5 Steps to Start Your Upcycling Adventure
My sewing room is still not fully unpacked, but I am gearing up to begin sewing! I made some fabric napkins last week and it felt really good to be at the machine. I’ve only lived at my new place for two months, and already I’m feeling completely drawn to get back to sewing. Sewing is the kind of hobby that can carry you through a life time of crafty adventures! Upcycling clothes is a huge win for the environment, and is such a fun way to spend your time.
As I finish getting settled in my new space, I’m pondering my first upcycles. It has been a long time since I sewed clothes, and for you it may be something you have rarely or never even done! Upcycling clothes is so satisfying, and the pieces you make become true treasures in your closet. Even novice seamstresses can upcycle clothing. In fact, that is how I first got my start sewing. I used to buy all my clothes at the thrift shop, and one day I saw someone wearing awesome patchwork bell bottoms. Everyone starts somewhere, and if you have not sewn clothes yet I promise you that upcycling is far easier and more approachable than you may think.
Here are five steps to begin your upcycling adventure!
The first step starts with gathering supplies to sew. If you don’t already have a sewing machine and basic sewing kit, I suggest starting with a sewing machine that can at minimum do straight and zig zag stitches. There are industrial machines for fairly cheap that will do clothing with ease! You may want a machine that does buttonholes as well. Beyond that you will need a pair of fabric scissors, a ruler and cutting mat, rotary cutter, sharpie markers or fabric marking pen and thread. Also, that old ironing board and iron you bought that is now collecting dust…yup! You will need that too! LOL!
Step two brings you face to face with the clothes in your closet. Wash everything, and once you get it all hung up start to go through and turn all the hangers backwards. After a few weeks, you will see what you actually wear, and what items are not in your regular rotation. Those pieces that are barely worn are perfect for upcycling! Also if there are things with stains, tears or that need mended set those aside as well.
Upcycling clothes is so eco friendly, because you can probably just use what you already have on hand instead of buying stuff. When I do upcycles on t shirts, I tend to combine two shirts into one dress, and then save the leftover material to use in other projects. Once you get upcycling you will begin to collect cast off bits of fabric to use, so there is typically not a need to run out and collect tons of fabric to get started.
If you do need fabric for your projects, search at a local thrift, antique shop or go on Etsy and find some fabric. Lots of sellers on Etsy sell destash fabric, which is fabric they bought or inherited but do not plan to use. You don’t have to buy brand new fabric because there is so much destash out there to work with! I already have cotton fabrics from quilting, a few fashion fabrics and I destashed a huge box of stretch fabrics on Etsy…so I am good to go! An alternative to destash fabric is to thrift. Gather up and find some used bed sheets and used clothing items with lots of fabric to work with. Long dresses are great to cut up and use as fabric, so are old curtains and table cloths. When you are thrifting you may also find some pieces you want to alter.
Also look for thrifted items that have lace, trims or fancy buttons that you could use in your projects. People destash those items as well on Etsy, which is so cool! One time I was able to score a bag of cast off bits of lace and scrap material that I get into whenever a project needs a little something extra. Once you begin looking at materials in a new way, you will come to realize that there is actually very little need to buy brand new fabric or notions. Zippers can be salvaged off of pants and jackets, and if you keep buttons from clothes you upcycle you will quickly have a collection to choose from.
I’m getting my sewing room finished today, and starting to go through my closet! If all these ideas seem overwhelming, know that just starting with one project can truly get your creativity going. Take it one project at a time, and pretty soon you will have a wardrobe of pieces that are totally original and one of a kind…like you!
