that I can finally finish my project (:

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome and I'm grateful that it helped you. It feels so good to rescue things that are still useful and beautiful. Have you joined my email newsletter group at cherylbrunette.com yet? If not, please join us. That's where I share lots of good information.

[@claudiosouza8364]

Great tutorial - I am reclaiming my wool!

[@cristinapascari3895]

Thank you for this video, it made my yarn like new, I'm knitting a vest as we speak

[@knittysong]

You can also use a clothes steamer to unkink the long skein. Just use rubber gloves to protect your hands from the steam!

[@janicebr29]

Thank you so much for this video. My mom reuses yarn from 20 + years ago but I don't think she knows about these tricks. I will share it with her. :)

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Great Janice. It really makes a difference in the texture of the knitting.

[@adalai7649]

this is excellent - thanks very much! I recently bought a ball of gradient-dyed yarn that was created from a knit blank. It didn't register with me at the time that it was kinked from the knitting and once I got it home, I realized that it will be difficult to knit at a good, consistent gauge. I can't return the yarn and I don't want to knit it as is, so I am going to re-skein the yarn and then go through this process - hopefully, I will end up with a beautiful gradated yarn that will knit up well.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thank you Ada Lai and you are welcome. I should work up just fine. Have you joined my email newsletter tribe over at cherylbrunette.com yet? If not, I hope you'll consider it. That's where I keep in closest touch with knitters and I give out a ton of good information. You can also go to howtoknitasweater.com and see if you want to sign up for the class there.

[@iloveazaeliabanks]

thank you for this! Just bought an old sweater at a charity shop to unravel for a crochet lace vest, yet somehow forgot about the kinks🤦‍♀️

[@Annnabannanna]

A note to self: - 15mins to a day soak - Carefully squeeze water out (no wring). - Roll in towel and wrap. - Stand on it to squeeze water out. - Hang skein (careful of kinks, best to do on shower rod or round rod)

[@lorim8070]

Thank you for this video. Living on my SS is a challenge and I do reclaim yarn, mostly from items that did not sell on my ebay account I use it to make something else that would sell, hehe sometimes. And yes there is a big difference in how the yarn works up vs new yarn.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Loretta. I just ripped out an almost finished man's sweater because it was about 1.5" too tight. Ad lib Fair Isle. I have lots of little pieces to recover. And I certainly understand the challenges of living on SS. Have you joined my email newsletter tribe over at cherylbrunette.com yet? If not, I hope you'll consider it. That's where I keep in closest touch with knitters and I give out a ton of good information.

[@jackiefawcett2869]

thanks for this video. I finished a crocheted circular vest the other day,and didn't like it 😣so pull it down to reuse so now after seeing this I can try something else. I hope it will be success this time 😀

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You're so welcome Jackie. My mother used to say that yarn that got ripped out would "wear like iron."

[@annieboulton5759]

Excellent. I never knew this. I have some reclaimed chunky wool and I have wound it into balls. I wondered why it was still curly after months and months. Thank you for your video. I will definitely try this xxx

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

So glad this is helpful Annie. Don't wind the new balls too tight after you've washed and dried the wool. You don't want to stretch it and have it "shrink back" to its original length when you knit it. It will change your gauge. Come join us at cherylbrunette.com if you like, for an infrequent newsletter that shares more things than I share on KZbin.

[@fancinancylou]

My yarn is not crimped anymore however it lost its spring. Is that normal? When I use and finish a project will it need to be blocked ?

[@allinsonsherratt418]

Great instructions - thanks

[@Leslie-karren]

Quick question with regards to Alpaca reclaimed yarn. Im finding that parts of the 2 ply have untwisted and become weak. Is there a way to fix these parts of the yarn without a spindle?

[@janfairhurst5451]

Can you do this with a full cone of wool are just a bit at a time

[@janfairhurst5451]

Can you do this with a a full cone of wool are just a bit at time

[@kathleengerman2997]

Thank you very much for this video . Got brave and tried this. Worked great just need patience. Just finished a gueen side afghan and I know have 15 new cake rools

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Excellent Kathleen. I'm so glad it worked for you.

[@Annnabannanna]

I would like to ask if i can add conditioner to the yarn while soaking

[@MaryCochrane]

I like that expression, RECLAIM THE YARN. Thank you again and again and again...

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

:) And you are welcome again and again.

[@lindalangeheine5787]

LOL! I’ve ironed unraveled yarn before. It works but takes awhile.

