Upcycled Fabric Craft Ideas
Our thrifty craft ideas continue (we have LOTS of Recycled Craft Ideas here on Red Ted Art). Earlier this month we shared our Cardboard Box Craft ideas with you and now it is time for some Fabric Craft Ideas. A great set of ideas of what to make with old fabrics and clothes.
Clearly you can use ANY fabric going… but I love nothing better than upcycling those old worn shirts or hole-y tights – i.e. the things you cannot giveaway anymore.
The one thing to remember about upcycling fabrics though, is that if the fabric really is TOTALLY worn out, then your resulting craft won’t look as nice either. I do think it is worth having a pile for “washing rags” or “stuffing” vs a pile for “crafts”. Make sure your old clothes still look nice overall!
Upcycled Fabric Craft Ideas
The crafts shared here today are a real “mix” of crafts for kids (including little ones) and crafts for adults to make for yourself or FOR kids..
Fabric Scraps Crafy Ideas
Let’s begin with fabric scraps! All those little odds and ends and what to make with them, before moving on to some “bigger” projects!
We made these adorable little Stick Men many times over the years (They even feature in my first book – Red Ted Art, Cute & Easy Crafts for Kids). They are perfect for little bits of fabric scraps and small hands and spark lots of imagination! So fun. My kids revisited these many times and as they got older, their stickmen and stick ladies became more elaborate. So fun. And of course.. you can read Julia Donaldson Stick Man with this craft too!
Fabric scraps are of course perfect for dressing your fabulous Toilet Roll People! Here is our set of kings and queens (we actually made the kings for 3 Kings Day first and then the kids wanted to add to these). You can see how very simple this craft is and the kids had so much fun with it. Again, great for imaginative play. And again, a craft that we revisted many times! We made pirates, and we made ambulance people and we made the Boy & Penguin from Oliver Jeffer’s “Lost” and many many more…
Fabric Mache bowls are perfect for scraps, as you literally need little bits and pieces. I especially enjoyed making some of these from old work shirts! Again, these features in my Cute & Easy Crafts Book.
Rags are perfect for rag wreaths too!! You can make all sorts of designs and create all sorts of colour schemes. Here are two ideas for you –
- Rag Wreath Hearts (using a wire coat hanger as it’s base)
- Or the traditional “Rag Rug” method to make this Rag Christmas Wreath
Combine walnut crafts, with fabric scraps and you can have a go at these little Baby Jesus Christmas ornaments, as well as these simple fabric scrap Walnut Pin Chushions!
Upcycled Fabric Crafts for Larger Pieces
This was one of my very first sewing projects with my son… we made a Felted Bag for our nature finds, using an old felted jumper of mine (which was also turned into a Christmas Stocking). I confess, though my son did make all the stitches, I obviously (!) guided him all the way. And in retrospect starting with a Blanket Stitch was probably a little crazy of me. Ha. But we got there and we made the cutest little bag! These days I recommend that people start with a running stitch when sewing with children. Like we did here:
… like we did here for an upcycled project at my son’s primary school. In their last year of primary school, we turned their PE tshits into T-Shirt Yarn and, used trouser legs to make these fun little purses. The students LOVED them. Obviously they could design their own features, but I started them off with a Ted Purse Design and an Owl Design (both with free templates). The felt used of course was “new”, but the rest of the purse is upcycled school uniform fabric! Well, I used some jeans material for the Ted.. but YKNWIM!
Whilst on the topics of bags and jeans… look how you can convert an old top and some jeans intp a cute little upcycled denim bag. This is definitely one for older kids and young adults though as requires intermediate use of the sewing machine!
And whilst on the old jeans topic, I had great fun making this Jeans to Skirt (this is a v old post.. so I do apologise re photo quality), but it is still a fun project for tweens and teens. Esp if they enjoy embroidery and decorating clothes.
And… as we continue on the bags! Here are different ways to make a tote bag from recycled materials! You have:
- A beginners guide to quilting (great for those smaller pieces of fabric)
- From Shirt to fun shopping Tote Bag
- And a great Umbrella Tote Bag upcycle!
What could you use to make a tote? Maybe some pretty fabric from old duvet covers or upcycle some curtains into Totes (or Christmas Gift Sacks).
And as mentioned above, a felted sweater/ shrunk jumper, is great for sewing with too.. and we made our Jumper to Christmas Stockings that we still use today (15yrs+ later). These also feature in my first book!
Old jumpers also make great fingerless gloves! These are super duper easy to make.
Working with T-shirt Yarn
Stained and older t-shirts are fantastic for making T-Shirt Yarn. Making t-shirt yarn is relatively easy but it is VERY important that you follow the instructions closely, else you end up with lots of short pieces of yarn. Please do look at the step by step t-shirt making guide properly first! T-Shirt Yarn is great for larger crochet projects, as well as for using 4 strand braids for bags etc.
Or check out fun Tshirt Yarn projects such as this Halloween wreath!
I actually have a whole post about T-shirt Yarn Craft Ideas for you to explore separately!
Intermediate Sewing Projects
Tweed Doorstop from Me And My Shadow made a doorstop from a Tweed coat. Or if you are really brave, you can have a go at this Scottie Dog Doorstop (with free pattern) too!
If either of the above doorstops feel a bit daunting.. the classic Pyramid Chicken Sewing Project also works great a chicken doorstop! I had a go at making a denim one! These are great Beginner Sewing Projects!
Upcycling Sock Crafts
Socks are definitely the naterial, where you don’t want to have them “too old and knackered”, else your craft won’t look that good. So it is best to use single socks, or tights that maybe your kids have have outgrown. Here are some fun classic sock crafts:
Sock puppets are of course the simples and most fun way to use your single lonely socks. Here are some examples to get you started – classic sock puppets and a horse sock puppet!
And if you “stuff” your horse sock puppet.. you can actually turn it into a fabulous DIY Hobby Horse!
The Sock Monkey – never buy one of the sock monkey kids, you can definitely do this at home “on your own”! The sock monkey does require “two socks”, so I made ours from old outgrown tights (that had a hole at the knee).
Talking of tights.. you can turn tights into a quirky Tights Octopus plushie too! This is actually almost “no sew”. And again, I used my kids actual old tights for this (just before they were “past their best).
Other miscallenous fabric upcycled crafts:
I turned some old cord trousers into these bunny rag dolls and made you a free pattern!
I turned two of my stained Kid’s Baby Cardigan into keepsake Christmas Ornaments.
I turned my husband’s suits trousers into a Batman Costume (one leg open up as the cape the other leg I used for the mask!). So fun!
And finally, a nice and “easy” one that requires no sewing: explore the Great Artist Janet Bolton and create some Textile Art using fabric scraps!
Anyway.. I hope this gives you a little inspiration to see old fabrics differently and make some fun things! These are especially great for kids, who go through vasts amounts of craft supplies and you can be a little eco friendlier in this way!
Check out all my sewing projects for kids here:
