Recycled Crafts

Creative DIY Projects That Turn Trash Into Treasure

Win a copy of Sweater Surgery: How to Make New Things from Old Sweaters

by

You get to benefit from a tiny bit of self promotion! Yup, this is my book. And my publisher, the wonderful Quayside Publishing Group has offered a copy to you my loving Recycled Crafts at Craft Gossip readers. All you need to do is leave a comment in today’s post by Midnight Wed 26th, 2010 and you are entered to win. Here is a bit about it and want to see more projects made with recycled sweaters pop on over to these posts at Craftside and these posts at Sweater Surgery.

Sweater Surgery:
How to Make New Things from Old Sweaters

By yours truly,

Stefanie Girard

“Contemporary crafters are thriving on personalizing, modifying, and altering fashion as not only hobbies but as a lifestyle.

Why repurpose your sweaters? Because you can’t buy sweater fabric by the yard. Sweaters get damaged or go out of style but we still love the prints, colors, and textures. You don’t have time to knit it from scratch. It’s ecologically correct. And most of all–it’s fun!

Sweater Surgery shows you how to upcycle all your slightly worn, slightly damaged, or plain old out-of-style sweaters into fabulous new items for your wardrobe and your home. Readers learn how to choose, cut, restitch, felt, and embellish old sweater fabric, transforming it into beautiful handbags, mittens, scarves, hats, hoodies, skirts, jewelry, soft toys, pillows, and more!

Complete instructions for 27 projects, plus a huge gallery of exciting ideas for further inspiration.”

[tags] Sweater Surgery by Stefanie Girard[/tags]

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Comments

  1. I have seen this book on a few blogs and want it bad!
    Please pick me!!!
    I would love to play like you.

  4. my mother was a “home taylor”, I cut paper with scissors and take care of stray cats and dogs, and my daughter just discovered creativity with grandmother’s sewing machine… the world is hopefully full of women busy with life…?

  5. Set my intention on finding perfection today and look where it landed me! Thanks for the opportunity and good luck with your book. Amy

  7. What a great idea for a book. I have done some felting from old wool sweaters and would love more ideas.

  8. I have loads of sweaters and fabric and need more inspiration to create functional pieces from them. I love the idea of re-using garments and adding pieces to make them fabulous. I’d love to have this book as inspiration! Nancy

  9. I’ve recently returned to sewing from a long hiatus and am extremely interested in recycling/upcycling/repurposing/reinventing old clothing for my family. I could sooooooo use this book! Thanks for the chance to win a copy!

  10. I move a lot and am constantly cleaning out my closets and drawers, giving clothes and other things away. I would love to recycle my sweaters and other unused items into new handmade gifts.

  11. Ooooooh! My husband ruins so many clothes, including sweaters, that I hate to discard. Looks like some very cute creations!!

  14. What a fabulous book! It’s so good that — if I don’t win it — I’ll have to go out and buy it. So many creative ideas…glad I saw Stefanie at Maker Faire!!!

  17. Being the pack rat that I am, I’ve been holding on to a couple (okay, well, an entire box) of sweaters. It would be fabulous to re-purpose them for a fun and/or functional use!

  20. I love to make purse with wool sweaters. I would love to win a copy of your book.

Have you read?

35 Rolled Magazine Crafts -You’ll Never Throw Away a Magazine Again

rolled magazine crafts title

You know that one drawer? The one stuffed with old magazines you swore you’d read again someday? Yeah, I had one too. Mine was a jumbled pile of home décor issues, a few random cooking magazines, and—don’t judge—some celebrity gossip ones from 2011 (I was emotionally invested, okay?). But here’s the thing… instead of tossing them all into the recycling bin, I discovered a whole new world of DIY that completely changed the way I looked at those glossy pages.

Rolled magazine crafts are the ultimate combo of relaxing, colorful, and oh-so-satisfying. It’s the kind of project that starts with “I’ll just roll a few pages” and ends with you surrounded by a vase, a bowl, three coasters, and plans to make a full-blown wall installation. There’s something magical about taking something destined for the trash and turning it into something genuinely beautiful. It’s like giving your old mags a second life—and honestly, they deserve it.

The best part? These projects are super versatile. You can go small with beads or bobby pins, or go big with wall art, wreaths, or even furniture pieces. (Yes, furniture! There’s a magazine stool in this roundup that blew my mind.) And don’t even get me started on the gift potential—handmade goodies like these make thoughtful, one-of-a-kind presents without breaking the bank.

Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or just looking for a mindful weekend project, there’s something incredibly rewarding about rolling paper into art. You’ll be amazed at how meditative the process is, and how quickly you’ll start eyeing every glossy page as potential craft material.

Recycled Magazine Mirror – Home and Garden

Great idea for making a recycled magazine modern vase

Etsy Feature – wall art- made from recycled magazines

Tea Set Made from Rolled Magazines

Making a Magazine Stool – Green Issues by Agy

Recycled Paper Beads — CraftBits.com

Paper Bead Bobby Pin — CraftBits.com

How to Make Magazine Rolls

Magazine Bowls

Face With Recycled Paper Cylinders : 7 Steps (with Pictures) – Instructables

Making a Box with Magazine Rolls

Magazine Craft Step By Step: Reuse And Make Art! – Smiling Colors

Recycled Magazine Pages Bowl : 6 Steps (with Pictures) – Instructables

New art from old rolled up magazine pages-easy and colorful! : r/crafts

Magnificent Magazine Paper Beaded Bracelet : 10 Steps (with Pictures) – Instructables

Magazine Vase and Pencil Holder : 3 Steps (with Pictures) – Instructables

Upcycled Rolled Paper Frame DIY Craft!

Rolled Paper

Paper Bead Bracelet

Rolled Paper Candle Holder : 4 Steps (with Pictures) – Instructables

DIY Crafted Paper Basket: Made From Waste

Rolled Magazine Leaves

Waste Paper Baskets From Real Waste Paper/

West Elm Coiled Paper Ornament Knock Off

Tutorial: Coiled Magazine Paper Bowls – Frugal Upstate

Rolled paper Christmas Tree Ornament – Her Tool Belt

How to Recycle Magazines into Jewelry Beads

Recycled Magazine Bowl – DIY Inspired

Recycled Magazine Page Nesting Bowls! – creative jewish mom

DIY: Recycled Magazine Bowl

Upcycled Magazine Art – Oh My Creative

Rolled Magazine Wall Art | walnuthollowcrafts

Cool DIY Clock Of Rolled Up Magazine Sheets – Shelterness

DIY – Recycled Magazine Wreath

So if you’ve been looking for an excuse to clean out that drawer, this is it. Not only are you decluttering, but you’re also creating stunning pieces that spark conversation and bring a pop of personality to any room. It’s a total win-win.

Personally, I’ve turned some of my oldest, most faded magazine pages into colorful bowls and ornaments—and every time I walk past them, I smile knowing they were rescued from the recycling bin. Crafting with rolled magazines isn’t just fun; it’s a little reminder that beauty can be found in the most unexpected places (even between old perfume ads and articles on how to organize your pantry).

So go ahead—grab those scissors, pour a cup of tea (or a cheeky glass of wine), and start rolling. And hey, if you make something amazing, I’d love to see it! Tag me on social or drop a comment below so we can all ooh and ahh together. Happy crafting, and remember: no magazine left behind.