[@Annnabannanna]

This worked perfectly on acrylic yarn

[@annewright8184]

Great video! Thanks for the wonderful hints! Nice presentation!!!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thanks Anne.

[@CHICHISWEETS]

Hi, I found this vid through the Essence of Me Channel. Your tutorial is very nicely done! So informative. I purchased a Cashmere sweater to repurpose. If I can take it apart without ruining it, then I follow your instructions to unkink it.-THanks!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome and thank you for watching and commenting. Cashmere. Num!

[@AnaMaria-im1un]

I believe it doesn't missing a step when I see someone dones it.

[@imenabbasi8772]

I like it your tip but also I read somewhere that we can steam the yarn instead of soaking it, to do so we should make a ball than we put it in a steam for about half an hour and it's ready, I never try it but I think it's the same principle :)

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

+Imen Abbasi I would be careful of steaming it while it was in a ball. If the ball is wound too tightly the yarn is stretched and can be steamed to hold that stretched state . . . but only for a while. Once you wash something made from that yarn it will relax into its natural state again and it could change your gauge.

[@imenabbasi8772]

+Knitting with Cheryl Brunette thank you :)

[@abbynormal4740]

+Imen Abbasi Other concerns are that the steam won't be as effective on the inner part of the yarn ball and the inner yarn tends to be more kinked up. Also it's nearly impossible to manually wind a ball with even tension throughout. For best results, the entire length of yarn needs to soak in warm water until the fiber is completely saturated long enough to relax and unwind (literally AND figuratively) :-)

[@annatronson5927]

Perfect. That I came across this! I would have tried to knit with the kinky yarn after taking a sweater apart.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Anna Tronson It never looks quite the same as a fabric knit from a straight yarn. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@mollygraham7687]

You are awesome. Thank you!

[@pattymayes3326]

Thank you! I have several-probably 8- sweaters that my mom started knitting but never finished. I have more of the yarn she used but I don't have the patterns she used. (She passed in 2012. If i had the patterns, I'd finish knitting them. A couple are mohair. Can I use this method and then reuse the mohair?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Yes. Ripping out some mohairs is more challenging than ripping out a smooth yarn, but I've always been able to do it.

[@kpgUser]

I was thinking about conditioning and blow drying ...

[@normalisoy1561]

Hi Cheryl Thank you so much for your video on reclaiming yarn. I have unravelled the yarn (wool and nylon) from a pair of socks that I knit many years ago. They are my favourite colour (which is no longer available) and I really wanted to try this as an experiment. Also when I knit them they were way too big so I'm hoping that with the recovered yarn (I had to cut out some matted areas) I'll have enough to make a new pair of socks. Now my problem is that I have soaked them 2 times; the first time with warm-hot water and vinegar and the second time with warm-hot water and wool wash to help the yarn relax. Both times I let them sit overnight in the solution. The wool has relaxed a bit, but it's still kinky. Do you have any suggestions?

[@chitterzz]

I had high hopes after watching this video but it didn’t work for me. I soaked it for 6-7 hours. My yarn is acrylic and it’s slightly less kinky than it was to start with but I’m not sure that it’s straight enough to be able to use it. Will try when it’s dry. 😩

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You might weight it a little bit as it is hanging to dry. And I'm not that familiar with acrylic. It may hold the kink longer. I've heard of people lightly steaming their acrylic but you have to be careful not to melt it. Maybe hang it and give it a few short blasts from a steam iron and manually pull it taut at intervals.

[@chitterzz]

Knitting with Cheryl Brunette Thank you for your reply. What I ended up doing was let the skein dry overnight and wind it fairly tightly into a ball the next morning while it was still slightly damp. It worked out very well and I’ve nearly completed my sweater. Thank you for the info-I’ll be doing more yarn this way as my Mom is in long-term care and left me with several partly-knitted projects. :-)

[@nancydavidson2258]

Thank you for sharing!

[@fernaalvarezcarrascal3758]

Thank you! This is a great tutorial

[@GrapefruitAndChaiTea]

What's that sweet harp track in your intro? :)

[@amantlegosetseng319]

Mine refused to straighten up But I followed all the instructions what shoul I do??

