Is upcycling easy and is it worth doing it in 2024? Sharing my thoughts
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- Опубликовано: 15 июл 2024
- Dear Sewing Friends, in this video I would love to share with You a couple of my thoughts about upcycling and perhaps have your take on it as well! I really enjoy upcycling, but there are many things to be aware of and sometimes navigating it isn't as easy. Below you will find some of my upcycling episodes to watch :)
3 shirt upcycles - • 3 shirt upcycles that ...
3 sweater upcycles - • 3 sweater upcycles tha...
3 dress upcycles - • 3 dress upcycles that ...
3 skirt upcycles - • 3 skirt upcycles that ...
3 blanket upcycles - • Blanket upcycles that ...
My FAVORITE videos for You to enjoy:
✂️ 7 amazing sewing tools - • I BOUGHT 7 unbelievabl...
✂️ Perfect neckband every time - • How to sew a neckband ...
✂️ Gifts to sew - • 10 EASY STOCKING STUFF...
✂️ EASY circle skirt - • SUPER EASY circle skir...
✂️ 30 minute apron - • Apron cutting and stit...
MY FAVORITE SEWING TOOLS:
1. Bias Tape Maker - amzn.to/3151IFh
2. Medical Tracing Paper (I use it for pattern drafting) - amzn.to/2EMafDm
3. Water soluble thread -amzn.to/3AHePQi
4. Diagonal seam tape - amzn.to/3OyHHjb
5. Bulky Seam Jumper (some sewing machines come with it and some don't) - amzn.to/3GDdRbD
6. Eloflex Stretchable thread (not the same as shirring elastic) - amzn.to/3VEAhxx
This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something from the links displayed above I get a small commission. It does not come out of your pocket, but it does help me to support this channel. Thank YOU!
#nopatternsewing #easypatterndrafting #thoughtfulcreativity
Thank You for being here and I hope that this channel encourages you to sew and make beautiful things!
xxx, Alisa 
Развлечения
Here are some of my upcycling episodes for You
3 shirt upcycles - ruclips.net/video/oW11Tfapkao/видео.html
3 sweater upcycles - ruclips.net/video/A39yvNFBJtw/видео.html
3 dress upcycles - ruclips.net/video/YdzWrd3n3AQ/видео.html
3 skirt upcycles - ruclips.net/video/XOFFxNpUiMA/видео.html
3 blanket upcycles - ruclips.net/video/uhpo1n5EZFI/видео.html
The "wow factor" becomes so exhausting 😅 Give me practical, useful items any day. With sewing and upcycling it's equally easy to fall into a trap of trendiness and make something you won't even wear. I love your videos because you make yourself and your little girl beautiful, functional clothes. I don't have kids but I sew for my niece, and I have gotten so much inspiration from your channel!
YESSSSSS! THIS!!!! Sorry for all caps, but it does become so exhausting!!! I feel so lame anytime I simply chop off the length of the dress to turn it into a top, or add a ruffle to the skirt to extend the length, but those are the most practical every day things for eme. On the other hand - I do enjoy a good sewing or upcycling "puzzle", but that is about 10% of my overall sewing. And it takes an incredible amount of time to work through those puzzles, if we did that all the time we would have no time to live!
I completely agree, Alisa. Based on my experience of upcycling so far, I actually find it quite stressful to work within those constraints (small amounts of fabric, slightly worn, etc), and the time and frustration are not worth the saving you are supposedly gaining. Mending the little holes in my sweaters though? A good use of my time.
After sewing for almost 60 years, I'd vote for practical. Experience teaches a person how different fabrics will respond to particular applications. We also learn how different applications can be used to accomplish what we are trying to achieve.
I am leaning towards that as well, but my other part does not want to discourage people from trying upcycling before the sewing experience... but you are so right, it takes half the trouble to learn how to sew and then of course we have fabric, design, pattern drafting, fitting and more to keep in mind if we want to make clothes that last.
Thank you for saying this! I have found upcycling can be as hard as sewing from scratch. I thought it was just me.
I gained weight and added fabric to my shirts and night gowns. Now that I have list the weight, I am taking the material out and realizing that I did a really good job. Bot was it hard to take the extra material out and sew it back together! Next is trying to figure out how to take in my pants! Wish me luck!
