Easy Upcycled Sweater Box
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I originally shared this project on Life After Laundry.
Being a military family, with moves coming every 1 to 3 years, I prefer to use repurposed and upcycled items to organize and craft with. That way if I don’t have room in the next house, I can recycle them and not feel guilty. Plus, I enjoy the process of upcycling an object into something new and useful. Upcycled sweaters are one of my favorite items to use. They’re so pretty and there are so many different ways you can upcycle them.
Now is the perfect time to start going through your closets and getting rid of sweaters that you won’t be wearing or don’t need any more. Of course, donating those sweaters is always a great idea, but sometimes I have a favorite sweater that is hard to part with. Last year, I turned just such a sweater into an Easy Upcycled Sweater Box for free. If you don’t already have a sweater, you can pick one up from a thrift store
You’ll need a sweater (I started with a favorite sweater that the hubby gave me but that had seen better days), a shoe box, scissors, packing tape and glue dots (glue dots really work best for this, but you could use double-stick tape).
Slip the box into the bottom of the sweater. You want the finished hem of the sweater to fold into the inside edge of the box so it will hold up and not fray. Pull the finished edge of the sweater hem into the inside of the box and down about an inch. If your sweater has a pattern, make sure the pattern is straight all around the box. Pull the finished edge of the sweater hem into the inside of the box and down about an inch. If your sweater has a pattern, line the pattern, make sure the pattern is straight all around the box.
Using glue dots, stick the finished hem down evenly around the inside of the box. You want the finished edge inside the box to keep if from fraying during use.
Measure twice because the sweater will move around and stretch on you and then cut the extra sweater away.
Use packing tape to stick all the cut edges down well on the bottom of the box.
In about 10 minutes and for free (or minimal cost), you have a pretty and useful box for organizing all kinds of things.
I just love an upcycled sweater project and have made mittens, gift bags, pillows, decorative flowers, and more from old sweaters.
Do you have any old sweaters that could be upcycled?
I’m a mom of 3, a veteran, military spouse. I’ve moved into 20+ homes all around the world. My passion is helping busy people make the space and time for what’s really important to them. Learn more about Organized 31 and me.
how easy is that! It looks fantastic too great idea.
Wow, you have such great ideas for reusing an old sweater! I love the idea of decorating a box. I would love to do something like this for all of my puppy’s toys!
These are beautiful! Do you have any ideas for the Brio/Thomas the tank engine storage? My sons have grown, but I’m holding onto the set for the next generation.
Thanks, Martha, I was pleased with how they turned out. Are you talking about the shelf that hangs on the wall to store the train cars and are you looking for ways to repurpose the shelf until the next generation needs it? (You’ve got my wheels turning, but I want to make sure I understand what you’re talking about).