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Recycle & Reconstruct Old Clothes Into a Fashionable Wardrobe

Ranked #13 in Healthy Living, #259 overall

Upcycle Old Clothes Into Something New

Clothes go in and out of style, get damaged and worn, but it's ecologically correct to reuse and recycle everything we can. Sometimes we even want to hold on to certain items because we love the patterns and textures of the fabric. There are lots of ways to transform, alter, embellish and reconstruct old clothes into a fashionable and trendy wardrobe. With a little imagination and creativity you can even make cute stuffies, toys, dolls, pillows, totes, quilts and more!

[Image courtesy: http://flickr.com/photos/uber-tuber/3094908256/]

Page Contents:

Find it fast here!

Thrift Store Shopping Fashion Tips
Transform Old Clothes Into Something New
Swap Your Clothes With Friends
Things To Make With Small Fabric Scraps
Redesign Your Denim
Don't Throw Away That Old T-Shirt
T-Shirt Reconstruction Patterns & Tutorials
Hack Up Your Hoodies
Cute & Creative Recycled Sweaters
Use Baby Clothes to Make Toys & Dolls
New Ideas For Stray Socks & Gloves
Stiches, Sewing Machines & Kids Projects

Recycle & Buy Secondhand Clothes

Go green, buy used and upcycle!

Reduce your environmental impact by buying recycled clothes and recycling your own. When you buy recycled clothing you are saving the earth's resources. The production of new clothing has a huge impact on global warming!

Donate your old clothes to Goodwill, the Salvation Army or thrift shops instead of throwing them away. Non-profits like Goodwill and the Salvation Army play a crucial role in keeping old clothes out of the waste stream. When they get donations of clothes that are too threadbare to re-sell in one of their shops, they send them to "rag sorters" that specialize in recycling pieces of fabric large and small... read more here.

Video Credit:
ThreadBanger

Thrift Store Shopping Fashion Tips

Great advice from Project Runway's Kevin Christiana!

Thrift Store Fashion Tips: In today's tough economy, you might think that looking fashionable is out of your budget. Not so, according to Project Runway's Kevin Christiana, who suggests you hit thrift stores like Goodwill and the Salvation Army, where stylish outfits can be found without breaking the bank.
More Tips From Kevin Christiana: The Project Runway star has a few more tips you need to know before you go thrift store shopping.

Secondhand Chic: Finding Fabulous Fashion at Consignment, Vintage, and Thrift Shops

by: Christa Weil

Amazon Price: $13.03 (as of 02/15/2012)

What woman wouldn't want to find a designer original at a fraction of its original cost or some long-gone artifact from another fashion era? With that goal in mind, Weil packs her guide to the secondhand clothing market (consignment, vintage, and thrift) with so much detail and coursework that one should have a Ph.D. by book's end.

Textile Recycling Facts

Don't trash the planet with your fashion misfits.

Each American disposes about 35 pounds of old clothing and other textiles each year.
Synthetic (man-made fibres) products will not decompose, and while woolen garments do decompose, they produce methane gas which causes global warming.
In a lifetime, the average American will throw away 600 times his or her adult weight in garbage. This means that each adult will leave a legacy of as much as 100,000 pounds of trash for his or her children.
Recycling reduces the need for landfills, allowing local lands to be used in more environmentally preferable ways. And, by substituting scrap materials for the use of trees, metal ores, minerals, oil, and other virgin materials, recycling reduces the pressure to expand forestry and mining production.
Clothing and other textiles represent about four percent of the municipal solid waste stream.
About 80% of what Americans throw away is recyclable, yet our recycling rate is only 28%.
Always recycle or donate your old clothes instead of putting them out with the trash!
Sources:
http://www.cdrecyclingsystems.com/recyclingfacts.htm
http://www.usedclothes.ca/info.html
http://earth911.com/household/clothing-and-textile/facts-about-clothes/

How To Reconstruct Old Shoes & Clothes

Pattern books and idea generators to get you started.

