Upcycling Made Easy

Looking for ways to upcycle your old clothes?

If you are considering ways to make your wardrobe more environmentally friendly, then upcycling might be just the thing for you! Start with a vintage scrunchie, and then try your hand at an old rag rug. You don’t need to be an expert to upcycle, just follow these easy steps!

The Vintage Eighties Scrunchie

Materials Needed: Vintage fabric, hair elastic, scissors, a large safety pin, needle and thread and a measuring tape.

1. Cut a piece of vintage fabric 10cm x 40cm. 

Fold it in half so that its right sides are facing and it’s rectangular in shape. Press iron it into place. 

2. Sew along the outside to create a tube shape and then turn the tube inside out.

3. Take the hair elastic, measure it to the size of your wrist, and cut the extra off. 

Attach a large safety pin and pull the elastic through the tube until each side meets.

 Tie a double knot in it. Add a stitch as required.

4. Take the open ends of fabric, putting one end inside the other. Sew the ends closed.

 And that’s how you create a handmade, vintage fabric, upcycled scrunchie!

The Old Rag Rug

Materials Needed: 5-6 old t-shirts, a pair of scissors, a needle and thread.

1. Lay the t-shirts out flat and cut from below the arm pits.

2. Fold it in half leaving about an inch from the end. 

3. Cut up to the first seam, 2 inches apart. 

4. Open the material out pull over arm and cut each row at the top to create a ball of yarn.

5. Once you have all your balls of yarn made, pick 3 to start.

 Make a braid (it helps to sew the 3 pieces together at one end to keep them in line).

6. When you have made a big long braid, roll it to the shape you want your rug to be. 

7. Sew it all together by starting from the inside and working your way out. This part is a little time consuming, but it’s worth it. When you’ve finished you’ll have a really cool rag rug that is 100% upcycled!

Forbes Fast Fashion Fact: Wearing clothes 50 times instead of 5 (the fast fashion average) reduces carbon emissions by 400% per item per year.

Thank you hope you enjoyed 

Happy Upcycling

Love w+p

Credits

Written by Kathryn Reynolds

Complied by wolf and pearl 

xxx