Reusing old bedding / Upcycling bedding

Dear users, dear authors,
Do you have any ideas for reusing or upcycling old bedding?

Hi Josefa,
Thank you so much for your question. I’m really looking forward to seeing what my colleagues have to say.

About a year ago, I traded for a large box of old white linens/bedding. It’s all really high-quality linen or cotton, some with lace inserts or trim. It’s been sitting there ever since, and I’ve been wondering what to do with it.

Back then, I’d actually only wanted one nice decorative pillowcase for the stroller. And I found it in the package. There were even two pillowcases like that. In the center there is beautiful inserted cotton lace, and all around the edges there’s the same lace again as a ruffle. One cover was for the stroller; I sometimes use the other one to photograph pretty things that need this nostalgic background to set the mood for the photo.

But what should I do with the rest now? I’d be happy to give some away if anyone needs it.

Best regards, Ina

You can make great quilts out of old bedding. I sewed these two quilts years ago for my sister’s sons.

Best regards, Inge

Ina, you can sew great white quilts with that white bedding—just Google it. There are some really beautiful ones out there, and since you’re always sewing, you can definitely make a quilt like that too.

Best wishes, Inge

Hello everyone,

Inge, the things you sew! I personally especially like the top blanket. Are there ruffles sewn into it? I imagine that would be complicated, with all those squares—they have to be sewn together exactly. I have enough hobbies. But you did a great job. You really are a true sewing fairy.

Ina, that kind of cotton fabric from bedding (does it have a textured pattern or is it just plain, without a pattern?) could be used to sew a tablecloth or fabric bags, if it’s patterned.
I would sew towels from linen. I can still manage straight seams like that—something simple. I’d gladly take 1–2 pieces off your hands.
I like recycling.

So far, I’ve only used mine as cleaning rags or as a protective layer when painting or gluing—when my husband is building models and I don’t want him to mess up the table.

Hi Inge,
I don’t think patchwork is for me (yet). But you’re right—the things shown online are beautiful. You’d think white is just white, with a little lace, but when you sew it in a staggered pattern, it creates amazing effects.

Hi Andrea,
I’ll pick out a few options for you and send you the pictures via PM. Then you can see what you like.

Hi Veronika, yes, regular modern bedding—that ends up as cleaning rags here, too. But the kind that’s already 100 years old and made of such high-quality fabric—you just can’t throw that away. You can use it to create something new.

Hugs, Ina

I once sewed a sofa cover and used old bedding for the back. There’s no need to spend money on new fabric. After all, no one really sees the back (I don’t mean the back of the sofa, but the back of the cover). 

Thank you very much, Ina.

Hi everyone,
it really depends on the quality of the bedding. I think the quilt idea is lovely, but I haven’t tried it myself yet. So far, old bedding (from the kids) has either been given away or ended up as a drop cloth for painting :].
But our bedding lasts a very long time.
Best regards,
Sonja

This is an interesting topic. I actually have some colorful duvet covers made of very thin fabric, and I don’t want to throw them away just yet. It’s the kind of fabric that isn’t smooth but has a wavy texture.

It just occurred to me that you could use it to sew a Carnival costume, for example—maybe a clown costume. Or even little smocks for the kids to wear when they’re painting.

If you have kids, you can always find a use for old bedding: for building forts, as curtains for plays, for painting, for dress-up...

I sew gift bags out of old bedding. Sometimes I just use the duvet cover if it’s nice and colorful. If it has a pattern, I cut out the design, iron it onto the fabric, and stitch it down.

The pig used to be a sheet, and the bag was a duvet cover 






Here I have some great old bedding; I tore it into strips and crocheted a seat cushion for my garden bench. 



Here’s how it’s cut....



Crocheted in the round for the chair. I’ve also crocheted placemats from bed linens for my daughter and cousin.

And from a set of bed linens that my daughter no longer liked, I unpicked the seams and sewed a tablecloth. It didn’t have a seam at the top, so now it fits on a large table. 

WOW, amazing creations from your old bedding, Petra

Best regards, Inge

Petra, you did a great job. I think your idea with the gift bags is absolutely fantastic. I could definitely see myself doing that, too. Kids, for example, can always find a use for them—even if it’s just sorting their toys into them.