Subversive Seamster: Transform Thrift Store Threads Into Street Couture

by: Melissa Alvarado, Hope Meng, Melissa Rannels

Amazon Price: $8.13 (as of 02/15/2012)

30 great projects that are achievable for even the new sewer.

Altered Shoes: A Step-By-Step Guide To Making Your Footwear Fabulous

by: Marty Stevens-Heebner

Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 02/15/2012)

20 inventive projects for taking shoes from tired and boring to fresh and fabulous

Born-Again Vintage: 25 Ways to Deconstruct, Reinvent, and Recycle Your Wardrobe

by: Bridgett Artise, Jen Karetnick

Amazon Price: $12.99 (as of 02/15/2012)

Mixing contemporary clothing with the best elements of a vintage piece-like the collar of a funky fifties housedress or the pockets of a seventies-style jacket-and piecing them back together in a whole new way, she creates one-of-a-kind garments that are both trend setting and timeless.

Alabama Studio Style: More Projects, Recipes, & Stories Celebrating Sustainable Fashion & Living

by: Natalie Chanin

Amazon Price: $8.98 (as of 02/15/2012)

Here Chanin shares many more of her stitching, stenciling, and beading methods and applies them to twenty extraordinary clothing and home décor projects, each made with organic or recycled materials and designed with "haute homespun" flair.

Make New Clothes From Recycled Fabric

Make a statement with a one-of-a-kind prom or party dress.

Custom Corset Generator: Fill in the below measurements, and receive individualized instructions on creating a perfectly fitting corset pattern.

Transform Old Clothes Into Something New

Upcycle old clothes into bags, pillows, aprons and more!

DIY Reusable Snack & Sandwich Bags: If you are responsible citizen of Earth and want to make lunch, not trash, then a good first step is to eliminate plastic bags in your lunchbox.
Recycled T-Shirt Pillow: Is your favorite shirt getting worn out? Have a tee with a cute design that just doesn't fit right? Make an easy (and super soft) cover for a throw pillow for the futon / bed / couch / chair.
Locker Pocket Organizer: Hang this convenient organizer in your school, gym, or work locker to organize all your supplies. You can customize it by stitching different divisions in the pockets or by making it longer.
Beach Bag: Off to the beach, dance class, or a sleepover at a friend's - this roomy tote can fill the bill. The unique flat casing makes serging this tote fast and easy to complete for the beginner sewer.
Little Girls' D-Ring Ribbon Belt Apron: What I like about this little apron is the belt feature - I used a D-ring ribbon belt as the band/tie.
Neck tie School Bag: A cute and fashionable way to recycle old neck ties
Placemats and Neckties to Backpack in 10 Easy Steps: Make a backpack from four placemats and two neckties. This backpack is a true craftygal project! The supplies are pretty cheap, and the project is utterly personalized. Pick colors you like and materials that will be durable.
Hobo Purse Pattern: The instructions and pattern can be printed on 8.5x11" paper.

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures

by: Amanda Blake Soule

Amazon Price: $9.29 (as of 02/15/2012)

More than just a collection of projects for handmade items, this book offers the tools to create a life-and home-full of beauty, integrity, and joy.

The Perfect Handmade Bag: Recycle and Reuse to Make 35 Beautiful Totes, Purses, and More

by: Clare Youngs

Amazon Price: $5.88 (as of 02/15/2012)

Try turning a dish-towel into a smart shopper to carry all your groceries in, or use an old hessian sack to make a sassy bag to take to the gym. Reuse is at the heart of this book, as projects like the floral scrap tote bag and the patchwork weekend bag demonstrate, and you will soon be able to transform an old blanket or a few scraps of discarded clothing into a unique bag in no time at all. Each project comes complete with beautifully illustrated step-by-step instructions and there are designs suitable for all skill levels.

Refashioned Bags: Upcycle Anything into High-Style Handbags

by: Faith Blakeney, Justina Blakeney

Amazon Price: $4.96 (as of 02/15/2012)

Whether your closet is already an amalgam of hand-made clothing and remastered mash-ups or you're diving into DIY for the very first time, bags are one of the easiest accessories to make over and require little more than a needle, thread, and everyday items you can find in the closet, garage, attic, or flea market.

