There are many reasons why you might want to do something to an existing garment.
Does it need some kind of repair?
Do you love it, but it doesn't quite suit?
Do you love it, but it doesn't quite fit?
Do you love it, but it is looking a little tired and worn?
Do you want to add a personal touch to make a unique item?
Is it your way of playing?
Whether for practical, aesthetic or playful reasons, the sky is the limit for what you can do to a garment, if you apply a little bit of imagination, mixed with some inspiration for good measure.
We can show you some of the ways in which you can change your item, as well as providing ways of finding new ideas or prompts to the perfect upcycle.
But first, let’s start with some definitions, so we’re all talking about the same things. For the most part, the things we might do to a garment are repair, embellish, alter, refashion or upcycle. This is how I distinguish between these activities:
Repair – there is some damage to the garment that needs to be addressed before it can be worn. Repairs can be invisible or visible. There is a growing trend for visible mending, especially with denim. But if you don’t want to have a visible repair, and your skills aren’t quite up to perfect darning, the repair could be the first step in the process. Once the integrity of the garment is assured, perhaps some embellishment is in order.
Embellish – this is where you turn your ugly duckling into a beautiful swan.
Embellishments can come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from simple to complex. Perhaps some colourful stitching around the cuffs, collar and pocket flaps of that denim shirt will bring a smile to your face. You have a lovely black top, and you want to take it to the next level with some beading. You are cottage core at heart, so a little bit of cotton lace on the pockets makes those oh-so-comfy jeans just a little bit more you.
As mentioned before, embellishments can also disguise repairs to a garment, or in the case of my reverse applique rose top, eliminate the problem altogether. I removed the little holes in the front of the top and replaced them with much bigger holes (and some lace for good measure)! We can use embroidery, beading, applique, braids, lace, printing. Any way you can think of to put your personal stamp on the garment. So. Much. Fun.
Alterations – these are the changes you might make to a garment, while leaving its structural integrity intact. Take up a hem, take in waistline, let out a side seam, shorten the sleeves, lift the waistline, change the neckline. Minor or major, we are changing the garment to suit ourselves, but keeping the original essence of that garment. When playing with proportions, these alterations can take a garment from ho-hum to something special, because it is just right for you.
Refashion – Ever walk through a shop full of clothes and look at something and think “That dress is dreadful, but it would make a fantastic skirt?” Or how about “Oh, I love the colours in those two tops. It would be so much fun to put them together somehow?” Think 16 Candles, but better, because these are your ideas. This is especially fun when you go to the thrift store and pick up some pieces from their half-price or $2 rack. When you finish your refashion, it ticks all the boxes because a) it was a bargain, b) it’s made to suit you, and c) you won’t meet yourself walking down the street in this outfit.
Sometimes you can still see the structure of the original garment, and sometimes it has been changed beyond recognition. The idea of refashioning is not new, although perhaps forgotten for a while due to a generation or two of people who lived through Make Do and Mend didn’t want to be reminded of those times.
But whether it is from necessity or just for fun, it’s an old idea. People have been unpicking clothes and remaking the fabric for centuries, evidenced by garments in museums with multiple seam lines. And if you do it because you need to, you can still have a bit of fun along the way.
Upcycle – This is where you take something and make a completely new and different item. For example, that pair of jeans you’re finished wearing can make a great bag for the beach. A circular tablecloth with a great border print becomes a skirt made for swishing. The list goes on.
We are starting with the simple, then working our way to the complex, and we hope you will join us for the journey. Our first projects are based on single stitches, as described in The Stitch Library and demonstrated in our videos. Starting with embellishment, we have found gently used garments that make an ideal canvas to explore opportunities to adorn and remake.
Finding inspiration from the garment, current trends, or notions we picked up at the thrift store, we'll go through the design process, complete our project, then let you know how it went. Some projects will be straightforward, and others will be a learning experience. Let us have the learning experience, so you don’t need to.