Amy Quarry dropped us an email this week with a link to her blog post on ten ways to repurposing old clothes, reusing as much of the original structure/shape as possible to save time.

Half the list take big clothes and turn them into little clothes: for example, with some pleating around the top and some arm holes chopped in the sides, an adult size skirt can quickly become a child’s dress (right). Or shrinking a woman’s blouse widthwise to make a baby/child’s dress. All very cute.

For those of us without small people (and/or willing cats) to dress, she includes ideas such as making a mini-skirt into a bag and sundresses into aprons (below).

I love these ideas because I’ve got quite a few items of clothing that I love but either which don’t fit any more or don’t suit me as they are any more – but could easily be repurposed like this. Time to unleash the sewing machine!

(Pictures with permission from Amy’s blog)

We’ve kinda already the memory stick thing before but we’ve had an email from Michael which expands on the idea a bit:

Is there a charity or anything that redistributes old memory cards and USB keys? I’ve got some old flash cards from my old cameras and some SD cards too as well as the memory sticks. The biggest are 256kb so I doubt they would be worth selling but they all work, I’ve just got bigger storage ones now.

I have no idea I’m afraid but I like the idea – does anyone know of anything? (In fact, I like the idea so much that if there isn’t already a group doing it, I’ll set up a scheme to collect and redistribute them myself.)

And any reuse ideas for if they’re broken?

(Photo by fanf)

We’ve had an email from Louise, saying:

Here in Malta ice cream comes in rectangular plastic containers. I use them a lot to organize my drawers and cupboard, they’re useful for all kinds of bits and bobs. However I’d like to use some as storage boxes on open shelves, and I’d like to decorate them. Any suggestions?

I love those ice cream tubs. The stuff that isn’t aimed at the luxury market in the UK comes in those rectangular tubs too and I’ve got them all about the place – holding beads/craft stuff, packets of seeds, cat medicines etc. The 2litre tubs are a great size for storing stuff in and of course the regular shape is great for stacking.

I haven’t redecorated any of mine though – anyone got any hints/ideas?

Because I’m obsessed with wire stuff at the moment, I might be tempted to try wrapping it in plastic coated wire (something like a less complicated version of these bottles) – I suspect that would really transform it but would take a lot of wire.

Any other suggestions?

We’ve had an email from Amy:

Hi all! I’ve got a collection of watches which no longer work. They were all cheapy plastic fashion ones (I know, I know, naughty me! I’m much better about that sort of thing now!) so it’s not like they’ll have much value second hand. Will charity shops want them or will they just throw them away?

I guess it depends how they’re broken – if they just need a new battery, they’re probably be more willing than if it’s a broken and not-easily-replaceable strap or cracked face. Anyone work in a charity shop and able to advise further?

Aside from passing it on through a charity shop or Freecycle or whatever, how about stripping it for parts and making some steampunk-style jewellery?

Any other suggestions?

(Photo of a really quite nice watch by vierdrie)

We’ve had an email from Kevin:

What can I do with broken tiles? I’ve just retiled my bathroom and was careful taking the old ones off but most of them cracked in half.

I also have some whole sample tiles that I got from the supplier from when I was choosing. I’m going to use one of the big ones as a hot dish plate in the kitchen but don’t know what to do with the smaller ones.

Following on from your trivet idea, smaller sample tiles would make good coasters or a place to rest your wooden spoon while cooking – especially if they’re pretty or nicely coloured.

Depending on their condition, the cracked ones could be used to “crazy tile” somewhere that doesn’t need to look 100% (like a storage cellar or shed) or smashed up further for a crazy mosaic effect. Offer them on Freecycle if you don’t want to do it yourseld – someone else might like the idea.

(If you fancy renovating them for reusing, I’ve used a translucent glass paint thing to paint ceramic tiles in the past – it let the original gloss of the tile shine through but it wasn’t particularly hard wearing and couldn’t handle being scrubbed clean. Other tile paint is thicker so harder wearing but it can easily look messy and a bit weird because it’s opaque and gloopy. Anyone else got any advice about this?)

Aside from that, there is always crocks for the bottom of plant pots.

Any other ideas?

(Photo by ftibor)