Aren’t we all starting to dream about warmer weather and sunny skies? With the feeling of growth and new life always comes a desire to give new life to our home. Spring cleaning, organizing, purging. I always find my determination to live more like a minimalist revived around this time of year.
But before you go through your closets and throw out old clothing in the process, here are 10 awesome ways to REPURPOSE old clothing instead of throwing it away. If you have items you still don’t know a use for, don’t forget to donate instead of just throwing out! Lots of people like me would be glad to turn your trash into a treasure 😉
DIY Kitchen Supplies
From homemade beeswax wraps to reusable sandwich bags, you’re sure to find a use for upcycled fabric in the kitchen. For most of these kitchen upcycles, cotton fabrics usually work best. Here are some great How-To posts to get you started.
Homemade Reusable Paper Towels
Cozy Winter Wear
Old sweaters can be the jackpot for creating something new. Check out this awesome Pinterest graphic with inspiration on all you can make from your old sweater.
Upcycled Baby Clothes
Old adult clothing can be perfect for turning into new and darling baby clothes. You can really let your creativity flow turning well-loved patterns and styles into something new for your little one. I recently made these darling toddler pants from an old jacket and my sister used to make and sell baby bonnets made from upcycled fabric. Try these free patterns with your old pants, shirts, and dresses or just make up your own!
Free Baby Bonnet Sewing Patterns
Etsy is also an awesome place to find cheap patterns for darling unique styles!
Money-Saving Gifts for your Child
Why not make something homemade for your little one using those old scraps of fabric? These alphabet letters can be made into darling magnets for learning the ABCs, you can make animals, food, etc. out of old fabric. So many possibilities and so much money to save when gift-giving time rolls around!
Check out these other DIY gift ideas you can make for your toddler! (many of them from recycled materials)
Give Old Jeans New Color with Patches
Are your jeans getting so worn out that you can’t possibly wear them anymore? Or are you just getting tired of the fit or style? Spice up the old pair with some colorful or patterned patches! Not only do you get to hold onto those jeans a while longer, but you can cut patches out of some of the other items you’re throwing out!
Another great way to change up an old pair of jeans? Turn it into a skirt! This denim skirt was made from one of my favorite pairs of thrifted (of course 😉 ) jeans. When they started to get a hole in the crotch and leg seams, turning them into a skirt was the perfect solution! Now I get to hold onto these beloved jeans even longer.
Holiday/Seasonal Decor
A little bit of fabric can go a long way when making DIY Christmas ornaments or seasonal garlands. Check out these darling homemade decorations to get some inspiration for reusing old items.
Scrap Fabric Christmas Tree Ornaments
Just Switch it up a Little…
Do you have a well-loved shirt that you’ve been wearing and loving for years? Do you just need to change it up a little? Why not convert it into a skirt?! This is an awesome way to change something you love but just need to freshen up a bit.
Make a Rag Rug
This one has been on my to-do list for way to long! This one also works great with old bed sheets and other large scraps of fabric, but you can also use clothing. I’ve even seen fun rugs made from old t-shirts! There are so many ways to weave, braid, crochet, etc. your rug… and look how fun it can turn out!
This helpful article shows you several different ways to go about making your rug.
Simple Home Accents
Think of some simple ways you can transform clothing into an accent piece in your home! These corduroy coasters I made are one of my favorite upcycle DIYs ever!
Hopefully this post has helped to spark your creativity and you are ready to start creating something new from those old things laying around your home. Let me know in the comments what projects you plan to make with your recycled clothing and other items!
Interested in seeing more DIY, upcycling, and sustainable ideas? Subscribe to my email list to receive updates on posts that will help you to live a more sustainable, holistic motherhood.
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