By Tricia Hodson (LazyTcrochet)
You see the term “repurpose” or “repurposed” more and more. It’s often used synonymously with “recycled” or “upcycled.” Artists reuse or recycle materials, giving them a new purpose.
zJayne’s shop is a classic example of how t-shirts can be used for many different products, from market bags to dryer pillow sheets. She uses as much of the original t-shirt as she can, even making drawstring bags from the sleeves.
You’ve probably seen some sweater bags, or purses made with old sweaters. Sometimes a wool sweater can be washed in hot water to shrink it and create a thicker fabric that’s perfect for creating a new purse or bag. Here is an example of a yellow sweater that I made into a purse and then cut up the sleeves and made mittens. There are still some bits of the original sweater left that will be perfect for flowers and other embellishing projects.
Repurposing isn’t limited to fabrics. Rigmarole, for example, has repurposed some vintage papers into fun vintage vinyl wallets. This one is made from colorful, vintage fast food wrappers.
The Vintage Brooch Company repurposes pieces of vintage jewelry into stunning new brooches and necklaces.
With a little creativity, you’ll find lots of things that can be repurposed. You can find a new use for clothing, buttons, broken jewelry pieces, purse handles, men’s ties, paper, bottle caps, game pieces, and more. The possibilities are endless!
on Mar 17th, 2010 at 6:39 am
Love these finds and shops. So much talent and design making a difference. Thanks for all repurposing! Love em’ Love em’ yep, Love em’