Swap Your Clothes With Friends

Organize a monthly fashion frenzy with stylish friends!

Take a look at lots of fun and easy clothes reconstruction ideas and video tutorial by Kevin Christiana.

*Click Here!!

As seen on the Rachel Ray show!

DIY Funky Fashions

Inspiration for creating your own unique wardrobe.

Who Is Reconstructing Their Clothes?

The latest project ideas from trend setting bloggers.

Capsule Art Reviews: "Escapism," "Hate Expo," "John Sonsini: New Paintings ...: They picked their clothes and poses, and Sonsini painted them mostly straight on. Given the rare opportunity for this country's Mexican immigrants to represent themselves as they, for the most part, see fit, the concept has the makings of a saccharine ...
ESTA to invest over $100 million in renovating Kyiv's TsUM department store: ESTA Holding LLC which was created by CJSC System Capital Management to realize real estate projects, is planning to invest over $100 million in the reconstruction of Kyivsky TsUM. Kostyantyn Chernichkin ESTA Holding LLC, the managing company of the ...
Sugar-cane heiress represents state at Chicago fair: ... of keeping a horse, cow and pig on the pastures of the plantation, and also providing the laborer with fuel and giving him many other privileges, it will soon be understood that the laborer has only a portion of his food and his clothes to buy.
Reconstructing Fashion: The exhibition displays the works of seven renowned UK-based designers who skilfully demonstrate their takes on culture and heritage in a contemporary setting to create clothes with narratives, along with three eminent local designers.

Get Inspired By MeltedRachel

I had to share these brilliant examples of how to creatively recycling old clothes, textiles and fabrics!

[Image courtesy: http://flickr.com/photos/chatiryworld/2700791173/]

Things To Make With Small Fabric Scraps

Save this little bits and pieces of fabric for rainy days.

Reusable Snack & Sandwich Bags: If you are responsible citizen of Earth and want to make lunch, not trash, then a good first step is to eliminate plastic bags in your lunchbox.
Patchwork Quilted Tie Strap Bag: This pattern is based on a bag I saw in a Japanese craft book, but I have changed the size (theirs was too small, though mine is not large) and added patchwork, plus yo-yo embellishment.
Zippered Pouch: This is a tutorial for a zipped pouch, but you can use the same method on larger projects.
Pop Cap Pincushion: I saw a ring version of this over at Camilla's a couple months back and I thought it would make a quick, easy stocking stuffer for a crafter. Here's a short tutorial for a wrist version.
Fabric Headband: Free fabric headband pattern for personal use.
Wrap Fabric Headbands: These two headbands are very quick and easy to make.
Easy Patchwork Quilts: You don't need years of experience to make a patchwork quilt. Here's some tips and instructions on how to make one easily.
Leaf Drawstring Bag: Here's the tutorial for the leaf drawstring bag.
Recycling Fabric: Recycling is a popular buzz-word in today's society, but recycling in one form or another has been around since the beginning of time. The driving force behind it was not an eco-friendly attitude but necessity. The old and the worn were not thrown out, but recycled into something useful.

Sewing Bits and Pieces: 35 Projects Using Fabric Scraps

by: Sandi Henderson

Amazon Price: $4.70 (as of 02/15/2012)

Packed with tons of fun, innovative projects, Sewing Bits and Pieces will have you creating sewing masterpieces in no time.

One-Yard Wonders: 101 Sewing Fabric Projects; Look How Much You Can Make with Just One Yard of Fabric!

by: Rebecca Yaker, Patricia Hoskins

Amazon Price: $13.89 (as of 02/15/2012)

101 sewing projects requiring only a yard of fabric, including apparel, toys, accessories (human and pet), dresser organizers, and stuffed animals.

Redesign Your Denim

The versatile fabric with neverending design possiblities.

Denim by Design

by: Barb Chauncey

Amazon Price: $4.95 (as of 02/15/2012)

More than 30 fantastic projects give denim jeans a new fashion purpose. Bonus full-size pattern insert eliminates extra prep time.

