Ring Storage-Make it before Buy it-Sweater Surgery Style

My personal manifesto:
When I need something, I think first, can I make it instead of just going out and buying it?

Here is an example.

I have been acquiring quite a few rings lately (see yesterday's post and this one ) and they are not stored in an organized way. My first thought is- go out and buy a ring storage box. But then I stop myself and say, "can I make it?" and yes I can!

I look around all my saved treasures, the things I fall in love with and keep with the thought, "I can use that for something." Well that day has come baby!

I have tons of cigar boxes, both cardboard and wood. I can't help myself I am nuts for boxes.
And I have tons of wool felted sweaters, but you already know that!

So here is what I did:

I went to the stashes and pulled out one pretty blue and gold cigar box and a coordinating blue wool felted sweater. This one was pretty thick so it worked well. I think if you were using a thinner sweater you could fuse two layers together to thicken them.

I then cut pieces of the sweater the width of the inside of the box.

I accordion folded each section at about one inch and hot glued the folds on the underside and ends.

Ta-da! One ring display box. An added feature of this little creation is that it is a bit of "covert ops". Who would ever think of looking for jewelry in a cigar box? Certainly not as obvious a choice a standard jewelry box for sure.

So if making something conventional out of something unconventional is your thing grab yourself a copy of:

Sweater Surgery
How to Make New Things from Old Sweaters

By yours truly,

Stefanie Girard

Contemporary crafters are thriving on personalizing, modifying, and altering fashion as not only hobbies but as a lifestyle.

Why repurpose your sweaters? Because you can't buy sweater fabric by the yard. Sweaters get damaged or go out of style but we still love the prints, colors, and textures. You don't have time to knit it from scratch. It's ecologically correct. And most of all--it's fun!

Sweater Surgery shows you how to upcycle all your slightly worn, slightly damaged, or plain old out-of-style sweaters into fabulous new items for your wardrobe and your home. Readers learn how to choose, cut, restitch, felt, and embellish old sweater fabric, transforming it into beautiful handbags, mittens, scarves, hats, hoodies, skirts, jewelry, soft toys, pillows, and more!

Complete instructions for 27 projects, plus a huge gallery of exciting ideas for further inspiration.

I have a degree in industrial design from Pratt Institute and worked as a set decorator and prop master for 10 years in the entertainment industry. I have produced, written scripts and edited Web content for television shows and have been covering these creative topics for HGTV, DIY Network and Lifetime TV. I have designed and written directions for over 400 craft projects for clients.

And pop on over to Sweater Surgery for more practical sweatery goodness or click on the links below or to the right!

Comments

[Angie Platten]

What a fabulous idea! And a very cool gift idea!

[Zoe]

How clever are you!?!

[Suella]

Brilliant! I can see using this folded felted sweater technique for all sorts of texture. Thanks!