@debbiehart1090 Well done altering your clothes to match your weight. Unfortunately I have had to move fairly regularly. I got rid of my skinny clothes as my weight increased. Each size I had to buy more. Then I had to get rid of half of my fat clothes to move. Then I lost loads of weight got rid of the rest of the fat clothes. Moved bought skinny clothes again. Moved again Got fat again repeat. When I don't move I want to keep all my clothes to upcycle. It's such a waste of money not to try and alter. Also I enjoy sewing. I get very little done due to been in bed so much but I love to watch other people do this very interesting practical hobby. ❤
@debbiehart1090 I would undo your pants and resize by cutting off half an inch at seams for width and a quarter of an inch in length at each seam as paper patterns size up. Customize fit as you go. Safety pins are best for trying on repeatedly. Good luck ❤
I enjoyed this video, thank you. I am new to sewing, and try upcycling, but of course am limited by experience. As I get more proficient, it will be both easier and better. You brought up an interesting topic about the sentimental aspect of using childrens clothes for upcycling. Like you, my Mum re-used everything. I have a teddy bear...Edward....Mum knitted him for me as a baby, and he was so loved that he got a hole in his head. She re-covered him in an old cardigan (that she had previously knitted) and made him a suit from an old skirt of mind(guess what...she made that too). Perhaps with important party dresses, a dolls dress could be made from scraps to resemble the original...that way, most of it is recycled and a small part remains....I wouldn't be without Edward for the world.
This is such a good point and thought - thank you for sharing! Edward definitely carries for You a ton of wonderful memories - I think that is the most important thing!
I think this is an upside of the old practice of making quilts out of parts of old clothing that is still usable. So many memories are brought back as you look at the quilt and say "Oh yes, that was my dress for Sunday best" or "I remember this blouse, Mom made it for me". Your daughter will remember those times at the sewing machine with you and remember the feelings more than the fabric. When you get rid of clothing, you don't get rid of memories. A photo is nice too.
So very well said - when you get rid of clothing, you don't get rid of memories!
I make upcycled rag quilts, including memory quilts, from clothes. It’s super hard going through the clothes of someone who has died and try to choose which ones will touch the heart of the family. Some items I just have to pass up because the quality of the fabric is poor or it’s just too worn.
They turn out so beautifully, each one is unique. They’re the hardest thing I make but the most rewarding.
This is what I always thought quilting should be! However, I do love seeing the techniques and beautiful creations people make now (they really are the tapestries of our day).
I think upcycling is an excellent way for beginners to gain sewing experience. They can see how seams and cuts help a garment work. It saves the time (and frustration) of sewing hems, button plackets, collars and zippers. The quality of the fabric is one of my biggest reasons I choose to upcycle now. But, I started with a bunch of free t-shirts that I had accumulated over the years. I put the pile on my table and let the creativity run wild. It was an incredibly freeing experience. I learned a lot. It changed sewing from a chore to a hobby in my mind. I enjoy the challenge of upcycling. It is like putting puzzles together. Sewing from scratch is a beautiful creative process. It is like painting a picture. Both are enjoyable.
I agree with you, 100%. It’s not as easy as it looks! I personally think you don’t need experience to begin up cycling. That’s how I taught myself to sew and I LOVE sewing now. It gave me the courage to begin making clothes from scratch, and your videos gave me the confidence to begin self drafting. Love your channel 💕
Happy Mother's Day cheerful lady! If I see and unusual piece of fabric in a garment at the thrift shop I might buy it and make something else out of it, you could make a blouse out of a silk skirt
I’ve kept only one dress I made for my daughter as a beautiful memory. She is 27 now, and she still loves it. I hope some day I might have a granddaughter use it.
That is wonderful, Estela! I think I have a handful of dresses from my childhood. Maybe a handful is a good amount, otherwise it is a lot of things to hold onto for decades!
So true about the quality in thrift stores these days. With the increase in 'disposable' clothing, the items being passed on to thrift stores just don't have the same quality....and, as you say, it's also not as cheap as it once was!
These are interesting thoughts. As a result, I've just realized that personally I don't like wearing someone else's clothing, upcycled or not. And I'm grateful that I have this choice. Seeing a finished garment doesn't inspire me to refashion it into something else; except maybe a tote bag or an apron for cooking/cleaning/painting. So I watch all these upcycling videos thinking I should really get into this because I do hate waste. But.... it's not for me. I make or buy clothes and keep them for years and will continue to do so. Kudos to all who enjoy it.
I appreciate the consolidation of all the struggles and joys of upcycling in this day and age.
