Processing old clothes into usable items

Everyone knows that a lot of money and time is invested in a fun hobby. Sewing is no different — even though you get nice things in return, it costs money. But if you want to make all kinds of fun things, there is a good alternative: worn-out clothes that you no longer wear. They always contain usable pieces of fabric and useful extras such as buttons and zippers. Recycling through and through!

Cell phone case for my husband

I cut a mobile phone case for my husband from the trouser leg of a pair of worn-out jeans, finished with a letter from an old T-shirt. Completely custom pattern, with a button to close.

Zelfgemaakt GSM-hoesje van spijkerstof met opgenaaide letter J en drukknoop — Jeans case with initial — closed

Jeans GSM-hoesje open met smartphone erin en drukknoop als sluiting — Open, with the smartphone inside

Elephant for my daughter

I immediately made an elephant for my daughter from the leftover T-shirt fabric, using a PEEPS pattern. A quick but nice make-up — and she was very happy with it!

Groen olifantje knuffel gemaakt van oud T-shirt met decoratief borduurstiksel, PEEPS patroon — The elephant — PEEPS pattern in T-shirt fabric

Zelfgemaakt groen olifantje van gerecycleerd T-shirt in de hand — Small but nice!

Mobile phone case for my mother-in-law

When my mother-in-law saw her son’s case, she wanted one too. Everything recreated from old trousers and T-shirts — with colorful floral applications and her initial as an extra personal touch.

GSM-hoesje voor schoonmoeder van gerecycleerde stof met kleurrijke bloemen-applicaties en rits — Front with floral applications and zipper

Grijs GSM-hoesje staand met blauwe en rode bloemen-applicaties en drukknoop — Standing – press stud closure

Achterkant van het grijze GSM-hoesje voor schoonmoeder met initiaal — Back with initial

Handbag for my daughter

Fortunately, those jeans still had a lot of pockets — so they became a cute shoulder bag for my daughter. Finished with glitterflex: the only thing I purchased specifically for all these projects.

Klein handtasje voor peuter gemaakt van jeanszak met blauwe glitterflex bloem — With a glitterflex flower

Achterkant handtasje van gerecycleerde jeans met blauwe glitterflex pootafdruk — And a glitter paw print on the back

Dress size 92 for my daughter

The icing on the cake: a size 92 dress for my daughter, sewn from an old beach dress of mine and an old T-shirt. I found the pattern on Lappeneel and adapted it myself. Neck and armholes finished with a bias ribbon, a skirt with a bow — and a very happy face as a result!

Kleurrijk kinderjurkje maat 92 op hanger, gemaakt van oud strandjurkje en T-shirt — The dress on a hanger — made from an old beach dress and T-shirt

Detail van de halslijn en armsgatafwerking van het gerecycleerde kinderjurkje — Neckline finished with bias ribbon

Close-up van de ronde rugopening van het kinderjurkje met biaislint afwerking — Back opening with bias tape

Onderste deel van het kleurrijke kinderjurkje met rok en turquoise strikje — The skirt with turquoise bow

Blond meisje van 3 jaar draagt trots het zelfgemaakte bloemetjesjurkje van gerecycleerde kleren — Another happy face!

Used sewing machine

I sewed all these projects on my first sewing machine, theBrother FS-40— reliable, affordable and perfect for learning to sew.

🛒Brother FS-40 on Amazon DE|Brother FS-40 on Amazon BE

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