It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of fashion trends and buy new clothes constantly. But at some point, you’ll want to start doing something else with the clothes you already have!
Up-cycling your clothes can be a great way to save money and give your old wardrobe a second life. While there are creative things to make out of your clothes, such as using premium embroidery services for them, up-cycling is another excellent choice.
Here are some ideas for ways to upcycle your old clothes into something totally new (and maybe much more comfortable).
- Turn An Old Dress Into A Romper
If you have an old dress and you don’t know what to do with it, here’s a fun idea: turn it into a romper. This can be done in several ways, depending on the dress size. If your dress is too small for you now but not too small for your child, cut off the bottom of the dress and hem accordingly (so that they’ll fit). Also, cut off any sleeves and sew them back on in whatever way you like best.
If your dress is much larger than yourself (or even larger), use this opportunity to make more intricate designs by cutting off pieces of fabric from all over the place. You could get fancy with buttons or buttonholes on one side or two sides of the top part of your romper (and then just put those buttons all over).
- Turn An Old Shirt Into A Scarf
You can use any fabric, but T-shirts are recommended because they’re comfortable and easy to work with. The best sizes to use are too small for your current wardrobe. You don’t want them too large or small, as either one will be difficult to tie around the neck.
If the shirt is too big, fold over the top (the seam) so it looks like a rectangle; cut slits down both sides until they meet in the middle of your back. Tie each end together with whatever knot you prefer.
- Tie Dye Your T-Shirt
Tie-dye is a fun activity to do with friends, and the results are often so colorful. Tie-dyeing works best on light fabric; if you try it on something like jeans or denim, they may not take well to the process. You can tie-dye shirts, t-shirts, and tank tops, but why stop there? You can also tie dye shorts and pants. This method works great for any clothing item.
For those who don’t want to spend time making their dyes from scratch (or who want something speedy), transfer dyes are available at most craft stores. These come in bottles ready for use (add water) or as pre-mixed packets that only require heating up before application onto fabric.
Your dyed T-Shirt is a good choice for any casual occasion of your choosing. You could compliment it with any shorts you like.
- Make It A Crop Top
This one is easy. To make a crop top, cut off the sleeves and hem. To keep the neckline intact, snip it in half before cutting the bottom of your shirt. Once it’s been chopped up into pieces, sew them back together to create a new crop top with an exciting cutout pattern.
You could also add some elastic or lace along any raw edges for some extra interest. You can rock your crop top to any location of your choosing. This is one of the best ways to up-cycle your clothes.
- Turn Your T-Shirt Into A Purse
It’s the weekend, and you’re going to brunch with friends. You’ve got your favorite t-shirt on, but it’s too big to carry all your stuff in. What do you do?
If you have an old t-shirt, there’s no need to worry; you can quickly turn it into a purse. All it takes is some sewing skills (or even just internet searching) and patience.
Start by cutting off the sleeves of your old shirt and creating two straps. Now fold over one side of each strap and sew it together so they’re long enough for your shoulder width. If necessary, add extra lengths at each end so that when finished, they’ll be long enough for both sides, front and back panels all rolled up together into one bag. Then sew on buttons or other decorations if desired.
There are many ways to turn your old clothes into something new and exciting. The best part is that most of them only require a few minutes of your time. From making a crop top out of an old shirt to turning your t-shirt into a purse, these up-cycling ideas will help you save money while still looking stylish.