Thank you for sharing your little dress from when you were little! So precious. I think you are passing down a really important philosophy to your daughter of putting time and effort into something instead of just tossing them aside and buying something cheap and new. I definitely kept a few of my most favorite clothing items from when my daughter was younger but the rest I have passed on to friends so that they can be used and loved again 😊
Thanks Alisa for your deep thoughts on sewing creativity! You probably come from a wonderful culture of crafting as a result of centuries of couture changes and advanced techniques that some of us who were raised from pioneer lifestyles didn't have. Of course, many of our moms had a Singer sewing machine with which they made quilts and garments, and in the 1960s, fashion sewing erupted, with the introduction of fabulous fabrics from Europe in such catalogs like "Elegance". I made some gauchos in the '70s after watching the movie True Grit (Kim Darby was the actress that wore them), and I wish I had saved that beautiful wide Wale corduroy that my mom let me purchase from that catalog to upcycle later on. In fact, lately, I've been thinking of fabrics from garments of the past that I made and wonder what happened to them; in my '70s now, I can't remember. But I'm still sewing everything not nailed down. Love you, Julia
The white “pants top” on you, with that lipstick, looks STUNNING!
Ruby, thank you! I do love it, but it was an upcycling "puzzle", lol
I love clothes and fashion and there was only one outfit I can remember that I loved as a child and never felt bad we didn’t hang on to it. I think it’s ok to pass them on❤
I now up cycle everything now, shop bought and hand made and I have a rag doll, she gets little sweaters and vests from striped socks past their best. I am in the process of cutting jersey dresses into summer skirts as I no longer wear the dresses. With the sentimental thought, in the UK I don’t think there is that feeling for certain hand made garments handed down and so on, I do have two pieces of old clothing I will never get rid of but I cannot pass them down so I just enjoy them for myself. Great video, thank you.
I actually did the EXACT same thing with my dresses - I cut them into tops, since just like you - I don't really wear dresses, and now I wear those tops so often, love it! Oooh, a rag doll is a great idea and the little clothes for her, so cute
As a mother who has grown children, regarding the sentimental value of clothes, my input is, save a few outfits that are particularly significant. I saved the outfits my kids wore when they were dedicated at church, and sweaters they asked me to crochet them. I've also held on to baby blankets that were handmade for them by friends or family. You don't need to keep a lot. Your daughter will remember that mom always made and remade her clothes with love.
Nicole, thank you! I think that's the way to go - just a handful of really special things!
You raised a lot of valid points.
I personally don't enjoy upcycling much. I do mend a lot of things but for me its just normal part of life.
Alice is a tween and her body is changing and she is not using up clothes as much as she used to (except for school uniforms)
We tend to stay with useful comfy pieces that she can wear and be active.
I rarely upcy my clothes. My wardrobe is very minimalistic at the moment. I am trying to fill in basics but i keep getting distracted by all sewing things for family :)
I keep few things for Alice - onsie she was brought home from hospital, 1 bootie that my mum knitted for her (she lost the other one on a walk), dress i made for her for her 7th birthday because it was first dress we "designed" together, her communion dress because it was made from my wedding dress.
I think upcycling/mending is good way to learn basics assuming that the pieces you are working with are not precious. You will feel less bad for messing husband all shirt he never liked in comparison with making top in precious expensive or discontinued fabric you cannot get anymore and you loved
I agree re people making stuff just for content.
I believe that if we stay true to ourselves our light will shine.
Often when i see pretty pictures, stage homes etc, i think it is sad that people try to "show off" to be seen. And it makes me sad that its so false.
Of course there are amazing people, like yourself , who understands what life is really about ❤
I totally agree Alisa! Upcycling is many things and different things to different people. For me, it's about trying to save stuff from landfill, for others it might be a creative puzzle. But your certainly right about fast fashion and thrift stores...my local thrift store sells men's shirts for a whopping $12 AUD 😮...which is insane. What a brilliant topic and well presented video. 😊❤👍👍👍
From what I understand, you have to be able to see (in your mind) what can be done with the garment you want to upcycle. Then give it a try. You may not make the used item into what you wanted; But, you got to learn something. Try again; and, keep trying. Some of the best things have come from mistakes. Both of my children gave away some of their garments without asking or telling me. I found this out when I was looking for those garments to recycle. Don't worry about cheating your child out of memories of those garments. Have you noticed that they may not wear certain garments; but, will pull them out and dump them on the floor or put them in the dirty clothes. They don't like those garments for some reason. They will never miss them, if you give them away, or make something else out of them.
