Clothes are made of fabric, which has endless possible uses. If you’ve grown tired of some garments, have clothes that don't fit, or have holy or stained items on hand, you can repurpose them rather than throw them away. By turning clothes into different garments, making keepsakes with them, or using them to create home décor, you’ll never let good clothes go to waste again.
Things You Should Know
- Give old clothing new life by removing excess fabric to create crop tops, shorts, or mini-dresses. Use excess fabric for headbands or scrunchies.
- Repurpose old clothing to create tote bags, dog beds, pillowcases, or quilts.
- Use leftover fabric scraps to make sentimental stuffed animals, a memory board, or patchwork curtains.
Steps
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan jeans be turned into a denim shirt?Community AnswerDenim you wear on the bottom half of your body is different than chambray, which is a denim-like material most "jean" shirts are made of. The denim of your jeans is likely too stiff to be worn as a shirt, and there would likely not be enough fabric for the body of the shirt. You could sew a pocket made from the denim of your jeans on a shirt though.
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QuestionHow do I resell my old clothes?Community AnswerHave a garage sale. If your clothes are in good shape, some second-hand stores may buy them from you.
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QuestionI have a cotton top that I love. Can I take it apart and make a pattern from it?Community AnswerYes, of course.
Video
Tips
- Create a basket of scraps, storing similar fabrics together. You’ll be ready to craft when inspiration strikes.Thanks
- Be sure a gift isn't made from a piece of clothing that someone once gave to you as a gift.Thanks
- Search wikiHow to find more cool fabric projects.Thanks
Things You'll Need
- Old clothes
- Fabric scissors
- Fabric glue
- Sewing kit
- Workspace
- Fabric marker
- Fabric dye , optional
- Elastic , optional
- Pushpins , optional
- Pinking shears , optional
- Seam rippers or sandpaper , optional
- Color remover , optional
References
- ↑ https://www.instyle.com/how-to-diy-a-crop-top-7505787
- ↑ https://www.instyle.com/fashion/clothing/how-to-cut-jeans-shorts-diy
- ↑ https://www.ritdye.com/dye-your-clothes/
- ↑ https://blog.treasurie.com/how-to-make-a-tube-top/
- ↑ https://www.adventuresofadiymom.com/2020/02/how-to-make-scrunchie-out-of-shirt.html
- ↑ https://www.thewonderforest.com/easy-sew-diy-t-shirt-headband-tutorial/
- ↑ https://www.papernstitchblog.com/upcycled-grocery-totes-with-old-t-shirts/
- ↑ https://artistcellar.com/blogs/news/making-fabric-patches
- ↑ Natalie Kay Smith. Sustainable Fashion Writer. Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.
- ↑ https://youtu.be/zgpaM3u2zng?t=28
- ↑ https://www.debbie-debbiedoos.com/diy-memory-board-with-drop-clothes-and-stencils/
- ↑ https://makingthingsisawesome.com/simple-stuffed-animal-cute-bunnies/
- ↑ https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2065/5767/files/Doll_Clothes_PATTERN.pdf?v=1609977153
- ↑ Natalie Kay Smith. Sustainable Fashion Writer. Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.
- ↑ https://weallsew.com/making-a-memory-quilt-preparing-the-materials/
- ↑ https://remake.world/stories/style/6-ways-to-upcycle-old-clothes-into-home-decor/
- ↑ http://www.today.com/series/holidays-made-easy/4-gift-wrap-ideas-using-old-clothes-your-closet-t63796
- ↑ https://www.sewjahit.com/post/patchwork-curtains
- ↑ https://thehowtohome.com/5-minute-t-shirt-pillowcase/
- ↑ https://www.1dogwoof.com/crochet-rug-from-t-shirts/
- ↑ https://cyberseams.com/sewing/home-decor/sew-simple-pillow-dog-bed-using-recycled-clothing/
- ↑ Natalie Kay Smith. Sustainable Fashion Writer. Expert Interview. 15 November 2019.
About This Article
There are plenty of ways to reuse old clothes so they don’t go to waste. Making new clothes and accessories is a fun and easy way to repurpose your old clothes. For example, you could try restyling the garments to make them more fashionable by adding zippers, studs, or glitter. You can also use the fabric from your old clothes to make accessories like a headband or tote bag. Another way to reuse old clothes is to make keepsakes. For example, you could use the fabric to cover a memory board or to make a teddy bear. For more tips from our Fashion co-author, like how to make a pillowcase from your old clothes, read on!
Reader Success Stories
- "Thanks for the information. I need old clothes to start a business in my community to stop landfills."