TikTok creator Emilee, known as @ourshieldmaiden, is gaining attention for her unique approach to repurposing thrift store sweaters by unraveling them to salvage the yarn.
On August 26, 2025, Emilee shared a video revealing how a thrifted sweater can transform from a rack at Goodwill into a ball of yarn ready for reuse. After purchasing a 100% cotton sweater for just $5.99, she demonstrated her “unsweatering” technique by carefully pulling a length of yarn from the garment and winding it into a neat ball using a hand-cranked yarn ball winder.
The post quickly went viral, amassing 3.2 million views and impressing TikTok users who expressed surprise at this repurposing option. Many commented that they “didn’t know this was an option,” showing enthusiasm for the creative and sustainable hack.
Much of Emilee’s TikTok content centers around salvaging textiles for reuse, aiming to reduce waste in the fashion industry. In a post from October 15, 2025, she highlighted a concerning statistic with onscreen text stating, “Only 25% of clothing donated to thrift stores actually sells.” This means a vast majority of donated clothes end up in landfills, contributing to environmental harm.
Her videos resonate strongly with both budget-conscious viewers and those concerned about sustainability, offering an affordable way to reuse materials. Many users have expressed gratitude for the positive distraction and practical advice. Comments include:
– “I was having anxiety and doom scrolling and this helped. Thanks.”
– “This is next level thrifting. I’m impressed. Wow.”
– “That’s what you call repurposing.”
– “… Instead of throwing away a thrifted sweater no one wanted to buy, you can give it a new life.”
Emilee’s message is clear: reduce, reuse, recycle. Accompanying her videos, she often shares hashtags such as #froggingyarn, #yarntok, #yarn, #crocheting, and #knitting to connect with the crafting community.
On October 14, 2025, she also shared a striking statistic, revealing that “11 million tons of clothing waste goes to landfills in the USA each year,” in a post that garnered nearly 900,000 views. The post reinforced the urgency of textile reuse and recycling.
Veteran knitters in the comments have shared their own experiences with deconstructing knitwear to harvest yarn or create recycled yarn products. Some suggested:
– “Thrift stores don’t even sell half of what gets donated to them; it all goes right into the dumpster. Maybe you can ask your local thrift store to set aside some sweaters they don’t intend on reselling.”
– “I do this! $7 cotton sweaters = $40 of high-quality yarn.”
Through her creative “unsweatering” hack, Emilee encourages people to rethink how they value and reuse clothing, inspiring a community dedicated to sustainability, crafting, and mindful consumption.
https://www.dailydot.com/news/woman-unravels-goodwill-sweaters-yarn/