Stitchin' Bints: Guest post : Indestructible yarn from old pillow stuffing

The following post was created by Hand Spinning News supporter Barbara Longley, who adds,

"I love making something out of nothing even though I have plenty of the proper yarns. I would say that the right pillow stuffing is almost as good as the recycled white plastic milk carton fibre I bought. I have made (baggy) socks from it and you just cannot wear them out."

Don’t discard your old pillows. A very useable strong hardwearing but soft synthetic yarn can be made from the stuffing and it's fun to do. I washed the pillow in the washing machine first then dried in the tumble drier.

This is the carded synthetic pillow stuffing. This drum carder was given to me by a friend whose father actually made it for his mother in the 50s. This is about half a pillow’s worth.

Another tip... I used my knitting needle gauge as a dizz using a the thicker needle holes to pass the fibre through.

Next I added some World of Wool Nylon Tricolour Rainbow just to jazz it up a bit. You can add anything you like or leave plain.

I started spinning it up on my Ashford electric spinning wheel. I did have a proper Elizabeth type spinning wheel but sold it when I found this so much better for me.

Another view of the yarn. You can get a lot on the big bobbins.

Plying the yarn. It comes out slightly thicker than DK, but of course it rather depends on how thin you spin the singles in the first place.

Transferred to my wool winder. If you didn’t wash your pillow first, then you might be better skeining it up and washing it at this stage.

Finished yarn. One thing to mention is that if knitting in rib, being synthetic it does not retain its elasticity. I have used it to knit socks but for myself, I prefer a slightly baggy top!