Give those old clothes new life with these secondhand fashion ideas. From tote bags to DIY skirts and more. And some are no-sew!
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I follow a lot of upcycling and sewing groups, and SO OFTEN the finished projects are WAY better than the original clothing. Using old clothing and linens is a great way to keep items out of the landfill and create unique, one of a kind clothes.
You can even use clothing to make other items like home decor, baby items, quilts, memorial bears, pillows, and more. It’s a thrifty way to use what you have instead of spending lots of money on new fabric.
Here’s some ideas… what have you upcycled to make into new clothing or other items? Share your projects in our Facebook Group– we even have a monthly contest!
Secondhand Fashion Ideas: Old Clothes, New Life
Don't throw out those old clothes. Give them new life with these secondhand fashion DIY ideas. It's amazing what you can do with a little bit of creativity.
Make an adorable farm girl style apron using recycled old jeans! This would make a great gift for mom, grandma-even a mommy and me apron to wear while baking cookies. So cute!
Lace is one of those things that will probably be around forever. Lace shirts are as popular as ever. But they can be pricey. A great way to save money, is to make your own.
Pick up inexpensive plain t-shirts and add your own beautiful lace with this DIY tutorial. Plus, they take just 15 minutes to make!
How to Convert a Prom Dress into a Skirt tutorial : From Cheap to Chic
See how to refashion your old prom dresses, or bridesmaids gowns, into beautiful and fun skirts. Not only will you save money, but you’ll be able to wear the skirt for photo shoots, parties or dates.
How many of us have those old jeans that we know will fit us again one day? Instead of leaving them in a pile, give them new life and turn them into a really cool and useful jeans picnic blanket. Plus, it's water-resistant!
Take an old pair of jeans and turn them into a crafty pair of DIY American Flag Jean Shorts. You can use this same process on jean pants, a skirt, or even a jean jacket.
So cute and inexpensive to update.
Another secondhand fashion idea is to make simple no-sew braided headbands. I love the braided design of these headbands. Make them in several colors!
You can make a no-sew DIY beach bag in less than 30 minutes. Just grab some of your old cotton t-shirts and follow this simple tutorial. The fringe trim is perfect!
These easy fitted diapers are made with old tshirts.
Turn a onesie into a shirt to give it a longer life for your baby or toddler.
Want to turn an old, boring pair of jeans new life? Stamp them! This little ampersand is so fun and I could totally see a hashtag pair being popular.
If you don't have any jeans to update, you can easily pick some up for cheap secondhand.
This step-by-step tutorial will show you how to make an easy denim skirt for girls or women of any age or size from a pair of jeans.
Turn an old, worn sweater into a fun and creative embroidery hoop wall hanging with just a few supplies.
You can even pick up sweaters secondhand at the thrift store that have a cool pattern. Wouldn't a houndstooth pattern look great?
You have to see how this $1 boys t-shirt was refashioned into an adorable ladies skirt! What a simple DIY this is. It's easy enough for a beginner!
We all have that pile of old t-shirts that we don't want to throw away. A great idea is to turn them into an upcycled knotted t-shirt headband.
These would be cute to make for the kiddos too.
This refashion of a classic men's white shirt is genius! Learn how to turn it into a beautiful and current women's fitted blouse.
Take a men’s shirt and refashion it into one of those cozy flannels for a women’s vest. It's a great way to repurpose old quilted flannel shirts.
If you have old t-shirts sitting in a fabric pile, take one and improvise it into a pair of knit shorts for your kids! It's a simple sew project and super comfy.
You can easily update canvas shoes using iron-on transfers. These DIY floral canvas shoes are just adorable!
Refashion your plain old tees with the watercolor trend that we are seeing all over the place. What a great way to add color and give your old clothes, new life.
If you have an old skirt that doesn't fit you anymore, but you love the design, you will love this tutorial. See how to recycle it into an upcycled skirt throw pillow!
We all have those old stretched out sweaters, or shirts that have seen better days. You can use them to create fun crafts like these DIY fabric pumpkins. The best part is they are no-sew!
Would you believe these fun Star Wars Converse shoes were refashioned from old sheets and mod podge? This is such a cool idea. Think about the things you could make with this tutorial. From comic book sneakers to Disney princess and more!
Give your old, plain t-shirts new life by adding a pattern pocket. It's super simple to do using fabric mod podge. I love this idea and can imagine the fun patterns that you can use. Don't throw out those old t-shirts!
Take a old gingham top and give it new life with some Suisse or Chicken Scratch embroidery. You can keep an eye out at secondhand stores for a quick and easy refashion.
If you are like me and you hate throwing out old clothes, this DIY braided storage basket is for you! You can use up all those old t-shirts, or scrap fabric to make this handy storage basket. Now you have a reason for saving all those old clothes!
Not only is this secondhand fashion idea a creative way to use old clothes, but it's also for an incredible cause. Learn how you can sew angel gowns from wedding dresses with this sewing tutorial.
Use old t-shirts or fabric scraps to make a cool fabric braided dog toy. It's so easy to make and your dog will love it too!
I cut the bottom off some old jeans, added some thin knit fabric, and created this fantastic bohemian skirt!
Here's another fun jean upcycle project that I made using scraps of jeans and dress pants, as well as a heart applique.
These bibs are made from old t-shirts!
My kids didn't want to give up their cool Minecraft shirts, but the neckbands were way too stretched out. I cut them apart to make this easy Minecraft sign.
I used a teeshirt to make a baby romper for this project!
Have any old camo laying around? I made some old camo into Nerf vests for my kids!
This denim purse was made from upcycled jeans!
Using some more denim pieces, I make a quick kerchief to match my outfits!
The jean hems were perfect to make a boho bracelet.
Repair those old worn out knees of pants with new patches in a fun material. It's quick and easy and extends the life of the pants.
What’s your favorite upcycle project? Leave a comment below!
Please share and pin this post! If you make this project, share it in our Stuff Mama Makes Facebook Group. We have regular giveaways for gift cards to craft stores. You can also tag me on Instagram @doityourselfdanielle; I love seeing everything you make!