How to Make Useful Things from Old Clothes

Craft Ideas to Reuse Old Fabrics

Jul 18, 2009 Rukhsana Badar

Go Green - recycle old clothes into new forms to save the environment.

According to EarthTalk, the commercial recycling company U’SAgain revealed that almost 85 percent of the 70 pounds of textiles the average American purchases each year ends up in landfills. This is an environmental disaster that can be easily avoided because clothes and fabrics are so easy to recycle and reuse.

This year end instead of throwing away the loads of old clothes that are too threadbare or simply too outdated to wear, recycle them using these ideas:

New Clothes from Old

With a little imagination, some cosmetic changes such as a dash of paint, an embroidered motif or an altered hemline can transform a dress. Pieces that are beyond salvage can be used to make baby clothes. A father’s jeans will easily yield enough material for a son’s pair, and a skirt can be used to make a smart blouse for a little girl.

Laundry Bags

Old dresses can be simply closed at the bottom and hung on hangers to make laundry bags. Clothes are stored inside through the neck of the dress. If the bottom is closed by Velcro or buttons, clothes can be easily removed for washing by opening them.

Shopping Bags

These will require more expertise with the sewing machine. The legs of old jeans can be cut off and the bottom sewed close to form the bag. The pockets on the jeans can remain, as they will be handy to keep wallets and keys. Strips from the leg of the jeans can be used to shape the straps.

Quilts

If clothes are stained or torn at places, small pieces up to 4” x 4” can be cut from the better parts and sewed together to make quilts. There are many sites online that provide instructions on quilt making.

Craft Projects

Kids will enjoy using torn bits of fabric to stuff their own rag dolls or pillows. Allow them to do the tearing part. It will be an afternoon well spent.

Pieces of cloth can be pasted on a paper background to form art work for the children's bedroom. Exquisite embroidery from an otherwise outdated dress can be cut out and framed.

Create hand puppets from old socks. Buttons removed from shirts can be glued on to make the eyes.

Strips (1/2 inch wide) from sheer curtains or night dresses can be knotted together and then knitted to make rugs or even colorful coats.

Around the House

Cotton T-shirts can be turned into kitchen wipes or polishing cloths since they are very absorbent.

Sheets and towels can be used to line pet bedding.

The list of possible uses for old clothes is endless. This is a versatile material that only needs to time and imagination to ensure that it does not go wasted. Recycling fabric is small way towards a safer environment.

If this article has proved useful, do read how to reuse old newspapers.

The copyright of the article How to Make Useful Things from Old Clothes in Green/Simple Living is owned by Rukhsana Badar. Permission to republish How to Make Useful Things from Old Clothes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

recycle worn out clothes