Clair, known as Thrifty Clair online, repurposes old clothes to create new outfits
12:10, 25 May 2026Updated 12:10, 25 May 2026
Clair shares videos online to help other people save money on buying new clothes(Image: Jam Press/@thrifty_clair)
A thrifty mum has shared how she transforms her three-year-old son’s old clothes into ‘brand new’ summer outfits using a simple no-sew hack.
Clair, from Bury, Greater Manchester, known online as “Thrifty Clair”, shared the budget-friendly trick with her followers after turning worn-out jeans and pyjamas into shorts and matching summer sets for her son. The 37-year-old content creator said the idea helps save money while also cutting down on waste, creatorzine.com reports.
In video posted on Instagram, viewed by thousands of followers, Clair showed how she chops up clothes her son had outgrown, before repurposing them into wearable summer outfits for the nursery.
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One pair of old jeans was transformed into shorts in just minutes using wonder web – an iron-on sewing tape – meaning no sewing skills were needed. She also used inexpensive iron-on patches from Home Bargains, costing just 79p to give the outfits a fresh new look.
The Bury mum is known as Thrifty Clair online(Image: Jam Press/@thrifty_clair)
Clair said: “Since my early 20s I’ve been embracing ways of cutting back, saving money and creating less waste. Having a young son means he is always outgrowing his clothes, and while I donate a lot of his clothing, some items aren’t suitable to be passed on due to being stained or ripped.
“It’s especially handy for nursery clothing. Things that get stained and will continue to get messy are made wearable for the summer weather.”
The mum-of-one explained that children’s clothes often become damaged before they are fully outgrown, making them difficult to donate or pass on. Instead of throwing them away, she now looks for ways to keep using them.
She said: “I can manage some basic sewing but love a quick fix. “When turning jeans into shorts, I just use wonder web. So no sewing required, just a hot iron. It takes around five minutes to do and is really easy. Pyjamas are even quicker as it’s a case of cutting and stretching the hem. Job done.”
Clair said some of the repurposed clothing had already been bought second-hand cheaply before being transformed again.
She added: “I still buy new summer clothing but doing this means I’m saving a bit extra. More than that though, it means less waste and more use of what I already own. The grey jeans for example were a 50p charity shop pair, he’s had lots of wear out of those and now they’re shorts perfect to wear to nursery.”
Clair encouraged nervous parents to start with pyjamas because they are the easiest items to alter and don’t need to look perfect.
Clair shares videos online to help other mums do the same thing(Image: Jam Press/@thrifty_clair)
“Start with pyjamas because they’re so easy to do,” she said. “If they’re not perfect, it doesn’t matter because they’ll be fine for bedtime. If you’re unsure on where to start, measure against a pair of shorts and T-shirt and cut a cm extra. You can always trim them shorter if needed.”
Her son, who is three, was particularly excited after seeing his fireman pyjamas transformed into a matching summer set, Clair shared.
“My son is only three and still at a stage where he is happy to wear most things,” the Bury mum says. “As much as he loves crafts, this is one I do myself. I pick out a few items that are no good to donate or sell on and use those to upcycle.
“He was however, excited that his fireman pyjamas were magically transformed into shorts and T-shirt pyjamas.”
