12 New Things to Make from Old Clothes
Before I let any of our family’s clothing head off to the thrift store donation center, I make sure I go through the bags to see if there’s anything in there that we can refashion into something else! This is a great experimental idea for sewing with kids, and it’s one that won’t cost you anything, so I’m here to share with you today several ideas for how to refashion and/or upcycle your kids’ outgrown or worn out clothing. Hopefully these ideas will get the creative juices flowing and get you and your kids sewing!
This is something I do for my own sewing, and also as I teach the kids to sew. We’ve often used cast off clothing as fabric in my sewing camps and classes too, so these ideas are truly for all ages!
I set my own kids free with their donation pile recently and the first thing they came up with was some funky bags and purses. Almost anything can be upcycled into a purse or bag of some kind, and you’ll find this is one of the ideas most kids think of trying first.
The result may not be something you personally would wear, haha, but my girls were proud of their creations and really did use them! Keep in mind that even when things don’t work out as they hope, letting them try things builds skills … even the failures! The nice thing about letting them use old clothing is that you haven’t spent any money, so you won’t worry that they’re wasting materials and supplies (although I also think we should resist that feeling, even if they’re using the good supplies).
Kelby’s bag turned out so cute and it was super easy! He picked an old t-shirt of my husband’s that he was getting rid of, cut out two rectangles with my help, sewed them together and added wide grosgrain ribbon for handles after hemming the top edge. Kelby uses this bag and is so proud of it! He’s a gamer, so of course he loved the controllers on the front.
12 Ideas for Making New Things with Old Clothes
Upcycling clothing is so much fun and kids come up withe some pretty cool things. Here are some more ideas for ways to salvage old clothes to make new things:
This cool headband is made from the same stretched t-shirt yarn method above!
I've been making skirts from jeans since my teenage years. They never go out of style!
These upcycled t-shirt infinity scarves are soooo cool! We made these in one of my sewing camps they were a big hit.
Skirt from a t-shirt! Great idea and cute for all ages.
These girls skirts from mens shirts are so sweet.
I always recommend using cast off clothing for doll clothes! All my doll and doll clothes patterns are suitable for this and it’s easier to find small bits of specialty fabrics in the giveaway bag than it is to buy small pieces of chiffon or stretch knits at the fabric store. Doll clothes are such a great way for kids to learn how garment sewing works too. Learn all my tips for sewing doll clothes here.
Oh my goodness, I went through a phase where I made all kinds of bags out of jeans in my early 20s. I actually still use one that I made for a library bag. Nothing holds up like denim! There are many cute ideas out there for this, including this cool tote. I’ve also used jeans for quilting! Our picnic quilt has been in heavy use for many, many years now.
A simple t-shirt grocery bag idea. This is a great one if you live in a bagless state like me and have to bring your own shopping bags!
Refashioning ill fitting clothes that aren’t necessarily doomed for the giveaway bag is also a great way for kids and teens to learn how to repair or alter their clothing. Here’s a post I’ve written where we refashioned a few of my daughter’s things that just didn’t fit right. Often, we make dresses into too-short skirts or tops to get more life out of them. Sometimes straps just need taken up or pants legs need cropped. You have nothing to lose by helping kids, tweens, and teens get creative with the clothes they aren’t otherwise wearing!
You can also use old clothing for quilts, as people have been doing for generations. Try this simple scrap quilt, for starters. I do recommend you keep quilt fabrics 100% cotton and avoid stretch knits for quilting, unless of course you’re making a t-shirt quilt! This is my favorite tutorial for t-shirt quilts.
Memory bears are a popular thing to do with clothing from a loved one, or from a child’s baby clothes. My favorite teddy bear pattern for memory bears is this one currently. There are others that use only two pattern pieces, but when cutting the pieces out of potentially small clothes, smaller pattern pieces may be easier to make fit.
I hope these ideas have inspired you not to take those clothes to Goodwill before going through them first!
Until next time,
Happy Sewing!
Nikki
