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Recycling Leftovers from your Closet

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Recycled Leftovers Part 1

Even if you don’t have extensive sewing experience, you can turn some of those buried relics in the back of your closet into treasures in the front. When I finally purged the bowels of the storage closet, I discovered armfuls of clothes that will never go on my body again, but couldn’t  bear to toss them because the fabric was great. Down to the sewing table they went, although some of them of still lurking there, I did manage to create a few new things. Here are a few ideas to get you started on revamping your own “wardrobe” (although, mine could hardly be termed “wardrobe”, more like a collection of eclectic fabric pieces.)

Jeans

·         Skirts: cut off hems, split open legs, cut off crotch points and sew legs together with fronts together and backs together creating a skirt. (tip: leave a split as you need walking room, how high and where is totally up to your brave soul)

·         Bags: cut off legs somewhere above the crotch points, but not through the zip. Stitch across the bottom either right or wrong sides together, it doesn’t matter. Make a strap from the leftover fabric from the leg and attach to each side seam at the top. Now to close it you can either insert a zipper, glue on Velcro, or use a clothespin if you want. Start a new trend. If you are really ambitious, then decorate the jeans with glitter or did that go out in the ‘80’?

·         Lunch bags: Use those leftover leg pieces to form lunch bags. Just cut off a hunk, sew together one end and hem the other end for your opening. Again, stick on some Velcro and you have a lunch tote. (wash the jeans first, you are putting food in after all)

·         Quilt: If you have enough jeans, cut all the legs off, make lots of bags with the tops and cut squares out of the rest of it. Mix and match all of the different shades and colours to form a square-and you have the makings of a quilt. This is where the acid wash jeans come in great for contrast. And you wondered why they heck they were invented in the first place.  These make great dog blankets; it takes a long time for the drool to soak through. Trust me, I have a Saint Bernard.

·         Sleeves: You can use the fabric in the leg to make sleeves for a quilted or knitted jacket, or if you wrecked the sleeves on something else you own.  Fashion tip: Don’t use the acid wash jeans!

Next Pattern:

Have you read?

That Time a Thrift Store Employee Shamed Me – And Your Honest Responses

 

A few months ago, I wrote ” That Time a Thrift Store Employee Yelled at Me – And Changed How I See Thrift Flips Forever”  

My inbox was flooded with messages from all of you, some agreeing, some furious, and many sharing your own thrifting wake-up calls. Today, I want to revisit the debate with your voices front and center.

The Incident That Started It All

If you missed the original article, here’s the gist: I was browsing my local thrift store for vintage linens (my weakness) when an employee called me out for being a “TikTok flipper.” She wasn’t wrong—I had repurposed thrifted finds before—but her frustration hit hard: “These used to be $ 2. Now they’re $  because of people like you.” 

Ouch.

I left that day with my fabric and a guilty conscience. But after hearing from hundreds of you, I realized this isn’t just about me—it’s a big, messy issue with valid points on both sides.

What You Told Me: The For & Against Thrift Flipping Debate

“Thrift Flipping is Gentrification – Period.”

From readers who sided with the thrift store employee:

“I work at a Salvation Army, and it’s INFURIATING to watch resellers clear out our plus-size section just to chop it up for ‘aesthetic’ crop tops. Those clothes were someone’s only affordable option.” – M., Ohio

“My mom raised three kids on thrift store clothes. Now? She can’t even afford to shop there. The ‘sustainable’ crowd priced out the people who actually need these stores.” – Anonymous

“If you want to upcycle, go to the ‘damaged’ bin. Leave the wearable stuff for people who can’t afford to be picky.” – R., Texas

“But Thrift Flipping Is Sustainable – Don’t Shame Creativity!”

From readers who pushed back:

“I’ve been flipping thrifted clothes for 15 years—long before TikTok. Thrift stores have always had resellers. Blame corporations, not crafters.” – L., Portland

“I’m a college student. Thrift flipping lets me afford ‘new’ clothes. Should I feel guilty for not being poor enough to ‘deserve’ thrift stores?” – Anonymous

“The real issue is overproduction. Fast fashion dumps 100B garments a year, but we’re fighting over who ‘deserves’ a $5 shirt?” – K., UK

And then there were the nuanced takes:

“I stopped flipping name-brand or plus-size items after reading your article. But I’ll still upcycle stained tablecloths or torn sheets—stuff nobody else would buy.” – J., Michigan

“Thrift stores themselves are the problem. They’re corporations now. My local shop is owned by a millionaire who jacks up prices, then blames ‘flippers’ for the backlash.” – Anonymous

Where Do We Go From Here?

After reading your messages, here’s where I’ve landed:

  1. Blame the system, not the stitchers. Thrift stores are becoming corporations. Fast fashion is the root issue. But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless.
  2. Be mindful. Ask: Is this item still usable as-is? Could someone else need it more? If yes, maybe leave it.
  3. Get loud about the real villains. Petition thrift stores to cap prices. Boycott brands like Shein. Support actual charity shops.

Your Turn

This isn’t a black-and-white issue, and I’m not here to lecture. But after hearing from you, I’m convinced: we can thrift flip ethically—if we’re willing to adapt.

So tell me: Have you changed how you thrift since this debate started? Drop your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep this conversation going.