Several years ago I came across a maker who I greatly admired. I looked at her work and I pondered whether I could emulate it, but in the end I decided that it was beyond me and that, therefore, if I got the opportunity, I would buy one of her creations. So, unusually, this month’s ScrapHappy post features a creation that is not my own.
Fwo weeks ago I managed to get to Yarndale (more on this in a future post) and finally to see the wonderful creations of Sue Reed, The Woolly Pedlar for real. I was so captivated, that I completely forgot to take any pictures of her stall, so it you want to see more of her work, you’ll have to follow the link. Sue uses old knitwear as the raw material to make amazing dresses, shawls, ponchos, coats, hats and more. In Sue’s own words:
I take waste knitwear and create new pieces from it, saving it from landfill. Textile waste is a huge problem, and landfill sites are full of discarded textiles that could be upcycled into new things.
And this is the poncho I bought:
One of the things I love about Sue’s creations is that she can use damaged knitwear. Elbows of a sweater worn through? No problem, just use the bits that are still intact. Moths got your cardigan? Cut out the squares from between the holes. Her eye for colour is amazing, as are her quirky designs. What an inspirational ScrapHappy business she has created.
-oOo-
I’ve been inspired to write this (and future) ScrapHappy posts by Kate, who provides links to other (mostly sewing) ScrapHappy bloggers at Tall Tales from Chiconia on the fifteenth of every month… do check them out.
The Snail of Happiness 
katechiconi
/ October 15, 2018OOooh, poncho envy! I do sometimes wish I lived somewhere that encouraged the use of knitwear… Great post, and do offer us more posts about other people’s work where you see something relevant. It’s such a great source of inspiration.
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thecontentedcrafter
/ October 15, 2018I know exactly how you feel about this art! I too own a recycled top, bought about four or five years ago and still going strong – it sports at least ten different fabrics from recycled clothing items and is fabulous! I too wondered if I could emulate the work. I aspire to it, but have never quite gotten up the courage to try 🙂
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 15, 2018It must be so lovely to have an enormous palette of colours to choose from when making such garments… and I suppose that is the challenge for us amateurs compared to the professionals.
Anyway, it is such a joy to support makers like Sue… and I’m happy to be able to give her my custom. Oh and the poncho is lovely to wear.
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AJ
/ October 15, 2018That is so cool- truly recycling at its best:)
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wybrow1966
/ October 15, 2018Just loving the hood!
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 15, 2018Originally I was going to get an unhooded version, but I just loved this one when I saw it for real.
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wybrow1966
/ October 15, 2018If you have a poncho – it’s gotta have a good hood too!
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Jo
/ October 15, 2018Your new shawl looks nice and warm too 😊🐸
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 15, 2018It is… in fact I was a bit too warm yesterday!
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Wild Daffodil
/ October 15, 2018Gorgeous! And with hot pink in it too! Such lovely photos of you.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 15, 2018I loved the colour combination as soon as I saw it.
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nanacathy2
/ October 15, 2018OH MY> It is lovely and you look so Scrap HAPPY wearing it.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 15, 2018I am very very happy with my purchase… I think it’s going to get a LOT of use!
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tialys
/ October 15, 2018What a great way to salvage some of the many textiles that are discarded. You are looking very warm, cosy and stylish in your poncho.
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The Snail of Happiness
/ October 15, 2018I love the way that Sue creates such beautiful garments from what others might consider to be waste… it’s like magic.
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Laurie Graves
/ October 15, 2018Beautiful and useful. Plus, it looks so comfortable.
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Nice Piece of Work
/ October 16, 2018It’s wonderful. What isn’t wonderful is that I seem to have missed reading your recent posts. Not sure how that happened, so I’ll blameless wordpress. Catching up now 🙂
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Nice Piece of Work
/ October 16, 2018blame, not blameless
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crawcraftsbeasties
/ October 16, 2018Oooh, that looks cosy! What a beautiful creation… And an inspiring business idea too. I bet you can’t wait for the temperatures to creep down a little more! Also, don’t you have an overlocker in your crafting arsenal? You could probably have a go at making your own version next…
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KerryCan
/ October 16, 2018Such a cool solution to a particular kind of waste!
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Joanne S
/ October 16, 2018Well that looks comfy toasty. A nice salvage!
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