Photo courtesy of Linda Hogan

One reader cut jeans into 3 1\u20442-inch squares, sewed them together and lined with fleece to make a blanket for her son.

We’re back for Week Four in our 10-part series intended to help get rid of junk in new and creative ways. This week’s focus is on old clothes — specifically jeans and T-shirts. Many T-shirts have sentimental value. You have one from that time you went to Walt Disney World with the grandparents and another from the time you took your own kids to Niagara Falls. Both the shirts and that favorite pair of slacks are unwearable — what now?

Reduce

First, go through all your old clothes. Divide into two piles: "things I wear" and "things I don't wear."

Then go further. Divide the second pile into things to keep and things to toss. Only keep the most meaningful. If you can't remember exactly what was so special about that trip to Myrtle Beach, you probably don't need to keep the sun-bleached shirt.

OK, one more division. Take everything that is in decent condition and set it aside, we'll deal with that in a minute.

Everything else can be torn into rags. Using rags is not only better for some types of cleaning, but you'll be helping out Mother Earth, too. Every time you use a rag, you're not using paper towels.

If you have things you know you want to keep, but still never wear, get them out of the closet. Try Space Bags. You can get them at Wal-Mart or Target, and they work with most home vacuum cleaners. Just put anything cloth in the bag and suck the air out. Now your huge stack of sweaters fits under the bed.

Reuse

Remember those clothes that were in fairly good condition? Donate them. Something you're not wearing could make a huge difference in someone's life.

Goodwill, the Salvation Army and local thrift stores all take donations regularly, but check with schools, churches and other nonprofit organizations -- everyone needs a little helping hand from time to time.

If you've got things in very good condition, you can even think of consigning clothes. It's not quite charity, but you're getting rid of things you don't need, which is the point, right?

Next, think animals. Your pets miss you while you're gone, so maybe lining Fluffy's bed or a corner of Scruffy's favorite room with a couple of old T-shirts will make the day go by faster for your furry friend.

And if you really can't get rid of them any other way, use those old clothes to help dress a scarecrow or snowman.

Remix

Quilts: I have received suggestion after suggestion about quilts made both from old T-shirts and from old denim. And some readers have submitted pictures of their beautiful designs. For all you quilters out there -- go for it. Take those old clothes and make a blanket.

For those of us who might not be so crafty or have the time, there are places to send your old clothes to be turned into quilts. A few area quilters will turn your memories into warmth including Cathie Osterman of Katie Bug Quilts in Daleville (992-4490, katiebugquilting.com) and Eileen Ann Lau of Greenbird Quilting (400-7372, greenbirdquilting.com). Plus, the Web is full of companies that will make custom quilts. A couple of starting places include Wild Zipper (wildzipper.com; $13 to $18 per square with a $100 per quilt minimum), Campus Quilt Company (campusquilt.com; $129 for a lap quilt to $419 for a king-size quilt) and PSHQuilts (pshquilts.com; lots of options and you can supply your own background fabric).

Packing: Instead of using nonbiodegradable packing peanuts or newspaper that gets ink all over, use old clothes torn into strips to secure those packages.

Throw pillows: Even the minimally crafty can handle this one. Cut the top off the T-shirt and flip it inside out. Sew the bottom shut and all but about one inch of the top. Flip the former shirt right-side-out, stuff with fluff and sew up the hole.

Bag: Take those old jeans and cut the legs all the way off. Flip them inside out and sew the former leg openings shut. Create a strap with an old tie or some ribbon. These work great for baby bags because there are so many pockets!

Rugs: A few readers mentioned rag rugs made from T-shirts, but it seems like you need a special loom to make them. Just use the T-shirts like you would any other cloth on the loom.

Your turn

Our readers must really love books, because we're still getting suggestions about those old paperbacks.

Angela Watkins of Natural Bridge encourages others to reread favorites like she has with George Orwell's "1984." She said that each time she reads it, the book has a different meaning for her.

We didn't hear back from anyone about wine bottles and corks last week, but we'd still love to. Send us your ideas or questions throughout the series. E-mail jennie.tal@roanoke.com or call 981-3269.