You do such magic with your upcycles! I really enjoy upcycling, especially with new prices as they are, now. Besides, you get the thrill of the hunt and challenge of the fix, too! I like the ruffle sleeve on that darling hand sewn top SO much that I am going to make one very much like it, that or pleated instead of ruffled. I am so inspired, now.😊
I've started sewing by upcycling bed sheets and curtains that I bought second-hand on Facebook Marketplace. This way, it's almost the same process as sewing from scratch but it's cheaper, greener and I'm not as upset if the results aren't perfect since I didn't buy new and expensive fabric. This way, I could experiment without the constraints that come from upcycling clothes.
Another great video! I like your thinking. Non sewers can do some simple upcycles without a machine, but they can do amazing things with even a little sewing experience. I think with upcycling, it makes sense if the effort and time doesn't exceed buying a new item and it becomes something that will be used. Pants to shorts is a great upcycle to do often. I've taken sentimental items from my dad who passed away and turned them into a quilt that I use often. I also agree that some garments are terribly made and not worth buying. Many items are so poorly made, you need to sew down the finishing seams or reinforce buttons and seams before wearing it. I will do it if the fabric is nice and the price is right. TFS
I upcycle for various reasons: to save money (sometimes), to reduce the amount of brand new fabric I consume (because overproduction of textiles is a huge waste of finite resources and causes dreadful problems in the developing countries where textile waste is sent), and to increase the wearable life of existing garments in my wardrobe. I was raised to believe that throwing things away was wasteful, so if something can be salvaged somehow, that's always my first instinct.
You are absolutely right that it is getting increasingly difficult nowadays to find quality fabric/garments in charity shops, and the prices have increased greatly in the last couple of years. There is more and more cheap synthetic tat and fewer pure natural fibres or well-made items. Menswear tends to be slightly better in this respect, but even there the trend is towards more synthetic materials. When I go to charity shops I typically seek out any bedlinen/table cloths they may have, as they can still be a good way of sourcing quality cotton fabric in widths you don't normally find at the fabric store. These can be used for making muslins or for actual garments, depending on the drape, thread count and prints. It's also great fun, and allows for low cost experimentation.
I very much enjoy your upcycling videos, thank you for posting them 🙏
I think you are over thinking this subject. Upcycling was at it's height around 2010 when it was "new" and interesting just to do a mash up of clothes into a new garment. Today upcycling to me personally is more about helping the Earth. We need to reduce our use of man-made fabric that does not breakdown in the soil. We need to be more thoughtful when we buy anything. Repairs to garments extend the life of that garment and is worth the time it takes to do a few stitches, replace a button or change a hem. Creative reuse where we change a few things and come up with something useful and attractive is worth the extra time. I have started using more men's garments in reuse projects. Men's garments (except for truly cheap things that are made for discount stores) have traditionally been made stronger, and more durable than women's clothes. Finding a man's linen shirt at a thrift store is a huge find for me because I know that the more linen gets washed, the more soft and beautiful it will become. My time is not wasted in recreating it into something I can wear. Thrift stores vary in the quality of what they sell. Quality is never going out of style.
I hope Alisa can take a great vacation this year and do some traveling. I'm sure I and many others would open their homes across America to host her traveling around America! She could then write a book about her experiences! I'd like her to get off that mountain for a while, but we'd all miss her! (unless she took us on the road with her, like Jenny Doan is doing now!) Sometimes you just need to get away!
Gosh... I could go on and on about this issue... You hit on a lot of good points here, Alissa!
It is a very complex topic, and factor in the environment and fast fashion and all other things - it really is a lot to consider!
Congratulations with 300.000 subscribers! Man, Dad and Sister.
As someone who tries to upcycle before discarding, I think it is at least worthwhile to consider. Since I found I wasn't wearing it much, I recently upcycled a magenta colour stretch nap robe (full-length) into a lovely lined open front jacket with puff sleeves. Now this meant taking apart the garment and removing the zipper, then drafting a pattern (and yes I had to learn also how to draft a puff style sleeve). For the lining I was able to find a taffeta remnant at our local thrift store. I also decided to use another black remnant from a previous sewing project to trim the cuffs and around collar, fronts and hemline. Now while this project did take quite a bit of time to do, it was so worth the effort!! And when I looked up a ready-made jacket of a similar style, they prices started at $100. Another good reason to upcycle. And I would like to add how much I enjoy your videos - so very helpful and encouraging!
