Creative Things You Can Make With Old Baby & Children's Clothes

Recently when blogging about  Valentine's Day-themed and love-inspired craft and upcycle projects I featured this Heart Quilt made from old baby clothes. I also admitted that I did stash away a special piece of my daughter's clothing here and there when packing up carloads of outgrown old kids clothes to send to Goodwill. What would I make with them? I wasn't sure, but once I started to look around for some ideas to use as springboards, I knew I had to share all of these cute ideas that I came across. 

In the past I've written about What To Do With Those Old Baby Shoes, and Creative Upcycled Baby Cribs. Now check out these cute and creative ideas for what to do with old baby clothes! 

Now of course, the best thing to do with old baby and children's clothes is to send them off to someone who can use them, or donate them to Goodwill. These projects are about saving one or two special pieces as mementos and having them transformed into something that is both old and new. 

The obvious choices are sewing projects, and if you don't sew yourself, there are plenty of people who can create these projects for you on Etsy or elsewhere on the internet. But aside from sewing, check out the wall art made with fabric scraps below and be inspired - no sewing experience is needed for this project, just some glue!

Have a stuffed toy made from baby's old sleeper. By nestlingkids

 Memory pillows (above and memory tree below) by cluckclucksew

Have a fabric cuff bracelet made by Etsy seller Bluskybubbleatelier

Turn those old baby clothes into a pillow. These you can order from Uncommon Goods

Create some wall art with old cloth scraps. Tutorial by Chasing Cottons

Rag quilt made from old baby clothes

What do you think?

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Have a great week!

 Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs

Article, images, and designs copyright ©Laura Beth Love for Dishfunctional Designs™ 2018

all rights reserved

Heart Quilt Made With Old Outgrown Baby Clothes

Create a heart quilt from old baby clothes

Second on my list of Valentine's Day-themed and love-inspired craft and upcycle projects is this Heart Quilt. But it's not just any old heart quilt - the patchwork hearts are all made from old baby clothes. (insert slow teardrop rolling down mom's cheek right about here)...sigh. 

I know that feeling for sure! And yes, I'll admit it, I did happen to stash away a special piece of my daughter's clothing here and there when packing up carloads of my daughters' outgrown old kids clothes to send to Goodwill. 

I remember the laughs from my two little girls as they played in my mother's backyard on a hot summer day, splashing in the kiddie pool or eating popsicles but getting most of it on their shirts...those were the days... and well, I tried to steal back as much as I could of them with my giveaway-clothes thievery. 

It's just a few pieces, and one day I will use them in something amazing...I told myself. 

And then this quilt came along. 
With the little hearts. 
Made from old baby clothes. 
(!!!) 

It's been a few years since I used my sewing machine, and many more since I made my last quilt, so I'm not very ready to just jump into the project—but it's the perfect idea to kind of tuck away in the back of my mind for another day. 

In the past I've written about What To Do With Those Old Baby Shoes, and Creative Upcycled Baby Cribs maybe it's time for me to write a new blog post about what to do with those old baby and children's clothes (stay tuned!)

Create a heart quilt from old baby clothes

What do you think?


You may also like:

Have a great week!

 Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs

Article, images, and designs copyright ©Laura Beth Love for Dishfunctional Designs™ 2018

all rights reserved

Cool Crafts That You Can Make With Old Sewing Patterns

It's thin, yellowed, crinkly and translucent, and if you've ever sewn a piece of clothing, you probably have one somewhere at home. I'm talking about old sewing patterns, whose tissue-paper-like quality has a unique look and feel all its own. The neat thing is that these patterns can be upcycled into something new, and they give craft projects a great vintage vibe.

Another thing that is great about old sewing patterns is that you can find them just about anywhere, and usually for pennies. I see them all the time at thrift stores and rummage sales, so if you don't have any at home, they're relatively easy to find and usually cost less than a dollar. Do you have a sewer in your family? Ask them, and I bet they'll have an extra old pattern or two that they'd gladly part with.  

Once you have your patterns, make sure that they aren't valuable - meaning, make sure they aren't an antique that shouldn't be damaged, or a pattern that is brand new that someone could use. Old, used patterns are the best for crafts. 

Now, what to do with them? Paper flowers are an obvious choice, but sewing patterns don't have to be a one trick pony! Here's a hint: Mod Modge just may be your best friend! You can decoupage the tissue paper patterns to wood, plastic, and many other surfaces. Some great ideas are lampshades, photo frames, and large wood beads and jewelry. And anything where light shines through is perfect (like the lamp shades), so think of ways you can use it to take advantage of it's transparency. And don't forget to repurpose the pattern envelopes too!

Check out these creative ideas for what to do with old sewing patterns and be inspired!

Create a dress pattern bouquet

Sewing pattern decoupaged wood bangle bracelets

Use it in your Valentine

Sewing patter covered sketchbook 

Framed pattern and pattern envelope in memory of grandma from mommyto1

Sewing pattern twinkle lights by Velvet Strawberries

(I would use caution with this one and would not plug them in due to not knowing the safety of paper+the lights)

Lamp shades with vintage pattern envelopes

Tags made with old sewing patterns

Sewing pattern lampshade from BHG

Stitching pattern flowers

Sewing pattern decoupaged tray

Sewing pattern coasters 

Bags made from images from vintage pattern envelopes 

Sewing pattern flowers photo and directions from Country Living

Paper dolls from vintage sewing pattern bags from Abbies Paperie

Sewing pattern wreath by I'm Just Sayin'

Framed sewing pattern envelopes

Decoupage a picture frame

DIY paper flowers from The Wedding Chicks

What do you think? 
How would you use it?

Pin this post!

Have a great week!

 Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs

Article, images, and designs copyright ©Laura Beth Love for Dishfunctional Designs™ 2018

all rights reserved

The Most Adorable Crochet Cactus Pincushion

Cactus pincushion

Sometimes I come across something so adorable that I just have to share it, know what I mean? It's not recycled, it's not upcycled, salvaged or re-used, but it's absolutely adorable!

This little crochet cactus is a free pattern from here. I think it makes the cutest pincushion ever! Not a sewer? This might just make you want to start!

What do you think?

Have a great week!

 Laura

My broken china jewelry is always available for purchase at https://www.etsy.com/shop/dishfunctionldesigns

Check out my new jewelry instruction books and DVDs

Article, images, and designs copyright ©Laura Beth Love for Dishfunctional Designs™ 2018

all rights reserved