Ideas for Up cycling Children’s Clothes
Last week I posted on social media a photo of a students work where she had lengthened her daughters very pretty (and expensive) summer dresses by adding a complimentary hem on them to give them a few extra centimetres to ensure that they could be worn this Summer. The result was a very pleasing detail that actually added to the overall look of the garment – not a hint of Mummy’s been let loose on the sewing machine and look what she’s done!
As a Master Crafter I am encouraged to enthuse my students and the great British public into up-cycling and repurposing garments and household textiles, and I thought I would share with you a few fashion hacks to update your loved children’s items of clothing to get more out of them.
- Lengthen a dress or skirt with a contrast hem or trimĀ
- Cut outgrown trousers to make 3/4 length trousers or shorts for girls, at this time of year they can get away with wearing them over tights.
- Shorten those school trousers that have been outgrown or now have a hole in. Often boys just shoot up and their waist doesn’t get bigger – just their legs get longer.
- Much loved baby clothes can be cut up and patch worked together to make an heirloom quilt.
- Cover up that stain on a Tee with a funky applique.
- Add a pretty trim to plain t-shirt (you know the one that never gets worn because it was the plain one in a pack of three)
- The much loved fluffy outgrown Christmas gift jumper can be made into a cushion to grace a little girls bedroom.
- I remember cutting up my outgrown clothes as a child to make clothes for my dolls and teddies – why not let our children do the same and inspire the next generation!
- Patch the hole on in the coat with a shop bought patch or motif – or why not even make your own?
- Use redundant Cub or Brownie uniform to make a keepsake toy or make into a blanket for Scout or Guide Camp.

January 24, 2018