Eco-Spark: Recycling Clothes

Posted by Pepe Newton on 9/26/10   |   Categorized as Craft Ideas,Creative Spark,Eco-Spark,For Buyers,For Sellers,Handmade Feature

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In this installment of my series about Etsy artists and crafters who recycle different things in order to create something new and beautiful, I am looking at clothes.Yes, there are plenty of vintage clothes on Etsy, and I love nothing better than trawling the racks of my favorite antique clothes stores. I own a 1960s navy blue ¾ length coat, a deep green old soft leather jacket, and Japanese 1950s dresses too numerous to mention, all because of my love of the antique. BUT when the following crafters recycle clothes, they actually create something totally different. They cut them up, unravel them, unpick and start over.

I was impressed!

What do you do with a holey cashmere sweater? Make a soft cuddly kids toy, what else?!

Hofmonsters

Handmade Recycled-Sweater Monster | $125 | Hofmonsters


These curious creatures are from recycled fabric too. . .

EscapeClam

Curious Creature | $15 | EscapeClam


cocoondesigns

Sweet Little Creatures – custom | $22 | cocoondesigns


More fabulous uses for old sweaters. . .

Eweniques

Wool Felt Flower Brooch | $19 | Eweniques


LucysLocket

Little Gray Squirrel Pincushion | $18.50 | LucysLocket


plytextiles

Felt Modern Doily | $42 | plytextiles


Old bits of colorful fabric can be used to great effect in sculpture as well. . .

ClarissaCallesen

Junk Bird | $25 | ClarissaCallesen


I must say I am not really a hoarder; I do keep a bunch of stuff for the kids to make and construct with. However, after looking at some of the pieces I have featured over the last few weeks, I think I could become a magpie quite easily. . .


~Pepe Newton



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  • A Jordan

    Love this idea. I never would have thought to do this with clothes. Thanks for this inspiring post! Now where is that closet..

  • Anonymous

    Loving that bird so much!

  • Clarissa Callesen

    Thanks for including my junk bird in your post! There a great way to use up all kind of scraps of material in a fun project.

  • Dahood87

    Thank you for the lovely showcase! I love to see all these creatures made out of recycled goods — absolutely fantastic!

  • Happyragz

    Very nice!!! I love the squirrel and I love the thought of recycling otherwise unusable clothing! I believe in recycling everthing that possibly be recycled!
    Keep up the good recycling everyone!

  • Plytextiles

    lovely collection. thanks for featuring our Modern hexagon doily!

  • Hofmonsters

    thanks so much for including a Hofmonster in this great collection!!!

  • http://Eweniques.etsy.com Eweniques

    Thank-you so very much for featuring Eweniques wool felt flower brooches, working with wool is some thing I have been doing for many years, its not just for sweaters and scarves anymore, but being used to make everything from pot-holders to earrings! Creating beautiful things from other wise discarded trash is something everyone should try-It sparks the imagination and helps out mother earth!

  • Pepe N

    thanks for all the comments, yes, I have a whole bunch of old clothes just hanging around – time to get creative methinks!

  • http://www.handmadespark.com/blog/relax-unwind-and-recharge-your-mind-week-in-review-october-2nd/ Relax, Unwind, and Recharge Your Mind: Week in Review, October 2nd | Handmade Spark

    [...] Pepe continued her Eco-Spark series, this time on recycling clothes into new handmade items. [...]

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