If My Mother Only Knew...

My mother has always been convinced that anything my siblings or I do will ruin something in the house. Bottle of perfume (on a doily) on my dresser? That's going to ruin the dresser. Laying on the couch? It's made for sitting on and you're going to ruin it if you lay on it...go to your bed if you want to lay down. Actually using the comforter to cover yourself when you sleep? That's going to ruin the comforter. And I'm used to being told I'm going to ruin the stove, oven, sewing machine, washer, dryer, or any other machine or appliance in the house by simply using it. (No wonder I never moved back once I left for college, eh?)

My parents are out of town this week, on vacation with my sister in Hilton Head. Um...I needed to block two knitting projects, but my house is not conducive to blocking because it lacks carpeting (yes, I know I could always get a blocking board or use some other alternative, but I like pinning down to the carpet). And I had some felting I needed to do, and the front-loading, locked-during-cycle washers in my building and at the laundromat just wouldn't do (when I mentioned my need for such a washer for a "project" to the new boyfriend, he offered to let me use his, but I really like him, we've only been together for a month, and I'd rather not scare him away by purposely shrinking perfectly good sweaters in his washer). Needless to say, if my mom saw the two projects (laid down on towels, of course) pinned to the carpet in my bedroom, and the washer that is currently full of hot water and some of my old sweateres, she'd probably have a heart attack. (For the record, I am ruining neither the carpet nor the washer. Or the pillowcases I used to put the old sweaters in, the towels I laid between wet pieces of knitwear and the new berber carpeting, etc). Muahahahahaha. My brother, on the other hand (who is 24 and still lives at home), has used his freedom at mom and dad's house this week to have his girlfriend stay over, throw parties, drink tons of beer, and do God only knows what's else. In the grand scheme of things, what's worse?

On to the felting project. I have some old sweaters that I haven't worn in at least two winters, hardly wore the few winters before those, yet can't bear to part with. Since due to age and some improper washing (by my mother, because remember, I wasn't allowed to ever touch the washer because I'd ruin it), they were already very slightly felted. So...I felted them the rest of the way and will be turning them into handbags or whatever else I can think of. Here they are, pre-felting, again, forgive the lousy camera phone pics. One of these days I'll get around to buying a real digital camera.
American Eagle Outfitters cardigan circa 1997 or 1998 that I remember buying on clearance for about $10 or $15. Got some good use in high school, haven't worn in a whole lot since, kept it around thinking once I was in the working world I *might* wear it, but still haven't. I plan to incorporate the embroidered pattern going down the front somehow, perhaps making a round purse with that along the top by the zipper. Only time, scissors, and my sewing machine will tell!

This sweater was picked up on clearance at Abercrombie and Fitch around fall 1999 or winter 2000 (either way, freshman year of college) and I wore it quite a bit that year, but not a whole lot after. The bell shaped sleeves were always too long, it was to chunky to roll or push them up, I didn't know how to knit back then and therefore couldn't fix the length myself, so I never wore it much after that. But never got rid of it. The future knitter in me was subliminally screaming "you'll be glad you kept it!" It has a nice floral pattern on the hip and one sleeve and I've got plans to incorporate those sections and an old brown leather belt to make this a cute as hell felted hobo.

This is another Abercrombie sweater, I think I got it senior year of high school (so 1998-1999). So cute with a white top underneath, khakis, and a pair of Doc Martens back in the day. Even cuter when it's a fall purse. It's the perfect orange color for that.

My dad bought me this beautiful sweater from Express for Christmas when I was in 10th or 11th grade. He let me pick it out. It cost $60, which back then to me seemed like A LOT of money for one sweater and I almost felt guilty for asking for it. But if anyone were to buy it for me at that price, it would have been dad! I wore it quite a bit over the years but all the color work sort of felted together over time and it got a tad tight. Plus it was always too warm. Ohhhhhh it'll be such a pretty bag!!!