Make your own scrubbies and 15 other things to do with a shrunken sweater

We have all done it, made the mistake of washing our favorite wool sweater in hot water... whoops!
You don't want to throw it away and yet you will find it isn't very comfortable to wear any longer; fortunately, there are many ways it can still go to good use. The coolest thing about felted fabric is the fact that is will not fray, this makes any project you choose that much easier.

Make Your Own Scrubbies

If it is nice thick wool, cut it up into 4x6 squares and you can get a years supply of scrubbies for you and your whole family. Since I have learned this trick, these are the only kind I use; they are the perfect balance between a sponge and scrubby. I use these for everything from cleaning my dishes to polishing silver (I use toothpaste, works wonderfully). To make this even cooler, as long as there are no synthetic fibers, once they start to fall apart you can compost them.

Make a scarf

I found a shrunken cashmere sweater at the thrift store for a buck. I took it home, cut it into strips and sewed them together end to end. Now I have the longest, warmest, softest and most comfortable scarf ever.

Matching Hat and Mittens

If the sweater is made of something soft like angora or cashmere, this fabric will make a wonderful, warm, itch free hat and since it is felted the wind can't get through.

Coasters and Hot Pads

Just cut out circles and squares; if you want to make them pretty, sew around the edges with embroidery thread and stitch on cute patches made from the scraps.

Make a Purse

Look for a pattern you like and stitch it together; use the scraps to make embellishments.

Super Warm Wool Blanket

If you have several ruined sweaters, cut them into squares and rectangles to make a blanket. I did this to make a small blanket; my friends saw what I was doing and the next thing I knew I had enough sweaters to make a huge blanket.

Tea Cozy

Keep the water in the tea pot warm while also protecting it from dust and cooking oil.

Java Jackets

Cut off the cuff of the sweater to make an awesome coffee sleeve.

Beer Cozy

Cut out a rectangle and a circle, then sew them together into a cylinder. This will be excellent for absorbing the condensation.

Stuffing

Cut the scraps up into little chunks and use it to stuff toys and pillows.

Pin Cushion

Use it to make and stuff a pin cushion. The tight felted wool is excellent for holding the pins and the wool will help to keep your needles sharp. You can also save your own hair clippings for a stuffing that sharpens.

Bath Rug

There are many ways to do this.

Cut it apart at the seams and then cut the pieces into giant spirals, then sew the ends together to make one long strand that you can crochet or knit. Cutting it into a spiral will give the finished product a really cool texture.

Cut it up into different shapes, then sew them together in any way you find interesting.

Stuffed Animals

Here is an awesome tutorial for making cashmere bunnies.

Boots and Slippers

Here is a page of links to really cool patterns for boots and slippers made from old sweaters.

Ipod or Phone Sleeve

Cut off the cuff of the sweater to use as a cozy sleeve for your ipod or phone. Don't forget to stitch one end closed so it doesn't fall out; while you are at it sew on a cute button as a closure.

Leg Warmers

Cut off the arms to make warm snow proof leg warmers.

5 ways to make cheap coffee taste good

I used to buy good expensive coffee; I would buy it by the cup in the coffee shop and I would take it home by the pound and it was delicious. Now that I have to watch where I spend every dollar, I started buying the big cans of ground coffee from Aldi's for four bucks. This may sound like I have hit rock bottom; but, with some experimenting and some good advice from a friend, I enjoy a super cheap and tasty cup-o-joe in the morning.

What you can do:

• Make it in a french press to make it stronger
• Add a healthy pinch of salt to cut the bitterness and bring out the coffee flavor
• Add a bit of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg or cardamom to the grounds - the cardamom will make it taste like Turkish coffee and it is sooo good. It is best to buy the spice and grind it up yourself.
• Once the coffee is done add your favorite flavor such as chocolate, vanilla or peppermint
• Of course if all else fails add a little cream and sugar to make it taste more like a late

If you absolutely must have good quality whole bean coffee, the best I have found for the price is at World Market; they have 24 ounce bags of surprisingly good whole bean for nine dollars. If you join their Explorer club you get a free bag for every six bags you purchase and sometimes they have a buy one get one free sale!

Clear a clogged drain without nasty drain cleaner

Every time I experience a clogged drain, I usually put it off longer then I should because drain cleaning products freak me out. I start to think about what if: it splashes me in the eyes, my cat steps in it, my gloves have a previously unknown hole or my child doesn't listen and decides to play in the sink! Well now, thanks to all of the wonderful people who post how to videos on the internet, I never have to use it again. It turns out that all I need to clear even the most clogged drain is baking soda, vinegar and hot water; it actually works better than those nasty products and it costs less than a dollar.

