Recycling for textiles

It seems that in this culture we're given so many "things"- our houses are full of "stuff".

Before we are born we're given gifts and this carries on throughout our lives. We throw things away, we break things, we send them to charity shops.

Of course it's necessary to occasionally de-clutter our lives - we wouldn't be able to move if we kept everything. However amazing treasures can be found for use in arts and craft projects.

I aim to show you how I've used found and recycled objects and materials in my artwork and to inspire you to think beyond the label of "junk".

This book is available as a digital download from Lulu.com.

Find out more below!

Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim

A "How- To" Textiles e-Book

Full of Eye Candy!

Over 180 pages and over 180 full-colour images.

Ideas for Recycling old clothes

Recycling large objects like furniture

Making bags from recycled items

Using up the bits you'd usually throw away

Recycling packaging

Saving old projects that went wrong

Recycling broken jewellery

Using found objects

And much more!

Health and Safety

Tools and Materials

Packaging

Boxes and Tins

Novel Ideas for Thread Spools

Picking Up After Yourself

Thread Waste

Off-cuts

Found Objects

Recycling for Knitters

Furniture

The Shirt off your Back

Pick your Rubbish up and take it home with you

Wire Coat hangers

All the Leftover Bits

This is a piece I made by patchworking together sections of excess textiles that I cut from the edge of other textiles pieces.

These tiny pieces are like little treasures so it seemed a shame to throw them away.

In my Recycling book I'll show you how to reuse little bits of textiles.

In this textiles piece I've recycled a cheap Star Trek action figure by wrapping it with fabric and yarn.

This piece is called "The Seamstress" and also features recycled fabrics and thread spools.

This textiles piece was made to cover a really old chair.

I copied images of my family onto pieces of fabric and added them into the textiles.

This purse features recycled fabrics, found marbles, and a recycled purse frame.

I'll give you ideas on how to make your own recycled bags.

Is this going too far?

I decided to make art from my old bras!

The lace looks fabulous when it's melted.