Salvaging Old Clothes

**Shell** · 01-24-2004, 10:52 PM

Do you throw away your old clothes or try to make them last? Here are some great ideas at making your clothes last longer.

http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/clothing/a/031201.htm

What do you do with your families clothes to use them longer?

**sunshine** · 01-25-2004, 06:01 AM

Jeans with worn knees are made into cut off shorts (save the legs for roll pillows, quilts, potholders, patches, etc).

Or Jeans made into skirts (remember the 70's?) Add contrasting material or the denim from the legs in the triangle skirt part. I've even used a crocheted thread panel in the triangle.

Old jeans--- garden or BBQ aprons.

Mens dress socks- when the heels are worn beyond repair. Save the cuffs. Use them for cuffs on sleeves, to make turtle necks on kids shirts, sew seveal together to make a scarf, you can make hats and mittens too.

I scavage buttons, zippers, lace, elastic for reuse.

Elastic on pantyhose, crochet around it for a heacband.

Old pantyhose can be made into sock dolls--- just be careful not to put the run on the face of the doll.

Single socks-- puppets or sock dolls.

**homesteadmamma** · 01-25-2004, 08:32 AM

Shell I was pretty lax in this area, until I started reading Denise's threads for the past couple of years. She is one lady who really stretches old clothing.

I now take button, zippers and lace off all clothes, if they aren't wearable anymore.

If they are still wearable, they are passed down to neighbours or grandkids.

I'm now saving material from cotton dresses or blouses to make into quilts. I never thought I would ever do this, but its saving purchasing a huge amount of material. I'm also collecting old aprons to do the same with material.

I've never saved socks yet if there is a hole in them, but I see Denise does. Going to have to look at that.

Thanks Denise for all your suggestions over the past few years. Your the best when it comes to resuing things!!!

**dz_blonde_girl** · 01-25-2004, 09:28 AM

Great ideas! I'm thinking you could use sock tops wherever you needed ribbing? Someday I'd like to make some hand towel bibs for the kids. I'll bet those sock tops would work great!

**sunshine** · 01-25-2004, 09:32 AM

Thanks CJ, but I learned most of it from my grandmother. She raised 5 girls through the depression. I also have a wealth of knowledge in the ladies of our community--- they are wonderful.