Jean Therapy: Denim Deconstruction for the Conscientious Crafter (Domestic Arts for Crafty Girls)

by: Scatha G. Allison, Marla Stefanelli

Amazon Price: $11.73 (as of 02/15/2012)

Illustrated instructions for more than 20 projects, running the gamut from simple accessories to reconstructed pants, skirts, and halter tops, each featuring design and personalization tips and techniques.

Denim Revolution: Dozens of Ways to Turn Denim Cast-Offs into Fashion Must-Haves

by: Nancy Minsky

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 02/15/2012)

Before you pay hundreds of dollars to get the latest denim looks (like celebs do), learn how you can actually create your own chic pieces from recycled denim in your closet, vintage stores, and thrift shops.

Denim Dyeing Instructions & Supplies

Skip the mall and save your hard earned cash!

Jean Reconstruction Tutorials & Patterns

What all the cool kids are wearing!

How to Make Pegged, Cigarrete or Skinny Jeans: It seems like everywhere i go, i hear people asking how to make skinny fit pants. so here's how.
How to Recycle Jeans into a Skirt: You've surely seen tons of these around. They seem to go in and out of the popular style, but they always have a certain bohemian or resourceful type of charm. For this project, you need one pair of old jeans or pants, and thread that matches the topstitching on those pants.
How to Make Jeans into a Twirly Skirt: By request here is the how to for the girly twirly skirt.

DIY Denim Jean Skirts

Look at these examples for fun ways to recycle you old jeans into skirts your friends will envy!

More Uses For Old Denim

Save those beloved jeans that just don't fit anymore.

Denim Organizer Pattern: This fun organizer, made from the legs of cut-off jeans, is a great recycling project. The finished hem of the jeans creates the top of the organizer's pockets, so there is no need to bind the edges.
Jeans Half Apron Tutorial: I can't take all the credit for this. I got the idea from my niece Angelic's Spring Sassy Apron. It was just so sweet and simple. I had to make one and I thought you might like making one too.
Jeans Apron: I also remembered seeing a Jeans apron idea somewhere and wanted to do something fun with what was left of my favorite pair of pants. (they had a major blow out and I can't wear them anymore.)
Jeans Apron #2: This one is almost too simple to tutorial but I will at least let you know what I did.
Recycled Jeans Rug: Here are some pics of a jean rug I made for the living room, I saw something like this in a magazine and couldn't believe the thousand dollar price tag.
Making a Denim Quilt: We decided to make our own denim quilts out of old jeans. The reason why I love this so much is it defies all those old fears and intimidations we have had since sixth grade Home Economics.
Circle Blue Jeans Quilt: Quilters recycle and use up old jeans.
How to Make Denim Quilts: Use our cool do-it-yourself guide to make yourself a warm denim quilt.

How to Recycle Your Jeans

The latest trends from around the web!

Evans Middle School in Need of Old Jeans by Friday: Evans Middle School is participating in Aeropostle's national "Teens for Jeans" contest and, according to their sponsor, the students have worked very hard to win the contest. National retailer Aeropostle will recycle these jeans into jeans for teens ...
Are you throwing away useful stuff? Cut down on waste by reducing and re-using: Cut down on waste by reducing and re-using By Melissa Gaskill For decades, we've heard the mantra ?Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.? In practice, we often focus mostly on recycling, which actually represents the least effective way to solve our growing waste ...
Livingston Charity Jean Collection Drive Successful: Livingston Health Department Blue jeans from Livingston residents will be recycled and get a second chance. Livingston Municipal Nurse Missi Kimmel said more than 160 pairs of pants were donated over the past two weeks to benefit the "Teens for Jeans" ...
Evans Middle School Student Collects Jean for Teens: Last week, 8th grade student Maya Eldin of Evans Middle School asked her principal, if the school could participate in the Teens for Jeans drive with Aeropostale. It is a nationwide drive to collect jeans and recycle them for homeless teens.

