Ever looked at your old stuff and wondered, "What if?" Our newest HobbyScool podcast episode is here to spark your creativity and show you the endless possibilities of upcycling!

Join us as we sit down with Jan Howell, a lifelong crafter, with a knack for seeing potential in the overlooked.

Jan shares her journey from repurposing old t-shirts into baby clothes to crafting cozy mittens from discarded sweaters.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Clever ways to source materials (hint: start with your own closet!)

• Unexpected items you can transform (garden tools as decor, anyone?)

• Simple techniques to get started, even if you've never crafted before

• How to embrace the learning process and have fun along the way

Whether you're looking to declutter, save money, or reduce your environmental impact, this episode is packed with practical ideas to get you started on your own upcycling journey.

Ready to see your old belongings in a new light? Tune in now and let's turn that potential clutter into creative gold!

Key points from the episode:

• [00:01:45] Jan introduces her background in sewing and crafting, including her YouTube channel for teaching basic sewing skills

• [00:03:34] Jan shares how she got started with upcycling, from making baby clothes to creating mittens from sweaters

• [00:05:32] Discussion on where to find materials for upcycling projects, including thrift stores and your own closet

• [00:06:28] Creative ideas for repurposing items like garden tools and old mugs

• [00:10:59] Basic tools needed to get started with upcycling projects

Mentioned In This Episode

• Where to find Jan: ⁠Website⁠ and ⁠Instagram⁠

• Jan's Etsy Shops: ⁠jHowellDESIGNS⁠ and ⁠fibersandtwigs⁠

• Jan’s Free Gift: ⁠DIY Sweater Upcycling pdf guide⁠

Upcycling Magic: Transform Your Closet and Craft Your Way to Sustainability

In our fast-paced world of constant consumption, it's refreshing to take a step back and consider how we can breathe new life into the items we already own.

Enter the world of upcycling – a creative and sustainable approach to crafting that's not only good for the environment but also incredibly rewarding for the soul.

In this blog post, we'll dive into the insights shared by Jan Howell, a seasoned crafter and upcycling enthusiast, during her appearance on the HobbyScool podcast.

The Joy of Upcycling: More Than Just a Craft

Upcycling isn't just about turning old items into new ones; it's a mindset that encourages us to see potential where others might see waste. Jan's journey into upcycling began with a simple act of repurposing her husband's old t-shirts into adorable jumpsuits for their babies. This spark of creativity eventually led her to explore more complex projects, like crafting cozy mittens from felted wool sweaters.

What makes upcycling so special is its ability to blend creativity, sustainability, and practicality. By giving new purpose to items that might otherwise end up in landfills, we're not only reducing waste but also creating unique, personalized pieces that carry stories and memories.

Finding Your Upcycling Inspiration: Where to Look

One of the biggest hurdles for upcycling beginners is knowing where to find materials. Jan offers several suggestions:

1. Start in your own closet: Look for clothes you no longer wear but still have good fabric.

2. Visit thrift stores and consignment shops: These are treasure troves of potential projects.

3. Check out garage sales: You never know what gems you might find.

4. Keep an eye on retail clearance racks: Even new items can be upcycled if the price is right.

The key is to train your eye to see beyond an item's original purpose. That old sweater might become a pair of cozy slippers, or those jeans could transform into a stylish tote bag. The possibilities are endless when you start thinking creatively.

Unexpected Upcycling: Beyond Clothing

While clothing is often the first thing that comes to mind when we think of upcycling, Jan encourages us to think outside the box. Some of her most innovative ideas include:

• Turning garden tools like rakes into jewelry displays

• Using old mugs as paintbrush holders

• Repurposing vintage jars as laundry soap dispensers

• Transforming rustic buckets into planters

These ideas show that upcycling can extend to every corner of your home, adding character and charm while reducing waste. The key is to look at everyday objects with fresh eyes and ask yourself, "What else could this be?"

Getting Started: Tools and Techniques for Beginners

If you're feeling inspired to start your upcycling journey, you'll be happy to know that you don't need a lot of expensive equipment. Here are the basics:

1. A basic sewing machine (though many projects can be done by hand)

2. Scissors or fabric shears

3. Needle and thread

4. Your imagination!

Jan emphasizes that you don't need a fancy, expensive sewing machine to get started. In fact, many thrift stores and online marketplaces offer second-hand machines that are perfect for beginners.

