How to Recycle Old or Mismatched Gloves

Losing at least one is a very common occurrence. Gloves are objects we use often and in a variety of circumstances: from those that protect us in the winter to the plastic ones for housework or green-thumb activities. Once we lose one, we don't know what to do with the other and, bang, we throw it in the unsorted waste. A mistake and a waste. Because gloves, made of any material, are objects that can be easily recycled and reused. And so they can be given a second life. The material plays a major role in this type of reuse: cloth or wool gloves easily become stuffed animals and toys; plastic gloves, on the other hand, can be transformed into colorful flowerpots and planters or even simple everyday hair ties.

Index of topics

Puppet

Photo Credit | Facebook Ideas to implement – Bruna

To get started, dig out that glove that's been sitting at the bottom of your drawer for a while, because with a little imagination, you can transform it into a stuffed animal for the kids to play with. The process is simple: just cut the glove out correctly and use some soft stuffing material to stuff it. In no time, you'll have a cute squirrel. Watch the tutorial.

Marionette

Photo Credit | Facebook Licia Animations

By cutting out the "fingers" of the glove, you can make mini puppets. Simply attach buttons or other decorations to create characters that little ones can play out stories and dramas with. Or, leave them whole and glue on pieces of felt and tulle to create unique characters.

Flower containers

There are also those who have thought of reusing mismatched gloves to make some containersBy inserting padding into the glove, designer Mariya Donskaya managed to reinvent old gloves and turn them into original flower vases.

Scrunchies

In addition to fabric winter gloves, you all have the classic rubber gloves used in the kitchen at home. Did you know that the old and worn ones are perfect for making homemade crafts? Scrunchies At no cost? Simply cut the cuffs of your gloves one by one to obtain more than 20 elastic bands.

Door stop

Photo Credit | Facebook Amillecose

Old wool gloves (but also rubber ones, why not?) can also become an excellent starting point for making decorative doorstopsSimply fill them with pebbles or sand to make them heavy enough. Then decorate them using the image above as inspiration. You could also make a paperweight in the same way.

Jewellery

And since the streets of the creative recycling they are infinite, there are even those who have managed to obtain from old gloves earrings, pendants and necklacesThis is the Korean artist Min-Ji Cho who, starting from waste materials, has created a unique and original jewelry collection.

Easter place cards

Photo Credit | Facebook The Art of Creative Recycling

With white gloves (or plain ones) you can instead think of making some Easter placeholders Like the one you see in the photo. A small dove placed on a wicker base. If you have any, you could place them on some old, recycled glass holders.

Brooch

Photo Credit | Facebook Cristiana Calilli's blog – CentopercentoMamma

With the classic yellow gloves that we all have at home it is also possible to make some spilleOne idea worth following is the very simple one you see in the photo. Embellish it with a bead and complete it with a safety pin so you can pin it to jackets and coats.

Albero di Natale

Photo Credit | Facebook KALEIDO11

If, over the years, you have collected many mismatched gloves, or if you have some ruined ones and you can no longer use them, you can consider the possibility of using them to create a original Christmas tree like the one you see above.

Vases

Photo Credit | Facebook Vivalowcost – Metropolitan Survival

Finally, why not make use of mismatched gloves in the garden? You can use them as vases for small plants waiting to find a place in pots and flowerbeds. Or, more simply, for the herbsThey're practical and convenient to use for this purpose. We can't help but tell you about the original solution to mismatched gloves found by the "The Glove Love" campaign. The main goal of this initiative, born in Great Britain, is to recover mismatched gloves to create new pairs. The garments collected through donations are washed and then re-matched with a similar glove. The proceeds from the sales are then donated to charity.

Old or Mismatched Gloves: 10 Ideas for Recycling Them