5 Upcycling Clothes Ideas

What you will need:

• Sewing machine
• Sewing pins
• Iron
• Scissors
• Fabric chalk
• A ruler
• Sewing elastic

This is one of the simplest clothes upcycling projects you can do.

1. Try your jeans on and decide where you want the shorts to end. We’re not hemming here so they will end exactly where you cut them. Mark it on one side with a pin or fabric chalk. Leave them a bit longer if you’re feeling unsure, you can always cut more fabric off.
2. Remove your jeans and lay them flat, using your ruler, mark a straight line with your fabric across both jeans.
3. Grab your scissors and begin cutting. Try to only cut one leg at a time for the straightest line. Leave edges frayed.

You've just made yourself a new pair of shorts!

Refresh your wardrobe by turning a basic tee into a fashionable crop top.

1. Try your old t-shirt on and measure where you want it to sit on your body whilst cropped–expect it to be about an inch longer with the hem. Mark it on both sides with a pin.
2. Remove the t-shirt and lay it flat, using a ruler to mark a straight cutting line with your chalk. Snip the edge of the t-shirt, and cut along this line. Try to cut the front and back fabric separately to avoid wonky lines. Turn your shirt inside out.
3. Create your hem by rolling the folding up the bottom of the fabric by 1cm, ironing it, and turning it up by 1cm again. If you have one, place your machine's sewing foot directly on the folded edge, and sew a straight line all the way around.

Your new crop top is now ready to wear.

Alternatively, if you don’t want to crack out the sewing machine, you can create a no sew crop top.

1. Try your t-shirt on and measure where you want it to sit. Mark this with a pin on both sides. Using a ruler, mark a straight line across the back of the t-shirt only. Cut the side seams and across the back of the t-shirt.
2. Flip the shirt over and, using your ruler, mark a straight line up the middle front of the t-shirt up to where you marked it. Cut this line.
3. Fold your t-shirt in half along the centrefold, and cut a curved shape from the bottom of your t-shirt to the cropped cut. Ensure both sides match for a symmetrical look. Using this front new curve shape, tie the front of your shirt together

Voila, a no-sew crop top.

Breathe new life into a long dress by converting it into a versatile skirt.

1. Try your maxi dress on and decide where you want the top of the skirt to sit on your body. Mark it on both sides with a pin. Lay your dress flat on the table and, using your ruler, mark a straight line about an inch and a half above your pin. Zig-zag sew around the edge of the fabric.
2. Fold the edge of your fabric by about an inch and a half and sew a straight line all the way around, leaving a 3 inch hole.  Stretch your elastic around your waist so it feels snug, and add a 2 inch seam allowance. Thread a safety pin on the edge of your fabric and feed it through. Pull it all the way through to the other end and safety pin the two ends of the fabric together.
3. Sew the elastic closed securely, and sew your 3 inch opening hole shut entirely.

Your new skirt is ready.

Transform an unwanted tee into a practical and eco-friendly shopping bag.

1. Turn your t-shirt inside out, and fold it in half centre-ways and cut the sleeves off. Unfold and cut the neckline off, too.
2. Decide how long you want your bag to be. Using your ruler, draw a line using chalk, but do not cut yet. Lay your t-shirt flat, and cut slits from the bottom of the hem up to where you drew your line, about 1 inch apart. Cut through both sides of the fabric at the same time.
3. Take a fringe from the front and back of the t-shirt into your hands and tie them together. Continue this all the way across your t-shirt until every flap of fabric has been tied together. Flip your t-shirt right-side out.

You now have a reusable, upcycled tote bag.

Ready to start upcycling? Visit Oxfam's online shop to find unique, pre-loved clothes perfect for your next upcycling project. By shopping with Oxfam, you’re investing in the vital work our incredible partners and their local communities are doing around the world - from campaigning for climate justice to exploring how to farm in a changing climate.