‘Upcycle’ sheets to create cute bathroom accessories

Hi Julia: I’m on a tight budget and wanted new bathroom accessories. I had two pretty, floral queensize sheets that I no longer needed. I used one to sew a shower curtain. No stitching required except to add loops to put your rod through. You can make these out of fabric or use a matching ribbon.

Next, I cut the other sheet and made window curtains. The matching pillowcase I lightly filled with fiberfill, stitched the end closed, and then quilted it on my sewing machine. Viola! Instant matching bath rug. I love your column! — Dona G., Chesapeake, Virginia

Hi Dona: I love this! I often try to repurpose things I no longer need, sometimes referred to as “upcycling.” I once made a pillow for a friend out of a dress she no longer wanted but still loved the fabric. I hate throwing something out that is still usable. Using it for another purpose or finding it a new home is good for the environment and good for your wallet. Thank you for sharing this wonderful idea!

Dona’s email got me thinking about upcycling, so I hit the internet looking for ideas I could share with you. I decided to narrow my search to repurposing old jeans. I don’t know about you, but I have several pairs tucked in the back of my drawer that no longer fit. So why not make them into something I can actually use? I found a lot of great projects for just this purpose.

On the blog It’s Always Autumn, I found a tutorial for transforming jeans into a beautiful quilt. You’ll need about 15 adult-size jeans for this project. The author recommends checking garage sales for an inexpensive option.

You’ll cut all of the legs off at the crotch and then cut into 6-inch-wide strips. Stitch all of these strips together, quilt it onto a backing fabric and bind the edges. You can find detailed instruction for this quilt at www.ItsAlwaysAutumn.com on the “Sewing Tutorials” page.

If you just want to use jeans you have on hand instead of purchasing them, TodaysNest.com has a tutorial for a cute upcycled denim placemat. The back pocket of the jeans serves as a holder for a napkin and silverware. For directions, search TodaysNest.com for “upcycled denim placemat.”

Or make fabric baskets out of the legs of a pair of jeans for corralling small items. ThreadingMyWay.com has step-by-step instructions with photos for making one with a lining. You’ll find the tutorial on the “Refashioning” page.

Readers, do you have any ideas to share about upcycling fabric? We’d love to hear them!