The Sweater Chop Shop: Sewing One-of-a-Kind Creations from Recycled Sweaters [Paperback]

Crispina ffrench (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2009

Recycle, Re-create, Re-enjoy

You don't even need a sewing machine to upcycle old sweaters into new wearables, blankets, pillows, and dolls that are fresh, playful, and utterly captivating.

It's easy as felting the wool, cutting the pieces for your new project, and stitching everything together using simple hand-sewing skills.

Noted designer Crispina ffrench shares her techniques and passion as she introduces you to the beautiful possiblities in old sweaters.

"Crispina's blankets and throws and rugs are piled on and over each other on my beds, chairs, couches, and floors. She's a great artist who understands texture and how it adds individuality and comfort to a home, not to mention a car, or an old refurbished orange trunk seat!!" - Carly Simon

"Crispina makes the most beautiful soulful blankets, pillows, and sweaters, out of people's old sweaters. In this amazing and magical book she shares her secrets so that you can do it too." - Ben Cohen, cofounder of Ben & Jerry's

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; Original edition (August 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603421556
• ISBN-13: 978-1603421553
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Crispina ffrench started her recycled design business in 1987 while still a student at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. Her manufacturing operation, Crispina Design Workshop is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.  She has exhibited at the prestigious American Craft Council Exhibit as well as the New York International Gift Show.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Storey Publishing, LLC; Original edition (August 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603421556
• ISBN-13: 978-1603421553
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 8.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,275 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 68 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars The dress on the cover is the Best design in the book December 6, 2009

By loves to sew

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I disagree with all of the other reviewers. This is a great coffee table book, or a great picture book to look at. I say this because there were only 2 projects that I could see myself wearing in this entire book, and they both look very similar. The 2 projects that I am talking about is the dress on the cover and a patchwork sweater/hoodie that is in the book. All of the other projects in the book are very boring and that I would never use or see the need to make. For example, about half of the book, the author shows you how to make dinky raggedy stuff animals (and there are a few that she shows you how to make...but these are just page fillers to me). And then about 1/3 of the book (in the beginning pages) she shows you how to make the patchwork pillows (like the one on the cover) with a few variation design...boring! I wanted her to have more clothing ideas! And then the other stuff in the book are just projects to make scarves (like the one on the cover on the side). There are NO patterns in the book (just sketch diagrams of how you should cut the sweaters into pieces). I bought this book mainly for the dress design on the cover; but since there are no patterns in the book, it takes a little bit of time to figure out. I am an advance seamstress (been sewing for 16 years). I prefer the old fashion way to making clothes (with patterns). A fun book to look at; but not the best book out there. If you like cutting stuff up like t-shirts and sweaters, a better book would be, "99 ways to rip, cut, and sew a t-shirt/denim/scarf." I probably will end up returning this book. Not worth the money that I paid for it for only 1 or 2 useable projects.
Although this book does have a lot of colors so it is very eye candy.... At first when I was browsing this book in the bookstore, I really wanted to buy it. But after owning this book and flipping through the projects, I found that there wasn't many projects that was interesting and advance enough. And by this, I wanted the book to include more "clothing" and other types of accessories (besides scarves). Because most of the projects were just cut up pieces of fabrics to make pillows, stuff animals, or scarves. I was really bored with the project in the book. The idea for this book was great but I wished that the author would include better projects.
I hope this helps. Read more ›

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but not great July 2, 2010

By Jotham W. Bailey

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

A friend had this book and I thought: " Neat concept- get it..." I ordered it and found it a neat read, fun concepts... independent and quirky. As I read through it from the beginning, though, I had the feeling that it was not very complete in its instructions, or that they were not clear. That is generally ok if there are clear illustrations, but , again, I had come to the conclusion that the drawings were more artistic than instructive.... long yarns that "decorate the stitching images and are often repeated to fill space and don't further illustrate. I would have preferred photographs carefully made using plain fabrics and contrasting yarns , or better thought out diagrams.

All that being said, It is a neat concept and the critters and projects will be fun to make. Impending grandchild makes all things workable, and in the case of a craft, too much instruction can remove some of the challenge and fun!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Artistic Workbook for Free-form Sewing March 24, 2011

By Dreamfisher

Format:Paperback

Great recycling concept for using felted wool sweaters! I like the reuse of old garments. I like felting in fewer steps. I like being able to make the projects by hand-sewing the pieces together. And I like the designer's story of her adventures into production, due to the demand for her trademark "ragamuffin" creatures.

It is an attractive workbook as well, with artistic photography on the textile texture pages that begin each chapter, and smart mixed-media illustrations as settings for the finished products.

However, as an experienced sewer, I found the written instructions to be both excessively wordy, and not specific enough; with the viewer having to guess at what the pattern pieces might be like from photos of finished garments, and with little or no reference on sizing or fit. The only thing I could come up with to compare this free-form type of designing with was my experience of cutting around the shapes of a chair in order to make a slipcover for it.

My suggestion would be to check out this book from your library before you buy, and see whether this style of creative sewing appeals to you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, terrific techniques December 5, 2010

By A. Kenlon

Format:Paperback

I am so glad I picked up this book. I was a tad hesitant at first glance, because the bohemian style of many of the garments isn't something I'd wear on a regular basis. But the techniques and information are so good that I found I could easily adapt the patterns to things appropriate for my age and frame. I've already made a couple of great vests that I really enjoy wearing, and the potholders are great.

Love the author's emphasis on hand-stitching to join the sweater pieces, and she gives very good instruction on classic techniques like buttonhole stitch. Always useful! I also appreciate her emphasis on the fact that each creation is one-of-a-kind, and she guides the reader skillfully through such options as adding pockets, collars, etc.

I'm anxious to make more great garments out of recycled sweaters. I've successfully felted sweaters for the first time thanks to the author's expert guidance, and she unleashes a wealth of creative ideas that I know I'll be putting to use for a very long time.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars inspiring but I don't like her examples May 30, 2011

By Haley Mathiot VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

I have mixed feelings about this book. Some of the patterns and ideas are really cool, and as an easily inspired person I sort of want to go over to my local goodwill and get a bunch of wool sweaters and make stuff. The patterns and photos and projects are very inspiring. However it was difficult to get past some of the less attractive designs. A few sweaters just looked trashy. Some of the scarves that could have looked artistic were just strange. The little creatures could be really cool, but I didn't like the images she gave.

I would use this book as a launching pad or a starting point for people who are already good at taking scraps and salvaging things to make into new clothes and want some ideas on what to do with sweaters. A possibility I saw with this book is wool roving (using needles to push raw wool into felt to create a pattern). With some design and color work, these could be cool projects. I just don't particularly like all the photos she used.