Hi Dianne! What is a nap robe? I found no descriptions of this kind of garment.
@@cb9825 Sorry for the confusion - the stretchy fabric for the robe has a nap like velveteen.
Agree. I realised quickly that used fabric is more difficult to sew than still kind off stiff unstretched fabric. I learned to go new ways and find solutions cause the fabric didn't allow me to make a new garment as I planed. The new skill I developed helps me also in other situations in my daily life.
We already have so many things to make our life more 'easy'. Sewing is creating, it's not meant to be done quickly. It's me-time, it's brain training, it's supporting my imagination, my skills to solve a challenging situation, my senses get activated with touching fabric and more, if it doesn't work out I learn to accept failure, if it's a success i gain more self-esteem.... the list is endless why up cycling is worth it. ❤
And from a Buddhist point of view, don't get attached to material things. So why not up cycle your daughter's clothes.
There are people who are aware of the mass production of clothes and there is a community talking about energetic clothes, energy keeping sewing methods for clothes, but that's probably only in (eastern) European countries.
Comparing with others and even on social media is a waste of your lifetime.
Keep going your way and values.
I like to upcycle, to pick up experience when it comes to clothes. My local thrift store has very reasonable prices so picking up a few shirts to try a new technique is very nice and if I get something wearable great, if not at least I didn't spend a fortune while learning what not to do. I usually don't upcycle clothes much unless I need something. I will wear the same things until they wear out or I gain/lose to much weight. I tend much more to make interesting but functional purses, bags and stuffies. I think my favorite find recently has been three men's pure wool suite coats for $1.75(thrift sale) each. They will make wonderful teddy bears. For me hunting down a unique but solid fabric by thrifting is as much a part of the fun as making an item for me.
This video and the comment section has been so interesting. I like seeing why/how other people upcycle assuming its functional. Functional can be wow as well in a number of ways, but pure wow is seldom functional, I find myself and usually ends up gathering dust in corners.
I added fluttery short sleeves to a dress I modified for my granddaughter only because I've been watching you do upcycles and modifications. I did run into a problem, but I figured out a way to make it work.
Thank you for your practical guidance and great inspiration!
The dress was one her dad ordered for her on-line that she picked out for a family wedding. They sent the wrong one, there wasn't time to fix it for the wedding so she wore something else, but since I've been able to add modifications, she'll be able to wear it for dressy school functions.
Again, thank you -for all you do!
To the point of sentimental value, it’s my experience that people care less and less about it. Like you touched on, people like new. But mostly, what has value to one, has no value to another. My mother is currently upset that neither my brother nor I want things that belonged to her grandmother, whom we had no relationship with.
So very true! Someone else in the comments said - things come and go and memories stay.
Lovely to see you sewing with your little girl. Gives me joy to watch and reminds me of sewing with my grandchildren 😊
Regardless of what you make together, it’s precious memories for you and for her. ❤
I just finished an up cycle today and the top I made came out really cute. It was the first time using the pattern. Using a men’s shirt allowed me to see where the pattern will need to be altered the next time I make this top and not cut up more expensive fabric on a first try.
I agree with you! To me the key point is to focus on what we actually need or wear. If we are refashioning just cause it would look cool, or because we found a good deal, or saw a RUclips video, etc, but it's not something we need and fits in our life, what is the point? I can see someone new to sewing having fun and getting their feet wet by doing a few upcycles and learning, but like you said, once you have learned you usually get better results with less effort by sewing from scratch.
The Minnie Mouse dress is so sweet! I completely agree with you about the quality of ready to wear articles these days. Sewn, as my mum would say "with a hot needle and a burning thread"!
Regarding the "boring, but useful" upcycles, it can be a decent idea to batch up a bunch of them into a quick-fire "this is what I've done lately" summary video. I know a lot of other creative channels that I follow do occasional "odds and ends" videos to share out less exciting projects that they've been chewing through.
Thank you, I actually do that already :) that video series is linked at the end of this video :)
It is so true that ready-made clothing is of poor quality today. I find that the fabric pills and becomes very thin after just one year of wearing it. I do try to upcycle what I can, but it is usually not another garment. I have turned pieces of fabric from my husband's worn-out suit into zipper pouches. I made a quilt from my son's T-shirts that I gave to him when he graduated high school. I made pillows out of fancy hankies. Jeans without Lycra are very useful for all sorts of upcycles as the fabric is sturdy.
