For many of us, clothing holds an emotional connection. Maybe you remember seeing your toddler twirl in all those adorable sundresses. Or maybe you have a stack of old jeans or concert t-shirts that take you back to your college days.
Either way, if you know how to sew, you can stitch them into a variety of clever projects. And even if you can’t thread a needle, keep reading for a fun blanket and tote bag you can make using basically just scissors and your own hands.
How to Make Quilts from Clothes
There’s almost no end to the cute keepsakes you can make with old clothing.
Martha Stewart shows how to turn old baby clothing into a quilt that you can save for your grandchildren.
But that’s not the only thing you can do with all those onesies, dresses and shirts. You can make a stocking, these darling plush alphabet letters, or even this wall art.
But don’t forget about the guy in your life. What will your father or spouse do with all of their dress shirts when they retire? Take a cue from BonnieProjects and turn them into a quilt. Because dress shirts are usually cotton and in neutral hues, your quilt will have a cohesive and elegant look to it.
Lastly, you can even turn old jeans into a quilted hammock, with the help of the Creative Channel on YouTube.
Making a No-Sew Quilt out of T-shirts
It can be hard to part with favorite t-shirts, which offer a look back on vacations, concerts, and other fun times.
With this no-sew upcycle project by Instructables, you can turn your old t-shirts into a cool quilt. You don’t need any skill to do this, but you will need a bit of patience and time.
Check the blog for full instructions, but the concept is pretty simple. You cut all your shirts into squares, then make a series of slits on the squares and tie them all together. The quilt is finished by tying the squares onto plush backing.
If you like the idea, but don’t have that much time (or that many shirts) check out this no-sew project to turn a t-shirt into a tote bag. It takes 10 minutes tops and can be an easy project to do with the kids or grandkids.
The Self Storage Solution
No matter how much quilting with old clothes you do, your closets are still stuffed. If that describes your home, consider renting a self storage unit to store your off-season items. At StorageMart, we offer clean, well-lit storage units in a variety of sizes—all of which can be rented on a month-to-month basis. Check out our storage unit guide or rent a unit online today.