People who strive to minimize their own waste are loving a new Reddit post about a bath mat made from old clothes and reused yarn.
What happened?
In a post in the r/ZeroWaste subreddit, the original poster showed off a colorful handmade mat woven on a rag rug loom from worn clothing and yarn from abandoned knitting projects.
"In the one I'm showing here, I can see remains of a leotard I had when I was a kid, pajama pants that were too small, old socks, leggings that developed holes, my mom's T-shirt that was falling apart, and more," the OP wrote.
Other Reddit users loved the creativity.
One person wrote, "I need to make one of these for my kitchen. It looks great, op!"
"This is SO awesome!! I hope to make something like this one day! I can't really afford a loom at the moment, but someday I will!" another commenter said.
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The OP replied, "I got mine off Etsy for $90, but you could make it yourself for cheaper than that if you have access to tools to make it with."
If you're feeling extra crafty, you could even make a loom out of a cardboard box.
How is this helpful?
Household textile waste can grow little by little without getting much attention. But a project like this offers another option. Instead of letting worn fabric sit or discarding it, you can turn it into something you use often.
A bath mat or doormat works especially well for that because it doesn't depend on perfectly matching colors or flawless fabric. And it might even last longer than something you'd buy from a store.
When the materials are already at home, time becomes the main cost. Regardless, even if it takes a few weeks or months, you're still saving resources and money in the process. And according to a study by Anglia Ruskin University in the U.K., it could also boost your mental health.
What can I do?
If you've got a fabric pile sitting somewhere in your home, sort it out. Set aside fabric that's too worn out to donate but still solid enough to reuse. Old T-shirts, sheets, and other soft textiles are great for cutting into strips for making rag rugs.
There's no shame in unraveling old knitting or crochet projects either. Unraveling yarn from an unfinished piece gives that material another use and can clear out your storage space.
If rag rugs aren't your thing, there are plenty of other crafts to try. The fabric can become stuffing for another fiber arts project. And if crafting feels intimidating, there are likely community art workshops in your area hosted by people who would be happy to help.
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