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Ways to Upcycle Old Clothes

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Out with the old...in with the new...

    Making fabric is a long and hard, energy consuming project that uses a lot of water. That's why buying from thrift stores, or DIY-ing your own new shirt is not only cost efficient, it’s better for the environment! There are many ways to reduce the amount of fabric waste and still rock a new wardrobe! 

 

Cropping

        Have you ever found a dress where the top half is totally your style and the bottom half was just… “meh”? Well by cutting off the bottom of the dress you get a brand new crop top! Or you could cut a dress in half and make a 2 piece, skirt and shirt set! Cropping is simple. You just take a pair of scissors, and cut the fabric! You can make the line as clean or as messy as you want and you can use the excess fabric you cut off to make scrunchies, masks, or more! Crop anything! Turn a pair of jeans into shorts or a shirt into a crop top! Simple and stylish! 

 

Tie Dye

    Tie Dye has become a big thing in 2020. You can find tie dye kits in many stores nowadays and some people have even started to tie dye with bleach. All you need are some rubber bands, dye, water, and fabric. Bunch your fabric (or old clothes) in any way you want and rubber band it to hold it in place. Then splash some dye (or bleach) on the bunched up fabric, wait a few hours, rinse it out, dry it and finally, you have a new look to an old outfit! (Fun fact: Some vegetables can even be turned into dye such as cabbage and radishes!) 

 

Embroidery

    You can make a plain shirt so much more with just a little embroidery! Honestly, embroidery is tricky but some sewing machines can do it for you or you could use a cheat and buy iron on patches. Adding a patch or an embroidered design can turn a piece into a work of art! Being able to embroider well is a talent and it definitely ups your wardrobe! The world of embroidery is endless! If you can think of it, you can embroider it! 

 

 

Paint 

Painting a new design on the back of a jacket or on pockets has been trending recently and it’s an awesome way to make your clothes personal and beautiful! Just like embroidery, the possibilities are endless! Painting can be as easy or as complicated as you like! Just a tip: make sure you use fabric or leather safe paint so your lovely designs don’t wash out!


 

Creating Something New

    There are many ways people can use fabric. Turn an old t-shirt into a scrunchie, or turn many old t-shirts into a large blanket! There are endless ways you can use fabric to make something new. You can even cut old clothes into thin strips, string them together, and make a diy yarn for crocheting! Never be afraid to think outside of the box! Turn that sock into a mask! Turn those leggings into a t-shirt! Think outside the box!

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Conclusion

There are no rules to creativity. Whatever you can think, you can make. Just remember that there are many more ways to use old fabric that may not be listed in this article! Before crafting I recommend you do some research and use the proper tools. (If you’re a little younger, make sure to have your parents permission or adult supervision!) Stay safe and get crafting!  

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~Natalie Drake

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