How much do you love DIY? How about sewing? Does it just tickle your fancy to stitch, surrounded by a rainbow of fabrics, only to find you went to bed with your thimble still on your finger?
If this sounds like you, then this fantastic book, Reinvention: Sewing with Rescued Materials by Maya Donenfeld, has your name written all over it. Describe your last re-purposed sewing project and we’ll put your name in a hat. The name we pull (in two weeks from now) just might be yours! In the meantime, you can check out my DIY board on Pinterest, chock-full of good ole’ sewing techniques and project ideas for summer.
Hello, My last recycled sewing projects where pillow covers and market bags from coffee bean bags. When the burlap is washed it becomes really soft. I backed the pillows with 10 oz cotton canvas that I had left over from my art stash and I lined the bags with scraps left over from other sewing projects.
Good timing! This morining I re-made an old curtain into some super-cool (3 year old approved) Fireman pants! 🙂
l would post a picture, but can’t figure out how?
I am making aprons from used shirts and dresses from t-shirts! Would love to see some new ideas!
I like using sheets for skirts or dresses, the heavier, worn-in cotton is so soft and cozy. My daughter likes making interesting t-shirts into bags, too.
I took an old pair of jeans and made slipcovers for my bench on my deck. I love the look it gave very lived in and comfy.
I have taken aprart curtains to make into pillows. I have also make placemats into pillows.
I made kitchen curtains out of pillow cases & reused sheets over windows (on a rod) and showers but I think the best re use of fabric by far is the double wedding ring king size quilt my great grandma made out of old clothes…baby dresses (that she hand made, every stitch by hand), her dresses, Grandpa’s shirts, ties & flour sacks…I think she used fabric that came in cigarette boxes & cigar boxes (hiawatha flannel). The resourcefulness is envious & she won 1st place at the county fair for the quilt. Just a little nostalgia 🙂
I found a bunch of cloth dinner napkins at a thrift shop and made a quilted dog bed.
My last project was a heart I helped my daughter make. She made it for my mom. I had an old handmade quilt that was falling apart and in pretty bad shape. We picked out a spot on the quilt that was still intact and made a cute stuffed heart out of it. My daughter put a pocket on the front and wrote a note to my mom and she gave it to her. It was sweet 🙂
I would love this book. Maybe it can teach me how to actually “sew” …. and my family knows how I need to learn to sew 🙂
Made a girl’s dress from a man’s tshirt, with a ribbon-tie neck and lace hem.
I like to make corn hole bags out of old blue jeans. They are very popular at the local flea market. Then I make purses out of the top part of the jeans and line them with old flowery shirts. I would love to show you a picture but everything I own is in storage at this point.
Aprons out of old jeans/pants;purses;clothes……
Well, my last one was a shirt for the #2 GS made from a nice cotton men’s shirt I found at the thrift store. I’m often “shopping” in thrift stores for items that can be re-purposed into other clothing and household items. FUN!
I have to share this I bought them at a fleamarket potholders made out of old blue jeans from the pockets and then had material pieces sewn on top that said blackberries or oregano very cute:) She was also selling rugs that were braided and made out of old blue jeans …
I have been making shopping bags out of feed sacks. I use chicken feed, cattle, goat, dog food bags, whatever my friends and family bring me. I have also made them out of old salavaged curtains. I have given them to all of my family.
Hi Mary Jane,
My recycled project right now is making scarves with material from skirts, dresses, and shirts using cotton or linen. Mixing the patterns and colors is so much fun.
This looks like a lovely book and I had not heard about it yet. Thanks for being you.
ruby t
The last repurposed sewing project I made was to make pillows from cloth seed/feed bags. The material is soft and I love the vintage advertising & graphics on the pillows. I also use old tablecloths that are stained or damaged and make pillows from them as well.
I like making things from old table clothes, pillow cases, vintage lace, vintage towels, and lace curtains. I like to dye lace and use doilies or hankies. I’m making lace wrap skirts, circle skirts for little girls, and aprons. I’m always on the look-out for new ideas.
Some fabrics I’ll always love from my wardrobe…so I cut them up to use for future projects. And I have a great collection of vintage lace trimmings, buttons, ribbons, and other sewing notions, just waiting for me to play with when I retire!!!
I have not made anything totally from reused materials lately BUT I just finished a garden apron for my oldest daughter who turns 40 in August. I was looking for some artsy details to add to the apron when I found my daughter’s old CampFire buttons from her Bluebird uniform. I made the neck straps to look like overall straps and added the buttons, so cute. I then used some baby buttons to add to the flower centers. She will be so surprised to see those buttons!
i have been doing this forever but recently i have been fixing up an old trailer with goodwill finds. Curtains, pillows and slipcovers from flat sheets, pillows from grain and flour sacks or vintage tea towels, even a bolster pillow from woven rugs… i adore doing this and trying to save pennies as well as re-using goodies! i like things to have a history! 🙂
I am making a Christmas quilt by embroidering Christmas themes on squares cut from an old off white wool coat I found at a yard sale for $2. I’ll probably put them together with red, black, or green wool or maybe flannel or velvet. My eyes are looking for the perfect thing!
I am seriously in love with Magnolia Pearl. I do clothing like hers. I love to sew and design. I have been in two fashion shows with the clothing locally and given three talks to ladies groups in our area: the Red hat Society and Rebeccas, and a Baptist Missionary Group. My things are for sale here locally at the Faithful Peddlar Antique Mall. I am always looking for new ideas.
I know it’s old hat but my most recent repurposing was cutting up a cotton shirt that never fit well and putting the pieces in scrappy quilt. That little pink floral print looked much better in the quilt than it did on me!
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I initiated a quilt for my girls that has taken squares from their baby clothes, and one item of clothing from each great grandparent and grandparent. I haven’t pieced it together yet. Hopefully I can make the time this summer. I also took some recycled fabric and covered up, like a patch, a Hollister name tag on a great messenger bag from the thrift store. It turned out perfect!
My latest repurposing was a quilt I made out of old jeans. Mostly Levis because of the genuine leather tags and rivets that I was able to cut out and stitch on to it.I used a queen size flat flannel sheet for the backing.This is the first quilt I’ve ever made.It’s not perfect,but it feels so nice on those cold Illinos winter nights!
I can’t resist Men’s ties. I have made a curtain valance, covered a footstool, made many styles of purses, lapel pins and am working on a vest—-love those beautiful fabrics.
I’m all about reuse and recycle. I’m not sure why but I love shopping at thrift store just for that purpose. Most recent creation was an apron made from a men’s dress shirt.
Howdy would you mind letting me know which hosting company you’re using? I’ve loaded your blog in 3 different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot faster then most. Can you suggest a good web hosting provider at a reasonable price? Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!
Hi there Katheleen! Thanks for your question and glad you are enjoying navigating the blog! 🙂 First Step is our Internet Service Provider. They are a local company here in Moscow, ID, and they also host Raising Jane, which is powered by WordPress.
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