Throwing away old clothes just because you can’t wear them anymore is wasteful of both the material and your money. Some people prefer to donate their old clothes, but there are ways you can keep them and use them in a new way. Keep reading to learn how to repurpose old clothes.
Make a T-Shirt Quilt
If you want to give old T-shirts new life or hold onto sentimental shirts that are no longer wearable, then consider making a T-shirt quilt. This can be an intensive project, especially for people without sewing machines, but the result is a cozy blanket you’ll use again and again. Simply cut out the fronts of your T-shirts into squares of the same size and sew them together one row at a time until you have the size blanket you want. For extra comfort and to prevent stretching, sew a border along the outside as well.
Make Sweater Cushion Covers
If your sweaters have seen better days, you can turn them into cushion covers. This is also a great way to repurpose sentimental items such as military uniforms. All you need to do is measure your material to fit the pillow, cut it to size, and pin it inside out for sewing. Sew three of the sides together while it’s inside out. Then, you’ll turn the material right side out and put the pillow or stuffing inside. Sew up the last side to keep everything in place.
Use Your Scraps
You can make useful items out of clothing scraps left over from the projects we mentioned above or out of completely worn-out clothes. Scraps are great for making makeup remover pads and food wraps. For makeup remover pads, simply cut two pieces of material into the same shape and size, place one on top of the other, and sew the edges together so that they won’t fray. Once you use them to remove your makeup, simply wash them, and you’ll be able to use them again.
Food wraps will require scraps of fabric and melted beeswax. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or tinfoil, line up some cloth scraps, and spread shredded beeswax or beeswax pellets on top of the cloth. Bake in the oven until the beeswax is melted and fully absorbed into the material; then, remove from the oven and spread the beeswax evenly over the cloth. Hang the scraps up to dry, and you’ll have reusable food wraps.
Now you know how to repurpose old clothes into T-shirt quilts, cushion covers, makeup remover pads, and food wraps. These repurposing tips can help you save money and materials. There are many other ways to turn old clothes into something new, but these are some of the easiest that require few additional purchases. We hope this helps you and your family.