[Image courtesy: http://flickr.com/photos/uber-tuber/3094908256/]

Don't Throw Away That Old T-Shirt

It's easy and fun to turn them into something new!

T-Shirt Makeovers: 20 Transformations for Fabulous Fashions

by: Sistahs Of Harlem, Carmia Marshall, Carmen Webber

Amazon Price: $15.62 (as of 02/15/2012)

20 unexpected and easy-to-follow projects for every gal. Here's a way to be hip, cool, and fiscally responsible--all at the same time.

Generation T: Beyond Fashion: 120 New Ways to Transform a T-shirt

by: Megan Nicolay

Amazon Price: $6.00 (as of 02/15/2012)

A collection of 120 projects for every occasion, it takes the humble yet ever-malleable tee in dozens of new directions-from baby gifts to pet accessories, stuff for the home, the car, the road, the boyfriend.

DIY Shirt Examples

Get inspired by these fun examples and then grab one of your old t-shirts and give it a try!

T-Shirt Reconstruction Patterns & Tutorials

Online pattern freebies for shoestring budgets.

Arnwarmers: Instructions on how to make cute armwarmers from a t-shirt.
Tube Top or Dress: A t-shirt reconstruction tutorial on how to make a trendy tube top or dress from a t-shirt. Really cute. Photo example and complete instructions.
Recycled T-Shirt Pillow: Is your favorite shirt getting worn out? Have a tee with a cute design that just doesn't fit right? Make an easy (and super soft) cover for a throw pillow for the futon / bed / couch / chair.
Generation T T-Shirt Projects: How to reconstruct your t-shirt into a new design. Free projects from the Generation book (above).
How to Add Contrasting T-Shirt Side Panels: A t-shirt reconstruction tutorial on inserting contrasting side panels. Photo example and complete instructions.
Raglan Sleeve Top: A t-shirt reconstruction tutorial on adding baseball (raglan sleeves to a shirt. Photo example and complete instructions.
Making a Contour Bust Top: A t-shirt reconstruction tutorial on making a contoured bust or ruffled bust top out of a t-shirt. Photo example and complete instructions.
Cross Over Bust Top: A t-shirt reconstruction tutorial on making a surplice top out of a t-shirt. Photo example and complete instructions.
DiY Hoodies: A t-shirt reconstruction tutorial on making a hoodies out of old shirts. Photo example and complete instructions.
Keyhole Tops: A t-shirt reconstruction tutorial on making a cute keyhole top out of regular t-shirts. Photo example and complete instructions.
Off the Shoulder Tops: A t-shirt reconstruction tutorial on making a trendy off the shoulders tops out of t-shirts. Photo example and complete instructions.
Ruched Off the Shoulder Top or Dress: A t-shirt reconstruction tutorial on making trendy off the shoulder top and dresses with ruching and puffed sleeves. Photo example and complete instructions.
Resizing a T-Shirt: This is a pretty straight-forward reconstruction. If you're looking for something to get your diy feet wet with, try this one. A simple way to make that too-big Misfits tee you stole from your boyfriend into one that fits.
Harajuku Punk Shirt: Design your own Harajuku Japanese punk shirt tutorial.
Empire cut Blouse, T-Shirt reconstruction with Tutorial: I've been fascinated with all the T shirt reconstruction I've seen around, so yesterday, I was bored and decided to make my own reconstruction.. I had a big t shirt (it was my mom's) I trace it and start cutting%u2026
T-Shirt Reconstruction: Reverse Applique Window: I used one of my favorite "save a t-shirt" recon techniques, a reverse applique window. It's easy peasy and takes only about 15 minutes to complete.
Stencils and Instructions for Bleaching Images onto Fabric: Stencils and instructions by Kevin Christiana.

Hoodies Makeovers

Random examples of DIY sweatshirt hoodies, updated hourly.

Hack Up Your Hoodies

Patterns and ideas to chop 'em up, embellish and redesign.

