14 Unexpected Benefits of Hand Sewing

Every now and again I'll go on a mending or refashioning spree, and I'll share it with you guys. What I don't share are the many times I thread a needle to stitch on a button or repair a small hole in a shirt I love ... or put small darts in a dress otherwise too wide for my daughter; by hand. I was raised by a tribe of woman who sewed - not in some precious, artistic way... it was simply a survival skill for them, like being able to boil an egg. I realize that this mindset has shifted, and our generation is more likely to replace than repair. So I recently gave the 7.5 year old Ms R her first lesson in sewing on a button. And as we worked together, I realized again how valuable it is for her to learn things like this. Why?

Refashion: Split Shoulder Shirt

It's been a while since I shared a refashion and I'm excited about this one! I bought this shirt because I loved the detail. And while I've worn it often over the years, it's never felt right with long sleeves. The detailed cuffs have also always felt too heavy. So, I decided to turn it into the summer shirt it should always have been, and repurpose the detailed cuffs on the shoulders.

[Infographic] Upcycle old sweaters!

If you're in the northern hemisphere, you're optimistic that spring is around the corner and you're probably wanting to cull old sweaters because (a) they don't fit you and/or (b) you didn't wear them all winter because you hate them.

If you're in the southern hemisphere, you're unpacking them, trying them on and realizing that you (a) hate a few of them and/or (b) can no longer fit into a few of them. Ahem.

But don't throw them out! Fun ideas for upcycling below care of Fix.com. I also have refashioning ideas for you here, here, here and here.

Source: Fix.com Blog

Trimming my waste: Week 46 (mom's refashion)

To say that this refashion was years in the making is no exaggeration. I started it three years ago. Then shelved it because I had an idea of what I wanted to do next, but didn't have the know-how. Last month, my parents came to visit. And I hauled it out and asked my mom for help (pro sewer) - so glad I did! Along with the know-how, this really needed someone else's eye and patience. 

Here's some version of a how-to:

Winner! Refashion giveaway

Time to send these books to a new home! As always, I used a randomizer to pick the winner and it chose entry #17 - that's Laura D.

Laura, congrats! Expect an email from me to get your shipping details.

A big thank you to everyone who entered for your interest - if you can find these books gently used, they're worth grabbing - so many good ideas for upcycling and refashioning.

Trimming my waste: Week 31 (refashion giveaway!)

Goals - Week 31:

• Give away what I don't need
• Say thanks for all the support I've been given
• Encourage all of you to upcycle and relove! 

I'm 31 weeks into my challenge! I'm celebrating this milestone by giving away lovely books I don't need. Because I now have multiple copies of them.

Trimming my waste: Week 25 (mending spree!)

Goals - Week 25: 

• Repair things I love to wear
• Admit that I'm not going to lose "those 5 lbs" before September (and so resize stuff!)
• Go on a mending (rather than a spending) spree

I live in Chicago. It's either cool or cold a lot and I wear some version of jeans most of the year (because I have the kind of full-time job where that's ok). Then summer happens. It feels like it will never come and then it does. And it always surprises me. The first time I try on things I haven't worn in a year... well, it's rarely fun. Because I've gained a few inches. Or because I realize my favorite things are still unwearable. Because I neglected to fix something that was a problem a year ago. 

In the last couple of weeks, motivated by actually going on vacation during the summer (something I never do!), I've been tackling some mending. Here's what I took on: 

Trimming my waste: Week 24 (pupcycling)

Goals - Week 24: 

• Celebrate upcycling of every sort!
• Encourage everyone to just start somewhere 
• Keep reminding myself (and you): a "zero-waste" lifestyle is about mindfulness, choice and creativity - not perfection

Meet Peanut. Four months old and just 1.7 kg (3.5 lbs). She's not only the star of this (p)upcycle, she's also the newest member of a popular Instagram family! (see them together below)

Trimming my waste: Week 22 (quick refashion)

Goals - Week 22:

• Clear out closet clutter 
• Repurpose what cannot be donated or easily recycled
• Have a little more guts when it comes to "refashions"

I went to bed on Friday night with a head cold and woke up Saturday feeling dazed. You know when you feel too crappy to leave the house, but not so sick that you can't function? Yeah. That. Which means I made myself tackle one small task so I'd feel like I'd accomplished something. The task: put the heavy duvet cover away for the summer. 

This involved clearing out the bag I use to store it... and what did I find in there? Old clothes, most of which I dropped into a donation box on Sunday. And the two shirts that are the stars of this post. I've been storing them for over a year and as soon as I saw them, I remembered why! 

Rachael Sage Refashion

New York-based visual artist and musician Rachael Sage has been creating mixed-media artwork, drawing and painting since grade school. Working primarily with acrylics, ink and - of course - glitter, Rachael deems her hometown NYC to be her greatest inspiration.

