In this clothes upcycling and sewing tutorial, I'll explain how to upcycle a dress into a skirt and then add the sleeves to another top. I bought the dress from my local thrift store for $2. Nobody wanted it and it was on the last chance rack, destined for landfill within a couple of days. I loved the colour and the light crepe fabric. It was a practical dress alteration project.
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The dress style didn’t suit me but I knew it would be an easy upcycling project because there was an invisible zip in the side seam and a built in waist band. This upcycling project couldn’t be any easier! Also, the sleeves had a pretty lace detail and I just loved them. So, let’s get started.
The first step was to cut the skirt from the top of the dress ensuring to cut enough extra fabric for the new waist hem. Next, I pinned a new waist hem seam and top-stitched this on the sewing machine. And I’m done! That’s a 10 minute upcycling project. I told you it couldn’t be any easier. I couldn’t resist using those pretty sleeves and decided to add them to an upcycling project I had in progress. You can see that video on my channel.
When cutting the sleeves from the top, I made sure I left enough fabric to attach the sleeves to the top. Then I top-stitched them in place.
And here the skirt is finished. It’s so light and pretty and dreamy. I love it.
And here are the sleeves on their new top. I’ve even worn the top and skirt together to work.
Thanks for watching. I hope you enjoyed this video. If you’d like to see more, give me a thumbs up. I’ve got loads of upcycling and sewing projects in progress so subscribe for more inspiration.
See you next time,
BEX.
My videos and tutorials are perfect for people looking for inspiration in the form of :
* how to upcycle clothes ideas
* upcycling clothes ideas
* upcycling clothes before and after videos
* upcycling men's shirts
* how to repurpose old clothes
* how to thrift clothes
* thrift flip ideas
* how to flip thrift store clothes
* sewing tutorials for beginners
* easy sewing tutorials
* 10 minute sewing projects
* quick sewing projects
* chartity shop upcycle
* op shop upcycle
ABOUT SECOND LIFE UPCYCLING
Second Life Upcycling is about altering, recycling and upcycling clothes to give them a second life. On this channel, you'll find easy, quick, and simple step-by-step clothes upcycling tips and sewing tutorials.
I have been thrifting, second-hand shopping, and sewing for 30+ years. My passion is following an ethical lifestyle when it comes to my clothing choices and living an environmentally friendly life. I rarely buy new clothes (or anything new for that matter), instead shopping second hand shops, charity stores and flea markets.
THE BENEFITS OF CLOTHES UPCYCLING
Clothes upcycling promotes a more sustainable, creative, and responsible approach to fashion, all of which contributes to a healthier planet and a more sustainable future.
* Clothes upcycling helps reduce waste by repurposing old or unwanted garments, often diverting them from landfill.
* With the fashion industry being one of the planets largest polluters, upcycling and repurposing clothing reduces the need for new materials and decreases carbon emissions associated with the product and disposal of clothing.
* Traditional clothing manufacturing consumes significant amounts of water, energy, and raw materials. Upcycling clothing not only extends the life of existing textiles, conserving these valuable resources, but promotes more sustainable consumption patterns.
* Upcycling clothes and other materials encourages creative freedom by transforming old clothes into unique, personalised garments. Upcycling and sewing fosters innovation and encourages people to experiment with designs, creating one-of-a-kind items that reflect personal style and creativity.
* Upcycling clothing can be very cost-effective by reducing money spent purchasing new clothes but can also assist charities when clothes are purchased second hand from charities.
* Repairing and mending clothing enhances the longevity of existing garments, giving them longevity in your wardrobe and limiting the need to purchase new clothes. This contrasts with fast fashion items, which are frequently designed for short-term use.