Do you have a pile of old sweaters that no longer fit but you just can’t bear to throw them out? How about upcycling them with these fun craft ideas?
Here are ten craft ideas to reuse old sweaters.
1. Sweater Pillow Craft Idea
One thing you can do is make a sweater pillow. Pillows are pretty easy to make – just grab a pillow form and turn the sweater into a cover for it. Here’s one DIY tutorial from The Budget Fashionista.
2. Sweater Pet Bed
Another fun project to make from old sweaters is a patchwork quilt pet bed made from an assortment of colorful old sweaters. Here’s a great tutorial found at Apartment Therapy that gives you step by step instructions for making this cute bed.
3. Leggings
Got kids? Then you can make several kids clothing items out of old adult size sweaters.
How about a pair of leggings? There’s a great tutorial right here on Crafting a Green World that will teach you how to turn a sweater into a pair of child size leggings.
4. Sweater Skirt for Kids
Another sweater tutorial here on CAGW shows you how to transform a sweater into a child size skirt.
5. Stuffies
Old sweaters also make wonderful stuffed animals. Crafter Caitlin Wicker makes stuffed toys out of old sweaters and sells them on Etsy- and the stuffies are super cute.
Martha Stewart has a few great templates and tutorials for making sweater stuffed animal chickens, lambs and pigs. I really love the pig.
6. Sweater Dress
No kids or just want to make something for yourself?
How about turning a couple of man size sweaters into a woman’s dress? Check out the video tutorial here on CAGW.
I also found a tutorial for transforming a sweater into a child size dress at Make It Love It.
7. Dog Sweater
Got pets? In addition to the cute pet bed you could make a couple of pet sweaters out of your old sweaters. Here’s a great tutorial on Craft Stylish.
8. Mittens
You can craft new mittens from old sweaters – make a whole bunch of them and give them out as holiday gifts this year. Get started now and you’ll have a stack ready by December.
Here’s a how to from Martha Stewart.
One Pearl Button offers a tutorial for making both mittens and a matching hat from a sweater.
9. Slippers
Slippers are another cozy option for old sweaters. Sweaters can easily be transformed into a pair of slippers to keep cold tootsies warm all winter long. There’s a post here at CAGW with links to great slipper how tos and here’s a slipper sock pattern and tutorial at Instructables.
10. Sweater Phone Cozy
Speaking of cozy…you can craft old sweaters into several types of cozies. Make cell phone cozies, coffee cup cozies, even old fashioned tea pot cozies.
What do you make from old sweaters? We always love to hear about new and craft ideas!
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Anther good way to recycle sweaters (WOOL) is felt them anmake them ino great purses ,tote bags and hand warmers…..just a few things…….Felting wool sweaters is good since I live in Az………and also if you don’t knitt…..or want a faster way to do it..
Great post about re-using your sweaters. I love the idea of making pillows from my old sweaters. Thanks for the tip!
Recycled Sweater Bag tutorial:
http://whipup.net/2006/05/24/30-minutes-to-a-recycled-sweater-bag/
This is so adorable!
Found great sweater refashioning ideas on AllFreeSewing.com:
http://www.allfreesewing.com/Refashioning-and-Upcycling/page/3
I used about 10 old sweaters I bought at a garage sale for the following projects:
vests for all the boys-cut out sleeves, cut to fit lengthwise and crochet a neat tidy edging around sleeve edges and bottom…I also added ribbing, but I had a lot of time and yarn in my stash!
sleeves became leg warmers for a friends baby twins!…and I made them cute little hats out of some of the bottom parts of the sweaters I cut off for the vests.
a couple of the sweaters were kind of a velour type, so I cut them into squares and made cell phone cases, coin purses, eyeglass bags…
I had a blast with 2.00 worth of sweaters…am thinking I should look for a couple and unravel them for the wool…
Is it possible to use your picture for my GSCE I.C.T coursework please?
Another sweater hat tutorial: http://www.craftstylish.com/item/28927/how-to-make-hats-from-recycled-sweaters
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I’ve used a wool sweater to make legwarmers. They look awesome!
I love the look of the sweater pillow!
I have a few sweater recycling tutorials on my blog.
Legwarmers from christmas sweater
Beret Style Hat
Truthfully, I would love to buy a copy of the dog photo. Please? It’s so adorable. I just want to hang it in my living room.
You’ll probably have to ask Cal Patch for thaat authorization since it’s her tutorial. Find her at http://www.craftstylish.com/item/40669/how-to-make-a-recycled-dog-sweater
Another way to up cycling old sweaters to make from them one of a kind sweater coat:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/110180726/custom-listing-for-brigitte-patchwork?
…or make bags, scarfs…hundred possibilities. MIND YOUR WASTE!!!!
Barbara, Amber studios.Etsy.com
Here are some things I’ve done with old sweaters.
I really like the mittens and the dog sweater.
One Pearl Button (the alternate sweater mitten tutorial) blog is open to invited readers only. :-/ Not the most useful link. Just an FYI.
Fabulous ideas! I especially love the leggings and mittens!
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Very easy tips for reusing sweaters !!! Thank you very much !!!