recycling old damaged sweaters?

[kalimba21.livejournal.com]

Anyone know of where I could bring old soft cashmere and wool sweaters that got damaged from moths but are now clean and holey? I was going to toss them, but realized that some people cut these up and use them for other stuff.

Thanks for any insight.

Comments

[genevra-mcneil.livejournal.com]

ME! Me! I'll take them! Me! I'll meet you anywhere near the square or anywhere, really, and happily take them! I'll pay in baked goods! Email me! genevramcneil [at] gmail [dot] com

I plan, in case you care, to make a variety of things including at least one blanket for donation to a local charity.

[kalimba21.livejournal.com]

Okay everyone, genevra responded first and so sincerely, so they are now claimed. I'm so glad I thought to post here.

[42itous.livejournal.com]

I would use them... but it looks like you already have a taker. :)

I cut them into strips and braid them into little rugs.

[miss-chance.livejournal.com]

We can spread the love. I have a couple favorite sweaters that got badly eaten, too. I'd be *most* psyched if I could barter to you to fix them, but if that's not in your skill-set, next up would be turning them into something else.

Also we have a Navajo rug, wool, that got eaten. It's of too much personal value to turn into anything else (we got it as a wedding present to ourselves on our honeymoon) so if you know anyone who might be able to repair that (yourself included), we would pay actual money for that.

[she-of-emeralds.livejournal.com]

Are they too damaged for Goodwill?

[prunesnprisms.livejournal.com]

One of my friends routinely goes to goodwill looking for damaged wool sweaters to felt and make into other things, so.

[kdsorceress.livejournal.com]

I have no idea what the local Goodwill's policy was, but when I worked at a thrift store, if we observed holes in the garment (or staining, or whatever) we couldn't sell it. So, maybe if it's a subtle damage (meaning the workers who go through hundreds of pieces of clothing a day wouldn't notice) it's okay, but anything blatant would probably be best off donated like this, or by similar means if there are such.

~Sor

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

I once gave a bunch of stained and holey clothes to goodwill in DS, and was later told that they actually PAY to have such clothing recycled... They don't really like damaged clothing that they can't sell...

Is there somewhere that takes damaged, but still usable clothing for people that really need it? I mean I have some clothing that is in much better shape than I've seen on some homeless people wandering around DS (also some college students, but that's different) but still Goodwill wouldn't be able to sell it...

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Maybe try calling some local homeless shelters?

[dial-zero.livejournal.com]

A lot of shelters won't take used clothes. Nonprofits are the dumping ground for companies to donate their unsellable stuff so they can get a tax break. Companies like Target dump loads of NEW clothes (that are out of style) this way, so it's unlikely that shelters would want to deal with washing/storing used stuff when they can get brand-new stuff.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Thanks; I didn't realize that.

[dial-zero.livejournal.com]

It's unfortunate that so much usable stuff gets thrown out, but I'm pretty sure if you put your un-Goodwillable clothes in one of those rag collection bins, they will grind it up and turn it into paper or something.

[closetalker11.livejournal.com]

Where are these rag collection bins?

[dial-zero.livejournal.com]

Last I checked, there was one in the parking lot of the Rite Aid at Broadway and Temple. Not sure where others are because that's the closest one to me. They are often located next to Goodwill donation bins.

[turil.livejournal.com]

Pretty much anyone wearing clothes that aren't up to your standards are doing so because they want to, not because they are forced to. At least around the Boston area anyway. (Clothes are one thing that people seem to find most disposable in this part of the world, so there is a never ending supply of perfectly fine clothes for people who need them.)

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Love the Natalie Dee icon! :)

[juldea.livejournal.com]

Damn my not checking the internet over the weekend! I would love these!

I recycle them into art coats, inspired by this person's designs: http://zenandtheart.livejournal.com/1162773.html

[kpht.livejournal.com]

A lot of people love taking 100% wool sweaters and turning them into cloth diaper covers, because they can be made waterproof with lanolin. It looks like you should be all set, but a freecycle post, or even calling up DiaperLab or making a post in the clothdiapering lj-comm, would probably do the trick.