Chic Sweats: 22 Ways to Transform and Restyle Your Sweatshirts

by: Carmia Marshall, Carmen Webber

Amazon Price: $5.99 (as of 02/15/2012)

Turn your favorite hoodie into a poncho.
Transform an old pullover into a babydoll dress.
Reinvent your favorite team's sweatshirt into a sleek triangle skirt.
Plus much more!

More T-Shirt Reconstruction

Cool ideas to share and borrow!

Local docs help with agony of the feet: What they did get in return was a nice thank-you in the form of an e-mail from the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. They also each received an official race crew T-shirt. ?Thank you for volunteering at the 2012 US Olympic Team Trials-Marathon,? the ...
Rainbow fudraisers walk the walk for charity: Members of the Rainbow Breast Reconstruction Group are hosting their fundraising walk at Bodenham Arboretum in Wolverley on Tuesday April 10. The event, which is open to the public, will feature a host of attractions including live music while walkers ...
Some GREAT things that happened in Oak Ridge in 2011, part 3: The Festival was also awarded the Silver Kaleidoscope Award for Best Green Component, the silver for the best T-shirt, and the bronze for best volunteer, Jane Miller. The festival took gold for Best Other Merchandise for their reusable shopping bag and ...
Community notices: Lunch is provided and participants will receive a free tote bag and T-shirt. Each girl will be able to attend three hands-on workshops by role model women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. For information, call Adrienne Dare, ...

[Image courtesy: http://flickr.com/photos/ajawin/3115700575/]

Cute & Creative Recycled Sweaters

Soft and fuzzy upcycled fashions.

Upcycled Bubble Skirt: Turn a old men's sweater into a cute bubble skirt.
Sweater Apron Tutorial: This is my son's idea. He saw a cut up fulled sweater lying around and said, "This would be a good apron." He was right.
Sweater Purse: Don't retire your favorite sweater when it gets a snag- turn it into a roomy purse so you can wear it every day!

Look What They Made With Sweaters

Old sweaters make some of the sweetest new outfits and accessories! Look at these and then make your own.

The Newest Ideas for Old Sweaters

Lovable ways to save and cherish that old sweater that belonged to your baby or boyfriend!

Bottle cap sculptures brighten up Orrville schools: After the sculptures were designed, the patterns were transcribed onto plywood and the shapes cut out by students in the industrial arts program. Next, members of the art club at the middle school and high school painted the background colors.
Loudoun County news in brief: Created by quilter Debra Petitt and donated to the library last year, the quilt shows patterns passed down by oral tradition that might have been used to provide directions and advice to escaping slaves on the journey to freedom.
Solar Telescope Instrument Gets Recycled for New Mission: Michelson folded a beam of light back on itself, which created light and dark patterns as the light waves interfered with one another. Changes along the path alter the pattern in a measurable way, which enables scientists to calculate the intensity of ...
Try Zumba for free at YWCA Sunday: If someone from the Feztival can help share the mitten pattern, or I could purchase a copy, that would be fantastic. Or if someone else has a great recycled wool sweater mitten pattern that is lined with fleece, I would be thrilled if they were willing ...

Sweater Surgery: How to Make New Things with Old Sweaters (Domestic Arts for Crafty Girls)

by: Stefanie Girard

Amazon Price: $9.45 (as of 02/15/2012)

Sweater Surgery shows you how to upcycle all your slightly worn, slightly damaged, or plain old out-of-style sweaters into fabulous new items for your wardrobe and your home. Readers learn how to choose, cut, restitch, felt, and embellish old sweater fabric, transforming it into beautiful handbags, mittens, scarves, hats, hoodies, skirts, jewelry, soft toys, pillows, and more!

The Sweater Chop Shop: Sewing One-of-a-kind Creations from Recycled Sweaters

by: Crispina ffrench

Amazon Price: $7.04 (as of 02/15/2012)

You don't even need a sewing machine to upcycle old sweaters into new wearables, blankets, pillows, and dolls that are fresh, playful, and utterly captivating.

