Ideas to upcycle your clothes without a sewing machine, according to four local designers
image via @askmetomorrow_/INSTAGRAM
words by daisy henry
“It can be a very therapeutic way to flex a bit of your imagination without the daunting task of starting something from scratch.”
I’ve always thought some people are just naturally thrifty. I have one friend who won’t hesitate to tinker with her clothes – she’s known to sew underwear from scratch and hand-dye expensive dresses. Though she’s not a professional designer, her philosophy towards clothing is all about giving it a long and rich life, rather than letting pieces waste away.
For a while, I’d sat back, too fearful to take any scissors or needles to my clothes. But the more I see her take to her wardrobe with such confidence, I’ve started to rethink the idea of upcycling and whether you need to be a tailor to try it for yourself.
For more on the circular economy, head to our Pre-Loved section.
“I think a lot of people see the concept of upcycling as making a complete transformation from one item into another but it doesn’t have to be so complicated,” Isabella Marchese, designer and founder of Bella Sera, tells me. “It can be a very therapeutic way to flex a bit of your imagination without the daunting task of starting something from scratch.”
For some inspiration, I asked four local designers to share some beginner-friendly hacks to refresh old clothing. From hand-embroidering to beading and adding small embellishments, there’s an option for every type of skillset – no sewing machine required.
Anjali Tulpule, designer
I have a bad habit of ignoring care labels. This came back to bite me when I spilled oil on my new pants and tried to bleach the stain. Thanks to the bleach, my pants developed pink and orange blotches. But I loved those pants and I wasn’t ready to give them up, so I turned to hand embroidery.
After a few hours of practice and following tutorials, I felt ready to work on the pants. Soon, I’d created a floral design that made the pants feel new again. Although my embroidery was imperfect, it created something personal and something that was uniquely mine.
If you are interested in hand embroidery as a way to upcycle, here’s how to begin: First, decide what you want to cover, mend or highlight. Then, research stitching techniques and gather supplies (like a hoop, a needle and threads).
Test all the different stitches on a scrap of fabric and sketch or outline the design on the garment of choice and go for it. Always remember, mistakes add charm, so don’t be afraid to make an error. When finished, tie off the threads and enjoy your one-of-a-kind piece.
Amy Cottrell, designer
My tip would be to look out for interesting buttons, buckles, trims, beads, embellishments and lace pieces that might be on old garments that are quite ugly or completely the wrong size or fit. You can take these garments apart and use the interesting elements to add interest to basic pieces in your wardrobe with a pair of scissors and a needle and thread. For example, in this look the striped shirt has been elevated through the addition of recycled shell buttons and appliquéd lace remnant pieces.
Isabella Marchese, designer and founder of Bella Sera
I’ve been obsessing over seeing people upcycle old pieces by adding hand beading to change up textural and dimensional elements of a garment. You don’t need to follow any specific guidelines or steps, you can just go with the flow of what you like visually, and the only extra materials you’d need would be any kind of beads, a needle and some thread.
Another really effective technique is replacing or changing the way pieces are fastened. Especially if you want to play with fit, silhouette and proportions, replacing buttons with clasps or adding buckles, hook and eyes or press studs (which are all able to be hand stitched) to distort the way the fabric sits or drapes on your body is so incredibly cool and completely unique.
Rediet Gifford, designer and founder of Ask Me Tomorrow
Instantly elevate a regular button-up shirt with stylish hardware. I upcycled an oversized button-up shirt by replacing select buttons with metal coat clasps. First, remove the buttons you want to replace and mark placement with tailor’s chalk where you want your clasps to go on each side of the shirt. Carefully cut a small slit just large enough for each clasp prong.
Using a grommet or clasp tool and a sturdy surface, secure the clasps firmly in place. Completely customisable, this detail introduces a subtle asymmetric structure to the shirt. Placement can be adjusted depending on how much or little hardware you’d like to add. You can source clasps locally (for example, at Jimmy Buttons in Fitzroy) or online.
For more on upcycling, try this.
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