Repurpose!
Hello, Fabulous Fiber Friends!!
Thank you for all of the BIRTHDAY LOVE! I had such a lovely day with family and loved ones around me, which was truly the best gift ever. I’m so grateful for each and every one of you, too! All my faves showed up for me! What more could a girl ask for!!??!!
This week we are diving into the wonderful world of upcycling: reusing and repurposing materials one has on hand to create artistic masterpieces of all kinds.
We first check-in with Tin Can Knits, Engineering Knits, Slow Fashion Style & Very Pink Knits as they teach us to unwind sweaters and repurpose the yarn. Then it’s on to exploring our favorite instagram accounts for scouting outrageous vintage fashions! Next comes a little stitch inspiration to foster a happy Friday. And lastly, onto the section we fondly call The Blurbs for some lifestyle recommendations to feed all our favorite pasttimes!
Within the walls of this newsletter we hope you find something cool and different to explore that takes your crafting, fashion, cooking…etc. to new and fabulous heights!
It’s the VanRey (Kn)IT LIST, Repurposing Edition!
Our Community Spotlight Shines Upon:
Unravelling
Being a Wool Witch at heart, obviously I live to cast on all the things! I also can't stop dreaming about all of the gorgeous yarn I see on a daily basis, especially anything golden!! You yarn-dyers out there are just magical!!
So, nothing brings a sweet little tear to my eye more than projects sitting unfinished. Maybe you're short on time; Maybe you're short on funds to buy what’s needed to finish; Maybe you’ve spent so much time and effort on a project that you just don't wanna admit you really don't care for it…whatever the reason, if your project is just stuck, think about unravelling!
Unravelling is the act of turning your WIP back into a ball of yarn! With a bit of patience and effort, you can eliminate that pesky project as if it never existed, allowing yourself the freedom to cast-on something new! After all, isn't it better to frog something than lose beautiful yarn to project purgatory?
In keeping with the theme of this newsletter, we want to highlight the act of thrifting sweaters just for their yarn! That’s right! Visit second-hand stores and buy sweaters just to unravel and turn into something new! Reclaiming textile waste is not only economical, but also helps save the planet!
Intrigued? Want to learn more? Please use the resources below to further explore this art of un-knitting.
Recycling Yarn From Secondhand Sweaters
A blog post by Emily Wessel of Tin Can Knits (@tincanknits)
How to Unravel Thrifted Sweaters for Luxurious Yarn on a Budget!
A video by Engineering Knits (@engineeringknits)
How to Unravel a Sweater / Thrifted Sweater to Recycled Yarn
A video by Slow Fashion Style (YouTube)
A video by Very Pink Knits (@verypinkknits)
Live for Vintage, DIY & Repurposing
Pictured above are some of my favorite people and shops to follow on Instagram when it comes to all things vintage, beauty, fashion and a curation of preloved style inspo for your home. From gorgeous photography and colorful moments, to a burst of inspiration and a fab flatlay (you know I live for a good flatlay), their content never ever disappoints!
(Clockwise from top left):
Onyi Moss (@mossonyi)
Loveday 31 Vintage (@loveday31_vintage)
The_Glambassador (@the_glambassador)
Luvsic Plus Vintage (@luvsicplus)
Bonjour Moon (@bonjourmoon)
Honey Bea Shop (@honeybeashop)
VRK Stitch Inspo
Behind the scenes I’ve been working on a design that features a myriad of mixed stitches and stash yarns. I’m super inspired right now by the stitch sampler trend and thought you’d be too! Pictured above are five ways this trend is applied in knitting and crochet. I hope it inspires you to use your imagination and take your stitching to the next level!
(Top Row, L to R): @nennenoma2, @vanreyknits,
(Bottom Row, L to R): @earthtricks, @nesibebozkrt, @robertaramona
For your consideration…
Click on the pics for links to the items & content
DEMYSTIFY
KarenBritChick - Karen Blanchard, takes us on a journey through her mind, her closet and her city on her YouTube channel of the same name, schooling us on how to spot real gems in the NYC vintage scene and then showing us how to style them! Blanchard and her taste in all things wearable are equally flawless! If you love the juxtaposition of high fashion and vintage finds, this channel is for you!
