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Recycling for textiles

Updated on April 29, 2011

Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim

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!

Book Information and Excerpts

About the Book

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!

Thumbnails and Excerpts - Have a look inside Reuse, Reycle, Reclaim.

Click thumbnail to view full-size

Contents

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

Reuse, Recycle, Reclaim is Avalable from Lulu.

Click here for my textiles book store.

Recycling Off-Cuts from Old Projects

Using Off-cuts of Textiles - Recycling Melted Fabrics style!

Strata
Strata

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.

Breathing New Life into Old Dolls

Recycling Dolls - Recycling Melted Fabrics style!

The Seamstress
The Seamstress

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.

Creative Recycling in Embroidery - Val Holmes.

Creative Recycling in Embroidery
Creative Recycling in Embroidery
I love these textiles books by Val Holmes.
 

Making Old Chairs into Textiles Art

Recycling Furniture - Recycling Melted Fabrics style!

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.

Pick Up Your Trash and Take it With You

Recycled Bags - Recycling Melted Fabrics style!

Marble Bag
Marble Bag

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.

Get Your Own Back on Ill-Fitting Bras!

Bras! - Recycling Melted Fabrics style!

Sugar and Spice
Sugar and Spice

Is this going too far?

I decided to make art from my old bras!

The lace looks fabulous when it's melted.

Making Stuff - An Alternative Craft Book.

Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book
Making Stuff: An Alternative Craft Book
This is a cute book full of ideas for making mittens out of old jumpers, wings from newspaper and feathers, necklaces from paper, bathmats from t-shirts etc.
 

Second-Time Cool - The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater.

Second-Time Cool: The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater
Second-Time Cool: The Art of Chopping Up a Sweater
Learn how to recycle old sweaters and make cute things!
 

Secrets of Rusty Things - Transforming Found Objects into Art.

Secrets of Rusty Things: Transforming Found Objects into Art
Secrets of Rusty Things: Transforming Found Objects into Art
Learn how to make beautiful assemblage art from old rusty bits!
 
working

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