Category Archives: refashion

Sew 347 – Comfy two-shirt shift

The thing I enjoy most about refashioning existing clothing is the organic process, turning what is readily at hand into something that works for your own shape and needs. Even though I’ve been steadily working my way through various wardrobes of opshop-found treasure this year, I still have an awful lot at hand.

My dear friend Kay is heading off the live in the Czech Republic early next year, sparking a clean-out in which she sends her natural-fibre cast-offs my way knowing they will be put to good use.

Sew 347 is a refashion of two tops into a cool and loose summer dress. The lemon linen was an almost new opshop found top, in a big size which I wasn’t wearing in its current state. Continue reading →

Sew 345 – Cool cotton restyle

Summer storms and Christmas drinks – it is that time of year in Australia. And how exciting to be posting Sew 345, which means only 20 upcycles to go before the Sew it Again year is complete!

I’ve learned so much by experimenting with creative restyling, reshaping and repurposing of existing clothing. Certainly it takes a little time and a few skills, but really it is not hard to breathe new life into clothes made from beautiful natural fibres by making simple changes.

Despite sewing most days, I don’t really think my sewing skills have improved that much. Perhaps it comes from working with existing clothes and random shapes – I don’t have any great expectation for neatness and perfection, being more interested in comfort and originality. Continue reading →

Sew 343 – Upcycled is greenest

Eco-friendly products only become a good choice after we have exhausted or worn out all the other choices that have already been manufactured.

This means the greenest clothing of all is clothing that already exists – so if we are to be authentically sustainable, we revisit what we have, rather than buy new.

When my sister Jo came over at the weekend, we rechristened my sewing machines and I’m pleased to report they’ve recovered from their drenching.

This brown linen is what Jo calls her lucky dress, because she won a job wearing it to a significant interview. Jo has worn it for years and decided to refresh and lengthen it by incorporating a Canteen bandanna. Continue reading →

Sew 342 – Synthetics shed microfibres

Global research shows synthetic clothing can shed microplastic fibres with every wash, and these fibres are then flushed into oceans to contaminate the food chain and the planet.

The research led by ecologist Mark Browne found clothing fibres to be abundant in habitats worldwide, and the problem is worsening. In his University of California Benign by Design presentation, Browne says ingested and inhaled fibers carry toxic materials and a third of the food we eat is contaminated with this material.

Environmental Science and Technology published the study in 2011 on Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Worldwide: sources and sinks: “Experiments sampling wastewater from domestic washing machines demonstrated that a single garment can produce >1900 fibers per wash. Continue reading →

Sew 336 – Reusing shell treasures

Shell buttons are beautiful unique treasure from the sea and deserve to be used again and again. I have old hand-made trochus shell buttons from my mother-in-law’s collection and am still incubating an upcycling project worthy of them.

I’ve salvaged many shell buttons over the years and find the variety and natural beauty truly amazing. They’re special because they won’t always be available in future. ABC Rural reported recently that a small trochus shell industry remains in Great Barrier Reef waters to cater for the high-end fashion market but the reality is that most buttons are now plastic. Continue reading →

Sew 334 – Cotton with sustainable values

Australian cotton industry focus on continual improvement of environmental production and safety measures is the basis of a great Sue Neales yarn For cotton, the big noise is about sustainability in The Australian this weekend.

Sue quotes cotton grower Simon Corish from Goondiwindi saying “consumers worldwide now want to know that the cotton they wear and use has been grown by farmers who do things environmentally well, and the big retailers are responding to that and saying they will only source in the future cotton that has been sustainably produced”.

The Australian industry has made great strides in reducing water use by 40 per cent and chemical use by 95 per cent in recent years – as discussed in an earlier Sew it Again post – and Sue’s story reports industry has now signed on for a five-year improved sustainability plan. “It requires Australia’s cotton growers to track their own – as well as the industry’s – ongoing performance against 45 key criteria linked to water efficiency, reduced chemical use, carbon footprint, biodiversity, farm productivity and work-related safety.” Continue reading →

Sew 333 – Sewing at The Edge

The sewing adventure of today was being inducted into using sewing machines at the State Library’s Fabrications Laboratory in what is a fabulous facility known as The Edge. Here’s my glasses case, right, made with guidance from Emma Constance.

After being inducted, one is then eligible to use the machines (solid old Berninas) when the lab is open for bookings during several free sessions each week. It is a maker space, or as the website says: “The Fabrication Lab, in The Edge basement, is a creative space with a host of resources for you to bring your creative visions to life.” Fabulous initiative which helps extend opportunities to sew, which is a life-skill just like home cooking.

In a collaboration with QUT, the Fabrication Lab is also home to a Kombucha experiment growing sustainable clothing by adding bacteria and yeast to sweet tea which then ferments to form a flexible curd on its surface that is moulded into garments and bags, see photos below. Continue reading →

Sew 331 – A white washout

Very quick post tonight after terrible storms in Brisbane and being caught in hail and howling winds on Coronation Drive. Scary, but pleased to arrive home safely – only to find my studio saturated as the storm had pushed open the windows and it rained all over my machines. And no power in the neighbourhood. I’m sure there are many worse off, so won’t moan too much.

Son Casey (electrical engineer) says if I dry the machines out well (with hair dryer) they should live again. Fortunately I have a few restyles up my sleeve, so the 365-day postings continue regardless – just another obstacle to be overcome.

Sew 331 is Nina’s restyle from Tuesday, which was a cotton dress brought back from India by a family member that was not now being worn. Continue reading →

Sew 330 – Straps make the difference

For yesterday’s Restyle Party, I asked the girls to bring garments from the back of their wardrobes (ie not being worn) so we could restyle them for a fresh go at life.

Frankie arrived with these lovely pants bought new which had not quite worked out as she hoped. By experimenting, she’d found that instead of wearing them as pants they worked better pulled up with the shirring elastic across her chest. The only trouble then was feeling the need to keep pulling them up for modesty reasons.

The only thing we’re taking credit for in Sew 330 is the addition of some simple straps making something unworn more wearable for Frankie. Continue reading →

Sew 329 – Reshaping the future

Fun today hosting a Restyle Party in the Textile Beat studio with four enthusiastic young women keen to learn how they can refresh existing clothes to suit themselves and their needs.

I’ll be posting refashions by Nina, Frankie, Billie and Stan over the next few days and certainly it is fabulous to be able to engage with thoughtful young people interested in making ethical, sustainable, individual, creative and affordable clothing choices.

Also exciting to see the amazing Flourish Festival: Design the Future event in Sydney this weekend with its focus on Fashion vs Nature defining the intersection between desire and ecological health, and the impact everyday lifestyle choices have on the long-term health of the planet. Great to see Fashion Revolution Day involved in the event and that creative reuse of existing clothing featuring in many workshops. The Refashion Revolution has arrived! Continue reading →