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Posts Tagged ‘repurposing fashion’

Celebrating Earth Month: Sustainable Fashion Workshop

Posted in Arts, Events, Fashion, Uncategorized, Vintage, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

This week I attended something fun – Sustainable Fashion Workshop – hosted by Sustainable Walnut Creek. It’s a well known fact that clothing production is a significant contributor to climate change; there’s currently a movement to buy fewer new pieces and thrift shop instead or use what we already have in our closets.

Around twelve of us showed up for the Sustainable Fashion Workshop at the Downtown Walnut Creek Library to hear about and discuss ways to reuse, repair, repurpose, and recycle our clothing. Ellie (SparkEllie on Facebook) led the discussion and offered advice. Some attendees brought in pieces they needed help repairing or repurposing and others came for inspiration. Ellie contributed a large bag of fabric scraps that we all enjoyed sifting through. Among the gathering of likeminded people was a five-year-old girl who quickly put together a pile of fabric and set to work designing something for herself. (Her enthusiasm was delightful to see.)

A local Walnut Creek resident found just the right white cotton ruffle to add to the bottom of a t-shirt. I asked for advice on mending a sweater with rips under the arms and got several great ideas.

If this is of interest to ODFL readers there’s another Sustainable Fashion Workshop coming up on Monday, April 15, 5-6:30 at the downtown Walnut Creek Library.

Do you have some clothing that could use a little TLC? Want to refashion some of your wardrobe? Just need some inspiration? I recommend popping into the Sustainable Fashion Workshop to meet some really nice people who also want to help save the earth, one item of clothing at a time.

It’s free! Click here to register.

This workshop is just one event in April to celebrate Earth Month. Among the list of fun is the Earth Day Celebration and a sustainable fashion show on Saturday, April 20th at Walnut Creek Civic Park, 11-4.

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Fashionable Book Review: T-Shirt Makeovers

Posted in Arts, Fashion, tagged , , , , , on April 16, 2014| 4 Comments »

TShirtMakovers_CoverWe all love our t-shirts but sometimes they could use a little pop. To help us out, New York City based fashion designers, Carmia Marshall and Carmen Webber  (former Project Runway contestant) have just published a book with scads of DIY ideas for refashioning and refreshing the tee.

T-Shirt Makeovers: 20 Transformations for Fabulous Fashions (Glitterati Incorporated) includes instructions on how to take your comfy t-shirt and turn it into something super chic and fun.

Ms. Marshall and Ms. Webber open the book discussing:

  • body type and how to take your measurements
  • color and what works for different skin shades
  • and the various styles of t-shirts.

The writing duo also includes a very important chapter called Quick Tee Makeover Tips, which reminds us of some sewing basics such as ironing out wrinkles before getting started, the right and wrong sides of fabric, different pin types, and Cutting Rules.

“Once you cut, there’s no turning back! Cutting mistakes are costly and irreversible.”

IMG_0476Each set of instructions has a list of what you need and a difficulty level, from pretty easy with no sewing machine to challenging, like the Deep V-neck with Ruffled Sleeve Dress – a dress make of three oversized tees.  

I tried the Simple Scoop Top and had it done in an hour. I started by taking my measurements and plugged those into the instructions before doing any cutting. I found that part to be a little unclear so I suggest a choosing a practice tee. Once I got past the measurements it was easy going.

My favorite part of this particular design is the sleeves. I cut up the middle of each one and the tied extra fabric, cut from the bottom of the tee, into a bow at the top. This creates movement and style to what was once a dull cap sleeve.

IMG_0479In fact, it’s the reinvented sleeves that I like most about many of the designs by Ms. Marshall and Ms. Webber and in the Visual Glossary there are illustrations of various sleeve styles. What a handy guide just for general fashion knowledge!

I think refashioning t-shirts is a great way for beginner designers as well as novice seamstresses to let loose with the scissors and think creativity. T-Shirt Makeovers: 20 Transformations for Fabulous Fashions helps lead our way.

 

 

 

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