How to Upcycle Old Crochet Projects

Dear users, dear designers,
what do you do with old finished crochet projects that you no longer like? With UFOs = unfinished objects / unfinished craft projects, the approach is clear: UFOs can be put aside / kept, unraveled, maybe finished, or kept even longer / saved for sometime later. But with finished handmade projects, it’s not that simple. If you no longer like a vest, can the crocheted piece simply be taken apart and the yarn reused, even if the vest may already have been washed several times? 

It would be lovely if you’d like to share your thoughts on this. 

I don’t imagine that’s easy with items that have already been washed several times, though I’ve never actually tried it. The items I no longer wear have already suffered serious wear and tear—they’ve developed thin spots and such—so I just shred them and reuse them as stuffing.

I also think that something that’s been washed can’t be unraveled again that easily.

I wanted to unravel a few rows of a crocheted loop so it would fit better. After taking a close look at the crochet work and sleeping on it overnight, I decided it wasn’t possible.