Save Money: Reuse and Repurpose

One of the best ways to save money and lend to the health of the environment is to reuse and repurpose our belongings.

This isn’t a new practice, while all the ‘greenies’ would like to think it is.  Reusing and repurposing has been a way of life for the American culture since the country’s birth. 

The quilt is a perfect example of this.  Pioneer women saved every scrap of fabric they could get their hands on to make quilts for the very cold winters, it was a matter of survival at that time.

What’s great about quilting is that you don’t have to be a great seamstress or even have much skill to make a simple rag quilt.  Making rag quilts is about all I am able to do in the quilting realm, yet they have held up very well and are loved possessions for our family.  You can read here and here about how I made a Prayer Rag Quilt for my son one year for Christmas.

Rather than give the kid’s knee-worn jeans to Goodwill, I have begun to save them to cut into 4 x 4 squares and just put up for a quilt sometime in the future. 

Speaking of blue jeans, here is a very cute idea to make a purse from old jeans.  Once again, being creative and using basic sewing skills can render a unique and treasured gift.

You can go here to see the instructions for this purse from www.junkmarketstyle.com.

Infarrantly Creative is one of the most interesting and ingenious website for crafts and repurposing.  Her Roadkill Rescue projects are unbelievable, you must see what this woman can do with junk!

Upcycled clothing is all the rage!  Requiring minimal or no sewing skill whatsoever, you can make some of the most darling outfits for your kiddos.

Finally, for old tires, cardboard boxes and plastic bags, take a look here for ideas.

Now it’s your turn!  Tell us what you do to reuse and repurpose!

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