Old clothes- what can I do with them?

8 replies

1morestepalongtheworldigo · 12/09/2011 17:02

Basically where do I start?! Me and the DC's have loads of bits that are a bit big/small and I like to think I have a crafty person hiding somewhere inside! Where would I find tutorials etc on beginning to turn these into something?

OP posts:

zaphod · 13/09/2011 07:33

If you can crochet, you can cut them into strips and make a rug with them. You need a large hook but that's easily got online. Google it and see.

Deux · 14/09/2011 16:13

Do you have a sewing machine? You can also make a quilt of some kind. It doesn't have to be a fancy pattern or anything, just squares.

So cut out squares of fabric of the same size eg 6.5 inches, sew them together with a quarter inch seam allowance. Sew them up in 2s, then sew your 2s together to make a row. Repeat and sew rows together. Quilt top done. (you could do this by hand)

Then you need a backing layer and some kind of wadding if you like. You don't need wadding at all depending on the weight of the fabrics. Then you need some means of holding your layers together. You can do this quite 'rustically' using a courser thread and some running stitches. Or you could randomly place buttons to hold the layers together. you would be best to use fabrics of a similar type so don't try to mix stretchy jersey with cotton.

You could also do some kind of rag quilt, where the seams are on the outside and are then cut into and frayed looking. quilting.about.com/od/quiltpatternsprojects/ss/rag_quilt.htm

Try googling, how to make a simple quilt.

Deux · 14/09/2011 16:16

Another thought, you could make a rag rug. This involves a type of hessian then you either hook or pull through strips of fabric.

You can buy kits where you will get the backing, some basic instructions and a hook or pusher.

eg www.ragrugsuk.co.uk/rugkits_rugstudio.php

JammyJenny · 14/09/2011 17:35

Cut them up and make them into a quilt :) Just like Deux says!

Deux · 14/09/2011 18:09

My granny used to make the most beautiful quilts out of scraps of fabric and old clothes. She'd use an old blanket as the wadding. Lovely!

Another thought I had if you do want to make a quilt is that you could buy one of Ikea's fleece blankets or similar and use that as your backing and wadding.

You could turn under a seam all around your quilt top and just stitich the 2 together then blanket stitch the edges. Or put them right sides together and stitch around the whole lot and turn inside out. Might try the latter myself.

Good luck, keep us posted. I do like a quilt thread.