Warm Fuzzies: 30 Sweet Felted Projects

by: Betz White

Amazon Price: $4.28 (as of 02/15/2012)

Tips and patterns for creating over 30 cute and colorful felted items made from cast-away sweaters, including cozy pillows and throws as well as comfortable hats, scarves, pincushions and handbags.

Second-Time Cool: The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater

by: Anna-Stina Linden Ivarsson, Katarina Brieditis, Katarina Evans

Amazon Price: $17.27 (as of 02/15/2012)

[Image courtesy: http://flickr.com/photos/bahkubean/282678484/]

Adorable Ideas For Cherished Outfits

If you're a mom, chances are you have a box of kids clothes that you just can't give away.

Custom Doll Made From Your Child's Baby Clothes: Customize your own SweetPea with your childs baby clothes. Any clothes you want to use will work. Jeans, dresses, sweaters, tee's...anything you love and want turned into a toy can be used! Any animal I make is available for this service; kitty, doggy, bear, lamb, lion, piggy, cow, girly, baby, bunny.
Free Sewing Pattern to Make a Rag Doll: This pattern can be used to make a variety of rag dolls Raggedy Ann, gingerbread dolls, or a basic rag doll.
How to Make a Simple & Versatile Soft Doll: Ruby is made up of basic shapes and her construction is also pretty simple. The fun lies in the embellishing and finishing of the doll. PDF from One Red Robin's Blog.
Free Doll Pattern for Simple Rag Dolls: Free doll pattern to download plus complete photo instructions for how to sew a simple rag doll with yarn hair and an embroidered face. An excellent project for beginning sewers.
Pointy Kitty Pattern: A Wee Wonderfuls free pattern for you to enjoy.
Softie Bat Monster Free Pattern: Please feel free to use this pattern for gifts, yourself or toys for your children/animals! Please do not sell anything made from this pattern.
Fabric food - Zero Calorie, Fat-Free, and Deliciously Cute: Check out the fabric food play set made by This is Love Forever ...
Cute Food - DIY Kawaii Toys & Jewelry: Store bought plastic play food for kids is being tossed out with the trash because DIY crafters have taken their skills into the kitchen and they are whipping up food that is definitely too cute to eat!

Use Baby Clothes to Make Toys & Dolls

Transform your child's old clothes into treasured playthings by using the patterns and ideas below to make soft toys and stuffies.

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Make Your Own Toys: Sew Soft Bears, Bunnies, Monkeys, Puppies, and More!

by: Sue Havens

Amazon Price: $8.30 (as of 02/15/2012)

With simple-to-follow instructions and hand-drawn illustrations, artist and designer Sue Havens will help you make 22 unique stuffed toys that will endear and charm adults and kids alike.

Wee Wonderfuls: 24 Dolls to Sew and Love

by: Hillary Lang

Amazon Price: $15.00 (as of 02/15/2012)

There's something for everyone here-from kids to grown-ups and from beginning sewers to advanced dollmakers. Each pattern includes clear illustrations and pattern templates to ensure perfect results.

Stitched Toys: 20 Stunning but Simple Designs

by: Kate Haxell

Amazon Price: $5.84 (as of 02/15/2012)

An imaginative collection of 20 stunning, soft and safe stitched toys.

Little Birds: 26 Handmade Projects to Sew, Stitch, Quilt & Love (Design Collective)

by: C&T Publishing's Design Collective

Amazon Price: $9.46 (as of 02/15/2012)

This adorable book is all about the birds! From budgies to owls to peacocks, these projects will pique your curiousity and make your heart sing! Many talented designers bring you soft sculptures, quilts, ornaments, and more.

New Softie Patterns Every Day

More fun free stuff to make and gift.

Lingua publica: --Fred Thompson "[E]very President's SOTU speeches follows a very predictable pattern: 1. The State of the Union is strong. 2. Applause. 3. It's stronger because I'm up here and you're not. 4. Applause. 5. Attack the Supreme Court [Obama only]. 6.

