REDUCE REUSE RECYCLE

Making pillows from old items

THE DEFINITION OF RECYCLE

To reprocess something already used.

THE BEGINNING • We first started off with

mums pyjama bottoms and an old neck pillow –both were going to be thrown out, then I shouted NO! they could be recycled!

MEASURING AND CUTTING

• First we folded the pyjama legs in half and then measured the size of the pillow which was 48cm.

• The tools I used were a tape measure and a piece of tailors chalk .

• Secondly I cut the material the right size using material cutting scissors.

MESSING AROUND !

• Thirdly I was messing around with the spare piece of the pyjama bottoms - Like my shorts?!

HEMMING

• In order to stop the material fraying I had to hem it and I measured it 2cm long on each end.

PREPARING THE STUFFING

• I then took off the neck pillow covering to get the stuffing out. This would then be used to fill the pillows.

PREPARING THE SEWING MACHINE

• Mum & I then set up the sewing machine for a test run – I’d never used a sewing machine before.

• Mum showed me how to thread the needle, load the bobbin and use the foot pedal.

TEST RUN

• I am doing a test run on the sewing machine using the old pillow covering.

• My foot pressed the pedal to make the needle go up and down.

• Mum says I did very well! • After the test run I

stitched the hems of the actual pillow together at each end.

THE HOLE

• I am showing you the hole I left in one end of the pillow, which would be needed to add the stuffing from the neck pillow.

STUFFING

• I then stuffed the pillow.

• I used the wide end of a knitting needle to push the stuffing into the corners.

SEWING

• Here I am sewing up the hole left in the pillow.

• I used a needle and thread and a stitch taught to me by Mrs Sully!

FINISHED

• Here is the finished result.

Other Ways My Family Could Recyle Old Clothes, etc

• Make toys, e.g. sock puppet• Male items such as pillows, cushions, door

stops, etc.• Hand them down to friends or family• Sell it on the web• Hold a car boot sale• Give it to a charity either through a shop or by

door-to-door collection bags• Send it to an orphanage• Put it in a clothes or shoe bank