By: John Glover (MBA)
Do you have a bunch of old clothes, scraps or trash lying around? Are you a crafty person, looking to try something new? The answer is right in front of you. Using old materials for your next project is the ideal way to break out of your comfort zone while helping save the planet.
Studies show that the United States produces around 268 millions tons of waste each year, with a lot of that going to landfills across the nation. The average American makes around 4.5 pounds of waste per day full of recyclable items. Instead of throwing things away and adding to landfills, take a little extra time and find ways to incorporate these materials into your everyday life.
Upcycling is the repurposing of materials and helps the environment. It both reduces waste and recycles things into something new and improved. Practicing upcycling has a lot of environmental benefits like reducing pollutants in the air, saving energy that would otherwise be used for harmful manufacturing and it also is a cost saving way to do things you love. Recycling and being environmentally friendly goes hand in hand with crafting. Whether it’s quilting, crocheting or sculpting, there are so many ways to reuse what you have at home.
Reusing old clothes is a great way to add some color and a personal touch into your projects. When it comes to quilting and knitting, try cutting up pieces of your clothes instead of buying fabric. It’s very common that people bring their old clothes to resale shops, or just throw them in the trash. That’s okay, but what if you could give a new meaning to the clothes that hold memories? Try cutting up old t-shirts from high school or college and make a sentimental blanket. You could gift this to someone special or keep this for yourself, but it’s a great memento that holds a lot of memories. Recycling clothes does not have to be unfashionable. You can put your own twist and creativity into making something to last a lifetime.
“Recycling and being sustainable is so easy and you can do it at home. Reusing old scraps or clothes is an easy way to help the environment and put a personal touch on your projects. We all need to be a little more mindful of how our waste affects the earth, so practicing healthy habits like this can really go a long way. Instead of throwing away materials that hold good memories, turn it into something beautiful that can last for years. Recycling is just a new opportunity to test your creative skills,” says Corey Pearson, Master Quilter and VP of Customer Success at Linda’s.
Old plastic bags are another great medium to use for crocheting. You might be thinking that this is a wild idea, but it’s actually a pretty popular way to recycle and it’s pretty much the same technique as crocheting with regular yarn. The only main difference is that you need to cut your plastic bags into strips and then tie them together like a ball of yarn. You can then use your crochet hooks and make whatever you want. A lot of people have been making their own bags out of plastic bags. Not only does this still look like a typical crochet design, it is helping reduce waste and is helping you cut back on spending.
This technique has also been used as a way to give back to people. Volunteers have been using plastic bags as a way to create beds for the homeless community. It is pretty much the same method as crocheting, but instead people are reducing waste and giving people a comfier space to sleep. This proves that helping the environment and helping the less fortunate is easy, but you have to commit yourself and your time. You have to be passionate about change, and this is just one way to do it.
These are just a few examples of how you can give back to mother earth and expand your creative skills. It may take some trial and error, but creativity is not limited to the traditional materials associated with each craft. You have the power to create change and it all starts with your mindset.
Published by: Nelly Chavez
