Love 2 DIY on the Weekend: Summer Projects!

Summer is great for sun and fun, but it's also the best time of the year to get your DIY on! Here are tons of different projects you can tackle every weekend this Summer!

Repair the World~ DIY Summer - Eco-Friendly Projects for Everyone

30 Days of Easy Summer DIY with Bob Vila

Great Ideas~ 22 Summer Decoration, DIY and Inspiration Projects!

33 DIY Ways to Have the Best Summer Ever from BuzzFeed

15 Outdoor DIY Projects for Summer from Arpartment Therapy

DIY Fun Summer Projects On Pinterest from Christina Tran

Thrifty Thursday~ Destash Finds!

It's a New Year and everyone is destashing their clutter as part of their resolutions! Check out some of the awesome thrifty deals I found, all tagged upcycled and destash on Etsy:

Passion4Pickin

LaidBackHippie

iheartthehandmade

EcoMonster

GovansHobby

ThisMerryLife

EcoCraftSupply

FoundOnCurb

You can check out more thrifty and eco deals like these on Etsy, just type in the search tags: upcycled and destash!

Demystifying T Shirt Yarn Series: What is T Shirt Yarn?

I was ready for many things when I opened my supplies shop.  I was ready to spend many hours creating inventory.  I was ready to spend many hours building up my social networking and involvement in online communities.  I was ready to build my accounting system and work out all the business details.  I was ready to make mistakes and learn from them.  However, I was not ready for the question I would most frequently be asked, "What is t shirt yarn?".

The other thing I hear a lot is, "I've seen/heard of it, but haven't tried it because I don't know how to use it".  So I have decided to do 2 things with this article.  First, I am going to clearly explain what t shirt yarn is and how to use it correctly.  Second, I will tell you how to tell what to look for in a high quality t shirt yarn.  Third, I will tell you what your expectations should be.  Fourth, I will tell you all the ways this is eco friendly.  And fifth, I will link you to my t shirt yarn giveaway, where you can enter for a chance to win a literal rainbow of t shirt yarn and try it for yourself for free!  Wanna see it?

What is T Shirt Yarn and How Do I Use It?
Very simply, t shirt yarn is made from t shirts that have been cut into a continuous loop and then carefully stretched into a cord.  It usually ranges in widths from 1/8" to 1/4".  Depending on the t shirt it is made from it can be rather stiff or it can be very soft and some a little stretchy.  Once you learn how to use it, it becomes a very versatile and eco friendly medium to work with.  

Let's quickly discuss some t shirt yarn terms.  T shirt yarn is measured in WPIs.  That means "wraps per inch".  I like to use a ruler to describe this.  So if you wrap a 4 WPI yarn around a ruler you should have to wrap it around 4 times to equal 1 inch.  I like to remember that a 4WPI t shirt yarn is 1/4" wide and an 8WPI t shirt yarn is 1/8" wide.  The larger the WPI the thinner the yarn is.  8WPI is about as thin of a width as you can get.  Anything smaller tends to not curl up well so it is really tattered looking and tends to break easily.

So how do you use t shirt yarn?  You use it the same way you would any bulky yarn, but there are a few things you should know to help you get started on that first project with t shirt yarn.  T shirt yarn has 2 sides.  One side is flat and the other side shows the cord.  There is not a twist in it like traditional yarns so you will need to keep your yarn straight, by keeping the same side up when holding it in your fingers, to keep it consistent throughout your project.  Good t shirt yarn should be a consistent width throughout the entire ball, but sometimes you see a spot that is a little wider.  When/if you see this, gently stretch the yarn a bit and it will thin to the width you need.  You also need to remember that even an 8WPI, which is usually the thinnest you will see, is still pretty bulky and you will need to use a size J crochet hook (or the equivalent if knitting) to properly work with it.  If you are using a bulkier t shirt yarn like a 4 WPI I recommend nothing smaller than a size M crochet hook or the equivalent if knitting.


How Do I Look For Quality T Shirt Yarn?
The most important thing to look for in a quality t shirt yarn when you are purchasing is good cording.  By that I mean that the cord has curled nicely into the yarn and you don't see any edges.  You are looking for the cording to be like this photo:

See how the ends curl in and there is none of the outer edge showing?  That is what you are looking for.  Of course, you don't want any stains or any holes from the t shirt showing either.  A quality shop will cut any areas with a hole or stain out of it.


What should your expectations be?
In the world of t shirt yarn, it can be difficult to find matching colors and textures.  Just like each t shirt feels a little different, so does each ball of t shirt yarn.  For me, that is often part of the charm of it.  Each ball is original and cannot be copied.  That charm can wear off fast if you are wanting to do a large project and want everything to match.  That doesn't mean that you can't use t shirt yarn.  Yes, it is difficult to find large lots of matching t shirt yarn, but it isn't impossible.

There are a couple of ways you can get around this.  First, shops that sell t shirt yarn will sometimes have yarn from event t shirts.  These are brand new shirts that are headed for a dumpster, until someone like myself of Mike from Mike's T Shirt Yarn, comes along and rescues it.  These are sold in bulk packages and are fabulous for a project that you want a uniform color and texture to, as each ball will be the exact same color and texture.  The other option is to use a shop that dyes their shirts.  They can dye up a batch of matching balls for you.  