For those who prefer not to sew, there are plenty of no-sew upcycling projects to explore. From t-shirt braiding to decoupage, the world of upcycling is open to crafters of all skill levels.

Embrace Imperfection: The Upcycler's Mindset

Perhaps the most important tool in your upcycling kit is the right mindset. Jan's advice? "Don't be afraid. Don't be intimidated." Upcycling is about experimentation and learning. Not every project will turn out perfectly, and that's okay. In fact, those "happy accidents" often lead to the most unique and cherished creations.

Remember, the goal of upcycling isn't perfection – it's creativity, sustainability, and personal expression. So don't be afraid to make mistakes or to "unpick" a project and start over. Each attempt is a learning experience that will help you grow as a crafter.

Conclusion: Your Upcycling Adventure Awaits

Upcycling is more than just a hobby – it's a way to express your creativity, reduce waste, and create meaningful items for your home and life. Whether you're transforming old jeans into a cozy hot pad or turning a vintage jar into a chic soap dispenser, each project is an opportunity to make something truly unique.

So why not give it a try? Start small, be patient with yourself, and most importantly, have fun. You might be surprised at the hidden potential lying in your closet or local thrift store. Who knows? Your next favorite accessory or home decor item might be just a creative afternoon away.

Remember, in the world of upcycling, one person's trash truly is another person's treasure. Happy crafting!

Follow Us On Social:

Keep Listening:

Pin this and save for later

Transcript:

Dr. Destini Copp [00:00:04]:

Welcome to the HobbyScool podcast. Whether you're a seasoned hobbyist or just getting started, HobbyScool is the perfect place to learn something new. My name is Dr. Destini Copp, and I'm your host of the podcast. But before we jump into our episode for today, the only thing I ask is that if you enjoy the episode, please share with a friend, and give us an honest review on your favorite podcast platform. This helps us get out the content to more people. I also wanna invite you to get on our wait list for our next HobbyScool online learning summit. These are free to attend, and you could find the link to join athobbieschool.com, which is also in our podcast show notes. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy the episode.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:00:59]:

And my special guest today is Jan Howell. Jan has been sewing and crafting since she was a child. She has been influenced by a family that cherishes hands on creativity. She delights in creating unique item that blend vibrant colors, intriguing textures, and most importantly, a sense of purpose. Jan, I am super excited to chat with you, and we're gonna be talking about upcycling and all of those fun topics. And I have a ton of questions for you. But before we get into all of that, can you tell the good audience just a little bit more about you and how you help people?

Jan Howell [00:01:45]:

Yeah. Like you said in the intro, I have been doing things like this for quite a while, and it's just kinda second nature to take fabric or different things and create things with them. I have a small business, have a YouTube channel where I teach basic sewing skills. I think it's really fun to help people get their sewing machines out of the closet or just start sewing with the things that they have and make the projects really simple and easy. And I also design patterns and like other things, watercolor, and I think I have too many interests for I have a lot of interests, I guess, that I have to juggle in. But sewing is one of my favorite, and using upcycled materials is one of my niches, I guess.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:02:37]:

Well, you're definitely in good company here because everybody listening to this podcast episode were interested in a lot of different thing. And what kinda your expertise and what we're gonna be talking about today is, you know, looking at and finding ways to upcycle or recycle items for unique crafting and sewing projects. So this is a little bit of a unique topic area, something I haven't spoken a lot about on the podcast. So let's talk about this a little bit. Kinda what got you into this particular niche, and what have you kind of done over the years to take these, you know, I'll say these these products that were probably headed to a landfill, I'm assuming, and actually do something with them and make them valuable to someone.

Jan Howell [00:03:34]:

Yeah. So when I when my kids were small, they're they're adults now. But when they were small, I used to, like, taking their father's T shirts or stripes knit shirts and making little jumpsuits out of them for the, you know, babies and things just to I just saw that I could do that. You know? There's this good fabric. And so I've kind of done that all along, but the upcycling niche got more intense when I saw a pair of mittens that were made out of sweaters, and I tried to craft my own pattern and and worked on that several times to get it just the right fit. Because the others that I've tried on were really bulky and not easy to wear. I tweaked the pattern really, well to fit nice on your hands, and I went and got a fuse my wool sweaters and shrunk them down, learn how to do that. And, oh, I just loved the texture of the wool when it was shrunk down and how warm they are, the mittens.

