Today’s theme for zero waste week is upcycling, in case you missed it here is a bit more information about zero waste week. A quick check of Wikipedia, will lead you to the definition of upcycling is the process of transforming by-products, waste materials, useless, or unwanted products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value.
There is no limit to upcycling, only your imagination. I love the challenge of recreating an item into something new.
Newsletter readers (sign up here!) will know that my plan for today was to share with you two old stained duvet covers transformed into a stylish shibori quilt… But much as my children enjoyed shibori dying, allowed me a few sewing hours it’s just not finished! Instead, we had a lovely time at a local museum where they ran around with friends, completed a whose done it quiz and generally enjoyed themselves.
So instead let’s get ahead for Christmas and make some coasters from old sweaters (always handy to have an upcycling tutorial up my sleeve!). As sewers we create a lot of fabric scraps – I love finding new ways of using them.
Scrap Fabric Christmas Coasters
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- Old 100% hand wash only sweater
- Red cotton fabric scraps
- Sewing Machine
- Rotary Cutter and Cutting Mat
- Glue Stick
Let’s start by felting your old sweater, put in your washing machine on the hottest cycle and wash. This will felt the fibres, dependant upon your sweater you may wish to wash twice.
Cut out felt squares from your felted sweater, 4″ by 4″. You will need two felt squares per coaster.
Sew together red fabric scraps.
Cut strips of your newly created fabric scrap fabric measuring 2″ by 6″.
Either use a bias binder make, or fold your fabric over a strip of card 1″ wide and press.
Use a glue stick to adhere to your square of felted wool, folding the edges underneath.
Stitch in place to secure. Place the second piece of felt underneath, therefore enclosing the raw edge turned underneath.
Top stitch around. Way hay, you are ahead for Christmas, dare I say only 110 days to go!!
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So what can you upcycle today?? “Go ahead and upcycle something – it can be something simple like using the back of an old letter to write your shopping list or something artistic and creative like making a clock from an old vinyl record.” There are more ideas on the zero waste blog.
Jessica
Thursday 6th of September 2018
Hi Vicky, A few more months and it's Christmas again. :) I love to upcycle things and we're on the road to 'zero plastic' home. This would be a good project since I am starting to clean up my boys' closets and mine too. I am guessing a lot of clothes to be out and I could choose some to make as coasters. Thank you for sharing. Cheers, Jessica
Jaime
Tuesday 28th of August 2018
I think these are adorable as is, but you could use any scrap fabric you have!
Jenny
Friday 1st of December 2017
Hi, Plastic free Christmas I agree with this method of the people's are spending their time reddit social platform for the first time in the world to me and my loved ones more happier moments of my life is good for you
Pam @Threading My Way
Sunday 29th of October 2017
Great way to use up felted jumpers and small scraps of fabric.
Julie
Sunday 17th of September 2017
This is a great use of felted jumpers Vicky, I've been experimenting making all sorts from them recently but have found they can end up too thick for some of my ideas. I love this idea, especially for the scraps.