Want to Upcycle Clothing? Here’s How you Do That
Do you want to upcycle clothing? If so then this is the guide for you. Here you will find out what steps you can take to make sure that you limit waste while also stretching your clothing that little bit further. If you want to find out more then all you have to do is take a look below.
Try your Hand at Mending
First of all, you need to try your hand at mending. If you are new to the idea of upcycling clothes then this will help you to grow your confidence a little bit. A lot of upcycling projects do not require complex sewing techniques, but with that in mind, you do need to make sure that you’re aware of how to do some basic stitches. Don’t think that you need to make whole new items to start with either. You can begin by doing some basic mending or you can add a patch to a hole in your jeans. Get comfortable with some techniques so you can enhance your older clothing before you go ahead and work with anything new. If you can do this then you are bound to see a huge improvement.
Don’t Worry about Being Good
When it comes to making upcycled clothing, sewing is so important. It’s fine though if that skill takes you a little while to master. Like many skills, learning how to sew is a process and it will take a lot of trial and error. If you want to crack it then you need to understand that everyone is still learning. As you do more, your skill set will grow and you will ultimately become better at it. Take the time to learn from your mistakes and know you don’t always have to be neat and tidy. Visible mends are now on the rise, so keep this in mind if you can. If picking up a needle and thread is daunting then you can always buy a sewing machine. If you know that you are a bit of a whizz with your hands then remember you can always invest in a sewing station if you want. You can find some great sewing cabinets here.
Revamp your Old Clothes
Upcycling some of your older clothing can be simple. Sometimes all you have to do is change the fit. You might also want to play around with the length. One way you can do this would be for you to cut it down or for you to add a bit more fabric. If you have a maxi dress then you can turn this into a midi or you can turn it into a short skirt if you want. Simply change or remove the sleeves as you see fit. Rather than trying to make everything seasonal, it’s important to think about how you can create a timeless piece as this will work in your favor over the long run. It will also help you to keep the shape nice and comfortable so you can feel good whenever you wear it.
Take Note of How Clothes are Constructed
Knowing how your clothes are constructed is a great way for you to work on your upcycling skills. You might also find that it is easier for you to graduate from making simple enhancements to making new garments too. If you want to get started then try and unpick some of the seams to your clothing items so you can see how they come together. Use the unpicked pieces as a pattern so you can then create the original garment again. Sure, things like this won’t result in new items being made, but at the same time, they are a fantastic way for you to improve your look.
Change the Way you See Clothes
Another thing you need to do is change the way that you see your clothing items. Think about your garments as being fabric that have all been fashioned into temporary shapes. It’s a bit like a puzzle. Look at the details that make up your garment too, whether they are embroidery patches or whether it has pockets and zippers. Once you can see past your clothing as being a final product, you can then be less distracted by the design. In the end, you may also notice that the only limitation is the fabric that you have right before you. Even that can be fixed if you can combine different clothing and materials.
Flex your Creativity
There are often a ton of ways that you can upcycle your clothes. One trip down a rabbit hole could result in you being overwhelmed by all of the possibilities that are available. If you want to help yourself here then one thing you can do is try out a few upcycling ideas. This will help you to come up with completely new clothing items. Try and upcycle garments that do not have to be perfect the first time around. Learning how to upcycle old clothes is one of the best ways for you to learn, and remember, every garment you work on is a potential learning experience. At the end of the day, there are no rules to upcycling and as long as you don’t give up, you will soon find that the world is your oyster with it.
Start Easy
With a bit of imagination, you may find that any potential piece of clothing can be upcycled. Some of them are easier to work with than others though. The same concept applies to fabric too. If you know that you are a beginner then begin with some easy fabrics such as cotton or even flannel. Do not work with fabric such as chiffon or corduroy. This won’t hold its shape very well at all. You might also want to make it easier for yourself by taking on projects such as cotton t-shirts. You can easily give things like this a new lease of life if you want. It’s such a simple thing to do and you may even find that the result can be incredibly impactful too.
No-Sew Techniques
Upcycling clothes isn’t all about sewing. There are so many ways that you can revamp your old garments and you may also find that you don’t even have to pick up a needle or thread. Upcycled clothing ideas can include fixing holes with some fabric glue or adding some fun embellishments. Iron-on patches are also a very good way for you to improve an old pair of jeans, or for you to eliminate any worn-out elbows on your sweater. Tie-dye is another option here. One of the easiest clothing hacks you could hope to use is turning your old jeans into shorts by using scissors. You can then use elastic bands to bind the fabric while you dip it into some new dye. This is a very good method that you can use if you are new to DIY but at the same time, it can give you a fantastic result. Practice hemming and neatening things up if you want to improve your skills. Things like this can help you to perfect your skills and you would be surprised at how much confidence it could help you to gain over the long run.
If you want to try and better yourself then as you can see, upcycling is the way to go. Why not see if you can make a positive difference to your wardrobe today, by implementing some of the above tips?
