DIY ideas in Kintsugi style: new life for the wool sweater

In our second Kintsugi-inspired video and step-by-step tutorial, you'll see how easy it is to turn old things into new without any sewing.

Wool is a precious natural resource and a fantastically versatile fiber. The material can easily wear out, pull threads and attract moths. However, repairing it is just as easy. The traditional repair of wool, for example darning, should not be visible. However, this is usually not entirely successful. It also requires a lot of skill and patience. If you can't sew yourself, the result is usually quite unsightly. A simple alternative to darning is felting pieces of wool. Follow our simple DIY tutorial and – in true Kintsugi style – create colorful mixed patches to make a statement, not an eyesore.

What you need:

• A woolen sweater with holes (ours was nibbled on by moths)
• Woolfiller set with felting wool
• Felting needle (included in the set)
• Foam block (included in the set)
   

This is how it works:

1. Decide on one or more contrasting colors. Remember that we don't want to hide the imperfection of the garment. Instead, we make it a beautiful, strong statement.

2. Place the foam block under the hole.

3. Tear off some wool. Start with less wool than you think you need. You can add more later.

4. Place the felting wool directly over the hole. Pierce it through the surrounding wool with the needle. Take good care of your fingers!

5. If necessary, you can push the edges of the felting wool evenly to form a circle or add more.

6. Continue with a different color for the next hole. (We repaired the small tear in the neck with a similar color, as it shouldn't be noticeable).

7. Wear it with pride!

Of course, the Woolfiller method is not the only way to turn old clothes into new ones.

Instead of the felt method, you can also darn moth holes with yarn in contrasting colors. As the repair should not be hidden, perfect stitches are not important. Sew an eye-catching button, sequins or small beads onto each moth hole to create additional decorative elements. If the elbows are full of holes, use patches to achieve the classic professor look.