Up cycling has my vote I kept one or maybe two dresses that my daughter wore but they ended up on her daughter's dolls.Being a good steward of the clothing we have and then repurposing or up cycling is a very valued gift to have in your abilities and you my dear girl have it in abundance and thankfully you are kind enough to share your talent of which I am one who is eternally grateful , I like to sew but I have not the imagination to think out all the beautiful things that you have done , that my girl is a "gift". I hope to join your members in September and I can not wait. Thank you Lisa you are a true blessing. Susan 🌸🌼🌻
You are definitely correct in upcycling now rather than keeping them. You have photos to look back on as well as space in your cupboards.
I agree with your points of view. The quality items i made are easier to upcycle than the cheap fast fashion items store bought (new or second hand). I think pictures of your little one in the cute clothes are enough and maybe the best preserved dress in a memorybox. Too much clothes will burden your child and probably have stains and will fade. In pictures the clothes will always look brand new. I Like that you really make things that fitt your style, not what 'the internet' wants you to sew. 😃
I love this! As someone who is getting back into sewing and new to upcycling I love when you show 'easy' functional upcycles. Thank you.
Congratulations on the 300k, your hard work, talent and lovely personality really paid off. I love all your videos and wait for them every weekend with my cup of tea ❤
"Preserving the clothes from your children" was not desirable to my two children. They were not interested in the pieces I had saved for them. Kind of broke my heart. That's just my experience. Good observation about the quality and prices of thrift shop clothes!!! I agree!!!
I think when one has a bit of sewing experience it just helps to have more guts to start or plan a up cycle project.
I think the balance between sentimental and practical. Save those items that have special meaning and hocus the rest.
My sewing group (meets 4times a year) always has a swap table for fabric and patterns but in the last year we also have a dress rail for “disappointment makes” that aren’t worn. Others can take these dresses/tops to upcycle, etc. The fabric is always new so it’s worth considering. I have taken cotton tops to salvage the fabric for DAGAW dresses. I agree it’s time consuming to upcycle but it feels good.
Maybe pick an outfit from a special event ( first day of school…. something like that) to save for her future. At the same time up cycling is such a valuable lesson….to have that skill will benefit her for a lifetime. Teach her everything you can, while you can even if she is slightly not interested because we never know what tomorrow will bring. So many people say…Gee I wish I had paid attention to how my Mom. Or Grandma made, bread, tortillas….whatever…the same would apply to up cycling.
Happy Mother’s Day!!! What a great present for me, you uploaded a video on one of my favorite topics.
Save clothes for memories? My daughters weren't interested in their former sized clothes - even the special occasions. I took photos instead. We kept scraps and each of my mom's grandkids (17 girls and boys) got a personal throw when they graduated high school to remind them they are wrapped in love. They each had a good time when they recognized different fabric pieces from their childhood.
I’m past having small children, during that time I had a club that did clothing resales, so I bought and resold for my kids.
As a plus size most upcycles are ‘cut down this oversized…’ that is opposite of what I can use. I’m not opposed to upcycling just not finding what I need.
Really enjoyed watching this video. Great thoughts on the subject. I have upcycled multiple jean jackets over the past year but they aren't getting worn as much as I thought I would. You definitely put a lot of thought into your upcycling.
Thank you for all you great tips and hints, you have encouraged me to start sewing, better sewing! Btw, Happy Mother's Day, i pray you are blessed today, you have definitely blessed all your viewers over and over again.
Happy mother’s day!! Thank you for sharing 🎉🎉
Right on brand with this thoughtful video. I really enjoyed your reflections! 💗
I agree with the fact that it is harder to find quality clothes to upcycle. And the popularity of thrifting has resulted in higher prices for cheaper goods.
Yes there are YT creators who seem to create for show only. I can't imagine them, or anyone wearing their items. Still i get a few ideas from what they make.
I only upcycle. At this time i don't have the skills to sew from scratch. I'vemade skinny jeans into flared legs, make a shacket from a large flannel shirt, added length or shortened items. Next i want to make a summer dress from a very very large men's shirt.
In answering your question #2, As a somewhat experienced seamstress, I watch some novice upcycle RUclipsr go against things I have learned about garment construction and just cringe. A cut here, a seam there, and they show off a cute, finished project. Sometimes I seriously question if they really end up with a wearable garment or if the whole thing was just for the sake of posting content. to me knowing how to sew makes upcycling harder in most cases than starting from scratch.
