Let's Recycle: Old Lampin

Fabric Party Buntings

These party decors can be beautifully displayed in your child’s room even after the party is done! 

 

What you’ll need:

 

What you need to do:

1. Cut around 2.5” x 3.5” strips from the cloth diaper. 

2. Fold each strip vertically in half and make a diagonal cut on one of the folded side to make a classic bunting shape. You can make as many strips as you want or just enough to spell your kid’s name.

3. Lay your ribbon on the table so you can easily attach the lampin strips with your sticky tape. Give around 1-inch gaps in between the cloth cutouts.

4. Next, spell out your child’s name with chunky letters on a piece of craft paper. Make sure that it doesn’t go beyond the size of your cloth strips.

5. Cut each letter carefully and stick it on the bunting with tape or glue.

TIP: Got old clothes or blankets with a cute pattern? Turn them into buntings too to break the whiteness of the lampin!

 

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Mini Carry-all

This project can be a beautiful reminder of 3 generations – your child’s lampin, your craft skills, and your mom’s crochet doilies.

 

What you’ll need:

 

What you need to do:

 1. Cut a 6” x 12” shape from the lampin. 

TIP: Would you like a bigger carry-all? No need to cut the cloth diaper, instead use the whole lampin for this project!

 2. Fold the cloth in half and make a running stitch on the opposite ends of the folded fabric. Don’t forget to leave an opening for the bag! 

3. Turn the bag inside out to hide the running stitch that you made in the edges.

4. To create the handle of the bag, make U-shape felt cutouts that measure no more than 4 inches wide. Prepare two pieces of this shape and attach them on opening of the bag with stitches.

5. Decorate your bag with embroidered doilies and secure it in place with small stitches.

 

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Elegant Braided Bracelet

The fraying of the cloth and the sparkle from the beads make an dainty contrast in this easy DIY jewelry.

 

What you’ll need:

 

What you need to do:

1. Cut around three strips measuring two inches wide from your lampin. Also, cut three strings of pearls that measure as long as the lampin.

 

2. Gather the cloth and pearls neatly together then make one big knot at one end of the bundle to fix them in place.

 

3. Hold the lampin-pearl clusters and braid them tightly until the end of the cloth.

4. Secure the end of the braid with several stitches so it won’t unravel.

 

5. To make the lock, stitch a button at one end and a looped thin lampin strip at the other.

TIP: If you don’t have a string of pearls, shiny jewelry chain or a thin printed ribbon will make pretty subsitutes!

 

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Ribbon Coaster

The humble lampin which absorbs a lot of moisture can make nice coasters that will remind your kids of their childhood.

 

What you’ll need:

 

What you need to do:

1. Make around 3.5-inch square cutouts from the cloth diaper.

TIP: To avoid fraying or nisnis, cover one surface of the cloth diaper with masking tape. This will also make measuring easier because it avoids wrinkling the lampin.

 

2. Make a 3.5-inch felt cloth square cutout for the base of the coaster. Glue it on the taped surface of the cloth diaper.

 

3.  Make a ribbon pattern on your coaster and stick it in place with fabric glue.

 

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Ruffled Rose Pillow

Make dainty ruffles from your fabric diapers in just a few steps.

 

What you’ll need:

 

What you need to do:

1. Remove the stitched edges of the diaper cloth. Then, cut around eight pieces of 3-inch lampin strips.

 

2. Pull a single thread in the middle of the cloth strip.

 

3. Gather the fabric to make ruffles. You may also need to pull a thread on the other end of the fabric to help make nice pleats.

 

4. Place the ruffles in a swirl pattern on the plain pillow cover. Start from the center and pin outward gradually.

 

5. Stitch the “spine” of the ruffled fabric embellishment unto the pillow to secure it in place.

TIP: Add sequins or sparkly beads at the middle of the flower embellishment to make it more attention-grabbing!

 

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Cloth Number Book

A hand-stitched cloth number book is made even more special if made with materials that reminds your kids of their childhood.

 

What you’ll need:

 

What you need to do:

 1. Cut 11 pieces of 6-inch square pieces from the cloth diaper to make the cover of the number book and pages for numbers 1-10.

2. Cover three edges of the cloth cutouts with fabric tape to avoid fraying. The remaining side without a tape will be stitched later on.

3. Draw chunky numbers (1-9) on a felt cloth. Cut the numbers using your pencil outline as guide.

4. Stitch the felt numbers on each page of the book. On the same page, sew the correct number of buttons right beside the number.

5. Gather the cloth pages in a sequence like a book and then make a blanket stitch at the edge to bind them together.

TIP: You can also use fabric markers to draw numbers and objects to decorate the cover of your number book!

 

Photos by Majoy Siason