Are you interested in the process at ReSewn for repurposing and rescuing textiles? Here are a few details.
Textile sources include local thrift stores, yard sales, friends and family, and local shops such as ReCreative Denver, The Craft Box, The Hidden Treasure 2, and ArtParts. Sometimes these sources also have usable zippers and various hardware, though #5 zipper tape and zipper pulls for some of my bags are typically purchased from shops that only sell new supplies. Thread is always purchased new, because old cotton thread can rot, and polyester thread may weaken over time, especially when exposed to sun.
All textiles are machine-washed and dried immediately after procurement. This is to felt woolens, remove dust/dirt, ensure no insects or microscopic eggs, and to expose any weak spots or holes in the fibers. The differences in how much various wool and cashmere felt or shrink in the washing and drying process is fascinating. If you have your own textile that you would like me to transform into something else, it will need to be machine-washed and dried, and possibly ironed prior to me assessing it.
Preferred sweater fibers for sewing mittens and hats are cashmere, merino, lambswool, alpaca, and other woolens. Densely woven wool blazers and coats make a weather-resistant outer mitten layer, though the final mittens do not have stretch across the hand and thumb, and big, boxy original garments with few seams are best for reusing. All of my sweater mittens are fully lined; cashmere, merino, and lightweight woolens
make ideal linings. Thick woolens are used for the outer mitten layer and many are naturally water repellant for use in wet snow and sleet. Cotton sweaters are usually not worth repurposing into mittens because they typically look tired, faded, and pilled by the time they are donated by their first owners, and cotton is a terrible fiber to try to stay warm in cold weather. Acrylic sweaters are ok for people who are allergic to woolens, and are available in a wide variety of colors, but are never as cozy as cashmere and the edges fray when cut. Another reason to prefer woolens over petroleum-based synthetic knits (looking at you polyester fleece!!!) is micro-plastic pollution on the entire planet. Look into it. It is everywhere, including our water and food sources. But again, for those allergic to woolens, polyester fleece might be the best option. I rarely find anything used made of polyester fleece that I'm able to repurpose, because the best stuff will still pill, the laminated wind-block will delaminate, and the garments still in good condition from used outdoor gear shops are priced too high to repurpose.
The bags I sew are often made from denim, canvas, leather, suede, and some synthetics. I try to find a use for all parts of the original garment/item before sending tiny fabric scraps for recycling for industrial uses. All leather and suede scraps are saved, and I recently discovered how to make myself earrings from the tiniest suede and leather scraps. Some woven synthetic fabrics are durable and make long-lasting linings in my bags, as well as good lightweight, packable bags. Very occasionally I find a raincoat in perfect condition to repurpose. We all have to decide our own comfort level with function and long-lasting vs. natural and possibly needing more frequent replacement. Either way, repurposing existing, locally-sourced textiles can have a lighter impact than buying brand new that was shipped from the other side of the planet.
Rayon is one fiber that I do not repurpose used or buy new. It is plant-based, but heavily, heavily processed. It pills easily, shrinks unpredictably and variably, and often contains dyes that are improperly set.
Silk is a durable, delightful, natural fiber, and it seemingly takes all dye colors well. A silk eye mask for sleeping is a luxurious way to block light. Silk is naturally gentle on human hair, making it ideal for hair scrunchies. Wait, are scrunchies still or ever back in style? That is debatable but anyone who has hair long enough that they want to pull out of the way sometimes can benefit from scrunchies. Locally-sourced and locally-sewn? Even better for those in northern Colorado.
Hope this helps with offering insight about ReSewn. The primary goal is to repurpose existing while creating new functional favorites.
-Anna
