Monday 24 September 2012

Refashioning...


There is no disputing the fact that refashioning has become trendy!!! Whether it's done as a means to save money, or a desire to look after our planet, I see it as a good thing.

Earlier this year I wrote about how and why I first started to refashion clothes. I am well and truly hooked!!! Now I look at pre-loved and outgrown clothes in a new way. If I cut here, take it in here, add... then I'll be able to make a new and one of a kind article. And so I now have quite a stash of clothes waiting to be given a new life.

My all time most popular post, is a tutorial showing how to use pre-loved jeans to make fabric baskets. In fact, six out of ten of my most viewed posts are refashions.

The most adventurous refashion I think I will ever attempt, was transforming my daughter's wedding dress into a smart day dress for her to wear. That was only my third refashion, but it gave me confidence in taking one garment and turning it into another garment. My daughter and I worked together on this refashion. You can read all about the wedding dress refashion from my daughter's perspective.


Initially I baulked at refashioning, because there was no pattern to follow. How would I work out what to do?  Now I love the fact that I don't always know exactly what the end product will look like. Of course, I have a pretty good idea of what it will look like and the process I will follow, but often my plans change as I'm working.

Refashions are often very quick to make, especially if you can use some of the elements of the original garment. This little girl's shirred dress, was originally a woman's dress. Basically, it needed to be reduced in size. There were no major changes, so it was a very quick and easy refashion, but also very effective. This has been the third most viewed post on my blog.

Refashioning is not limited to making clothing. The front of a t-shirt can be used to embellish a cushion.

A pocket from a jacket or pair of pants can be turned into a bag.

The possibilities are endless. The more I refashion, the more ideas I have for future refashions. It's quite addictive.

If you like refashioning and would like to show off your creations, or if you'd just like some ideas and inspiration for your next refashion, have a look at the following blogs...

I add all of my refashions to the ongoing Clothes Upcycling link party, over at Creating My Way to Success. I get a steady flow of traffic from Jill's upcycling link party, with an increase when I add a new project. At the moment, there are 354 projects linked up... lots of ideas and inspiration.
The Refashion Co-op is a very active blog, with posts daily. You can become a contributor to the Refashion Co-op, by signing up and agreeing to post at least once every 30 days.
The Refashion Files is another blog full of creative and inspiring refashions. You can submit your refashions for consideration. I must say I was very pleased when my
t-shirt refashion was accepted.
Threading My Way_RefashioningRefashioning at Threading My Way... clothes, bags, cushions, toys, dress up clothes and at 3 minutes, the quickest recycle ever, a peg bag.
Ik recyKleer Boomie's blog has just begun a 14 day recycling series. There's a Flickr group, where you can add your refashions. At the moment, there are 693 recycled projects. It's well worth a look.
Blissful and Domestic have a refashioning linky page, where you can add your blog if you do at least two refashioning posts a month.

A new ongoing link party that's just for Refashioning with Denim, here at Threading My Way.

I would LOVE to see your refashions. Leave me a link to your favourite refashion in the comments...

.. Pam

25 comments:

  1. On a completely unrelated note (sorry) have you ever been to shell beach, shark bay, Australia? I just found a picture of it on pinterest and it looks beautiful!

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  2. I LOVE that pillow!! What a clever idea!

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  3. Pam Wow this great, first i love the word refashion, sounds so much `neater` than recycle!!! my first refashion was made in 1963, i had a Terilene pleated skirt, which i didn`t really like. i ironed the pleats and made a straight skirt with a matching vest....
    mirjam

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  4. Hey Pam, I am just discovering the benifits of refashioning! Working on a project right now :)
    Thanks for this post

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  5. You have done some great refashions Pam, I love getting upcycling inspiration from you and other creative sources online.
    Thanks for these links, a lot of them I didn't even know about!

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  6. I refashioned a flannel sheet into a cape, hat and purse!
    http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2011/12/i-wore-flannel-sheet-to-church-today.html
    http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2011/12/purse-to-match-my-cape.html
    I also made a vintage sheet and jeans into an apron
    http://missyscakesandaprons.blogspot.com/2010/08/how-to-make-ruffle.html

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  7. I too love to refashion, upcycle, repurpose, etc. I have a large bin or two waiting for me to work some refashion magic.

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  8. I refashioned some of the boys jeans into pincushions! and have plans to make a t shirt quilt with some of their old tshirts. I usually donate to the charity shop if something is in good condition otherwise I try and use it in another way.

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  9. Pam, I must say, you are the refashioning queen! All your refashions are amazing!!

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  10. Pam, all you've done is fantastic, it's beautiful to give new life to something old. Thanks for all the links you have given us. Thanks also for the inspiration you give us with your creations. Marisa.

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  11. Your refashion projects are amazing! I especially love the wedding gown transformation...so beautiful and matching purse is beautiful too. I need to make that old T-shirt pillow myself.

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  12. Thanks for all of the great links in this post. I am pretty committed to using only secondhand clothing and fabrics for everything I make and love to get inspired by other people's ideas.

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  13. This is some refashioning yumminess. Thank you for sharing. Visiting from Homemaker on a Dime. Would love it if you would share this at my Make it Pretty Monday party at The Dedicated House which goes live at 8am CST on Monday. http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com Hope to see you at the bash! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse

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  14. I'm scared to refashion, since my sewing skills are pretty average. I think I might get some thrifted clothing so that I don't ruin anything good. I love those denim bags!

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  15. Such fun ideas! Love the jean baskets....

    Crystelle
    http://www.crystelleboutique.com/

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  16. Lovely post Pam - thanks for sharing all those links (and for the shout out too!!) I'm off to explore the others now - and check out your new denim refashion - since I recently nabbed another bag of old jeans from the charity shop - because I can't help myself!! :)

    Thanks for linking to a Round Tuit!
    Hope you have a fabulous week!
    Jill @ Creating my way to Success
    http://www.jembellish.blogspot.com/

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  17. Love the denim baskets. I joined your blog. I posted vintage chenille pumpkin to this party. Im a newbie. Join me too. Follow my blog and like my fb page at www.swesweetvintage.com

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  18. I love the denim basket! Joined your blog. I posted vintage chenille pumpkin to this party. I'm a newbie. Like me too and join my blog and like my fb page at www.sewsweetvintage.com

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  19. I always LOVE all your refashions Pam! Such clever ideas you have.:)

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  20. Clever! I love the idea of refashioning because I hate the thought of throwing fabric or clothes away.

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  21. Thanks for the links to other refashioning sites! I am a huge lover of refashioning

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  22. Thanks for linking up to my party! I wanted to let you know I picked your link to feature this week! See my post and grab my feature button here http://toastiestudio.blogspot.nl/2012/10/made-monday-40-picks.html

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  23. absolutely great ideas!! Love the kids shirt / pillow embellishment!! thanks for sharing and also listing all of the sites to find more refashioning ideas!!

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  24. I'm pretty sure you're the queen of refashions! Thank you so much for sharing this at <a href="http://www.travisandjessicacox.com>Artsy Corner</a>! I can't wait to see what else you have for us!

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  25. These are amazing refashions!! Such great ideas. Thanks so much for sharing at Artsy Corner! Hope to see you again this week. Keep up the great work :)

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