Jan Howell [00:04:38]:

And so I got thinking, well, if they feel good on your hands, then I bet this stuff would feel really good on your feet. I have designed several slipper patterns as well using upcycled and felted wool sweaters. And then the rest is history. I make baby toys and all kinds of things with the upcycled sweaters. But I also use upcycled t shirts for so many projects from bags and even shoelaces and t shirt string to crochet with and all kinds of fun things that you can do with upcycled t shirts.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:05:16]:

Well, it sounds like there's a lot of materials and things that you use in your upcycled projects. Where do you go to find all of these materials? Where's a good place to go to find the materials that would probably be headed to the landfill?

Jan Howell [00:05:32]:

Well, like you said, if you have a sweater or a p an item of clothing that you don't want anymore, instead of just, you know, putting it in the trash, you could give it to a secondhand store. But a lot of times, they do end up in the landfill. So just check your own closets, or I do a lot of stuff with upcycled jeans and denim. And so start with your own closet, but go to thrift stores. Thrift stores are loaded with consignment stores, garage sales, where you can get an a lot, you know, even, retail store when they have a clearance rack, you can get things like 70% off. I know I've gotten big extra large dresses, knit dresses, and have a ton of fabric to use even, you know, that way. So

Dr. Destini Copp [00:06:16]:

so definitely like sweaters, t shirts, that sort of thing. We could use that and, you know, and use these in these upcycling projects. What other items? Are there other things out there that you use?

Jan Howell [00:06:28]:

Yeah. I am I love finding garden tools. Garden tools. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I've used rakes.

Jan Howell [00:06:39]:

You tip them upside down. You put, you know, the little prongs, the middle prongs that come out. I've used that really a fun way to hang your bracelets, your jewelry on, and it looks really cute on the wall. Old mugs, you know, that are used for mugs. I put my paintbrushes in old jars. You know? You can use mason jars or different fun can glass containers that were meant to do one thing. Like, I have a really cute vintage jar that has a big lid and easy to open and close that I put my laundry soap in. So oh, wow.

Jan Howell [00:07:11]:

Yeah. My home was kind of full of fun little things, old buckets, 10 buckets that are rustic looking. I put my plants, my potted plants in to display. So just taking things and looking at them a different way, like, if you like something, bring it into your home, and don't be afraid to look outside the box when it comes to decorating your homes and crafting and making new things.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:07:34]:

Well, it sounds like a lot of the thrift stores would be perfect for this. I I guess the challenge that I would have, because I don't I'm not sure that my brain thinks that way, is going into a store like that or maybe a yard sale or or something like that. So how does that inspiration come to you? I guess is what I'm asking.

Jan Howell [00:07:53]:

You'll get so you could recognize good quality, like, a good quality t shirts. You know? If it's something that jumps out of your fabric that you like, I just did a post on my website of showing you how to go into the thrift store actually and what to look for. It's still in good quality shape, and it just has colors that you like. If if it draws your if it, you know, sucks you in and you like it, then and you can see something that it could be. I think it's a matter of just thinking outside the box, and you can get a lot of ideas on Pinterest as well.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:08:30]:

What's the most unusual or give us some examples of maybe unique or unusual things that you have found and created thing out of them.

Jan Howell [00:08:43]:

I they did mention, shoelaces. So I used to think, oh, I used to look for this, you know, cute some cute floral print shoelaces or something, you know, or, like, there's gotta be something. And so I cut up a t shirt in smaise strips, and and you could even use woven fabric. I have a tutorial showing you how to do that, but it stretches really nicely, the t shirt fabric. It's pretty it's pretty durable, and it it's just fun not to, you know, lace your shoes with something bright and colorful, and I don't know. I'm kinda whimsy, but it's fun.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:09:27]:

So using, like, T shirts, fabrics, making some shoelaces out of them, I think that's a great idea. You talked a little bit earlier about the I believe you said it was Benton's, the wool mittens that you created, and you designed additional pattern. Can you talk about other digital patterns that you may have and maybe some of the most popular ones that you have?

