Now that summer is, sigh, slowly coming to an end, I’m sure many parents have begun the annual task of looking through the fall kids clothes to see what needs to be replaced or added. Before you KonMari the heck out of their wardrobe and pass anything on, I would like to share with you 10 ways you can re-purpose and fix kids clothes so they have a longer life in your home.
Some tips are actually as simple as looking at kids clothes from a different perspective. The first 3 tips require no alterations, only re-using them in a different way.
1. Use toddler size pants as kid shorts
Did you know that size 2 pants for toddlers have the exact same shape as size 6 shorts? I think those clever clothing manufacturers realized that the larger pattern works perfectly well to accommodate the extra padding of diapers. Keep those cute pants in store because in a few summers, your child will be wearing them again.
2. Toddler dresses make lovely kids tops
Many clothing brands are quite generous when it comes to making toddler dresses wide at the chest. I have found that from ages 2 to 4, many children grow more in length than width, which means dresses can work well as cute tops worn with jeans or a skirt.
3. Use baby clothes as doll clothes
Okay, so these clothes aren’t going to be worn by your kids for much longer than a few months. The speed they outgrow clothes in the first 12 months of life is astounding. In this particular case, keep your favorites to start a doll clothes collection and pass on the rest. Sizes 0 to 3 months work well on most dolls and will be of better quality than store bought doll clothes. They will be all the more precious when your child realizes that they wore the pieces themselves, and you will be reminded about how tiny your child once was. This memory works wonders on the nerves especially after said child throws an epic tantrum.
Quite often, kids clothes can get worn out or messy before they are even outgrown. Here are my top tips to fix kids clothes and make them last longer with a few simple embellishments or repairs.
4. Turn long sleeved shirts into short sleeved tops
When cuffs are worn out or torn, don’t throw the whole T-shirt away. Cut the sleeves and turn them into short sleeved tops. Use one of your kids short sleeved T-shirts as a guide for the appropriate length. You can leave the edge unfinished so the jersey rolls a bit or add an extra 1/2″ to make a cuff. Keep the leftover sleeve fabric to turn into a future appliqué, like the Skull Appliqué featured on the post cover, which I made out of the fabric below.
5. Turn torn leggings into biker style shorts.
I guess we can thank the Kardashians for this latest trend. I must admit, biker style shorts look pretty cute under a dress and are actually quite practical when doing cartwheels. Cut at the line of the tear and leave raw edge. The fabric is generally knitted tightly enough that it shouldn’t fray. Again, keep the leftover fabric for a future appliqué. Have a look at how I used the leftover fabric from these leggings to make the LOVE appliqué. I’m thinking a floral Skull Appliqué would look amazing on a girl’s T-shirt as well.
6. Turn worn out jeans or pants into shorts
You will never need to buy kids shorts again after you adopt the habit of turning old jeans into shorts. Have a look at my tutorial to find out how easy it is. And of course, keep those extra legs of fabric for future patches. You can probably fit one or two skulls into just one leg.
7. Reinforce worn out pants at the knees and bum
With all their running and playing, jeans tend wear out quickly at the knees and the bum area in kids clothes. Knees are the perfect spot to add patches. However, when it comes to the bum area, I prefer to reinforce the fabric with the invisible mending technique. Have a look at the tutorial I wrote here.
8. Use clothing tags to cover a stain
It’s amazing how pretty and interesting these little fabric tags can be, especially the ones on higher end items. Don’t throw them away, because they are perfect for covering up a stain on a T-shirt or a tear in a jacket. Here’s a tag from one of my favorite jeans that I used to hide a stain on the cuff of my son’s T-shirt.
9. Cover an outdated print with a fun appliqué
Sometimes, a print on a T-shirt can make all the difference between a top that is loved or despised. Unfortunately it’s happened in our household that a print which was well liked one year has been deemed completely unacceptable the following year due to it’s graphic print. Don’t fret! You can cover it with a fun appliqué like the Skull T-Shirt appliqué. Even if a bit of the old print shows, it will still look cool.
10. Cover a tear at the knees with a fun patch
Over the years, I have tried many different repair techniques. From invisible mending, sewing fabric under the hole to keep the torn look, to sashiko style patching. My favorite technique for torn knees remains the embellished patches that can give old jeans a fun and stylish new look. This was the thinking that went into designing The Skull Patch.
I feel like the skull is one of the ultimate cool symbols of this generation of kids clothes. I love how something we would associate with hard rockers, when placed on a child’s clothes, just looks so ironic and cool. Because I couldn’t find any patches like this on the market, I developed my own version. Not too scary to cause nightmares, not too cute to feel childish, This version for me felt just right.
If you haven’t picked up a thread and needle or sewing machine since high school, the Skull Patch pattern is the perfect way to ease back into the habit of sewing. The PDF download comes with both hand stitching and machine sewing tutorials.
Although some of these tricks can be a bit time consuming, I find the benefits that come from doing quick fixes or adding an appliqué like the Skull Patch to my kids clothes to make them last longer, outweighs the effort. Topping the list of benefits is the money I save from having to buy new clothes, and minimizing my environmental impact by keeping old clothes in circulation longer and reusing old textiles for patches and appliqués.
Hoping these tips to re-purpose and fix your kids clothes will help you make back to school prep easier, cheaper and more sustainable as well.
Happy Mending!