Design hotel Klaus K has transformed it's two areas, restaurant Ilmatar and  the most of former nightclub Ahjo, into one holistic space called The Livingroom (nightclub Ahjo still exists, it's just significantly smaller and is located behind the curtains, in the back). Due to the renovation most of the interior decor of the area was demolished and replaced. While I was walking around photographing the construction site to document the process a certain cushion-like covered pilar caught my eye. I asked hotel manager Marc Skvorc if the panels of the cover would be removed and thrown away - he said "yes". I thought it was such a shame! Too often materials are thrown away instead of reusing them. I told Marc I could make it into a headboard for my bed and asked if I could have it. I didn't want it to take too much time or effort from the construction workers that were already on a tight schedule. Marc promised to look into it, whether or not it could be removed without it getting torn. 
 A few months later, last Friday, I was excited to carry the piece into a taxi van and finally take it home. I have now adopted a piece of a pilar from a former nightclub - how cool is that?! A pretty pieceful retirement home for this lucky pilar panel turned headboard after 8 years of partying!

 This piece has cost me 15€ so far (transportation by taxi) - not bad! It still needs to be lifted off the floor and properly attached to the wall.  

 Hopefully other hotels and public spaces will follow the lead! 

 

A photo by Klaus K of former Ahjo. You can spot the pilar behind the bar counter. 

I introduced a technique on how to transform a t-shirt into a ball of thread earlier in my blog. Find instructions and read the post HERE. I also promised to share an idea on how to put that thread into use. 

 

I decided to crochet a huge rug which measures 2 m x 2,2 m. Since I was impatient and wanted to utilize all the material I could get my hands on, I mixed all kinds of colors together to create a bright, happy colored rug which I think, gives it some character! Adding white thread here and there makes it look fresh and black thread gives it some depth.

If you want to avoid getting knots in your rug, you can either sew the thread together or buy packs of different colored jersey from your local fabric store. Don't invest in expensive kinds, you can find real bargains on sale since each piece doesn't have to be that big! If you're in Helsinki I suggest you check out what Eurokangas stores have to offer, they usually have hideous colored jersey in their sale department, which is a good thing! Remember, with this DIY project you're allowed to go over the top! 

 

Here's how Wikipedia explains the term "upcycling" : 

"Upcycling is the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value."

This old top got transformed into a ball of thread. We all own a few old t-shirts or tops that may have a stain or two, some holes or just generally appear worn out, this is a great way to give them a new life!

If the directions seem confusing don't hesitate to ask for more details! Start by cutting the top part of the top / t-shirt off, cut the front and back of the shirt at the same time, so there's two layers of fabric. I also cut the hem off because it doesn't look that neat as thread. Continue cutting 3 cm wide strips laterally, don't cut all the way to the other seam, but leave a few centimeters uncut so that the strips are attached to each other. 

Here's the tricky part: lay the stripped piece flat on the table, the other seam facing up. It helps if you draw dotted lines with a marker diagonally from one strip to the other. Once you've cut all the strips diagonally from the part that attached them you should have one long piece of 3 cm wide thread, all you have to do now is stretch it really well and gather it into a ball. 

I will reveal how I used this thread a little later. Let's just say it's something big and heavy!

Englanninkielinen termi "upcycling" ei ole tainnut vielä saada suomenkielistä vastinetta, mutta se tarkoittaa, että jokin esine saa uuden käyttötarkoituksen. Käyttökelvottomat tai tarpeettomaksi käyneet esineet tai materiaalit saavat uuden elämän, jossain toisessa muodossa. 

Tässä postauksessa muutetaan t-paita / toppi trikoolangaksi. Kirpputoreja kiertäneenä, sekä myyjän, että ostajan näkökulmasta, voin kertoa, etteivät kulahtaneet t-paidat kuulu kuumimman kauppatavaran joukkoon. Tässä siis kätevä tapa pistää reikäiset, kellastuneet ja paremmat päivänsä nähneet paidat uusiokäyttöön! Työvaiheet on ehkä helpompi ymmärtää kuvien avulla, mutta jos jokin vielä jää askarruttamaan, kysy toki lisää!

Asettele paita siististi, jotta saat tasaisen lopputuloksen. Leikkaa paidan yläosa irti, kainalosta kainaloon, jos paidassa on sivusaumat, saumasta saumaan. Paidat, joissa ei ole sivusaumoja, toimivat tässä paremmin, niistä tulee siistimmän näköistä lankaa. Leikkaa yhtäaikaa paidan etu- ja takakappale, kangasta on siis kaksi kerrosta. Leikkaa myös paidan helma taitoksen kohdalta irti, sillä siitä ei saa siistinnäköistä lankaa. Leikkaa ( taas kangasta kaksinkerroin) n. 3 cm leveitä vaakasuoria hapsuja, paidan toisessa reunassa jätä muutama senttimetri leikkaamatta, jotta hapsut muodostavat yhtenäisen kappaleen.

Kun olet hapsuttanut vaatekappaleen koko leveydeltä, tulee hieman haastavampi työvaihe. Käännä hapsujen liitoskohta itseesipäin työtasolle. Leikkaamista helpottaa, jos piirtää avuksi katkoviivoja. Kuvasta on toivottavasti enemmän apua, mutta yritän selittää parhaani mukaan. Leikkaa hapsut niiden liitoskohdasta, eli paidan sivusauman kohdalta, josta hapsut ovat kiinni toisissaan, diagonaalisti toisiinsa nähden. Leikattuasi kaikki hapsut, lopputuloksena ne muodostavat yhtenäisen nauhan. Venytä pieni pätkä aina kerrallaan, jotta saat kuvan mukaista lankaa ja lopuksi kieritä kerälle. 

Paljastan hieman myöhemmin mitä tästä langasta syntyi, mutta vinkkinä voin kertoa, että se on jotain isoa ja painavaa!