Easy Ways To Upcycle Old Clothes

Ever feel as though you have nothing to wear, despite owning drawers upon drawers of clothes? Instead of buying an entirely new wardrobe, you might want to consider upcycling what you already have. Not only is it kind to your wallet, but to the environment as well. Breathing new life into tired, dated garments is a great way to get creative and express your individuality. Furthermore, upcycling is easier than you might think!

A fun and fabulous way to give old clothes a new lease of life is to tie dye them. If you have a garment that has become off-colour or stained over the years, tie-dying is a great way to make it look and feel brand new. Most fabrics can be tie-dyed; however, your best results will be with cotton fabrics like denim and jersey. All you need is your chosen items of clothing, rubber bands, dye and squeeze bottles. You could even negative tie-dye dark items using bleach to remove colour as opposed to adding it. 

Over time, t-shirts become shapeless and may shrink or stretch depending on moisture levels and heat agitation. Once a t-shirt has served its time as a t-shirt, it could begin a new life as a tote bag. You don’t need to be a sewing expert; all that’s required is a few simple snips, stitches, and voilà - a snazzy reusable shopping bag for free.

There was a time when mending clothes was an inherent part of life. The fast fashion industry and attitudes towards clothing consumption amount to over 10,000 items being sent to landfill globally every five minutes. A great way to prolong the life of your clothes and reduce your environmental impact is to learn how to mend your clothes rather than throw them away. Holes can be patched and darned. Seams can be restitched and buttons resewed. A little goes a long way.

If your jeans are looking a little tattered at the cuffs or the knees have worn completely threadbare, why not turn them into shorts? It’s as easy as marking where you’d like the length of your shorts to sit, allowing ½ seam allowance, cutting and hemming. You could even skip the last step and distress the raw hem for a grungy look.

Embroidery is an ancient skill that appears historically worldwide in a vast array of cultures. You can embroider any garment to add a personal touch of creativity and artistry. Embroidery thread can be purchased from most haberdasheries and can be used to create motifs, logos and patterns. If hand-stitching isn’t your strong point, embroidery machines can be used to add intricate details to your garments. 

You can make various accessories from an old t-shirt or pair of jeans. The internet is full of tutorials you can follow to transform a t-shirt into hair scrunchies or headbands. You could even cut your t-shirt into thin strips, braid them together whilst threading on some chunky beads and create a unique recycled bracelet. 

Perhaps you or a family member has an oversized button-up shirt that is no longer worn. Cotton shirt material is often good quality and stable to work with, making this project a cinch, even for beginners. With a few simple alterations and some rudimentary sewing skills, you can make a midi or mini skirt - you could even repurpose the sleeves to use as a belt. 

 Upcycling doesn’t have to stop at wearable items - you can repurpose old clothing to decorate your living space. If you’ve already chopped off the legs of your jeans to make shorts, use the remaining scrap material to create denim yarn which can be woven to create wall hangings and rag rugs. Another super simple project is transforming old shirts and t-shirts into pillowcases - perfect for those pieces you want to hang onto that no longer fit. 

If your clothes are tattered beyond wearability, there is still hope! Cotton jersey t-shirts can be cut up for cloths and dust rags. You’ll find that the super soft material works wonders for streak-free windows and mirrors. You’ll never need to purchase microfiber cloths again! 

• Sewing Patterns - Mataroa

• Sewing Machines - The Dots

• Fabrics - Business.blog