While scurrying around to estate sales, flea markets and such I rarely say no to a basket of sewing treasures.
There’s nothing like digging through an old sewing tin full of notions and supplies.
I find all sorts of curious objects.
As a result I have accumulated lots of knitting needles.
In my younger years I tried my hand at knitting, only to discover it was not my cup of tea.
This summer while cleaning out my garden shed I came across a bucket full of them.
For years I used the needles for plant markers.
After examining and admiring all the pretty colors I decided to see what kind of crafty thing could be done with them.
I googled “crafts to make out of old knitting needles”
To my delight I discovered the bangles.
How fun!
Surely I could do that!
DIRECTIONS:
wash the needles
bring a pot of water to a boil
drop in a couple of needles for 5 minutes or so
when they are soft and pliable pull them out with tongs and wrap them around something that is approx. 8 inches in diameter
hold them in place for a few seconds and then take them off and let them cool for 20 minutes
SOUNDS EASY….RIGHT?
I cleaned all my needles and dropped a few in boiling water.
After about 12 minutes they were ready to come out.
Using tongs I lifted them out one at a time and wrapped them around a glass tumbler.
Very difficult.
They harden in seconds when removed from the water.
Burning my fingers the entire time while trying to hold them in place was really frustrating.
Most of them had to be thrown back in the water and re-boiled several times until I got the right shape.
I also noticed that after a few hours some of them were un-curling.
Later with very sore fingers I decided to call it a day.
Next day
RUBBER GLOVES!
Seemed to work great, until I noticed after they cooled I had yellow rubber marks on them!
I tossed the needles back in the boiling water.
Some had to be thrown away.
This time I used clothes pins overnight, holding them in place so they would keep their shape.
Day 3
Determined to master the bangles I used tea towels along with the rubber gloves.
It worked much better.
The clothes pins worked also but I had to be very careful to make sure that they didn’t leave marks on the soft needles.
By the end of the night I wasn’t feeling well and was a bit dizzy.
REALLY!…how stupid!
What in the world was I boiling in my kitchen!
I had no idea what materials the knitting needles were made of and I had been breathing in the fumes for hours!
At the end of the 3 days I had made about 56 bracelets that were sellable.
At $5 each or 3 for $12 I sold most of them.
I still have about 23 left at my shop in Millville.
Since then, I’ve found some absolutely lovely bracelets on etsy.
This lady has mastered melting down needles.
Her shop is amazing.
I’ve never seen such beautiful knitting needles! http://www.etsy.com/shop/sewnewthings
I’ve retired the tumbler and rubber gloves.
Like I said…….. KNITTING NEEDLES make nice plant markers.
January 5, 2011 at 8:26 am
Hi there Barb,
It’s Lynda from “sewnewthings”.
Thanks for the mention on your blog – as you’ve discovered, it’s harder than it sounds! Our knitting needles look a little different from yours (USA? I assume..), but you’ve achieved a nice result. Cheers from Australia,
Lynda
January 10, 2011 at 4:15 am
Barb, I’m very glad you persevered, I get many comments about my bracelets when I wear them – I picked the needle sizes that I use most often, cool to find!
January 10, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Amanda, So glad you like your bracelets! you’re always such a great support to me!
It’s niCe!!!!
did you check out the lovely’s in the Australian etsy shop…sewnewthings?
In all my hunting I have never came across knitting needles like that.
January 10, 2011 at 1:31 pm
Lynda
You’re right..bending those needles is hard work!..your beautiful bracelets are worth the price!
I appreicate the compliment!
Barb