Circular Economy Upcycling Challenge!

In the mid 20th century the Irish Countrywomen's Association ran special courses in how to turn creamery butter boxes into footstools and knitting boxes: practical, good-looking furniture made from packaging that would otherwise have been burned or binned. Our museum holds several of these upcycled boxes in its collection, and they're the starting point for this workshop. Inspired by the historical creativity of Ireland’s resourceful women, we’ll try out two craft traditions built on the same principle: rag rugs, made from worn-out clothing and fabric scraps, and patchwork quilting, which turns offcuts into something warm and lasting.

This kind of creativity offers a small, hands-on response to one of today's biggest environmental problems: the sheer scale of textile waste the world now produces and throws away. Over 90 million tonnes of it ends up in landfill or incinerated every year. We can't fix that with any one craft project, but we can build the skills and habits—reusing, remaking, and mending—that a more sustainable future requires.

Bring your own scraps and ideas, too! We'd love to hear how you upcycle at home, and what other old skills might be worth reviving.