How to Make Clothes From Recycled Objects
- 1). Search for suitable fabrics --- those that are safe for constant wear, washable and free of harmful dyes and chemicals. Plastic bottles and newspapers would not be good choices, but old clothes and old curtains would. Cotton and bamboo materials are especially useful for upcycling.
- 2). Wash and dry your fabrics, and steam or iron out any wrinkles or heavy creases. This will make sewing easier and more accurate.
- 3). Draw lines on the fabric using the fabric pencil to show where you would like to cut. For simple clothing items, such as wrap skirts or shawls, you may not need a sewing pattern. For more complicated options, such as pants or dresses, you can use patterns of your choice. Denim and large shirts can be cropped and taken in to make shorts, skirts and dresses.
- 4). Cut along the fabric-pencil lines or sewing pattern, then sew the garment using a needle and thread or a sewing machine. Locate recycled objects for accessorizing the clothing --- old buttons, zippers, bottle caps and other odds and ends.
- 5). Choose where you'll attach your upcycled embellishments. If recycling buttons and zippers, use a needle and thread to sew them into place. If using less-conventional objects, such as bottle caps, secure them in place with fabric glue and allow to dry.
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