How is T Shirt Yarn Eco Friendly?
Not all t shirt yarn is what I would consider eco friendly, but I am a bit of a purest when it comes to this.  Why am I a purest?  Because 11 million tons of textiles go to the dump each year.  Because creating 1 pound of textiles emits more than 7 pounds of CO2 and the average t shirt wastes 700 gallons of water during manufacturing.  You see where I am going with this?  There is a great info graphic that shows all of this information on the Naturally Advanced Blog.  Upcycling t shirts into yarn is a fabulous way to save t shirt from going to the dump and help reduce the 11 million tons of textile being dumped annually.

So what makes t shirt yarn eco friendly?  Eco friendly t shirt yarn is usually made from gently used t shirts.  The exception for me is event t shirts that a company or group is going to throw away.    That being said, when it comes to a product like t shirt yarn, there is room for all kinds of variety.  I have seen many people who cut new shirts to make t shirt yarn and others that dye them like I mentioned before.  Outside of event t shirts that are one breath away from a dumpster, cutting up a new t shirt to make yarn is in no way eco friendly, as a new t shirt is in no immediate danger of seeing a dumpster.  I think dying t shirts can be eco friendly if they are using a used t shirt and the dye that is being used is biodegradable and doesn't contain any harmful chemicals.  There is still some water being used in manufacturing these kinds of t shirt yarn, but if handmade the water used would be minimal and certainly no where near the 700 gallons needed in mass manufacturing.


Didn't You Say Something About A Giveaway?
I most certainly did!  If you want to win that beautiful rainbow of t shirt yarn, all you need to do is log into your Facebook account and use this link.  Sorry Facebook haters, but this does everything for me, which leaves me more time to make more yarn.  The drawing ends on June 30 and there are no shipping charges.  

I hope that t shirt yarn seems more comfortable to those of you who haven't tried it yet.  New mediums can be intimidating to work with if you don't know anything about them.  Next month I will be featuring some shops that use t shirt yarn to show its versatility.  You will see everything from rugs to baskets to clothing!   And then in August I will post an article full of tutorials so you can begin using t shirt yarn yourself!  

I also want to thank Mike from Mike's T Shirt Yarn for contributing to the article.

Love and Peace,
Luci

Love 2 DIY on the Weekend~ It's Easy With Etsy!

Etsy makes it easy to do it yourself with craft kits and supplies galore! You can literally find thousands of items to use in your projects or buy a kit that has everything simplified for you. Here's just a few from our team and some other sellers who "Love 2 Upcycle" on Etsy!

Color Your Own Doll by Girl A GoGo Designs

Eco-Friendly Craft Bag by Katie Did Online

DIY Greeting Card Kit from Hoera

DIY Denim Ruffled Pillow Kit by State Of Muse

DIY Upcycled Wool Felt for Crafts by I dream in Green

DIY PDF for Upcycled Can Star by Lizard Skins

DIY Wine Cork Trivet Kit by The Wooden Bee

DIY Bunting Kit from Peony and Thistle

DIY Sew It Yourself Kit by Verabelle

DIY Mason Jar Floral Arrangement Lids by Treasure Again

Some Thoughts on Eco Friendly Crafting Supplies

There are many options when it comes to eco friendly crafting supplies.  Almost anything can be either upcycled or recycled.  There is literally no limit to what can be done!  I find that so inspiring.  I often refer to our team as a community of upcycling geniuses.  All you need to do is browse some shops and profiles and read the threads in the discussion forum and know that I am right.  Their thoughtful insights and one of a kind items will encourage you to rethink the way you look at ordinary and sometimes unordinary items.


While recycling is a wonderful thing, I believe upcycling is the better option when available.  When something is recycled in a manufacturing process there is still a lot of energy involved in recycling all of our incredible waste, upcycling tends to involve very little if any use of energy and certainly not in the amounts of something that is recycled.  The carbon foot print of artisans that do their work by hand isn't even comparable to the carbon foot print of a recycling facility.  As with most things, handmade is the way to go.


You can do a search on Etsy for upcycled supplies and find some excellent sources for materials.  One of my favorite eco friendly supply shops is Mike's T Shirt Yarn.  Mike keeps a fabulous selection of t shirt yarn.  He even makes crafting cords out of the tops of the t shirts so nothing goes to waste.  Mike does not dye his shirts so there are no chemicals introduced to the fabric during his process.  Who needs to use dye when your shop is this fun and bright anyway?  Mike has great taste in color.  Have a peek!

This fun tie dye t shirt yarn is available for purchase here.

Mike is only the beginning of what our creative and diverse team has to offer.  The diversity of our artisans only adds to the positive atmosphere of our little corner of the internet.  Upcycling opens new doors on what is and is not a crafting supply.  You can use any medium.  To prove this point, I decided to talk to some of the artisans on our team that use upcycled craft supplies.


