You plaid me at hello

For some plaid isn't just a pattern, it's practically a way of life. I may not live in Minnesota anymore, but you better believe growing up in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, plaid was dang near a uniform — whether you were chopping wood like Paul Bunyan (okay, I’ve never actually chopped a single piece of wood) or just gearing up for a chilly day.

This September, our upcycle prompt is all about embracing fall, and this week we’re thinking about fall in patterns of plaid — patchwork blankets, revamped jackets, and quirky home decor, all crafted from upcycled plaid shirts, skirts, or whatever you’ve got stashed away.

Take some inspiration from us below, or find your own! Together, we’ll create some unique, and totally Midwest-approved upcycled pieces that’ll make you feel ready for sweater weather, no matter where you call home.

Plaid Free-People Duster Knock-Off

Did plaid just get stylish again? Something about this Free People Patchwork Plaid Maxi Top has us thinking hrrrm, can we upcycle it? Especially with a price like $134 - on sale! If you want to live this 90’s fall moment, we can’t blame you. Go ahead, give a duster a try, and if you do please share it with us.

One more great piece of of inspiration.

Make a lumberjack sack

Enough said? But seriously this tutorial by Romela Occaso makes it reallllly easy to take an old flannel to a fall-friendly tote bag.

Turn your old plaid shirts into new plaid napkins

We talked a bit about reusable napkins a couple of weeks back, and when you’re making your own why not make them seasonal?

If that’s not enough, here are 25 other ways you can repurpose your plaid.

Inspirational upcycler: Catherine Wilson

What if I told you that these pillows and rugs were woven from plastic bags? 🤯 Did you zoom in to look closer? Me too.

It was such a pleasure to come across the woven plastic bag upcycles of Catherine Wilson of wovenware, who reached out to share her work when she joined Peo Vee. I was awe-struck by such an elegant use of plastic bag waste and found myself returning to Catherine’s site multiple times in the days to follow. I reached out to see if I could learn a bit more. Read my interview with Catherine below.

Read the interview »

New in the blog:

Why Is This So Darn Hard?
^{by Gabriela Chagas}

I may not know the secret of youth, but I have just found another recipe for aging: darning. If you’ve ever wondered why our grandma’s looked much older than grandmothers these days it is probably due to extensive… darning. My Louisa May Alcott fantasy of living in a castle filled with women gathered around a fireplace slowly mending little moth holes completely evaporated. My darning project gave me nothing but a constant burn of frustration. 

Read the post »

From the community:

Newcomer Laurie shared upcycled earrings and Sashiko/ embroidered pouch. We love a multi-talented upcycler. Welcome Laurie!

Jane shared a fall upcycle of her own: “Took an old blanket to make a walking coat for my sister. She takes her coffee and the dogs out each morning on the farm. This should keep her warm and hide any coffee stains that might occur.”

In this together,