Here is how you do it:

Sprinkle a good amount of baking soda down your drain.
Pour some vinegar down your drain and let it fizz.
Keep adding vinegar until the clog breaks and the fizzing has stopped.
Follow up with boiling hot water to wash it all down.
Repeat this process as many times as needed.

If there is any hair or other debris the bubbling action should bring it to the surface so you can use tweezers and a crochet hook to pull it out.

Make your own Tub Scrub bathroom cleaner

I don't miss the days when I would prepare to clean the bathroom. Open all windows, lock up the pets and kids, then letting it air out for an hour before use... yikes! Now when I clean my bathroom, my child helps me, the cats have tasted it and my whole house smells pleasantly like peppermint candy. Since I have started making this I actually enjoy cleaning my bathroom. I use it in the tub, sink and toilet; it works better and costs way less then any other product I have ever used.

Ingredients:

1 cup of  baking soda
1 cup of distilled water
1/2 cup of liquid soap (I use dr. bronners peppermint)
1/4 cup of vinegar
1/4 cup of sea salt (optional)
a couple of drops of tea tree oil (optional)

Home made deodorant

One day around a year ago my grocery bill came to over $120 for only a couple of bags of goodies. I felt shocked and sickened as I looked over my receipt and realized that most of it was toiletries and cleaning products, I was low on a lot of stuff. At the time I was going for natural and organic products and felt it was worth the extra cost, but it wasn't until I had to purchase them all at once that I realized what a tremendous cost burden it was.

I got it into my mind that there had to be a better way, so I started searching. I found out that a really good way to save heaps of money and free yourself from questionable chemicals is to start making as many products at home as you can. It is not only ridiculously cheap, but it takes less time to make then to drive to the store and buy everything.

My first project was deodorant!

For many years I have been concerned about the aluminum content of most deodorants, so I started paying $5 to $7 for various products from the health food store. Not only did they not work very well, but they are way to expensive. The one I have been making from home is so good and so cheap that I am able to make it and give it away to anyone who wants it. Even considering the essential oils I use, a batch costs less then a 25 cents, works better and last longer then a stick of store bought deodorant!

Make it, Try it, LOVE IT!

All you do is mix all ingredients together and rub a little bit under your arms. It will absorb moisture, eliminate odor and it doesn't make your skin feel waxy or leave a white residue.

All you need to make a basic deodorant:

• 1 part baking soda
• 1 part sea salt (always try to stay away from table salt)
• just enough coconut oil to make a stiff paste

optional ingredients:

• a couple of drops of tea tree oil because it is antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal
• vitamin E, a couple of drops is good enough
• Whatever essential oil you enjoy for fragrance

Going out is draining you!

One of the first things that I learned is that eating out every day will empty your wallet faster then you can say "didn't I just have a 50"! Here is my old typical routine:

Stop in the morning for coffee: $3
Sometimes a muffin: $2
Lunch: $5-$10
Coke at the corner store: $2
I don't feel like/don't have time to cook dinner: $15-$25
Lets go out this weekend: $50-$100

At the time of the purchases, it didn't seem like much; but when I added it up, I found I was spending around $10,000 per year on stuff I really don't need. If you think this is excessive, save your receipts for one typical week; at the end of the week add it all up and be prepared to be shocked.

The most immediate solution to most of these expenditures is, go to the grocery store, make it at home and take it with you. For entertainment, think of alternatives to going out every weekend. Instead of meeting friends somewhere, try inviting them over to do something fun at your house. At my house we now have a weekly potluck barbecue and it is so much more fun then spending a small fortune in a crowded bar.

Get yourself FREE!

I have always wanted to lead a more free lifestyle. Now, in such a bad economy, I have no choice. I left a dead-end job for the frightening and exciting world of the freelance web designer, if you are curious you can see some of my design work on my website www.higherlink.com. While it is rewarding and I don't ever want to go back, I have had to learn what it really means to pinch pennies. Over the last year I have figured out many ways to save money and resources without really sacrificing anything of worth, oh and did I mention it has been a lot of fun? I have decided to think of and try at least one new idea a day and share it with all of you. If you have any ideas, please let me know what you are doing to free yourself and lighten your footprint.