I have been making items from recycled materials ever since I was a teenager. Here’s a sampling of my projects to inspire you!
![Weaving at the Workhouse Arts Center - so happy](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/IMG_2153-1024x768.jpg)
Embroidery
Flexible Food Packaging and Juice Pouches
Neckties
Plastic Bags
Plastic Bottles
Plastic Caps
Rug Hooking
T-shirt rug hooking, sewing and weaving
Upholstery Samples
Embroidery
Most of these embroidered items were gifts for my grandmother. I mail her a gift once a month. Learn more about my handmade gifts from recycled materials.
Flexible Food Packaging and Juice Pouches
Learn more about the items I made from flexible food packaging and juice pouches.
Neckties
![Woman holds up a wide rectangular red quilt with hexagon designs](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_4504-1024x769.jpg)
I made this quilt from upcycled neckties for my friend who was turning 60 years old. It was to recognize her Kanreki, which is a Japanese tradition on a person’s 60th birthday. The traditional color of Kanreki celebrations is red, and it contains 60 full-size hexagons (plus more along the edges). In Japanese textile design, the hexagon is a symbol of longevity because it recalls the shapes on a tortoise shell.
![Woman holds up a quilt that is made from mostly navy blue neckties with some colorful diamond shape parts as well](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/NavyNeckties_Hor_wider5.jpg)
My husband came up with this design which combines necktie shapes with diamonds.
![Butterflies made from neck ties](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_9114-1024x768.jpg)
![A small section from one of my crazy quilts showing cursive handwriting as a type of stitch](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IMG_4821-1024x768.jpg)
Plastic Bags
I weave these items from plastic bags on my floor loom – learn more about my plastic bag weaving.
![Storage basket made from woven plastic bags, clementine wooden box and juice pouches by Trashmagination](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/IMG_0950-e1512592368544-1024x1024.jpg)
Plastic Bottles
Plastic Caps
Rug Hooking
![Carla Brown with hooked rug she made](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/MeHookedCircleRug-1024x768.jpg)
![Leanne's Shine Rug](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DSC01394-1024x768.jpg)
T-Shirt Hooking, Sewing and Weaving
I make many crafts from recycled t-shirts – learn more about my t-shirt recycling process.
![](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_5778-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_6098-1024x768.jpg)
![](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_2008-769x1024.jpg)
![](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/IMG_3332-1024x768.jpg)
![Tapestry made from recycled t-shirt yarn and beads sewn on upholstery sample](https://trashmagination.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/IMG_1692-1024x1024.jpg)
Upholstery Samples
Most of my sewing projects are made from upholstery samples, squares of fabric used by designers. These are the ones that were “out-of-fashion.”