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Brenda K.B. Anderson

Thrifted Threads: Crochet Upcycling

Brenda K.B. Anderson
  • In-depth Instruction; over 291 mins
  • On-demand video access anytime
  • Bonus downloadable PDF resources
  • Access to class Q&A
In this session, Brenda introduces us to all of the skills and projects we will be learning in this class. Brenda shows us the Granny Sleeve Modification project, and the Granny Square Jean Shorts. These projects incorporate pre-existing clothing from the thrift store or your own closet, and are re-imagined with crochet into chic new pieces, while solving common fit-problems.
Brenda demonstrates how to choose the right kind of sweater to take apart, as well as how to avoid some common pitfalls. She shows us how to separate pieces from the sweater and how to ravel them. Brenda shows us a great time-saving trick for opening up a chain-stitched seam- you do not want to miss this tip! Be sure to download the Harvesting Yarn guide to supplement this lesson!
In this lesson, Brenda shows us how to remove, modify and re-attach pieces of a sweater. This takes a bit of patience and will vary a bit with different stitch patterns, but the main concepts can be applied to about any sweater. These skills will give you the ability to customize sweaters and re-imagine them into pieces that fit you and match your style!
Brenda teaches us how to remove sleeves from a knitted sweater, turn the sleeves into yarn, then crochet new coordinating granny square sleeves and add them back into the sweater. You can do this simply to add style, but it also allows you to control the fit of the sleeves.
In this lesson we learn how to crochet ribbing for the cuffs of a sweater. Brenda shares her process for easing a sleeve into a cuff in a way that makes it easy to get perfect results! We also learn how to add the sleeves to the sweater and some finishing tips. These skills can easily be transferred to creating new ribbing for the bottom of a sweater, etc.
Brenda begins this lesson by talking about the materials needed, and how to prepare your jeans. Next, she shows us how to create the granny squares for the side inserts. She then discusses how to know how to use a few test squares to determine the proper width of the granny squares strips, so that the shorts will fit you.
In this session Brenda shows us how to use the granny square we made, to determine the width of the crochet strip that serves as a lining behind the granny square panel. After these strips have been made, we can finish making the granny squares to fill in the strip. Brenda shows us how to adjust the length of the granny square strip to match the single crochet strip by simply adding rows of single crochet.
In this lesson we learn how to crochet into the denim itself, to make an edging that can be easily attached to crocheted pieces. This creates a beautiful and functional intersection between crochet and fabric. Brenda teaches us how to hand sew the crocheted pieces into the edging, using yarn needle and yarn tails.
 
 
8 Lessons
4  hrs 51  mins

Do you love the idea of saving money while re-purposing un-loved clothing into new fashion-forward wearables? Do you love to crochet? This class combines the best of both worlds! Join Brenda K. B. Anderson as she demonstrates how you can use crochet to up-cycle your clothes!

In this class Brenda shows us how to take thrifted sweaters apart and re-make them into unique fashion-forward pieces. You can completely ravel a sweater and re-use the yarn to make any project you like, or you can take apart different sections of a sweater and reuse some of it, and re-configure other parts and put it back together. In this class Brenda shows us how to take the sleeves off of a thrifted knit sweater, ravel them, make new granny-square sleeves that incorporate the raveled yarn, and then she adds them back onto the body of the sweater.

You will learn tips for taking sweaters apart to harvest the yarn, and various crochet techniques for modifying existing knitted sweaters. These skills will allow you to not only change the look of existing sweaters to better suit your tastes, but you will also learn creative ways to use granny squares to change the fit and proportion of your clothes.

Being able to add crochet to a sewn fabric garment is another skill that Brenda focuses on in this class. Watch as she demonstrates how to alter the fit of a pair of jean shorts, by opening the side seam, and inserting strips of granny squares to increase the size. You will not only learn how to make a charming pair of granny square jean shorts, but you will also gain the skills for crocheting into your clothing and making alterations to your clothing.

Brenda designed this class for crocheters. You do not need to have a sewing machine, or have any previous sewing skills in order to successfully complete the projects in this class.

With hours of high quality video instruction and 3 supplemental step-by-step guides made just for this class, you’ll be seeing those un-loved, un-wanted clothes from the thrift store in a different light: as creative possibilities for new fashions you’ll love to wear!

Brenda K.B. Anderson

Brenda K.B. Anderson is a professional crochet designer who loves to spend her time in the world of crochet accessories. Her patterns have appeared in publications such as Interweave Crochet and Crochet Today, and she’s contributed to several books, authoring two of her own, Beastly Crochet and Crochet Ever After.

Brenda K.B. Anderson

Bonus materials available after purchase