Ways To Repurpose Old Sweaters
When sorting through old sweaters and deciding which are still good enough to wear, don't throw old ones out - try one of these great ways to repurpose old sweaters.
01/03/2021
Winter is around the corner and you are probably pulling out all your old winter wear and sweaters to see what's still in good condition. You will no doubt find sweaters with holes left by fishmoths, sweaters that are too fluffy with lint, or even sweaters where the knit has started to unravel. Don't throw these away just yet, there are plenty of ideas for using old sweaters to make items that will come in handy during the winter months.
TURN OLD AN SWEATER INTO LEG WARMERS
Remember when leg warmers were all the rage? Now it's difficult to find them and yet they are so practical for winter wear. You can use leg warmers on their own or you can use them when wearing boots. And it's so easy to cut off a sleeve from an old ragged sweater and turn them into a pair of leg warmers.
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Remove the sleeves from an old sweater and unravel as much of the stitching as you can to have some yarn available to finish off the top of the leg warmers once you have them to size.
If you are making leg warmers, add some elastic to the top of the sleeves so that they stay up.
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TURN OLD AN SWEATER INTO SLIPPERS
Bet you never thought about making your own slippers using an old sweater? All you need is a bit of fleece fabric that you can purchase at any fabric store and an old sweater. When taking apart the sweater, make sure to keep some of the yarn to close off any raw knitted edge. Sew everything together on a sewing machine. You will find step-by-step instructions here for making super-cosy sweater slippers.
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If you don't own a sewing machine, don't worry, you can still make sweater slippers using a basic blanket stitch, as shown below.
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UPDATE YOUR BOOTS WITH AN OLD SWEATER
If you have a pair of boots that need an update to last another winter or two, use an old sweater to give them a new look and another couple of years of life.
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You can use this idea for almost all types of boots to have something to wear for the winter. Make different toppings to match your outerwear.
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USE AN OLD SWEATER TO MAKE A SHOULDER BAG
If you enjoy putting your creative skills to good use, why not make yourself a shoulder bag using an old sweater. All you need are a few extras for lining the bag and straps, and most of which you will find at many of the larger fabric stores. Or perhaps, like me, you never throw old handbags away and have a spare strap that you can use for this project.
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Need to carry your laptop around with you all the time? Make a practical laptop bag using an old sweater.
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USE OLD SWEATERS TO MAKE BEANIES FOR YOUR FAMILY
If you have a pile of old sweaters, you can easily turn them into beanies for the entire family. A novel idea for anyone who has long hair and likes to wear a ponytail, leave a hole in the top of the beanie to thread your ponytail through.
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A super-easy way to make a beanie for kids is to use a cap as the base for the beanie. Stretch the sweater sleeve over the cap and sew closed. Sew easy!
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TURN AN OLD SWEATER INTO A SHAWL COWL
This project couldn't be easier. Simply remove the bottom section of an old sweater and sew closed the raw edge with matching yarn. You can use this to make a shawl cowl or neck warmer. It has the conventional shape of a neck scarf that also doubles as a cosy shawl that can be draped over your shoulders.
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USE AN OLD SWEATER TO MAKE MITTENS OR FINGERLESS GLOVES
Kids always lose their gloves, whether it's a single glove or a pair. Why not put old sweaters to use and make them several pairs of gloves to keep their hands warm when it's cold.
If you're not up to all the sewing involved in making a pair of mittens, you could always make a pair of fingerless gloves - only minimal sewing required! Jazz these up with some embroidery thread or glittery embellishments.
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MAKING WINTERWEAR FOR YOUR PETS USING AN OLD SWEATER
And last but not least, your pets need warmth just as much as you do. Take a sleeve from an old sweater and turn it into a winter jersey for your furbaby!
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