Upcycling and refashioning
Upcycling, or creative reuse, turns unwanted items into something of greater value. With clothes, that means refashioning what you already have.
What it is
Turning unwanted clothes into new things.
Who it suits
Anyone wanting to waste less and try quick projects.
What you need
Old clothes, scissors, chalk, a ruler and a needle or machine.
A first project
A T-shirt tote bag.
The upcycling and refashioning guides
Beginner's guide
What you need
Techniques and stitches
How to turn a T-shirt into a crop top
Mark, cut and hem.
How to turn a maxi dress into a skirt
Cut, make a channel and add elastic.
First project
Mistakes and fixes
Next steps
Sources
All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.
