Materials such as glass, paper and plastic are known to be recyclable, which is why they are disposed of separately to make the process cheaper. But what about the old clothes and textiles that are thrown away as waste in households and industry? Designers use leftover fabric to create new, trendy clothing and thereby also protect nature. However, you shouldn't get involved in fashion professionally in order to beautify your old clothes. We present 3 simple upcycling ideas for clothing and sewing instructions.
For everyoneUpcycling ideabecomes an old piece of clothing - a T-shirt or dress, which is beautified and redesigned with leftover fabric. Basic knowledge of sewing, as well as a sewing machine and of course sewing accessories are required. The first sewing instructions involve sewing a Peter Pan collar onto a basic T-shirt.
Sew your own T-shirt with a Peter Pan collar
To create a Peter Pan collar, draw the desired shape on paper and create a stencil. Remove the correct base of the collar from the neckline of the T-shirt. Plan a distance of around 1-1.5 cm for the seam. Cut out two identical collars from a scrap of fabric with a matching design using the template you created.
Sew the two cutouts for the collar together. Make sure the fronts match and sew to the back. A precise, clean seam is an important prerequisite for successful results. When looking for the right material for the Peter Pan collar, do not choose jersey or thick materials, but rather shirt material.
When the Peter Pan collar is finished alone, you can start sewing it together. Fix it with pins and then sew it onto the neckline of the T-shirt very precisely. In this case, the seam is in the foreground and has a design significance, which is why it should be very precise and clean.
Like a great result like this, match the Peter Pan collar design to this of the T-shirt. It looks particularly nice if the fabric of the collar is patterned and the color of the T-shirt can be found there.
Mullet T-shirt with an interesting back
The so-called mullet T-shirts and blouses, those with a longer back, have recently become very modern. Playful version with back part made of patterned fabric provides a playful, youthful touch. However, this model top is relatively easy to design yourself.
Sew a mullet T-shirt yourself if you upcycle an old one. Take a T-shirt in a basic color, also a blouse, and fabric with an interesting design and pattern. It should be as big as the back of the top.
Relatively thin fabrics that match the basic color of the T-shirt are ideal for the playful back part. Interesting motifs will emphasize the individual appearance and attract attention.
Take the old T-shirt and cut off 2/3 of the back. Usually it looks visually appealing if the piece falls 3-4 cm below the sleeve. Also plan where the seam will run and allow for plus 1 centimeter.
The cut out fabric of the back will serve as a template and accordingly cut a piece from the patterned leftover fabric. Allow a few centimeters more for the seams and of course an extended back length.
Cut out the lower part of the new back piece curved to allow a smooth transition to the front of the top piece. A pleat in the middle of the back is possible upon request. So the additional fabric will be a trapezoid shape. Secure with pins and sew together precisely.
Decorate black dress with contrasting lace
Contrasting dresses with lace details are very current and ensure a feminine look. Inspired by a girl's dress like this, a passionate seamstress interpreted the model. She has very successfully decorated her basic black dress with beige lace.
The combination with the lace in light beige or creamy white brings a vintage touch to the outfit and makes it appear very feminine. It is advisable to invest a little more money in high-quality Spitz made from natural fibers. To achieve a stylish appearance, avoid shiny lace or those with shimmering accents.
For the upcycling project you need a basic dress in a dark color, black or dark blue are best. Choose the lace with large motifs that can be easily cut out and arranged into a desired composition.
Place the lace motifs anywhere you want. Design the contrasting accents and fix them by hand with thread and needle so that the decorations do not move later when sewing together.
In the following example, the asymmetrically lace accents in the lower and upper areas are particularly successful. This design looks wonderful as the lace also has an irregular character.
With some lace and free time you can bring new life to the old boring dress. You can reuse old clothes that look good on you in this way. Others that are already flawed or don't fit your exact size but have interesting colors and patterns can be used wonderfully for any embellishment.
This method can also be used to embellish other items of clothing and give them a new appearance. For a stylish look, combine with subtle jewelry, a small bag and elegant, classic heels so that the homemade decoration really comes into its own.
*Upcycling idea for T-shirt with Peter Pan collar and T-shirt with long back fromGraylustergirl.com
*Upcycling idea for black dress with contrasting lace fromFreeurcloset.com
