Last week I talked about some frugal ways to upcycle orphan socks, but there were way too many fabulous ideas to include in just one post. So if you are looking for something to do with your lone-socks, then be sure the check out last week's post as well as this week's post on reusing orphan socks. It appears that every week when I do laundry, I end up with more lonely socks. How does that even happen? I am convinced that the washer or dryer have a quota to meet. Maybe 27 socks to eat in a span of 6 months? That leaves us with 27 socks to use for these awesome DIY uses for orphan socks. Maybe it will no longer "sock" to be lonely. ;)
Fall is here, and winter is coming. Keeping your little one's legs warm is going to be oh so important over the coming months. Baby's easily have their legs bare when in a baby carrier or car seat, from their pants hiking up. You can prevent that with a pair of your very own home made baby leg warmers. They are even fabulous baby shower gifts!
So you're going to need a sewing machine or you will need to be handy with a needle and thread for this one. You will also need matching socks for this ;)
Take your pair of socks, and cut off the actual foot part. You are going to want to cut just above where the sock bends for the heel. If they are patterned socks, be sure to cut straight along the pattern for the best result.
Then you are going to turn in the cut end, and turn your sock sleeves inside out. Zigzag stitch over the rough end of the sock so it gives you a nice clean, new hem. Then turn your socks right side out and voila! You have yourself a pair of baby leg warmers. You can even use the straight portion of the foot part of the sock to make a cuff if you are creative enough.
I despise cleaning dirty blinds. With pets and kids, it is something I end up having to do more often than I would like. I would normally take them all off the windows, and then wash them off in the bath tub with my shower sprayer. But life just got a little bit easier thanks to my washing machine eating endless amounts of socks!
So go ahead and make a solution that is equal parts vinegar and warm water in a bowl. Then stick one of your lone-socks on your hand like a glove. Then you can dip the sock into the solution and wipe all the dirt and grime away. Rinse it in clean water when it becomes too dirty to handle, and then repeat the steps above.
A little while ago I posted this fantastic Swiffer Sock Hack. I have been using this idea ever since, and it is a fabulous way to make use of lonely socks that I would have otherwise thrown out. Here is a quote from my post:
This has got to be the simplest DIY tutorial ever. To sweep, just slip the sock over your Swiffer. You can push the four corners into those grip-holes if you want as well. To mop, you can submerge the sock in your favourite cleaning water & floor cleaner mix and then wring it out. Then stick it onto your Swiffer just like previously mentioned. Mop your floors, tada! You can even redo this a few times and get the entire house swept and mopped in a jiffy.
Draft Stopper for the bottom of your door
Here is an excellent DIY project to save money on your heat bills as well as save you from throwing out those old unmatched socks. It is also super adorable! Drafts can waste between 5-30% of your energy consumption, so put a stop to that! You will most likely want to use fluffy socks for this one, for the best results.
You are going to need about 3 socks, depending on how long you want your draft stopper to be. Then you are going to need some stuffing, maybe you can use fluff from an old tattered pillow to cut down even more costs. You can fill your socks with popcorn kernels, dried beans, dried peas, etc too.
So first, you're going to fill the socks with both your popcorn kernels and the stuffing. It is best to alternate between the two to have an equal mix. You can use a funnel for the corn if you want, but I bet you will still make a bit of a mess. The popcorn kernels is mostly used for weight so that your draft stopper stays in place. It won't spoil like some other dried goods will. Make sure each tube sock is filled to the brim, with stuffing being at each end to make for easy sewing.
To sew, just overlap the open end of the sock over the closed end of another sock and sew them together by hand. If you are no good with a needle and thread, Fabric Glue may even do the trick. Voila!
You can even get creative here and add some buttons for eyes and a snake tongue! So adorable. I can't wait to make these for Christmas gifts for some family members.
Moosers, what is your favourite way to upcycle your odd socks?
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