She's also a singer-songwriter and producer who runs her own record label, MPress Records. A soulful vocalist and innovative multi-instrumentalist, Rachael has shared stages with Sarah McLachlan, A Great Big World, Judy Collins, Shawn Colvin, Marc Cohn, Jamie Cullum, The Animals and Ani DiFranco.

And I get to feature a refashion she created just for you guys!! 

Refashion: Too-short T-shirts into Tunics

I share my world with a 5 and half year old who is on her way up. Like a weed, as they say. Which means we're drowning in perfectly good long-sleeved t-shirts that are way too short for her. Way. And then we got a big bag of hand-me-downs from her cousin and suddenly had even more of them. All. too. short.

Reshape: Alteration Altercation

Coming to you live, from the department of cocky refashionistas and people who own sewing machines but have no real training in how to use them well: an apparently basic alteration that failed. 

Refashion: Upcycled T-shirt dress

This amazing T-dress isn't the first Of Dreams and Seams project I've featured (see here), but it might be my favorite. I love the color mixing and the attitude in everything Katya makes. Click through for the whole project and stay for the vision!

Giveaway: Retrash - a new book about upcycling and sustainable living

Celebrate Earth Month by supporting Retrash — a new book about upcycling, recycling, and living a sustainable lifestyle.

Nathan Divine, founder of the website Retrash, is a kindred spirit. I can't remember how I found his site, but I remember the thrill!  Nathan has spent the last 3 years gathering inspired projects by amazing artists. And, in turn, inspiring people to rethink the way they look at trash. Now he's put all of his findings in a coffee table book by the same name (Retrash). The book features the work and ideas 82 designers in 20 countries, including Australia, USA, Germany, Spain, UK, Canada, Israel, France, Romania, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, Netherlands, India, Portugal, New Zealand, Italy, Argentina, Belgium and Hong Kong.

I've had the opportunity to see some of the projects ...  and I've created a little sneak peak below of the some of the amazing refashions and upcycled jewelry ideas. To coincide with Earth Day, Nathan launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to print the book (on 100% recycled paper, of course). Just two days into the campaign, it's about 60% funded. How cool is that?

Upcycle: A refashioning treasure trove!

I just stumbled upon my new favorite refashioning blog - Charity Shop Chic! In the US, we call them thrift stores ... but I'd argue that they're not quite the same thing. Something just a little more "chic" about what you find in a British charity shop! Anyway, not only are CSC's runway and celebrity-inspired transformations breathtaking (this woman can sew!) but I love her goal: to buy only charity shop clothes then give them a second lease on life by resizing, refashioning etc. Oh, and she's currently a Refashion Runway contestant - fun competition being run by The Renegade Seamstress! 

Some gems to be sure to check out:

1. A Stella McCartney refashion that's both sexy and wearable by someone who's not Gwyneth Paltrow

2. The lovely little shirt makeover pictured above 

3. A Betty Draper inspired wonder made from sheets and pillow cases!

Repurpose: Staid suit jacket gets a hot refab!

If you spend any time on Craftgawker, you've seen Anna's creations. But this men's jacket refab is a standout for me. Complete tutorial here

Refashion: Yellow+Black = Cool dress!

Talk about refashioned refashions! The thrifted yellow top was turned into a tank. The black dress went from long-sleeved to short but "needed an update".  Then both were turned into a dress. Go Hulibug! 

Upcycle: Put some spring in your boots!

I've decided that Elsie Larson is the inspiration behind "The New Girl" ... every time I visit her lovely blog (A Beautiful Mess) I think of Jess.  Go take a look .... tell me I'm wrong.  And while you're there, learn how to put a spring in your step!

Upcycle: Refashion your closet!

My good friend Lisa (of Poldapop Designs) recently found herself facing a NY's eve date with her hubby, minus the "great new dress" she'd planned to conjure for herself.  Two little girls, the holidays, a small business to run .... and stomach flu (!) had all contributed to this fix.  So what did she do?  She refashioned a dress that had been collecting dust in her closet for years!  Here's the before and after:

Awesome right?  I've "reconstructed" a number of things in my closet over the years ... recently making a Target sweater a little more "Anthropologie" by removing an elasticized hem and adding a big button! You do NOT need to have mad sewing skills to pull this off.  You really don't.  So check out the great round up of projects (21 of them!) recently published at Crafting a Green World.

Upcycle: Leafy T-shirt Scarf

I LOVE this!  Two old t-shirts, a little bleach, a little embroidery thread (or "floss" in US english) and voila! 

Very eco-chic ... get the how-to from Joy Beadworks.