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 or here
Adapt your clothes to give them new life
- Take the sleeves off a top or a jacket
- Change the length of a skirt or dress
- Turn jeans into shorts
See some more ideas 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 our other sewing pages:


Clothes