Gray owns Knot Sew Trashy.  A very eclectic shop that I always have fun browsing through.  I asked Gray where she found her supplies.  She said, "I find my supplies almost everywhere. Really. I get supplies from all kinds of places; friends, family, freecycle/craigslist... My mother gave me all of her fabric scraps from making our Halloween costumes as kids. The thrift store here has a dollar room that's always full of fantastic things- and the money goes to AIDS research. A friend who volunteers there gives me some of the felted sweaters that come in, if I had them ALL I'd be drowning in them. I go to businesses and ask for things they are throwing out and they're happy to do so (Thanks to the bike shops!). I scored an enormous awesome bag of beautiful vintage yarn for 5$, and still do sometimes. It helps to look, ask, talk, and be resourceful. I jokingly pray to "The Trash Gods" in search of materials that I want. But my entire upcycling journey has been a big lesson in "Ask and you shall receive" Trust me, you shall!"

I think one of my favorite items in Gray's shop is her aprons.  So cute and a fabulous way to upcycle those large button up shirts!

This fabulous apron is available for purchase here.

I just love Gray's philosophy on upcycling.  Gray has such great energy that it is hard to not get excited and passionate about upcycling during every communication with her.  We spoke about philosophy and how we started down this path and she said, "Awhile back I started to see the excess around me and so I made it into things for friends and myself, which eventually became KnotSewTrashy! I feel that there isn't really much reason to buy new when there is so much possibility already there, waiting. Why use new resources? They're dwindling and we already have plenty! When you make something from upcycled materials its always unique. If you spend any amount of "extra" time preparing the material, it's made up for in costs, uniqueness, the environment, and the story. Old flannels make the softest hankies! With so many reasons TO upcycle, excuses NOT to just aren't in my lexicon. It just feels lazy now."


I couldn't agree more, Gray!  We are lucky to have so many talented artisans as members of our team.  Another artisan I would like to mention is Sarah from Sweet Someday.  She has a lovely shop of all upcycled materials.  Just look what she can do with a map and a license plate!

This lovely birdhouse is available for purchase here.

I just love Sarah's approach to gathering supplies.  I asked Sarah about this and she said, "I absolutely love shopping at thrift stores and rummage sales! I never know what new (to me) material I’m going to come across! I also often save items that most people would normally throw away and end up repurposing them. Sometimes I have leftover supplies from another project and end up making them into something completely different. I also have family members who do lots of building and woodworking, so I’m able to take their scrap pieces and use them. A lot of the time, I have materials saved up and don’t know what I’m going to do with them until much later. That’s the fun of creating!"


Sarah, I couldn't agree more.  I find that a fantastic approach to the creative process.  So often we get in a hurry to just get the finished product out there that we forget about the journey that our creative endeavors take us on. 


It is difficult to narrow it down to just a few shops, but this post just wouldn't be complete without mentioning Morgan from King Soleil, which currently has 3 upcycled lines running.  One for upcycled crochet.  Another for upcycled embroidery hoop art.  And finally her third line for upcycled children's clothing and accessories.  So how does she find all of her supplies?  I asked Morgan and she said, "My materials and supplies all come from different places and I feel like a treasure hunter each and every time I go on the prowl for new special finds. My local Goodwill, (well, any Goodwill within 40 miles, really) are wonderful sources and I visit them frequently. I especially like the Goodwill 'superstores' as they have loads of furniture, and I am currently building up an upcycled/refinished line for the nursery. I shop at local yard sales, tag sales, estate sales, and community sales. You can find amazing deals if you wait for the last day and haggle a bit. Usually everything is 50% off the last day anyway! Although, I never haggle at community sales where the money is going to a good cause. Another gold mine is fabric stores, upholstery shops, and interior design stores who are constantly updating their fabrics and have left-over or discontinued goodies that they will give away to save a trip to the dumpster. Oh, how it pains me to think perfectly lovely fabric samples books are thrown away every day! I am in love with fabric sample books!  I also pick through mom and pop consignment shops and vintage shops, but I don't get the same satisfaction upcycling these pieces. To me, upcycling is so much more than recycling; it is actually giving new life, a better life really, to a piece that was otherwise discarded. I try and rescue what no one else will give a chance.   My family and friends know their 'toss-aways' have to pass through me before heading out to the donation bins, and most of the time, they have nothing left to donate. There are limitless ways to use what you may already have in your home, or what people think have lost their luster. Reinventing, redesigning, and rethinking what each piece is, into what it could be, is the key to upcycling. And once you have unlocked that key, you will discover a treasure trove of possibilities! "


And just look what you can create with that treasure trove!

This beautiful flower girl dress is available for purchase here.

Even in my shop, I have been working on expanding my selection and am finding it very easy to do.  I thought being the upcycled craft store might be difficult, but so far the only difficult thing has been finding enough time to get things listed!  Every day I think, "Oh man, I should be carrying that as a supply!"  I have made lists and distributed them to everyone I know about what they must give to me and not throw out (everything from wine bottles to guitar strings gets saved for me to either use or add to my supplies shop).  I see a new supply everywhere I look and it is so fun and exciting.  I think today I will take Morgan's advice and go to some of my favorite thrift stores and stock up.  After all, a treasure trove awaits!  


Love and Peace,


Luci