Recycle your clothes: 5 tops to sew for spring
Do you want to sew some new clothes for spring, but don’t feel like investing in fabric coupons?
Why not use theupcyclingtechnique, which involves reusing old clothes or sheets?
I’ve selected patterns that require very little fabric to get you started with this very economical and ecological method!
A simple top by reusing sheets
If you’ve got some old sheets in your closet that you no longer use but that aren’t too worn, you can cut them up to make pretty tops for spring.
The Matisse des Patronnes pattern requires very little fabric and is ideal for anupcycling project. Simply position the pattern on the sheet and cut as you would with a new cotton coupon.
You’ll also need a matching bias for the collar and sleeve finishes, which you can buy at a haberdashery. You can also sew it from another garment. Or make your own!
To give this room a unique touch, you can look for vintage floral linens, such as a set from the 70s. Choose a solid, natural fiber like cotton. This type of sheet can easily be found in second-hand stores or Ressourceries.
A bustier in a jacket
Do you have any old tweed or worsted jackets lying around?
Why not transform it into an elegant short, fitted bustier like this one from Muna Patterns ? The piece features several yokes, allowing you to cut small pieces in different parts of the jacket.
Start by unstitching (or cutting). Remove the lining, pockets, buttons, collar… And lay each piece flat so you can transfer the different pieces of your pattern.
If your jacket is a little worn in places or has holes, cut around these areas. All that’s left to do is buy the haberdashery accessories: beanie foam, interfacing, ribbon for the straps and a zipper.
A strapless top from an oversized shirt
Wide shirts are an excellent starting point for springtimeupcycling. Once you’ve stripped or cut them, you’ll have good widths of fabric with which to make a new garment. Don’t hesitate to rummage through your father’s, husband’s or brother’s old shirts, or your local thrift shops! You’ll find original vintage prints that will give your garment a unique touch. But you can also simply use a plain or pinstripe shirt.
If you choose a piece that’s a little yellowed, soak it in a basin of percarbonate to restore its shine.
You can then make a lightweight top like Botticelli des Patronnes. It’s even possible to salvage the buttons from the original shirt to go the whole hog!
A short top in a dress
Our grandmothers’ closets and thrift shops are full of long, wide dresses with unflattering shapes that are sometimes a little dated… Yet sometimes they’re made from beautiful printed cottons or viscose that are still in excellent condition.
Upcycling is a great way to show them off!
As with the previous models, you can start by unzipping the various pieces of the dress and cutting out some of the pieces you no longer want (collar, pockets, buttonholes, shoulder pads…). You can then lay each piece flat and watch how you cut your new piece. As far as possible, try to keep to the straight line and position your pattern in the same direction as the original piece.
The Fleury pattern from Vestiaire Eponyme is ideal for upcycling a dress, as it requires very little fabric.
A tank top in a loose-fitting t-shirt
Warp and weft fabrics aren’t the only things you can upcycle. It’s also possible to reuse old T-shirts, if they’re in good enough condition.
You can also give a second life to T-shirts whose shape you don’t like, but whose color or print you do. Simply cut off the collar and sleeves and reclaim the jersey.
Then follow Pineapple, a Klafoutis pattern that makes a fitted tank top quick and easy.
And you, do you practiceupcycling ? What clothes do you like to reuse?
