1. Redesign, Repair, and Recycle
Chapter 16

2. Redesigning Clothes
Change an existing garment to make it suitable for more wear
Change a garment’s style and fit as well as its color and trim
Practical way to get the most from what you have
Use your time and skills to expand your wardrobe with little or no cost

3. Changing the Style Year to year, fashions change
Adding a belt at wait or hips
Wide pant legs can be straightened or narrowed
Long pants can be turned into cropped pants

4. Adjusting the Fit
Minor corrections can often be made easily with basic sewing skills
Move a button, hook, etc

5. Length Adjustments Most can be shortened Fewer can be lengthened
Cuffed garments take extra planning
Shorten hem, new hem length with pins or chalk
Remove old stitching
Lengthening hem little more involved
Need enough fabric
May not be able to iron out hem crease

6. Width Adjustments Usually more complicated
Minor adjustments made at side seams
Seam allowances must be wide enough for a new seam

7. Adding Accessories and Trims
New belt, scarf, tie, jewelry piece
Check fashion magazines
Braided rope belt
Gold or silver adds to an outfit
Changing buttons give a new look
Trim can add a new look
Appliques – cutout pieces of fabric applied as a decoration

8. Changing the Color Dyeing fabric Liquid or powder form
Think about what color you want
Check fabric content
Consider trims
Can go from light to dark color easily
Plan project
Color may not be permanent (bleeds or fades)

9. Painting Fabric Paint fabrics come in ready to use tubes
Brush or markers
Wide range of colors, metallic

10. Repairing Clothes Repair made early prevents a bigger job later
1. Restitching seams– page 288
Common and easily repaired
Machine or hand stitching

11. 2. Restitching hems– page 288
Sewn with a chain stitch
Easily pulled out
Takes a few minutes to repair

12. 3. Replacing Fasteners
Save extra buttons
Replace buttons ASAP
Can replace all if one doesn’t match
See page 288 for buttons

13. Fixing Snags Knitted or loosely woven fabrics get snags
Loops of fabric that pull out
If ignored, a hole can form and grow
Use a crochet hook, and pull snag to underside of fabric
See page 289 figure 16-12

14. Mending Tears Quick repair can prevent it from becoming larger
Straight tear mended by machine
Begin and end ¼ inch beyond tear
See page 289 figure 16-13

15. Patching Holes Applied with hand or machine stitching
Trim away frayed threads
Fold edges of patch and stitch in place
On outside, turn edges of hole under and slip stitch to the patch
For added strength top stitch patch
Fusing is another method
Press from wrong side
Iron on patches also available
See page 289 figure 16-14

16. Covering Worn Areas Oval patches Topstitch or fuse pat
Hide frayed spots by applying trim, fold over brain, bias binding
Patches, pressed or stitched on pant legs can increase strength of pants

17. Making Emergency Repairs
Safety pins can come to your rescue
Small sewing kits to travel with
Repair ASAP to avoid larger problem

18. Recycling Clothes Reclaim items for another use Saves money
Family member’s wardrobe expands at no cost
Hand me downs
Helps preserve natural resources
Helps other people afford new clothing

19. Passing It On
Consignment shop – pays seller a percentage of the selling price after the item is sold
Something you no longer need
Want items that are in good condition
Outgrown articles passed down to other family members or friends
Unwanted but useable clothing can be donated to charities

20. Finding Other Uses Give article a new start
Dress it up with accessories etc

21. Accessories Sturdy belt Different trims
Badly stained tablecloth turned into place mats
Beach towel turned into a beach carryall

22. Children’s Clothes Can be “downsized” to make children’s clothes
Children can like used fabrics because they are softer and more comfortable
Children can play dress up with older clothes

23. Patchwork Projects
Sewing together small fabric shapes to create a new, decorative piece of fabric
Patchwork quilts are made today
Wall hanging or t-shirts
Combine fabrics in patchwork project

24. Household Cleaning Bag of cleaning cloths
Larger pieces can cover floor when painting or staining
Cotton fabric for dusting
Recycled for padding and paper

25. Summary You can redesign an outfit in a number of ways
Redesigning a garment takes some time but extends the life of the garment

26. It takes only a few minutes to restitch hems and seams, change buttons, add snaps or hooks and eyes, and mend small holes
Recycling reclaims items for other purposes

27. Just as people recycle cans and bottle,s they can recycle clothing too
You can recycle clothing when it’s wearable and when it’s not

28. Choose an item from your wardrobe to redesign for yourself or another family member. Explain what steps or techniques you would use.

29. Tie dyeing an old t shirt for a new look

30. Contact charitable groups in your areas to learn whether they recycle clothing. Ask their policies for collecting and distributing the clothing