Start off with a few simple projects until you build up confidence and end up on the Great British Sewing Bee.
Customise your clothes
- Swap the standard buttons on a jacket or cardigan with your own buttons and create something stylish and unique
- Add interesting or colourful buttons as decorations to T-shirts, hats, scarves, bags
- Add elbow or knee patches, ribbons, trims, pockets…
See some ideas here and buy buttons, beads and other decorations here, here or here
Adapt your clothes to give them new life
- Take sleeves off a top or a jacket
- Change the length of a skirt or dress
- Turn jeans into shorts
See some further ideas here and here
Make new objects out of old
- Try making a laptop or a cushion out of an old jumper
Try a simple kit
Kits are expensive, but a good place to start until you build up confidence. Good kits contain clear instructions and all the equipment you need. Try:
- A skirt or dress from legendary 1970s brand clothkits
- (the pattern pieces are printed directly onto the fabric which makes dressmaking easier)
- A simple but stylish tote bag from Alice Caroline
- An apron or a pair of knickers from Flo-Jo
Find further inspiration on the The Makery You Tube Channel
You might also be interested in the following pages:
Clothes
