Give old sweaters new life with these 10+ repurposing ideas. From home décor to cozy accessories, discover easy ways to reuse and upcycle sweaters.
When going through your winter clothes this fall did you find some sweaters that you can no longer wear? Don’t toss them or donate them just yet. There are so many ways to reuse old sweaters! You can upcycle your old sweaters, even the ones that have shrunk or have a few moth holes. You can cut them up and create quilt squares, make trendy pillow covers, make mittens, make a felted hat, or even turn an old sweater to create a tea cozy.
Are you feeling left out because all of your sweaters are in great shape? Then pop into your local thrift store and pick up some old sweaters to use in your sewing projects. Check out the men’s department as well as the women’s section for old sweaters. Look for interesting patterns and colored sweaters for your projects.
Some craft projects require felted wool. If you have old wool sweaters, you can use this tutorial showing you how to use wool sweaters to make felted wool or this one showing how to felt sweaters, instead of buying felted wool. You can also unravel a sweater and reuse the yarn for other projects. Here is how to unravel a sweater to recycle the yarn.
10 Ways to Reuse Old Sweaters in DIY Projects
How to Make Wool Mittens from Recycled Sweaters / Simplify Live Love
You don’t need knitting or crochet skills to make a cozy pair of wool mittens. This simple tutorial walks you through tracing, cutting, and sewing pieces from an old sweater to turn it into practical, warm mittens for little hands.
How to Make a Tea Cozy from an Old Sweater / Aunt B on a Budget
Keep your tea warm in style with a tea cozy made from an old sweater. This simple project shows how to turn recycled knitwear into a bright, snug cover that adds a touch of charm to your tea time.
Upcycled Sweater Quilt / MadeByBarb
This quilted blanket combines neat, tidy blocks with cool blue hues, perfect for a cozy corner or a gentleman’s room. Recycled sweaters are stitched together to create a soft, inviting throw that’s both practical and charming.
How to Make Hats from Recycled Sweaters / Threads Magazine
This thick wool hat turns a classic sweater into a stylish but serious winter accessory. It keeps the classic Fair Isle motif while giving new life to a vintage sweater that might otherwise be past its prime.
How to Make a Braided Sweater Scarf / Just Another Day in Paradise
This long, stylish scarf is made by braiding strips from a recycled sweater and finishing each end with a large pom-pom. It’s a cozy, elegant way to repurpose old knitwear into a wearable statement piece.
How to Make a Pillow Cover from an Old Sweater / FrugalHomemaker
These sweater pillow covers turn humble recycled knits into warm, elegant accents for your living space. Each cover preserves the texture and character of the original sweater for a collection that’s both inviting and sophisticated.
How to Make a Felted Wool Laptop Bag / Not Dabbling in Normal
This laptop bag, made from a recycled sweater, gives technology a cozy coverup, starring a front ruffle in the same rich blue felted wool as the main body of the bag and livened up by a vibrant patterned lining.
How to Make a Felted Hand Bag / The Inadvertent Farmer
This beautiful handbag certainly looks high end—and it is! Handmade from a gorgeous teal wool sweater that had seen better days, it transforms a well-worn knit into a stylish, sophisticated accessory.
Upcycled Sweater Vase/ Premeditated Leftovers
Transform a plain vase into a cozy winter vessel that will last all season long by wrapping it in wool from a well-loved sweater. Only the sweater sleeve is used, and you can further adorn your vase with felt flowers or other winter embellishments.
How to Make a Ear Warmer from an Old Sweater / Premeditated Leftovers
Don’t let the chilly winter air nip at your ears. Make this cute ear warmer without spending a dime. Just raid the kids’ closets to find some outgrown or worn-out sweaters. 
Bonus Ideas for Repurposing Old Sweaters
Felted Foot Stool Covers / Prodigal Pieces
These footstools are transformed into cozy accents by covering them in thick, handmade sweater wool. The choice of rich, high-quality sweaters gives them an upscale, sophisticated look, turning simple furniture into beautiful, inviting pieces.
Wool Sweater Drink Coasters / South House Designs
These round coasters transform wool from what were once finely crafted sweaters into luxurious accents for your table. Finished with a neat blanket stitch in contrasting yarn, they’re perfect as handcrafted and elegant gifts.
How do you reuse old sweaters? Have you ever upcycled an old sweater for a DIY Project? We would love to hear about it!
More Fabulous Upcycle Ideas
10 Ways to Repurpose Old Suitcases
How to Turn Thrift Store Finds Into Christmas Gifts
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Thrifty Gal says
How about making gift bags? I make reusable gift bags out of regular cotton fabric (fold a square, hem the top, stitch side and bottom, put ribbon into side seam before sewing), but why not use a sweater instead?
jean says
When my daughter’s twins were in cloth diapers, I purchased nice manly wool sweaters from the thrift shops, shrunk them in hot water, and then created diaper covers and longies. I am in my late sixties, and did not know that 100 per cent wool diaper covers, especially treated with extra lanolin, work like plastic pants of my day, don’t smell, and don’t need washing if air dried, unless they get poop on them. Easy peasy with a serger. I used the collars and cuffs and waistbands to make the waistbands and cuffs on the upcycled product. I added and extra layer in the crotch.
Michelle@SimplifyLiveLove says
Thanks for the shout out, Alea. 🙂 I love that felted hand bag!