Notes from a Class

I taught at a church activity last week about making new things from old things. I thought it was just about sewing, but my friend, Anna, requested I talk about a few more things. I enlisted help from my friend, Michelle, since she's really good at refinishing furniture (among other things).

Here's the info I printed on a little handout (plus a few more bonuses since I forgot them last week).

Things to Reuse/Repurpose (aka the boring section)
Plastic shopping bags- trashcan liners, use in packaging instead of packing peanuts, dirty diapers, wet clothes
Paper shopping bags- to absorb oils from cookies, cover books, wrap packages
Newspaper-cleaning mirrors/windows, packing material, wrapping gifts.
Trash bag boxes/tissue boxes- use to store shopping bags
Food containers (ones you can clean really well)- storage for toys, to transport food for others
Small, sturdy cardboard boxes- to mail packages, kids’ crafts
Calendars/magazines- laminate the pictures for placemats, frame pictures for décor
Greeting cards- can use the covers as postcards or attach to a new greeting card
Laundry baskets- car trunk organizer for jumper cables, water, tool box, etc.
Old vinyl tablecloths/plastic shower curtains- keep in your car to sit/work on if the road is wet when you’re changing a tire, etc.
Scrap wood
Anything else you can think of!

Refinishing furniture by Michelle
1. Sand 2. Paint 3. Sand (distress) 4. Stain 5. Lacquer

How to change something in a crafty sort of way
Spray paint, paint
Modge podge/scrapbook paper
Cover it in fabric- slipcover, pillow case, duvet cover
Replace knobs, buttons, zippers, etc.
Dye or bleach

Clothing Refashioning Principles
*The larger the item is, the more fabric you have to manipulate/ more options you have to change it into something different
*Keep original hems/seams where possible; it makes your finished item look more professional and it’s less work.
*Knits (ie the fabric your t shirts are made of) don’t fray and don’t require all of the edges to be finished, though they may look better if finished.
*If an article of clothing that you love/fits you well is beyond repair, you can cut it apart to use as a pattern to create something new.
*When you’re making a pattern from existing clothing, make sure your new fabric has a similar amount of stretch (or add extra inches where necessary).
*Keep in mind the condition of the fabric (ie if it has holes, stains) and the care of the fabric. (I will not make anything for Ansley that has to be dry cleaned).

I also blabbed on and showed my unironed creations. I tried to update my labels so you can search for refashioned items here
(or just click on that little label at the bottom of the post) and made from a bedsheet items here.