Thanks for the thoughtful video. One major aspect of "upcycling," in all it's various manifestations, is the ecological impact of reusing what you have vs buying new fabric. I'm not sure how that all pans out if you take into account the economic impact on the industry if we buy less. However, I guess the idea is keeping all the existing fabric/clothes out of the landfill by making something new out of them.
Happy Mother’s Day to you! This is a really great episode for me. I watch all the you tubes sewing videos and so much of the up-cycle videos are geared towards thrift, ya know - save money by recreating a dress from a shirt, etc. not worth my time because they aren’t beautiful and take way, way too much thought!! My personal protocol, find beautiful fabric, make something wonderful, wear it, love it and be proud 💜 thank you. 😊
I like to upcycle: sometimes changing the use, for example with jeans ( my preferred material) I do hand bags, shopping bags, purses or simply a case with zip. I use old sheets as a test to try nice dresses, I try to add fabric ( in ingenious ways) to dresses that are too small without changing much of the shape.
What you do upcycling and doing another piece ( I'm thinking on the blouses for example) is magic with the clothes! It's inspiring but very difficult to replicate. But it really helped me to take out my old clothes and rethink if I could give them a second chance ❤
I always learn so much from your videos. I have a lot of ideas on up-cycling. If you want to learn to sew and have no idea of any rules… you are free to do whatever you want. It may work and it may not. But, you’re using a garment or sheet that wasn’t being used, it’s usually cheaper than buying new fabric to practice your idea. And as long as you either learn from it or use it… it’s not a waste. Of course once you learn the rules… it may make things better quality but, it’s definitely not as easy as when you could do whatever you want 😂
I know… more questions… ❤ Diann
Super intéressant merci ma belle ❤
I have a 3 year old. And I sew her both new clothes and upcycle her existing clothing (shes so tall and skinny i have to, commercially bought pants just dont fit her).
I have one dress my mother made me when I was 6 or 7. I treasure it. I think if I had had 5, 10, or even more they wouldn't be as special. I also have memories of my mother making the dress that will last far longer than the fabric of the dress ever will.
The memories we make with our littles, including them in our hobbies, teaching them these skills, I think those are more important than the clothes themselves. I'll keep a couple of favourites, but I won't stress about, did I keep enough? Did I keep the right ones? I think my daughter will love any garment I choose to keep, simply because I made it for her.
I saw something recently about keeping children's clothes, if you had the clothes from when you were a child would you actually want your child to wear them - style, practicality wise? The sentimental value is probably much more for the parent than for the child.
So the way I do it with my children’s clothes is… I keep the special garments and up cycle the rest.
I want to leave a thought about upcycling children's clothing.
I don't think I understand the background of this problem. For me, who didn't grow up with a lot of money, saving clothes that you are no longer going to wear has no purpose. When I was little, if the clothes no longer fit me, they were given to someone who could use them or they were sold. I never ever felt attached to a specific outfit. Now the same thing happens with my own daughter, she never holds onto a piece of clothing. We always fix her clothes or sell them or give them away. Therefore, I cannot understand why a material object has such a level of importance that it should be kept for years.
For my family, clothes and material things have always been secondary, probably because we didn't have much money and therefore those things were less valuable than, for example, a special meal. My greatest memories go hand in hand with food and celebrations and now my own family has the same kind of way of remembering things.
I wonder if this is a cultural difference (I'm from Chile in Latin America) or if it could be something on an economic level?
I am very intrigued by the difference in perception that exists regarding clothes and their value.
Obviously we are talking specifically about clothing that you want to keep, either to pass on to others or to keep, because people who don't really value clothes to the point of throwing them away is a different topic.
But it's an interesting thing to understand.
That is a good point! I also did not grow up with a lot of money, as I mentioned, my mom upcycled and made my own clothes, but that was due to finances and lack of inventory in the stores (I grew up in Eastern Europe in 90's), she did save some of the most beautiful dresses she made for me when I was little, so now... as a mom myself I wonder if I should do the same... since I do enjoy the memories that the dresses that she saved for me bring, and my daughter now wears them, but at the same time - just like you, I don't place so much significance into most of the material things. I do enjoy creating/sewing, but that is because it brings joy to me and others and that is what matters to me. I also find that people are different, and some, like you and me, really appreciate the memories and some people like physical objects to hold on to. Of course I am not keeping shorts and t-shirts, because that gets worn to the point that it becomes a cleaning rag in the end, but I wonder if those special occasion clothes (which we don't really have many to begin with, my little one is still little) would be better saved and passed on as an heirloom... I hope this explains my point a little better :)
@@ThoughtfulCreativity How interesting! So the money factor doesn't really play a role when remembering things through clothes.
