FASHION

There is a lot of talk at the moment of ‘Fast Fashion’. And how damaging our constant demand for new clothes is on the environment. I personally don’t buy a lot of new clothes for myself these days. But maybe it is time to look to new ways of up-cycling your existing wardrobe into new pieces. To make new clothes from old. - By Peram Srija Reddy

POLO TEE TO SLOUCHY TEE This was a polo. This refashion to slouchy half-sleeve tee turned out quite a bit better than the original polo.

Step one: Cut off the collar. Set it aside to use later. Try the shirt on backward (buttons in the back) and mark the new neck hole with pins. Then cut out the neck hole. Since we cut the collar off, go back with a seam ripper and remove the rest of the collar bits.

Step two: Go back to the collar piece and open it up, tearing off the interfacing if there is any. Salvage as long of a strip as possible and iron it flat. Now fold it in half, wrong sides together, and press it flat. This will be the “ribbing” for your neckline. If you can’t get a long enough piece, just use a few pieces and sew them together.

Step three: Attach the ribbing to the neckline with a straight stitch. The length of my ribbing was about 2 inches shorter than the neck hole, so I pinned it evenly and then pulled the ribbing in between pins as I sewed. This achieved a nice tight neckline. If your ribbing is the same length and isn’t pulled tight when sewn, the neckline will be wavy and loose. Press the neckline flat and then sew around the neckline with a wide straight stitch just below the ribbing. Fold the raw ends of the ribbing down at an angle and pin, sewing over them to secure them in place as you sew that seam.

Step four: Try the shirt on and determine how much you want to take in on the sleeves and the sides. Then lay the shirt flat on the ground and pin in place. Then sew from the sleeve hem to the shirt hem with a straight stitch. Trim the seam allowance and serge or zigzag your raw edge (optional since knits don’t fray). Press all your seams and you’re done!

These little jersey shorts are an easy sew. Add some stripes with a bleach pen and you have some seriously cute little lounge shorts. Your little guy probably needs some tooespecially if it’s hot.

Fold your ‘template shorts’ in half. Line up the outside edge of the shorts along the edge of the t-shirt (and the hem of the shorts at the bottom of the shirt). Trace with a fabric pen (stretch out the elastic waist before tracing). Cut around the traced line, leaving a half inch perimeter on the side and at least an inch on the top edge. Pin and sew along the inside edge of each leg.

Pull apart and pin together the crotch edges (make sure you line up the centre line exactly). Sew (make sure your right sides are pinned facing each other). With the shorts still inside out, fold over the top edge, pin in place and sew in place. Snip two little holes in the centre of the drawstring casing. Pull the drawstring through with a safety pin (knot each ends so that it doesn’t pull back through).

If you want to add bleached stripes, insert cardboard rectangles into each leg. Then, draw evenly spaced lines with a fabric pen onto the short. Use the bleach pen to trace the lines you drew. Then draw lines in between your already-drawn lines with the bleach pen.

Let your side set for at least half an hour. Once the bleach is dry, flip over the shorts and repeat. Wash and dry your shorts and you’re done! The perfect solution to really hot summer and a drawer full of pants.

PJ’S INTO CIRCLE SCARF

Take your man’s tired out plaid PJs, and fashion yourself a circle scarf! You can make yourself a circle scarf in about an hour, here’s how:

First, take the PJ pants, and cut up the inseam. Open up the pant leg and cut the leg off at the top of the inseam. Do this for both legs. Both legs should be of equal size. Lay the two legs on top of each other, wrong-side out (the outer seams from the original pants should be facing out). Pin the bottom end together.

Sew the bottom. Your fabric will now be twice as long. Now, fold your fabric long ways, seams still wrong-side out, pin then sew. Once the long side is sewn shut, turn the fabric right-side out, then fold in half so the two ends are facing each other. Fold the edge of the left side inside itself, about a 1/4 inch, and pin. Then tuck the right side inside the left, and sew shut. The purpose of folding in the left side, before tucking the right side, is to give you a clean seam once you sew the scarf shut.

This infinity scarf was sewn like a tube. You can make infinity scarves, or circle scarves, out of jersey, which don’t necessarily require sewing the ends together. Jersey material typically rolls in on itself when washed, which hides the raw edges.

It’s a no sew method. All you need are scissors, fabric glue and a top of your choice. You can use the same method for making a long coat out of kurta as well. So, basically you just need to lay down your top flat. Keep something such as cardboard between the layers. Then, cut the top layers right in the middle. Then, flip a bit of the corners of the cut, use the fabric glue at the corner to stick. Make sure there are no extra threads coming out. Do the same on the other end of the cut. Let the glue dry under the fan. Then, your Kimono is ready.

T-SHIRT INTO TURBAN HEADBAND DUGAR

This just gonna take less than 10 minutes and it consists of two basic and simple steps. Take a plain t-shirt (preferably white), then from bottom measure 6-7 inch and cut it. Then take that circle piece and twist it twice. Then your Turban Headband is ready.

@SAMIKSHA

Take your skirt, Remove the elastic and also remove the stitches on the side. Turn the skirt inside out and lay it flat on the ground. Now, fold the fabric into half and place your old dress such that the folded edges go inside, for marking the measurements. Leave approximately 6-7 inch (your sleeve size) at the bottom of the fabric.

Also cut out the lining cloth in similar way. Now place the fabric and lining together and cut the neckline for both front and back respectively. Now, stitch the cloth and lining together, make sure lining is on the wrong side of the cloth. Stitch the front and back pieces together, such that the right side of two clothes are facing each other.

Now, hem the bottom and neckline. Now, take one part of the left over 6 inch fabric and cut into half to make the sleeve. Use your old dress sleeve to trace the measurement as cut accordingly. And stitch the sleeves to the dress. For the bell part of the sleeve, take the other part of 6 inch fabric and fold into half such that good sides are facing each other.

Then, stitch at the side and also give a simple straight stitch at the top. Make sure that it is the longest straight stitch of your machine, so that it is easier to pull to make frills for the bell part. Now, pull the thread to make frills and stitch it together with the sleeve. That’s it, you dress is ready!

CONVERT OLD SHIRT INTO CUTE TOP @SHRUTI

KUSHU For this transformation, you just need your old shirt, scissors, elastic and of course sewing machine. So basically, first mark our neck measurements and cut out the collar part. Cut the selves or leave then as they are, that’s up to you. Then, take elastic and stitch the selves and neck with it. Here we go, the top is ready.

Here are few less time taking and easy refashion.

• Trim last year’s shorts with lace (or layers of lace).

• Cut up an old maxi skirt to make a colourful sundress.

• Paint fabric dyes onto an old dress to make it colourful.

• Cut a straight line up the back of an old shirt or sweater, and then attach Velcro for a trendy open back.

• Hot glue a string of sequins to a crop top to spell out a word.