That jacket you no longer wear, those jeans that fit well but look like everyone else’s… Before you leave them at the back of the wardrobe, try making them yours: customising a garment is one of the quickest ways to start sewing.
Three rules before you start
- Choose a garment you no longer wear, so you’re not afraid of spoiling it.
- Change one thing at a time: it’s easier to control and the result looks better.
- Try it first on a scrap of fabric or on a spot nobody will see.
Seven ideas to customise your clothes
1. Change the buttons or fastenings
It’s the simplest change and the one that shows the most. Covered, gold or differently coloured buttons turn a basic jacket into a different garment. All you need is a needle, thread and a little patience.
2. Play with the length
Shortening a skirt or trousers changes their silhouette completely. And if you’d rather lengthen, add a strip or a ruffle in another fabric so the hem becomes the detail of the garment.
3. Add a side panel
Open the side seam of a pair of jeans and sew in a strip of another fabric, such as corduroy, satin or a silver fabric. It’s one of the most striking transformations and all it takes is careful measuring.
4. Add patches, stars or embroidery
An appliqué on a pocket, a knee or a shoulder covers a worn spot and gives the garment some personality. Start with simple shapes: stars, flowers or letters.
5. Change the sleeves
Cutting off the sleeves of a shirt or finishing them with a ruffle can make the garment ready for another season.
6. Add new pockets
A patch pocket in another fabric, bigger than usual or in an unexpected place, is practical and stands out straight away.
7. Dye it or change its colour
Natural fabrics, such as cotton or linen, take dye well. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and test on a small piece first.
How to know what to change
Look at what you wear least and ask yourself why: the colour, the length, a detail you don’t like? The answer usually tells you what to change. If you can’t find it, put the garment on and mark with pins what you would alter.
When you want to go further
Customising is a way in. When it starts to feel small, you can move on to sewing your own garments, and a good starting point is understanding what pattern making is and why it changes your garments. Our sewing patterns are designed the same way: as a starting point you can change to suit your taste.
To do it with company, there are our in-person workshops.
