Here's the reading pillow I made for my grandson from half of a Thrift shop sweater of Ramie cotton. Remember, my grandkitty got a sleeping pad from the other half. Now, what should I do with the sleeves...and 4 leather buttons? Hmmmmmmmm

That is really neat :thumbup:

To cute!!! Great Idea.

That's a cute and different one!!
Great work!
Leather buttons, huh???...sound like good noses for some little stuffed animals!!?? :) You could even use the sleeves for the animals.
Maybe even sorta follow the directions for a sock monkey with the sleeves, as it takes two socks for one. Start by sewing one end shut on both sleeves to make the "sock". ???
or there is the elephant....

Miranda, the stuffed animal sounds good. I was thinking house slippers...., but maybe an animal that doesn't eat. HA We're feeding everything in the forest, I think. I had been putting out shelled corn for the squirrels, although they prefer the black oil sunflower seeds that I give the birds. Anyway, the corn disappears every night. I had seen deer tracks, but hadn't seen the deer until yesterday before dark. They were right outside my window. I think it's the same 3 my husband is feeding behind the barn.

There are 2 of the prettiest skunks that have been coming into the barn. One is more white than black, but now we have to be extra careful....don't want to get sprayed by a skunk!

Miranda, where have you been? Missed you.

Sounds like you need one of the Game Cameras like my DH got to put up at his tree stand!! He hasn't been out to put the card back in it or new batteries for a while, but it is so fun! I think he paid $40 for it at WM. Maybe less. It has a sensor on it and takes pics when it "sees" movement!

I've not been on much lately. Just been busy. THe kids keep getting sick, and we've (DH and I) been catching it, too. Strep, bronchitis...we've also had our share of viruses, too. Hopefully the computer doesn't start catching it! lol!

That is the neatest, and cutest reading pillow. Is that your pattern? What did you use to hold the book in place? Did you use a pillow form, or just stuffing? Can you share your work of art?

Hi Rebecca, It's so easy. I used a foam pillow..not too full, but you could use any kind. I just sewed the sweater to a plain peice of woven fabric and made it like a pillow case, closing both ends. I crocheted a chain and pulled it through 2 rows of the sweater knit at the top center of pillow and positioned them diagonally. Then I pulled each end through 2 rows of the sweater knit at the bottom and tied a knot and tied a glass bead on the end. The two bookmarks are made from one piece of 4 ply knitting yarn ( the same that I chained) that I ran through the same hole at the top and I tied a bead on each at the end to give it some weight. I had to ravel something I had started many years ago to get the small amt. of maroon yarn, so that's why it's so curly.

I saw one similar in a Betty Crocker catalog a few years ago. It was a square pillow and they used ribbons to hold the pages. I don't remember if it had a bookmark.

I ride with a pillow in my lap. It's like my riding desk. I need to make one that will hold my book open now.

Oh...the yarn is stretchy so you can just move it about to read and lift it to turn the page.

Very clever!

Loooove that!!! I need one for reading in bed--that would be great.
I also like to read when we travel so this would be just the thing.
You are sooooooo clever.

I agree with Cathe, very clever! Your grandson is very lucky.
~Tiffany

That is such a great idea and a great gift! I bet he loved it!

Very clever- I think you should get the recycle award! :-)

Heather, Yes, he liked the pillow, but he liked the book that went with it better. I gave him "1000 Events That Shaped Our World" from National Geographic.

I only bought that sweater for the nice shoulder pads because I wanted to use them in a shirt...which I never finished. They were just better pads than any new ones and it only cost $1.

Loretta, I have to admit that very little goes to waste at my house. What is left of the meat at one meal may be in a casserole or soup at the next. If I have to look at it too long, the dogs get it ( unless it is food they can't have) and if it stays in the fridge long enough to grow a green fuzz, then it goes in the compost. So it serves a purpose whatever the final destination.

I do accumulate wa-a-a-a-y too much 'stuff'. I get on a cleaning-out spree and take several boxes of things to the Thrift shop to donate. I unload at the sorting building, then cross the parking lot where they sell it and buy more than I gave them. :roll: BUT..I can always envision everything turning into something else.

I learned a long time ago, if the garment is cheap enough ( and you sew garments) you can get good buttons and shoulder pads from the old clothes. The Thrift store here sells almost everything in adult size for $1 except jeans which have now gone UP to $2, but sometimes they have 1/2 price sales on certain things and sometimes everything is half.

Wise, and Wise, and more WISE.........

What a cool idea!!! You're such a good gramma and a clever one too!! Maybe you could make some nice bookmarks from those sleeves and buttons to go with the new pillow and book.

jbsstrawberry, I believe the sweater is too thick for book marks. The strand of yarn serves that purpose there, but I did consider making a little pocket to hold some bookmarks made from card stock. Just didn't have time.