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8 Upcycling Ideas for Repurposing Your Old Sweaters

A bunch of old sweaters on a clothing rack in a naturally lit setting

Sweaters represent an important part of your wardrobe, but once they get old, you no longer get the same urge to wear them. Still, this doesn’t mean you need to throw them away. You just need to repurpose them into something else. Here are a couple of ideas for you to try.

Decorative Pillows

 

Sweaters are usually made from cozy materials – so, if you make a pillowcase from them, you can create some very pretty decorative pillows. Take the bottom of the sweater and cut it according to the dimensions of the pillow. To kick the design up a notch, you may add some buttons or any other embellishments to the pillow.

Mittens

Every winter could do with some nice mittens – and if your sweater got too old, you may create a pair of nice mittens from it. Simply take the bottom edge and trace the outline for your mittens. Cut the pieces, sew them together, and put them in your coat pocket. This way, you will not be caught by surprise without gloves.

Winter Socks

 

There’s nothing better than a nice pair of thick winter socks during the winter. Trace the outline for the socks in your sweater, making sure that the edge is at the top, where the opening is. You may even use the sleeves or any part of the material to create some nice knee-length socks.

Pom-Pom Hats

 

Got an old sweater and about an hour to spare? Then you may use it to create a pom-pom hat. Trace the outline for the hat in the sweater and use some yarn to create a pom-pom. Not only is it fun, but it can also be quite cozy. 

Wrist Warmers

 

If you have a cashmere or wool sweater that got old or stained, but the sleeves still look good, then you may create some wrist warmers. Simply cut the sleeves to the length that you want, add some crochet to the cut end, and you are done. This will make the perfect accessory for a cold winter day.

Fingerless Gloves

 

How often have your hands frozen simply because you decided to use your phone outside on a winter day? Well, if you have an old sweater whose sleeves you can cut out, then you may create some nice fingerless gloves. Cut them to the desired length, create a hole for your thumb to go in, and you’re done.

Leg Warmers

 

Leg warmers are not only practical, but they are also stylish. They look great over tights or leggings and with a pair of booths. Simply cut down the sleeves of your sweater, bringing them underneath your knees. Once they fold, they will sit around partway down your calf and will look quite stylish.

The Bottom Line

 

Just because a sweater has reached the end of its sweater days, it doesn’t mean that it should be discarded. It should be simply upcycled. And there are plenty of ways for you to do so.