Kids Clothes Week is on again next week! I am in love with the theme too….UPCYCLING! I love upcycling for so many reasons, it’s economical, it’s great for the environment, it lets you breathe new life into old items, it lets you reinvent your mistakes, and it can save you time too as I will often re-use the hems, necklines or pockets where possible. There are a heap of projects on the blog to get you inspired and in the upcycle mood. Here are my favourites!
Jeans are one of my favourite upcycling items. I can’t throw and old pair away and I even get my brother to pass all of his my way. The fading and distressing on commerical jeans can be hard to recreate on fresh denim yourself, so I make the most of the patina of old jeans when I can. I’ve made several pairs of toddler jeans and denim shorts from the legs of adult jeans. It’s so simple. I usually put an elastic waist on them too, so they are comfy and easy for kids to pull on and off.
Also take a look at these slippers made from denim, and a pair of Small Fry Skinny Jeans I made from an old pair of my maternity jeans.
Old sheets are the perfect fabric for these and you can even use old wool blankets as batting to make winter weight sleeping bags. Wool blankets are also great for coats, slippers and hats.
Two towels are all you need to make one of these cute bath robes. Full tutorial here.
This is such a quick and effective upcycle. Using the original hems from the old tshirt saves you a lot of time. Use the neck line too if you can. Mens tees have such fun prints that it’s great to give them a second life.
Kids Clothes Week starts next week… are you joining in the fun?
What are your favourite upcycling projects?
Magda E. says
this really is a themed made in heaven for me!!!
abby says
yes it sure is! I see you were super productive.