Jan Howell [00:09:51]:

Yeah. The Benton pattern is probably the best selling pattern. Well, it still just sells really well, but there's also I have baby clothes, baby blankets, changing pads, a microwavable back you could make to cook baked potatoes in, like, in just a minute or 2, makes really good baked potatoes in the microwave with this all cotton fabric bag. Most of my projects are very simple and easy to, you know, quick to make. So that, you know, of course, I can sew other things that are more detailed, but it's fun to have a project that you can start and finish and not be overwhelmed with. So yeah.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:10:36]:

Well, I certainly like simple. I I did that. So tell us a little bit more about let's just say somebody wants to, you know, do one of these projects that you're talking about. Tell us what kind of tools will they need. Will they need a sewing machine, anything thread, anything else? And I'm just kinda asking the question because I absolutely don't know. I don't know anything about it.

Jan Howell [00:10:59]:

Yeah. Basic sewing machine. You could get a basic sewing machine even brand new for a really a good price. I encourage people to even look at secondhand stores or Craigslist for used machines. But a machine a sewing machine's helpful. I have a lot of people that will sew some of this these things by hand. And, you know, all you need there is a needle and thread. A lot of people think they have to have a really expensive, fancy sewing machine, but you really don't.

Jan Howell [00:11:30]:

And you know, a pair of fabric scissors or a pair of scissors, don't be, afraid to just try things. And I always recommend and give suggestions on things and products and supplies that you could use. Most of the things aren't absolutely required, but you'll need some sewing thread to sew things together. I'd even had projects where you could use glue. When COVID was here and making masks, we were using all kinds of crazy things to come up with because you couldn't get supplies.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:12:04]:

Well, tell me this. Let's just say that somebody is interested in getting started. This idea fascinates them. They wanna take, you know, stuff that may already be, as you mentioned, in their closet that they don't want to either give it to Goodwill or they want to recycle or upcycle them, I should say. Where do you suggest they get started?

Jan Howell [00:12:26]:

You know, what's really fun is a good starting project is making just a little, like, a hot pad or out of an a pair of upcycled jeans. All you need is a few squares from your jeans. Right? There's a lot of fun things that you can make from jeans, but that's a good fabric to start with. It's pretty easy to sew on. Another thing is up step cycling would be to use like, I get, you know, get one of my patterns or at least just look at it and make a, you know, like, one of these baby balls that we're gonna I'm gonna teach you how to make at the, summit. But you don't need a ton of fabric or a lot of supplies to do that, and that's one thing that's doable by hand as well.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:13:11]:

I love that. So very easy to get started here. Jan, any last minute tips for the audience?

Jan Howell [00:13:20]:

Don't be afraid. Don't be intimidated. Just get out your sewing machine. Look outside the box of normal things. And what makes you happy? What brings you joy? Use textures and different colors to, you know, make your life a little more interesting and and enjoyable. Yeah. Probably just not be afraid. And I even unpick projects when I'm sewing.

Jan Howell [00:13:45]:

Don't be afraid if you make a mistake, just you know, it it can't be stressful. Otherwise, you're not gonna wanna do it. So just be light. Be with yourself.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:13:53]:

Just get started. It doesn't matter. It doesn't have to be perfect.

Jan Howell [00:13:58]:

You may or you may not like it. Sewing is not for everyone. You know?

Dr. Destini Copp [00:14:02]:

So, Jan, can you let folks know where they can find you?

Jan Howell [00:14:07]:

Yeah. I have a website, you make it simple.com, where I have all kinds of DIY projects, not just sewing and crafting, but also recipes and fun things to make things a little bit easier. I have my patterns there where you can download and print those. I also have a couple Etsy shops, and one is fibers and twigs on Etsy. And I have a YouTube channel, just Jan Howell.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:14:34]:

Perfect. Then we'll make sure that those links are in the show notes. I believe you have a free gift for the audience also.

Jan Howell [00:14:42]:

Yeah. I do. I have a PDF that they can download that gives upcycling tips and resource guide, gives you some tips on what to do and basic places to get your upcycling and recycling items.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:14:57]:

Perfect. And we're gonna make sure that all of those links are in the show notes for your website, both of your Etsy shops, your YouTube channel, and the free gift. And, Jan, thank you so much for joining me today. I love chatting with you about this fun topic.

Jan Howell [00:15:13]:

Well, I enjoyed it as well. Thank you so much for having me.

Dr. Destini Copp [00:15:22]:

Thank you so much for listening today. Don't forget to sign up for the wait list so you'll be the 1st to know when our next free HobbyScool Online Learning Summit launches. The link is in the show notes for this episode, or you can go to hobbieschool.com, and that's HobbyScool with school without an h in it. Talk soon.