MAKE DO AND MEND - old clothes - altering, upcycling, re-sizing, customising etc

Chris25

littlepinkbiscuits wrote: »

Brilliant thread!

I follow the refashion co-op website, really interesting and full of ideas.

Thank you EvilOlive, great thread.

And thanks littlepinkbiscuits - had a look at that blog & absolutely love the coat that someone made from a blanket!

I often look at this blog - she made a great coat from some barkcloth curtain fabric but often revamps other bits http://mrsbobobun.blogspot.co.uk/

parsniphead

I love pinterest especially looking through the upcycling, etc. the only problem is I get addicted and before I know it the night has passed.

Ballymackeonan

Thanks EvilOlive! My recycling started when I was a student in the 70s, when searching charity shops for 1950s clothes was regarded (at best) as eccentric... Favourite buy then was an Edwardian violet silk damask skirt which needed a lot of letting out at the waist, but did me for a lot of formal events!

Since then, it's been a regular thing - changing and altering the position of buttons, adding trimmings, re-setting zips, adding darts, shortening etc. Until recently, I could barely use a sewing machine, but I'm really pleased now that I've made a tweed skirt using vintage cloth, and a 1970s pattern which I resized.

Most recent was a Viyella size 10 double breasted coat with a fur collar, which is now single breasted, with 1930s carved mother of pearl buttons, and with a plain collar, I'll possibly put on a real fur one as I've been picking these up for years.

I find French flea markets are great for buttons and trimmings - and I'm looking forward to Italy later this month as well!

p00

this is going to be a great thread:T

being of an 'older generation' I like leggings but not as tight as they seem to be. I was sorting out some drawers and found some ms jogging bottoms I haven't seen for years. I went on you tube to see how to alter them - outer seem only and voila I have slightly looser fit leggings instead of baggy jog bottoms.

xxp00

VintageLady

Just this morning I looked at my make do and mend post card as I was digging out an old project I had abandoned half way through. It's a 50's style pencil skirt and needs some alterations to make it fit properly. I find modern patterns run on quite the big side! Once I've sorted it out I'm going to start on getting through the fabric stash and will hopefully have a number of smart pencil skirts for work.

I am a massive vintage addict so I have a number of items in the wardrobe that are in need of some TLC. Last weekend I found what I suspect to be a 1930s dress which is pretty big on me but as it was only a fiver I couldn't resist. I really need to go through my wardrobe and thin it out again, mending what I want to keep and ebaying that which I don't.

JustKeepSwimming_2

Thanks Evil Olive for starting this thread - I've dabbled with sewing every now & then, but although I've often thought "Ooh, that dress would be lovely if I could just add those buttons I have" I've rarely got around to doing anythings......so like others I have quite a stash of clothes/fabric in my loft

Caterina wrote: »

I am so interested in reading more of this, although my sewing skills are limited to the odd shift dress and repairing torn jeans and ripped pockets.

I am torn myself, between the magical chaos of Evil Olive's 47 bags of vintage clothes and MandM90's minimalism. I aspire to both, crazy as it sounds!

I've also been vacillating between having a jolly good clear out & getting rid of the lot & getting around to doing some sewing, so hopefully this thread will give me the incentive I need.

Evil_Olive wrote: »

Hi jfdi,
Have you got a sewing machine with more than just standard running stitch on it? If so, you might not need an overlocker - there's normally at least one stitch that's suitable as a substitute.

Mine has two or three and it's not a new or fancy machine by any means. I found the best one does two or three running stitches followed by one zigzag stitch (which gives the stretch) - I think it's the one that's meant for blind hemming. There's often a dedicated stretch stitch too which is a running stitch that goes back on itself slightly with each stitch.

If not, just using running stitch but stretching the fabric slightly as you run it through the machine can be enough to give the seam the 'give' that it needs not to break in use.

Have you got any scraps of similar fabric you can experiment on?

I must try this out - I've always thought that I can't do certain stuff without an overlocker, yet I can't justify the expense if I'm not going to use it regularly. Hence the procrastination :rotfl:

parsniphead wrote: »

I love pinterest especially looking through the upcycling, etc. the only problem is I get addicted and before I know it the night has passed.

Oh, I'm right there beside you Parsniphead - already lusting after some of the stuff I've seen thanks to this thread. Its the getting it actually done that I struggle with :rotfl:

p00

Quote:I must try this out - I've always thought that I can't do certain stuff without an overlocker, yet I can't justify the expense if I'm not going to use it regularly. Hence the procrastination :rotfl:

Ive started using the zigzag stitch with the correct foot instead of my overlocker which I dont really know how to use. I had to watch You Tube to see the right way to do it. Not as perfect as overlocking but more than adequate.

xxp00

Muppet81

Very excited about this thread. I have a passion for all things 1940s and love the make do and mend concept.
Sadly I am pretty useless with a sewing machine but hope you may all be able to inspire me to have a go

elaine241

Thanks Evil Olive for starting this thread. I am not a confident sewer, currently learning, slowly! My step mum is a shop-a-holic and regularly gives me bags of clothes some of which are too big or need altering before I would wear them. Some are sooo not my style that they have to go straight to CS. I currently have about 20 pairs of jeans that are a little too big but are generally unworn or worn very little. Just plucking up courage to alter a pair to see if I can and if I like the end result! I love the idea of recycling/altering in order to re use or restyle. I will watch this thread for ideas!!

Jacqu79

I can't sew and have no vision for refashioning things, but I love looking at customised/refashioned clothes online, so I'm following this thread with interest.