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Do you want to discover ways to repurpose old clothing to give them a new purpose in your life?
If you have a bunch of old clothes that you’re not sure what to do with and you don’t want to just throw them away, there are many ways to upcycle them.
Or maybe you have clothes that are sentimental, and even though you don’t wear them, you still want to keep them.
For me, it’s hard to declutter my wardrobe even when it comes to clothes that I no longer wear. I either still love it, or I think back to a time when I loved and wore it, or I tell myself that maybe one day I’ll fit in it again…
And then some clothes are not donation-worthy and I don’t want want to contribute to textile waste by getting rid of them since I don’t actually know where they will end up.
With that being said, finding ways to reuse and repurpose old clothes is a great way to hold onto clothes you love, promotes sustainability and the zero-waste movement, AND we can save some money too.
Here’s a list of practical ways to reuse and repurpose old clothing into something new!
Repurposing Socks
1. Sock Heating Pad
Have a spare sock? (I mean, who doesn’t?) Repurpose it so make a heating pad!
Learn how to make a heating pad with old socks, rice and essential oils over at Lil Blue Boo.
2. Sock Dryer Balls
Another great way to repurpose spare socks and save some money is to make your own dryer balls. Add some essential oils to make your clothes smell fantastic!
Check out Noodles and Nuggets for more information on these DIY sock dryer balls.
Here are some more things you can do with spare socks.
Repurposing Shirts
3. T-Shirt Produce Bag
Easily make your own produce bag by cutting holes in a t-shirt.
Check out the tutorial by HG TV to learn how to make this repurposed t-shirt produce bag. There are instructions for both sewing and non-sewing to suit your needs!
4. Shirt Macramé Produce Bag
Want something a little fancier? Transform a t-shirt into a macramé produce bag perfect for shopping at your local farmers market in style.
Get the instructions and a video tutorial for this DIY macramé market bag over at Trash to Couture.
5. Braided T-Shirt Rug
Another great way to repurpose old clothing is to cut up shirts in strips and braid them to create new items, like this rug!
Check out the tutorial by The Wonder Forest to learn how to make this no-sew braided t-shirt rug.
6. T-Shirt Bracelets
Use strips of t-shirts to make a bracelet! Simply wrap the fabric around a bangle and you’ve got yourself a new repurposed t-shirt bracelet, courtesy of Recyclart.
7. Shirt Canvas Art
For a super easy DIY idea for repurposing old t-shirts, wrap and staple your favorite old shirts onto a canvas!
Check out Crafty Lumberjacks for the tutorial to make these t-shirt canvas art.
8. Repurposed Shirt Draft Stopper
Is your home a little drafty? Repurpose an old shirt to make a draft stopper!
Check out Sadie Seasongoods to learn how to make this flannel draft stopper.
Repurposing Neckties
9. Necktie Zip Pouch
How awesome are these pouches made from repurposed ties?
Check out the tutorial over at Polkadot Chair to read more about making these zip bags from old ties.
10. Necktie Wine Tote
Repurpose some old neckties into an awesome wine tote!
Read the tutorial by A Jennuine Life to learn how to make this necktie wine tote.
Repurposing Jeans & Denim
11. Denim Feather Wall Decor
You can repurpose old clothing to make decorations for your home like these pretty upcycled denim feathers.
Get the tutorial for these DIY denim feather wall decor over at Pillar Box Blue.
12. Denim Accessory Hangers
How creative are these denim hook organizers using shower hooks?
Check out the tutorial over at The Chic Site to learn how to make these denim accessory hangers.
13. Repurposed Denim Dog Toys
How cute are these dog toys made from repurposed jeans?
Learn how to make your own upcycled jeans dog toys over at Pillar Box Blue.
Repurposing Sweaters
14. Sweater Pouf Ottoman
Upcycle an old sweater into an ottoman that’ll look awesome in your living room!
Check out Thought From Alive to learn how to make this DIY sweater pouf ottoman.
15. DIY Sweater Vase
For an easy repurposed clothing idea with no sewing required, cut off the sleeves of an old sweater and insert them onto a vase!
See Thrift and Chic to learn more about these vase cozies.
16. Upcycled Sweater Mittens
With some sewing skills, repurpose an old sweater into new mittens for the winter.
Go see Make and Do Crew to learn how to make a sweater into mittens.
17. Fingerless Gloves From Sweater
Take an old sweater and make fingerless gloves from the sleeves! This easy DIY just requires some basic sewing skills – and a sweater.
Check out Fiber Artsy to read more about making these DIY fingerless gloves.
18. Repurposed Sweater Pillow
Repurpose an old sweater by sewing it into a beautiful pillow.
Learn how to make a pillow from a sweater over at Farmhouse on Boone.
19. Upcycled Sweater Quilt
Do you have a lot of sweaters that need repurposing? Make a quilt!
Learn how to make this upcycled sweater quilt over at Made By Barb.
20. Upcycled Sweater Slipper Boots
Who doesn’t love fuzzy slippers? Read the tutorial for these upcycled sweater slipper boots over at Busy Being Jennifer.
21. Upcycled Sweater Socks
You can never have enough socks, and with very minimal sewing, you can upcycle an old sweater to make some more!
Learn how to make socks from a repurposed sweater over at Momtastic.
22. Repurposed Sweater Lampshade
Is your lampshade a little plain? Repurpose a sweater to make a new lampshade for it that looks amazing!
Check out Unskinny Boppy for this DIY sweater lampshade tutorial.
Want more DIY projects to help you become more sustainable? Check out my post of zero-waste DIY ideas for an eco-friendly home.