I think these types of traditions can be very beautiful I really wish I could do something like that, it's just that my practical side won't let me, a part of me feels selfish. Why it would be? I remember that I even gave some dolls that I had (which were very dears by me) to a girl I didn't even know, sometimes I think about that and it makes me sad but at the same time I feel bad and selfish for thinking like that.
Could it be that my family subconsciously put the thought in me that I have to get rid of the things I don't use so as not to be selfish?
I feel that passing things from generation to generation (that are not just photographs) can create a stronger feeling of unity and accompaniment than in families that do not have it. But I would like to hear more experiences about that and how it has affected them when interacting with family members.
It is also worth clarifying that my family was not very loving (to say the least) so it may be that even though they had the possibility of keeping certain objects they chose not to
Classical clothing done out of good quality garments and done accurate loose never its value. Living in Switzerland I wear high quality clothing from my mom done in UDSSR (yes, also there and that time you could get nice clothing out of very good garments for big price in the perfect quality I do not find our days).
I rather sew from scratch but upcycle when i can .For.kids keep a.few special pieces we only have so much room
I have mixed feelings about upcycling. I always say that I would rather make a new one than alter something (the exception is taking something in). I have been giving this a lot of thought myself. However, reusing fabric is a time honored tradition and I do that often. I wouldn't buy garments just to up cycle them. I like your projects because they are practical.
I agree that one thing to think about is the time you are investing in the garment worth it? Like you said, the fabric is of lesser quality so you have to balance it against what else you could do with the time. I always try to think about whether this is something I really would use or is it better to just donate it? People especially women under value their time. If my goal is saving money are there other things that would do that more efficiently, if my goal is being creative and saving money doesn't the project fulfill that need?
I think that having an advanced knowledge of sewing techniques can retard your artistic creativity .
Upcycling is only "worth it" for *me* if it's easy. Anything more complicated is not enjoyable for me. I'm always doing a sort of "cost analysis" - cost meaning time, effort and money.
Apropos of your dilemma about upcycling vs saving clothes you made for your daughter, you might want to save clothes that are attached to special memories. I have several items of clothing that my mother made me for special occasions which instantly bring back the sights, sounds, and emotions of those special times I shared with her. If my mother hadn't saved them I would certainly not still have those vivid memories, which would be a huge loss to me, especially since my mother is no longer with me.
Did people stop taking care of their clothes because they got cheap? Or would they take care of their clothes if they cost more with more quality? I don’t know.
That's a very good question! Now, after sewing for a while and of course purchasing clothes in my adult life I look at the price tag differently. Keeping in mind that I like to spend my finances very wisely - I look at the price tag and think - "If i get this $20 fabric per yard, which I really like, quality seems good, from a company I trust, how many wears I can get out of it?". If I realistically can get about 5 years (or more) wear out of it, let's say at a minimum 10 wears per year, that's about 50 wears, so I take $20 and divide it by 50, that's my cost per wear. If I get a $5 shirt that falls apart after the first wash, then the cost per wear is $5 which is so much more than the first example. When I think like this - it is easier to realize the investment and that it is so much more practical to care for your clothes. maybe if people looked at this from this perspective it could change their mind?
А вы как-то использовали потом отрезанную часть от бежевого платья? 😄
нет, oтдалa ребенку поиграть :)
First, unfortunately, we live in a disposable society. Not liking it, but there it is, the fabric and all over quality. People who can afford that kind of quality (I don't know any) donate their clothes. With minor exceptions, I rarely upcycle anything and manage to donate when I can. As far as your little one goes, I find that your kids don't want it either. My friends & I have saved kids clothes for sentimental reasons. But they don't want them & won't use them for their kids. What we should have done is save 1 pc of special clothing and if they loved others, take pics of them wearing it. You're overthinking it. Times change. Now my sister & I thought we were being smart saving so many things. 😑
Id much prefer practical upcycle over crass 'wow' factor. Ive stopped watching anyone who doesnt show the finished product in the thumbnail or at the beginning of the vid. I upcycle less than i used to because the quality of the the fabrics is disappointing