Old shirts

[DaveR]

Slightly odd thread, I know

I have half a dozen work shirts that have worn out round the collar. They obviously can't be given to a charity shop as not fit for sale, but it seems odd somehow to throw them away - decent quality 100% cotton etc. Any ideas?

[red devil]

Sainsbury's have a clothes recycling skip.

Or, you could always start a revival of the grandad collar shirt, sulky pouty lips optional...

http://static.fashionbeans.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/smithymain.jpg

[KidKruger]

I use my old work shirts as decorating shirts, gardening shirts, pyjama tops in winter.

Too well made to just chuck so they get a 2nd career.

[DaveR]

"I use my old work shirts as decorating shirts, gardening shirts, pyjama tops in winter."

It's a good idea, but I have plenty of old t shirts for that kind of stuff. Years ago my Dad used to pass his old shirts on to a mate who was a builder, who used to wear them on site. I always thought it was pretty funny because my Dad was a fairly dapper guy, who bought his shirts from Aquascutum. Not exactly standard site clothes.

[KidKruger]

I like the long sleeves for decorating cos they cover your arms / neck from splatter.

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Make a quilt.

[Pickle]

Donate them to a school - great for kids to use to cover their uniforms when painting etc.

[Salsaboy]

Give them to the poor people in Penge.

[esme]

recycling bin next to the Mind shop and also in Harvester car park (Dulwich Common)

or there is a mens hostel just behind Elephant & Castle, tho they generally want warm clothing and hardwearing shoes/boots - easy to find, street just behind the station, if you ask someone they should know whereabout it is, I think it is Key Street from memory

[civilservant]

once upon a time, a kind mum/wife/aunt/other could have 'turned' the collar for you - the only problem was that the buttonhole then ended upon the 'wrong' side http://unboughtdelicacies.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/how-to-turn-collar.html

if you haven't got a friend or relation with the required skills (and few do these days, alas) or if you're too shy to wear turned collars, then suggest you do what esme said

[espelli]

As Pickle suggested, a primary school would really like them. If you don't have connections to a school or you're not sure about turning up to a school with them, I'd be glad to collect them from you for my Year 1 class to wear for art.

[Ridgley]

There is a idea in how to recycle your shirts I recently made a handbag our of an old T-shirt:)

[DulwichFox]

Put them in the recyle bin (sainsburys)

All fabric is sorted and anything not suitable for resale can still be recycled and reused.

Fox.

[fl0wer]

Even though a chazzer can't put them out on the racks for sale, old 100% cotton will join the recycling system which collects from your chosen branch. Sorted & shredded for papermaking, carpet underlay, etc. You can also bag them & put them out for the wheelie bin recyclers, enclose a label saying they are clean but unusable clothing.

Before you ditch them, snip off the buttons if they are real mother-of-pearl (you can tell, because they will feel cold and there's a trace of shell-calcium on the back) - these are worth keeping.

Patchwork, from old much-worn fabric - no. Whatever work you put in to the quilt, it'll soon wear right out.