[@wangschowe]

Hi Cheryl, first thank you for this tip. I followed the instruction to the T and especially careful not to wring or pull. Although my yarn (65% alpaca, 35% rayon, 3ply) did come out lot less kinky, but it was definitely thinner and the yarn ply weren’t as well intertwined. Is it normal to lose some yarn thickness and less intertwined for multiply yarns?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

That's an interesting question. I wouldn't say it's "normal" because there are so many variables in making a yarn . . . but I have a theory about what might have happened here. Both rayon and alpaca are rather "slippery" yarns, especially rayon. Wool, which is "grabbier" will usually hold or return to its original structure . I think the "thinness" might be partly that the fibers slid in a way to elongate the yarn . . . and then there's the "unplying." Sometimes, the very act of knitting, of wrapping the yarn around the needle, takes some of the twist out of it. It can be more dramatic in some yarns and hardly noticeable in others. Because this yarn has been knit, I'm guessing some of the twist was taken out in the process.

[@wangschowe]

@@CherylBrunetteTV Dear Cheryl - Thank you so so much for such prompt reply. Given your sound theory, I think in the future, I should do a sample 'yarn reclamation' first as well as being mindful of the yarn's fiber type/content.

[@recyclingmom]

What is the purpose of adding a little white vinegar when soaking wool? What do you suggest when soaking other types of reclaimed fiber? Thank you this was very helpful. :)

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Wool, like human hair, likes an acidic rinse. I think the reason is that it helps the scaly cuticle layer to relax and lie flatter, especially if you've used a soap or shampoo that tends to open the cuticle. Plain warm water for synthetics and cottons, even silks. You might add a little wool wash or a mild detergent to it and then do a rinse with plain water. You are welcome and thank you for commenting.

[@kimraynor8534]

Thanks for your video - great information. Does the silk react the same as wool when you soak it? I'm concerned it will stretch and loose all elasticity. I'm using a 51% Silk, 29% Wool - Merino, 20% Manufactured Fibers - SeaCell.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Hi Kim Silk has no elasticity to begin with . . . but how this will react with the other fibers? You just have to try it. Because it's an animal fiber it's friendly with vinegar. SeaCell I do not know anything about. Theoretically, if it's a washable fiber (and it certainly looks like it to me), if it's well spun and plied, it should return to its "original state" with this treatment . . . or it might "bloom." This is why it's good to wash your gauge swatch. You could unravel a small piece of that and try it, a couple yards, maybe. Have you joined my email newsletter tribe over at cherylbrunette.com yet? If not, I hope you'll consider it. That's where I keep in closest touch with knitters and I give out a ton of good information.

[@patworklan7945]

This is so helpful, thank you! One question, how much white vinegar do you add to the water? Thanks!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Oh gosh, Pat, I never measure, but just a dollop to a small basin. Probably about 1/4 cup to a gallon.

[@legumebean]

Hi Cheryl, thanks so much for this! I just tried my first reclaim and I followed another site's instructions, which omitted the towel-drying part, and I found my un-kinking completely unsuccessful. Is that the problem, or maybe that I didn't soak it for that long (just a couple of hours), or that I used an acrylic? I couldn't weight it (as suggested by another site I found) or it would have bent my curtain rod. I was thinking of trying steaming instead, would love your thoughts on that. Thanks so much!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

legumebean Acrylic should work. Did you use some soap/detergent? The kind you would use to wash it? 2 hours should be enough and use warm water. You might need to "coax" it by pulling on it quite rigorously instead of using a weight. It's the same principle. I don't have much experience with acrylic. I'm mostly a wool gal for my whole life. I'd be careful of steaming as that can melt some acrylics. I think it would most certainly work but you would need to pay attention and not get it too hot.

[@sandrarimkute4999]

Heyy, I'm a little late. But I have a question. When can you clearly see them straightening? The are soaking in water for about an hour and nothing is changing.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Different fibers and twists/spins can be different. Go ahead and lift the yarn out of the water and gently (or not so gently) put your hands in the middle of your skein and tug. See if that helps. Sometimes people hang weights on the yarn when they hang it up to dry but I don't do that. It might stretch the yarn from its natural spin and then when you knit it and wash it again, it may decide to return to its original state.

[@baxtercullimore8044]

Neat trick, thanks for sharing!!!

[@bernro3333]

Will the gage be the same to add into half the sweater I frogged or will it look different?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Probably it will look different depending on the yarn. Many yarns change their texture when they are washed. They can "bloom," for example, meaning they get a slightly fuzzy halo around them. As for gauge, maybe it will be different, maybe not.

[@bernro3333]

@@CherylBrunetteTV Thank you so much!

