How to Repurpose Children's Clothing

Quality children’s clothing often survives the child’s formative years. If they are still in good condition, it seems a shame to toss them away, especially in light of today’s recycling craze. Therefore, many parents are looking for ways to repurpose their child’s clothing instead of allowing it to end up in the local landfill. Luckily, there are myriads of things that can be done with clothing that children have outgrown.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Wash the clothing before deciding how to repurpose it. Once clean, examine each piece for stains, tears or other flaws that may affect how the clothing can be reused.

2. Cut up clothing that is not good enough to be repurposed into rags. Many different types of fabrics can be useful in dusting, cleaning or other household purposes.

3. Donate clothing that is still in good shape to churches, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army or other charitable organizations. The clothing will be given to children who otherwise might not have quality things to wear to school.

4. Take children’s coats to a local dry cleaner that participates in Coats for Tots or a similar winter program. The business will clean the item thoroughly and then make certain the coats get into the hands of those who most need them.

5. Give the clothing directly to local homeless families who might not otherwise have access to them by various charities. To find these families, speak with the local police force. They tend to know where the local homeless congregate.

6. Offer the clothing to friends or family with children who are already at or approaching the size of the pieces. Many families appreciate this type of help so that they can spend their money for other important issues.

7. Make cloth dolls that can wear the size of clothing being repurposed. Patterns are available to help in this craft or make up a pattern of your own. Gift the new creations to the child that the clothing belonged to, to their friends, or to other children who might not otherwise receive a doll. Donate the piece to Toys for Tots, to organizations like the Children’s Hospital for the Kings Daughters or any other local group that distributes toys to needy children.

8. Use the fabric from the child’s clothing to make doll clothes for smaller dolls, teddy bears or other stuffed animals. Look for patterns to help in this repurposing through brands like McCalls, Butterrick and Simplicity.

9. Cut the clothing up into patches that can be used to mend other clothing.

10. Turn the clothing into quilt squares. Once enough squares have been collected, make the child a quilt out of his or her old clothing. Embroider the year or age when the child wore the clothing item to turn it into a memory quilt.

11. Consign the clothing to a local retailer. If the item sells, you will receive a certain amount of money (as agreed on ahead of time) to use to purchase new items for the child.

Tips & Warnings

• Be aware of any safety issues with regard to the fabric being used when deciding how to repurpose clothing.