Tips for making use of an old awning

Whether you're looking for something useful or just plain creative, re-purposing your old awnings is a great way to reduce waste and create something new. Here are some ideas.

As long as the fabric is sturdy, it can be used to make anything normally made of canvas. Because it has been exposed to the elements, you'll want to launder the material using strong detergent before making anything you plan to touch frequently. Examples of useful things to make from used canvas include:

• Eco-friendly tote bags: Use the sturdiest part of the fabric to make a tote bag for carrying groceries. Even if the fabric is threadbare, it can still make a handy tote for light items.
• Car pouches: Car pouches are small bags that hang off the headrest and down the backs of the seats. They provide convenient ways to store small items, such as tissues, maps, or toys to keep little ones busy in the car.
• Weathered work jackets and costumes: If the awning is large enough, the material can be stitched into a work jacket to protect regular clothing during dirty chores, such as painting or taking care of livestock.

Your imagination is the only thing limiting what you can do, creatively, with old awnings. Using the fabric for creative purposes lets you make use of even the most threadbare parts of the material. Some ideas of creative ways to use this weathered fabric include:

• Stretched canvas for paintings: Release your inner artist by stretching used canvas over a frame and then painting as desired.
• Woven flower baskets: Cut the fabric into strips, then weave the strips into a basket to use as a display item for real or silk flowering plants.
• Clothing for comical lawn statues, such as dressed concrete geese: Dress up the lawn goose or make little outfits for the garden trolls. It's an easy way to change the look of your yard decorations, and the canvas clothing lasts a couple of seasons longer than lighter materials will.