If you’ve been thinking about trying your hand at quilt making, before going to your local fabric store, source your quilt fabric from shirts at a thrift store or even in your own closet. Thrift stores are now overflowing thanks to those whose favorite quarantine pastime has been cleaning and the clothing racks are teeming with shirts in every color and pattern. You could even use the shirts of a loved one to honor their memory. No matter what shirts you decide to use, this is great way to learn how to quilt and be thrifty at the same time. Win, win situation in our book.
Whether your sleeves are too tight or you’re just trying to create a statement with some billowy new sleeves, adding an insert is an adjustment that even a beginner can do. You can choose your level of drama by varying the width of the insert. Keep the bottom of the insert around 6-inches for a subtle increase or amp it up to 10 or more inches for an exaggerated statement. Whatever you choose to do, you can update a few pieces of your wardrobe in an afternoon with this fun and uncomplicated fix.
Whether you’re on vacation, shopping at the store, strolling through the park or enjoying an afternoon at the zoo, a cross bodybag is a must have item. They are perfect for carrying the essentials and keeping your hands free at the same time. You can even make your own from an old thrift store suede jacket or shirt to put your own personal touch on a bag that just might become a new favorite.
Oh, the luxury of a good pocket–perfect for phones, lipstick, or loose change. Plus, you can plunge your hands into them to look effortlessly casual during social situations. But what to do if your favorite dress or skirt is pocketless? No need to stand around feeling awkward with your hands flapping about in the wind and no place to stash your phone. All it takes is a good seam ripper and a little fun fabric to add an in-seam pocket to any piece of clothing in your wardrobe.
Blue jeans aren’t just for cowboys anymore. Move on over you rugged men, we’ve got some fashion statements to make. We’re distressing them, cropping them, acid washing them and fraying them–anything to make our jeans cool and different. Now you can give your plain jeans some personality by using a stencil and bleach to add some modern tattoo-like designs. Cover them with patterns or just put a few strategically placed pictures to alter your jeans and make them your own. Once you give this DIY a try, none of your denim will be safe. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Sweater weather is here and cute little girl’s hand-knit sweaters are blowing up social media news feeds. But what if sewing is more your thing than knitting? No need to keep scrolling, you can still wrap your little one in a “handmade” sweater. You could even give your little girl a “hug” from a lost loved one by using one of their sweaters that has been carefully folded on a shelf for years. Just grab a big sweater, a little bias tape and a few buttons. Once you learn this upcycle technique, no sweater will be safe around you and scrolling past all those cute little hand knit girl’s sweaters will be a thing of the past.
Move over headband, now there’s an even better way to stay warm with your hair up. You can make this trendy bun/ponytail hat even if your skills don’t include crocheting or knitting. Just gather up an old sweater, a little bias tape, and some elastic to be on your way to a warm and stylish winter.
Be the talk of the ski chalet when you show up carrying your winter gear in this cute and cozy bag made from an old sweater. When someone sidles up next to you to ask which exclusive ski boutique sells them, you can proudly tell them that you made it yourself! All you need is an old sweater from your closet or the nearest thrift store, some curtain grommets from the notion section of the fabric store, and an old belt to make this bag in under an hour.
Looking for the perfect DIY gift? You can make a pair of cozy, warm, fleece lined mittens from a couple of outdated sweaters in under an hour. I like to call these “Smittens.” Your friends and family will love receiving a unique pair of earth friendly, handmade Smittens this holiday season.
Have an old cardigan on hand? You can quickly and easily create BOTH a cozy cardigan cowl and a pair of boot socks.
With a few snips of the scissors and a few new seams, you can easily turn an unflattering pullover sweater into a more wearable and versatile cardigan.
When the evening air gets a bit brisk and vibrant leaves start to contrast the brilliant blue skies, you know autumn is here and it’s time to start wrapping up again in your coziest sweatshirts. You could just grab a pullover hoodie, which would keep you plenty warm, but if you want to add some personal style to your sweatshirt, a zipper just might be the design element you’ve been looking for. With a zipper, you can open it up and layer it with your favorite T-shirts, wear it like a cardigan, or even use it as a light jacket. So this year, how about welcoming the cooler weather by putting a zipper into one of your comfortable hoodies.
Take matters into your own hands and create that special embroidered denim piece you’ve been seeing everywhere lately. No need to pay a huge price or spend hours for this trendy new look. Just grab some jeans from your closet, a 1/2-yard of embroidered fabric, sharp scissors and a little iron-on adhesive paper and you’ll be all set.
Let’s face it, even if you have a closet full of jeans, it’s hard to resist just one more pair. And these days, pretty much anything goes when it comes to the style of your denim, so why not embrace your free spirit with some embroidered bell bottoms. There’s no need to go out and buy a new pair when all you need is a little embroidered denim and four straight seams to easily transform one of your straight legs jeans into a fun new pair.
Add a stylish twist to those favorite pair of pants that no longer fit and make them a little more comfortable at the same time. If your pants are just a tad bit snug, you will only need a seam ripper to alter them. However, if you need to add more room, you can mix in a new pattern or texture by inserting a fabric gusset to the sides.
The peasant blouse is a warm weather essential that is reminiscent of carefree summer days. Fashion icons have given the breezy look a sense of glamour and style throughout the years. You, too, can have the iconic summer style by remaking an old, tired button-down into an off-the-shoulder boho blouse.
Go ahead and keep those favorite shirts that have seen better days in the fit department. And don’t worry about buying that perfect shirt that’s a bit too small, because with this simple alteration technique, you can make any shirt fit like a glove
Many women choose a v-neck because it draws the eye up toward the face and creates a heart shape. It can also create an illusionary effect that elongates the body — and who doesn’t want that? Even if you’re not an experienced sewer, you can transform your crew necks into flattering v-neck shirts in just a few simple steps.
Does the thought of repairing a pair of ripped jeans stress you out? Well, we’ve got some good news for you! Make your mending a relaxing creative outlet with this Sashiko-inspired embroidery technique. Instead of going to the trouble of hiding your repairs to make your jeans look brand new again, embrace the creative possibility of showing those stitches to the world. Sashiko was originally used to mend old clothes in Japan and became an art form in it’s own right. It’s basically a simple running stitch used to create interesting patterns. So, turn up some good music, grab a fabric patch, and a needle and thread and get started.
Is it a cape? Is it a shawl? Is it a poncho? NO! It’s a blanket coat. In a few simple steps, you can easily make this warm and cozy coat from a blanket you might already have around the house.
Many people end up with jeans that are too long in order to get them to fit correctly in the waist. However, when jeans are shortened, the new hem doesn’t usually look quite as polished as the original one. To retain the authentic and stylish look of your jeans when shortening them, reattach the original hem.
If your waist is quite a bit smaller than your hips, you may suffer from “gaposis” when you buy jeans to fit your hips. This leaves plenty of room in the waistband, creating a clear view of, ahem, you know, your unmentionables. Well, there is a fix for your jeans to help keep those unmentionables unmentionable.
When it’s cold outside, it’s nice to slip into a comfy pair of slippers. Create your own pair from an old sweater for added coziness. Designed for indoor use, these are sure to keep your feet toasty warm.
If your favorite pair of jeans have become too small in the waist, don’t despair and definitely don’t get rid of them. Instead, be a smarty pants and alter the waistband to fit again (even without advanced sewing skills).
The Renegade Seamstress 