I use old bedding as lining for bags. It’s also great for practicing tricky patchwork blocks. I’ve already sewn luminary bags out of white sheets. When I’m patchworking a pillow and want to quilt the front, I can use the bedding for the back of the sandwich—you won’t see it later anyway. It gets sewn together with the back anyway. It disappears inside the pillow.
It’s great for quilting practice. I have some beautiful gray cotton bedding from my daughter lying around here. It’s almost new—the zipper is broken. I’m going to turn it into a new pair of summer pants.
  It works for doll bedding and tote bags. You can also dye white linens to create new fabric.
I’d never use it for a quilt I plan to hand-quilt—it’s way too heavy and you’ll wear out your fingers. Not even as the backing…
It’s doable with a machine, though. But I’d try it carefully at first. Old bedding, in particular, is often very stiff.
I have a sheet that I pin my blocks firmly onto. That way, I can transport them without messing up my design.
Go for it—bedding is a great raw material.
Best regards, Marita
 

A new pair of pants—good idea

I just found a free pattern here for sewing fabric bags. As a beginner, I’d also like to try using colored bedding—plain pieces in different colors (not brightly patterned). I like fabric bags in different colors.

Or the white one from Ina. For tablecloths, or also for experimenting with tie-dyeing.

You can find so much online. I have to try everything.

Yes, those are some great ideas! I could also imagine making little kids’ aprons or craft aprons that the kids can stamp themselves. Imagine a kids’ birthday party for little ones. Everyone would have a white, sewn apron in front of them and could decorate it: with waterproof markers or by stamping with waterproof ink pads. Of course, you’d have to test it beforehand to make sure it’s washable. But everyone would have a one-of-a-kind keepsake from the birthday and could wear it whenever they want to paint.

Yes, Marita is right—bed linens are a great raw material.

Best regards, Ina

Great idea, Ina.
That reminds me—you could also build a teepee out of it.
Endless possibilities.
Best regards, Marita 

Would you like to join the conversation in this thread?
Reusing old tablecloths / Upcycling tablecloths

Yes, Marita, a teepee would be great too! Just imagine a little girl’s favorite, well-worn bedding. She’ll get new ones eventually, but in her heart, she still loves the old designs. And if you can breathe new life into them—for example, by turning them into a teepee or making big floor cushions—then that’s just wonderful. Nothing has to go straight into the trash. You can always make something beautiful out of fabric.

Dear Josefa, yes, tablecloths—that’s another topic. Whenever I stroll through a flea market, there’s always a big box full of old tablecloths. Who even uses tablecloths these days? Back in the day, they were the perfect addition to the table for coffee time. They were lovingly hand-embroidered or featured a hemstitch or crocheted lace. But none of that is really in style anymore. And so they just sit in the closet—way too good to throw away. Let’s see what ideas the other thread comes up with.

Hugs, Ina

Hello, fellow readers.
I’ve already turned pillowcases with borders into a café curtain. You can buy eyelet trim, sew it on, and thread a rod through it. It also works with a rod pocket. A top sheet with beautiful lace served as a Roman shade in my bedroom for years. The lace was at the bottom, with the pocket for the weighted rod above it.

Here’s another new idea. I have a lot of old white bedding in the basement. A curtain for my garden shed....... 

Hello everyone,
I like to use old white damask bedding for patchwork projects, either by machine washing it or dyeing it in a bag with Proxion mx dyes. For the medieval market, I sew (not really authentic) bodices and skirts....
I also sometimes sew curtains out of it.
In our family, we still use the good old trousseau items from 50 years ago.

Ina, exactly—I’ve already sewn T-shirts that my son outgrew into pillows. Dragon designs. Why not do the same with bedding? 👍
Best regards, Marita 

I created a thread for old towels:
repurpose old towels / upcycle towels

Would you like to write something there too?

Are there any new projects on this topic?

I’m always sewing with used fabrics.

This year, I’ve sewn lots of hedgehog “garages” out of bed linens



My latest sewing project was coasters for my teacup featuring acorns