Delightful Doughnuts

Made from recycled clothing, inspired by Pop icon Claes Oldenburg

​If you're looking for a crafty diversion between large units in art class, these might just be the perfect menu item! I have successfully made these with my students ages 7 through 18, and everyone of them loved it! They are sort of the simple version of a stuffed animal, and you have many options on how to build these.

I begin with a short video about Claes Oldenburg, and we talk a bit about pop art. I like how he says he was making high art with low materials. What's lower than recycled materials? This explorations offers the potential for exploring many areas like this.

SUPPLIES: The main items you'll need are shirts, sweaters, socks, and/or sweatpants made from stretchy fabric. Think of tubes of fabric. The thicker the better! I got some from our local thrift store, but many students brought in items earning a few extra bonus points.

Other than that, you can use what you have on hand. This is when I pull out old and left over craft supplies and encourage students to bring in some if they'd like to.

• Yarn
• String or ribbon
• Beads
• Buttons
• Seashells
• Any embellishments at all
• Stuffing: Fabric scraps, old pillow stuffing, plastic shopping bags
• Craft (popsicle) sticks for hot gluing safety (optional)
• Sewing supplies of you wish.

As for adhesives, most of the samples I show here were held together with hot glue. If you have a class where you'd like to include sewing, that's a great option too! There are certainly fabric glues and modeling cements that will work as well.

The first step is to cut off a sleeve or toe of a sock, turn it inside-out, and roll it up so the "nice side" shows. As you roll you stuff it with fabric scraps, plastic shopping bags, or old pillow stuffing. Pull it tight so that the doughnut is a full as possible. The end is secured with hot glue (we use popsicle sticks to press down and avoid burns). I find having a place mat of parchment baking paper is helpful for catching stray hot glue.

Other fabric or felt can be used to make "icing" for the top of the doughnut. I have students use chalk to trace around the doughnut and to mark the center of the doughnut. I have them draw a drippy outline on the outer circumference of their circle/icing. Optimally this should overlap the ring a bit so the drips conform to the shape of the doughnut better. (See sample below)  If you cut outside the ring only, it didn't look as good and was harder to press to the form. With scissors we cut the center out, and drippy icing edges. It should be placed on top of the doughnut to check for size and if the edges wrap nicely. (Once glued, it's too late to change.)

Turn the icing over and attach to the doughnut so it hides the chalk lines. If you use hot glue, glue the center first and wait. Then glue a bit of the outside drips at a time. If you do too many at once, the glue cools too fast. I tell students to use a craft stick to press down on the fabric to avoid burns. 

After this, the tops can be decorated in any way the students like. I have my students braid a drizzle from our yarn collection, or to use some of my macrame cord. Ribbon will work too. They add on beads, shells, and other embellishments for "sprinkles." We add our names to the bottoms with masking tape, and display them in doughnut boxes I get donated from the local bakery. Some doughnut shops may even offer you some coupons to give to students as "prizes." This can be a fun motivator.

This has always a big hit for all my age groups, and does not "eat" up a lot of time.