Give Clothes a Second Life

What do you do with that shirt you bought a couple months ago that’s got a big tear at the collar? How about the jeans with a gash in the knee? What about the formal dress you just wore once?  Make them into something else, of course! On a teen budget and in times of economic instability, money saving ideas like these become vital.

In the past high school students (typically females) learned the skill of sewing in Home Economics. Today, we don’t have such offerings. However, do not let this deter your creative and thrifty spirits, pull out those scissors and grab a needle and thread.

Many options present themselves in a decommissioned pair of pants. By cutting off the legs at a desired length, a pair of shorts is formed. A more advanced seamstress can transform pants into a skirt with only a deft hand, a few stitches and some online instructions.

I recently found a graphic tank top I’d last worn freshman year hiding in the bottom of my closet. I didn’t want to get rid of it, so I whipped out my sewing machine and quickly stitched up the bottom of the shirt, forming a simple, cute bag. This idea works for any type of shirt.

For more information and fabulously cheap ideas for DIY clothing, visit <diyfashion.about.com/od/diyfashion101/u/Clothing.htm>. And remember, giving clothes a second life includes more than just saving money; it keeps you looking classy as ever, cheaply.