[@libbyannstew8775]

Very helpful video Cheryl. I have just frogged a cardigan and will use your technique to “un-kink” the yarn but I also have 1 ball of yarn that was a leftover from the original project (never used). Should I soak that ball and try to get it to bloom before using it along with the reclaimed yarn in a new project? Thanks in advance for your help.

[@petermatten3315]

During the second world war this was always done. After unpicking the sweater, place into hanks, hang on the end of a stick or a long wooden spoon, and hold in the steam of a boiling kettle, or saucepan of boiling water , you will see the kinks fall out. Move it about untill all kinks are gone. Then leave to dry .

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Yes! Steaming is a good alternative but not my preferred one since the worse burn of my life was from steam from a kettle. I tipped the edge of the top up and my hand ended up with a blister about 4 square inches. I was young and not paying close attention. It's amazing how quickly it happened, but it was a pressure cooker so the steam was extra hot I think.

[@ralph-terrywarner2952]

Great tip ... You are awesome! Thank you.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome. Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@areezkhan285]

Should I follow the same procedure for acrylic yarn?

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Yes. Though I wouldn't add the vinegar. Just soak in warm water for a while. I hope you'll come to cherylbrunette.com and join my email newsletter group if you haven't done so already. That's where I'm in closest touch with knitters.

[@areezkhan285]

Thank you so much. I surely will join. Ps im a crocheter

[@arantzacat]

Cherryl I'm going to do this with and old thrift store sweater thats wool mix, so I unraveled it and then do this process with warm water?? I'm so scared lol wish me luck I hope it doesn't shrink *cross finger

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You'll be fine. Really. :D Have you joined my email newsletter tribe over at cherylbrunette.com yet? If not, I hope you'll consider it. That's where I keep in closest touch with knitters and you'll get lots of good info.

[@linneabeckman6543]

Just do as Cheryl explained, and it will be fine. Welcome to the world of fiber arts.

[@arantzacat]

Linnea Beckman thanks a lot!! I already unravel 3 old sweaters and make enough yarn to knit other things

[@claygirl6133]

Great video, thank you!!!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome.

[@Andrea-mw2nq]

Thanks for sharing.

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Andrea. Thank you for commenting. You might sign up for my very occasional newsletter at cherylbrunette.com or for my free 15-part class that will teach you how to make a sweater using my method. The class project is a child's size 1 sweater. It's at howtomakeasweater.com

[@Andrea-mw2nq]

Thanks . I added my email address to follow your ideas.

[@chrisxolotl2520]

perfecto!

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Gracias!

[@271skippy]

Just out of curiosity, why do you say, "Be brave" at the ends of your videos? I love that phrase... :)

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Skippy271 Good question Skippy. Adults (actually almost everyone past pre-teen years) are not nearly as good as young children at learning new things. They have a self-consciousness about "having to rip out," or "looking foolish," or making a mistake, or an unrealistic expectation that they should already know things they haven't learned. It's hard to stumble through new skills if you are worried about what others are thinking of you. Kids, on the other hand, don't have that. I subbed for a group of mixed K-5th graders today for 3.5 hours (including 2 short recesses) and we were building dragon paper airplanes (who needs directions? They just jump in!) They drew dragons (not a single kid said "I'm not a good artist") and we wrote a dragon poem as a group which meant they had to come up with rhymes to share out loud. They were all enthusiastic and engaged in the moment.

[@djmmeade2094]

Great video thank you so much great tips thank you . New subscriber 😃

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Donna and thank you for commenting. Have you joined my email newsletter group at cherylbrunette.com yet? If not, please consider joining us. That's where I give lots of good information and keep in closest touch with knitters.

[@leereadman9940]

great information TFS

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

You are so welcome Lee. Have you joined my email newsletter tribe over at cherylbrunette.com yet? If not, I hope you'll consider it. That's where I keep in closest touch with knitters and I give out a ton of good information.

[@leereadman9940]

l crochet l haven't knitted since l was a child a very very long time ago

[@justcheckingchicken4204]

Reef knot 🙂

[@CherylBrunetteTV]

Thanks!

[@elainecrawford6891]

Boucle ❤🧣

[@PallasAthene12]

This is so helpful! I bought a ball of reclaimed yarn for 50p in the remnants bucket at the knit store today - a beautiful silk/mohair that had been triple knit and wound into a super tight ball. I had originally bought it for practice, but so glad to know I might be able to salvage it.

[@janfairhurst5451]

Can you do this with a full cone of wool are just a bit at a time