CARRY
FEED BAGS - Founder Lauren Bush Lauren feeds through fashion with a line of useful totes, purses and organic cotton bags. Each stylish bag has a mission: to end childhood hunger by providing school meals to the food insecure. Made of leather, canvas and recycled materials, your purchase is filled with humanitarian purpose, so the more you buy, the more good you put into the world. ❤️
STUDY
SquidneyKnits - Knitwear historian, Sydney Crabaugh, has lived almost exclusively in vintage knitwear patterns/garments for years. To share her passion and knowledge with others, she began Squid’s School of Vintage Knitting. Available as a Patreon subscription, prospective students choose the level at which they'd like to learn and are given exclusive content such as historical lectures, vintage patterns, annual gifts and access to Assembly, Crabaugh’s term for knit night! If you're seeking a truly unique knitting experience, this is it!
Read
Vintage Design Workshop by Geraldine Warner - An amazing tool for retro-loving knitters that offers solutions to those frustrated by limited sizing in vintage patterns Let this book be your guide! It’s divided into two sections: the first instructs on updating vintage patterns for modern sizes and explores selecting alternative yarns, while the second demonstrates adapting contemporary patterns. The perfect companion for any stitcher wanting to try their hand at making a more size inclusive vintage pattern.
Get Inspired
The Sorry Girls - Canadian DIY Duo Becky & Kelsey, and their team of talented women, walk us through all things restore, reuse and renew on their YouTube channel of the same name. From simple furniture upcycling to full on home renovations, there’s nothing The Sorry Girls can’t tackle, themselves! Learn how to scout Facebook marketplace for retro decor, thrift for anything and everything and watch them create magical spaces on a dime.
Watch
Girl Meets Yarn - From knitting, sewing & thrifting to gardening, home improvement & cooking, fall madly in love with Marilisa Lugo (on Insta / YouTube), the internet friend we all want in real life! She adds sparkle & spice to all our favorite pastimes with her skill, knowledge, perseverance and wildly contagious laughter! In this linked video watch her upcycle a $3 thrifted afghan into an adorable granny square cardigan for her daughter. ❤️ .
Nest
Hill House Vintage - Tell the world you're happy at home without saying a word! This exquisite instagram account from Country Homes Magazine columnist, Paula Sutton, is like a photographic journey through an English Garden. Sutton’s eye for all things timeless doesn’t stop at clothing. She self describes as loving country interiors, gardens, frocks, flowers & cake!… and she will easily make you love all those things too!
Taste *GemmaDarling Pick
Mommailena - Former actress and Club MTV Dancer, Ilena Tovia, shows us simple delicious recipes on her instagram account, lovingly named @Mommailena. She dances and entertains with her fab personality while throwing food into pans and pots that magically becomes comfort-food masterpieces! Always with different glasses, different ingredients and a huge smile, we dare you not to fall down the rabbit hole and spend hours watching all her reels!
A little BTS (behind the scenes) here at VRK!
Thank you so very much to everyone who reached out this past week to be a Vanrey Knits test knitter! I greatly appreciate each and every one of you more than you will ever know! Releasing the Seven Wonders Shrug has long been a dream of mine and soon you will be helping me realize that goal. Amazing!
I’m currently in the process of working through the pattern again just to make sure it all reads correctly and then off to the Tech Editor. Upon completion of this, it can make its first journey out into the world, to you wonderful test-knitters! I’m so excited I could just scream! It’s all happening!!!
If you missed the call last week and would like to be considered for test-knitting, please email testvanreyknits@gmail.com with info about yourself in terms of fiber arts.
*Have you test knit/crochet before and for whom?
*How long does it generally take you to finish a garment?
*Do you prefer knitting or crochet?
*Garments or accessories?
*Thin or bulky yarn?
*Any specialties like sewing or embroidery?
We will continue to do our best to get back to you in a timely fashion and greatly appreciate your love and support!
Thank you so much as always for being here!
♥️ Vanessa
