I have made shorts and blouses from a large bed sheet, also curtains, pillow cases etc. It's often cheaper than fabric from fabric store.
You can make skirts from neck ties. Take them apart, press with steam or wet cloth, sew together. Put a zipper and a band on it, make a button hole, sew button on band.
I also make shorts out of pant legs. Cut legs off as high up as you can (the crotch), remove seams. Press with wet cloth or steam iron, you are ready to cut shorts out Good luck.
Hi; Emma Here; I have been doing the above things for a good many years. I still look for old all cotton damask table clothes at garage sales and they make nice napkins, and dish towels. If anyone wipes the dishes any more. I do a lot of alterations and patching for others, and doll clothes, so am always looking for thrift store and garage sales to have as much matchables as I can find. That's my pocket money at 83 yrs old! Save as much as you can this year,and next!
I needed a lace valance for a bay window and couldn't find the fabric or ready made I wanted. I came across a very old lace table cloth that had belonged to my mother-in-law and my husband suggested I use it. It has holes here and there, but I was able to find enough fabric around the edges to make a beutiful valance. I worked exacty like I wanted it too. What I like it it is not just sitting in a drawer and we can remember her each day.
The Sound of Music recycling tip - you remember Capt. Von Trapp had new curtains made for Maria's room and she used the old ones to make play clothes for the kids.
I never thought of turning sheets into clothing items. I have only used them for home projects.
I turned a ruined flat bed sheet into a shower curtain. The top had a hole that was beyond mending, but the rest of the sheet was still in good shape. When I get tired of that I'll turn it into something else.
I have also made pillowcases from old sheets.
Another tip for cheap fabric is to look for tablecloths on clearance. Buy the biggest sizes availabe for the most fabric.
If I plan to use one as a tablecloth, I pick up 2. The second one is made into a buffet runner and matching napkins.
I have made kitchen curtains from tablecloths. I plan on making matching appliance covers with leftover tablecloth fabric.
I also made another shower curtain from 2 clearance tablecloths.
I've used sheets as the backing for quilts and throws. You can make cute aprons from the tops of jeans or skirts from jeans. There are lots of creative ways to turn one item into something totally different! Thanks for the necktie tip! My retired husband has about a hundred of them. Maybe I can use them instead of storing them!
I know a gal who buys colorful sheets from thrift stores. She rips the sheets into strips about an inch & a half wide to 2 inches (or so) wide, then, using the biggest crochet hook possible, she crochets these strips of used sheets into wonderful rugs!
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