[Image courtesy: http://flickr.com/photos/bahkubean/237456849/]

New Ideas For Stray Socks & Gloves

I wonder if everyone has a sock stealing fairy lurking about their laundry room? I think I may have more than one. :)

Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-Off Socks and Gloves

by: Miyako Kanamori

Amazon Price: $7.95 (as of 02/15/2012)

Endearing to adults and children alike, these whimsical creatures make perfect gifts and inspiring companions.

Happy Gloves: Charming Softy Friends Made from Colorful Gloves

by: Miyako Kanamori

Amazon Price: $5.84 (as of 02/15/2012)

Whimsical and endearing, here are nineteen more softy sewing projects in the adorable, quirky aesthetic of Sock and Glove.

Stupid Sock Creatures: Making Quirky, Lovable Figures from Cast-off Socks

by: John Murphy

Amazon Price: $6.47 (as of 02/15/2012)

Possessed of irresistible charm, these creatures offer all the inspiration anyone needs to transform cast-off socks into wickedly funny toys.

Sock Monkey & Doll Patterns

Who doesn't love sock monkeys?

How to Make a Sock Monkey: We start by making the body and legs of the monkey. First, turn one of the socks inside out and flatten it so that the heel is centered.
Sock Babies Pattern: They are so easy, so cute and so huggable! You can make them with very little sewing. All you need is a pair of socks, some stuffing and you are on your way to making this cuddly little doll.

Sock It To Me

Irresistable ideas from DIY bloggers and crafty moms!

Mattel Unveils 2012 Toy Portfolio Taking Global Brands to New Platforms and ...: Merging age-appropriate technologies and traditional play patterns, Mattel continues to deliver meaningful content and innovative play at a price point that maintains the integrity of a product. From integrated digital cameras to toys that interact ...
Pony Royale™ Makes a Royal Debut at American International Toy Fair: ... new approach to princess play in the fashion doll category. Pony Royale combines girls favorite play patterns - hair play, fashion play and nurturing play ? to give girls endless hours of open-ended creative play with a fun and easy fashion system.
Mattel Unveils 2012 Toy Portfolio Taking Global Brands to New Platforms and ...: Merging age-appropriate technologies and traditional play patterns, Mattel continues to deliver meaningful content and innovative play at a price point that maintains the integrity of a product. From integrated digital cameras to toys that interact ...
Toy Fair Morphs Into CES for Kids as Tablets, Apps Take Spotlight: Mattel's big entry into app-land is "Apptivity," a whole new toy line that turns the iPad into a live board game, by integrating such popular toys as Barbie dolls and Hot Wheel cars with tablet-based games. A child can race one of the new (mini) Hot ...

Stiches, Sewing Machines & Kids Projects

Learning to sew can be fun! What are you waiting for?

Brother CS6000i Sew Advance Sew Affordable 60-Stitch Computerized Free-Arm Sewing Machine

Amazon Price: $149.99 (as of 02/15/2012)

60-stitch computerized free-arm sewing machine with LCD display.
25-year limited warranty.

Encyclopedia of Sewing Machine Techniques

by: Nancy Bednar, JoAnn Pugh-Gannon

Amazon Price: $12.44 (as of 02/15/2012)

Anyone looking for advice on those indispensable basics will find a variety of ways to do bias binding, buttonholes, edge finishes, gathering, hem finishes, mitering corners, seam finishes, topstitching, and zippers. Or sewers can learn how to make any item eye-catching with an array of creative touches, including appliqué, crisscross chain stitching, eyelet embroidery, and lacework.

Projects To Make From Recycled Blankets

Groovy ways to make your dorm room feel homey!

Make Your Own Bean Bag Chair: For lounging in front of the television or curling up to read a book, use this comfortable bean-bag chair.

New Uses For Pillowcases & Towels

Don't hide grandma's old linens away in a closet!

Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Pillowcase

by: Suzanne J.E. Tourtillott

Amazon Price: $11.33 (as of 02/15/2012)

28 beguiling projects, ranging from patterned pinafores and aprons to decorative, embellished boxes and quilts.

Craft Challenge: Dozens of Ways to Repurpose a Tea Towel

by: Nathalie Mornu