No More - Again! and some up-cycling tips

The other day I began to think about what to write for this my next blog post. I thought I would write a list of ways that you can use your unwanted clothing and linens for other projects rather than donating them or throwing them away.

I still will add a list below, but first I need to address my own hypocrisy.

Less than five minutes after those thoughts about the small ways in which I can help the environment by keeping our fabric waste out of landfill for as long as possible, I was scrolling on Temu and purchasing cute Christmas trinkets and stocking fillers. Trinkets that will probably be lost, broken or trashed by this time next year. Trinkets that will bring joy to my family, but at what cost?

More junk in landfill! Junk made from plastics and synthetics that are not going to help our planet grow and thrive. What was I doing? Isn’t this just as bad as the fast fashion problem?

I’m not saying that all online purchases to those cheap sites are wrong, just that my own purchases were for my own convenience. They were easy and time savings but also required little thought or effort on my part, and were honestly unnecessary.

About half an hour after the purchases, I realised my problem. And now I am wondering about all the ways that I am being wasteful without any thought. I’m sure that more of these ways will come to me as I intentionally make myself more conscious about what I am purchasing and doing and using.

For now though, I am adding to my quest to not purchase any more clothing, a self- ban on online purchases from those websites that seem to sell everything and sell it super cheap. It’s another “No more” for me!

No more scrolling, adding to cart, waiting for the price to become cheaper, deleting half of the items in my cart, scrolling the added suggested items that I may have forgotten, thinking about what else I might ‘need’ while I am here so I can save on postage, then typing in those 16 all important magic numbers that exchange my hard earned savings for these much needed (not) items. No more!

This means more forward thinking and planning ahead for special occasions where I want to decorate, or add some fun touches or offer thank you gifts or that sort of thing. More opportunities for handmade items made from the mountains of stuff that I already own. More time required, but that might benefit my current evening addiction with any and all of the screens.

I am also thinking about banning myself from the cheap bricks and mortar shops ….. for now I will not go in without a reason and a list which must be adhered to!

So along this line, let’s think about some ways that we can use our excess to create new, useful and/or fun items.

What to do with an old sheet:

Make a drawstring bag or find a box or container and add sheets and pegs. Add a fun label - “Cubby house building materials. Then all you need is a table, swing set or rope tied between some trees, and off you go draping and pegging your sheets to create walls and roof. You could also use old curtains for this - lace ones will make a beautiful fairy cubby house. For inspiration check out kidfun.com.au/build-an-indoor-fort/

If your old sheet is ripped, you can cut some to fit over the outside of your windows. Wet and hang for extra cooling on the hot days Especially if you don’t have air conditioning.

Cut smaller pieces to use for all of your cleaning and wiping like fabric paper towel. Wash and re-use or toss if too dirty.

Tear your sheet into strips and twist or plait the strips together. Sew plaited strips together to make a mat.

Make large storage bags or a set of shopping bags to give as a gift.

I use a large old sheet to wrap up all the pieces of my Christmas tree to keep it all together and dust free until next year.

What to do with old towels:

Large ones can be cut down to hand towel and washer sizes. Hem, or sew some lace or trim around the edges

Cut into cleaning cloths, polishing rags, car washing cloths

Keep some pieces in the car to use as wipes while you are out.

Sew into baby bibs and matching burp cloths using some bias binding around the edges

Make oven mitts using several layers sewn together.

What to do with old clothing:

Give it away or sell it by all means

Sew into bags

Cut into flat circles, rectangles and squares to use as gift wrap. Fold around gift and tie with some ribbon or some more fabric cut into strips.

A long sleeve or pant leg is ready to go as a bonbon type wrap for a bottle or similar, just cut off garment, slide gift in and tie with ribbon or strips of fabric at each end.

With the aid of a needle and thread, scissors and a hot glue gun, anything is possible.

Cover coat hangers

Make hair ties, kerchiefs and scrunchies

Make fabric flowers for a brooch, hairband or home decor

Cloth napkins

Patchwork cushions and quilts

Make kids clothes

Make doll clothes

By adding some fun, bright trim fabric, ribbon, buttons or lace, most of these projects become lovely gifts or themed decorations.

I hope these ideas get your creative, up-cycling juices flowing as they have mine. Can we make next year the year of the handmade, re-made, up-cycled (and, for me, less thoughtless purchases) The year of using what we have? I plan to be more mindful of my purchases and try to plan ahead how I can create what I need from what I already have.

Thank you for reading, I appreciate you,

Love Suzanne

P.S. my $10 off any online or in store purchase from the SuzziMaggs range is still valid until 31.12.2025 with code: NEWBLOG