Clothing Crafts: Make New Duds from Old Things

By Amanda Kingloff
July 14, 2015
6 creative ways to make your kids' clothes last one more season.
Start Slideshow

1 of 14

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 14

Old Clothes, New Fashions

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Hate having to toss out well loved and slightly worn clothes? Get instructions on how to make these cute outfits from old things here.

3 of 14

Tank Top to Bag

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Transform an old tank top into a cute bucket bag.

Advertisement

4 of 14

Tank Top to Bag

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Cut a slit in the hem of a tank top, thread a ribbon through, and cinch into a knot. Hide ribbon inside bag.

5 of 14

Plain T to Graphic T

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Save a stained T-shirt with help from a bleach pen.

6 of 14

Plain T to Graphic T

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Apply a generous amount of bleach to stain. Beware -- results are unpredictable, as bleach tends to bleed.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 14

Pants to Shorts

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Make fringed shorts out of floods.

8 of 14

Pants to Shorts

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Mark cut-off point with chalk while child is wearing jeans. Sew on a trim with fringe to hide frayed edge.

9 of 14

Sock to Wristband

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Cut the foot off a lone sock to make a cool wristband.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 14

Sock to Wristband

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Cut where ribbing begins. Push decorative brads through only the top layer of the sock and secure.

11 of 14

Tights to Leggings

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Turn old tights into leggings with funky elastic trim.

12 of 14

Tights to Leggings

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Cut cotton knit tights just above the ankle. Be sure to sew elastic trim on with elastic thread.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 14

Torn Jeans to Patched Jeans

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Rescue a pair of torn jeans with a simple homemade patch.

14 of 14

Torn Jeans to Patched Jeans

Credit: Alexandra Grablewski

Bond iron-on adhesive to fun fabric and cut into a cute shape. Use a warm iron to attach to pants.

Originally published in the October 2008 issue of Parents magazine.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next