| Many sewing projects take a lot of fabric to | | | | Project #3: Use old clothes or fabric scraps to |
| make them and the cost can really add up, | | | | create your own dolls. Keep them for yourself or |
| especially if you are on a budget. The good news | | | | give them away as gifts. The dolls can be as |
| is that you don't have to spend a lot of money if | | | | simple or as complex as you want them to be. |
| you think outside the box. Take a look around | | | | They can have one pattern piece to follow or |
| your house and really think about what you have | | | | they can have several pieces that are cut and |
| at hand. Chances are, you'll find some old clothes, | | | | sewn together to form the doll. |
| bed sheets and fabric scraps just taking up room. | | | | Either way, start by simply cutting out the |
| So, what will you do with those old things? Throw | | | | pattern pieces. Then, sew them together with the |
| them out or give them away? Don't do that! | | | | right side facing together. Remember to leave an |
| Those old clothes are perfect for creating new | | | | opening, so that you can turn the doll inside out |
| items. It's recycling at its best and it's quickly | | | | and then add stuffing. Sew the opening shut and |
| becoming the trendy thing to do. It's not really a | | | | add eyes, hair, clothes or anything else you want |
| new idea however, because it's something our | | | | to finish the doll. |
| grandmothers and grandmothers did years ago. | | | | Project #4: Use old clothes or even bed sheets |
| They knew how to re-use every item and didn't | | | | to create new clothes. Most people at one point in |
| waste anything. | | | | time have turned old jeans into shorts, but you |
| But what exactly did they do with old, worn out | | | | can go even further than that. For example, turn |
| clothes and left over fabric? To help get you | | | | the old jeans into a skirt by cutting the legs off |
| started, here are five quick and easy project | | | | and then adding strips of fabric to give the skirt |
| ideas to show you what you can make from old | | | | length. Or cut up old clothes to create scarves, |
| clothes, bed sheets and fabric scraps. | | | | shawls, headbands or more. The only limit is your |
| Project #1: Use old clothes or fabric scraps to | | | | imagination! |
| create quilts. There are several different types of | | | | |
| quilts that require small patches of fabric, such as | | | | Project #5: Create your own Christmas |
| postage stamp, crazy or memory quilts. The | | | | ornaments from fabric scraps. If you love to |
| basic idea for all these different types of quilts is | | | | sew, you know how quickly the scraps can pile |
| the same. Cut out small shapes and sew them | | | | up. One great way to use up these scraps is to |
| together. The shapes are often different colours, | | | | make your own decorations. Plus, it's so easy! |
| which when sewn together form a pattern. The | | | | Simply draw different shapes on a piece of paper. |
| pattern, shape and size of the fabric patches then | | | | For example, you could draw Christmas trees, |
| determine which type of quilt has been created. | | | | stars, hearts, circles or any other shape that you |
| | | | associate with Christmas. Then, cut out the shape |
| Project #2: Turn old bed sheets into curtains, | | | | and either pin it to a piece of fabric or trace it on |
| pillowcases, throw pillows or other decorative | | | | the fabric. Then cut out at least two pieces of |
| home décor items. Bed sheets work very | | | | the same shape and sew them together. Leave a |
| well for these items, especially if the bed sheets | | | | little opening so that you can fill it with stuffing. |
| have shrunk in the wash, become stained, or | | | | Sew the opening shut and add charms or ribbons |
| slightly worn out in one spot. You can cut around | | | | to finish off the ornament. Add a string at the top |
| that spot and use the rest of the bed sheet, | | | | and hang the ornament on your tree with pride! |
| which is likely still in good shape. | | | | |