Weekend Review: DIY Thrift Flip

 

DIY Thrift Flip / April Yang
Beverly, MA: Quarry Books, c2024.
152 p.

Another fashion choice with a DIY aesthetic for today's review! I found this via my library and was intrigued by it. April Yang is a popular upcyling Youtuber and IG sewing celeb known as Coolirpa. She shares ways to upcycle/refashion things you might find at the thrift store, and has 2.2 million followers interested in this on Youtube. So it makes sense that she's now putting out a book as well. 

This book is full of ideas on how to remake thrift store finds, but I didn't find all of them equally successful. Of course, Coolirpa is young and quite thin, so she can get a new outfit from something purchased secondhand, fairly easily. 

The book is organized well and is aimed at beginners, not longtime sewists. There's an intro all about her and why she got into thrift flips, then three sections: Getting Started, Shopping & Altering Basics, and then a few Thrift Flip Projects as examples and inspo. 

This delivers on what it promises. Getting Started really is an overview of both the basic supplies and basic skills you'll need to get started in upcycling. She goes over things assuming that the reader knows next to nothing - so explains basic stitches, terminology and even fabric types (even as basic as woven vs. knit). This would be really helpful to someone totally new to sewing in this context. 

The next section goes over her top tips for shopping secondhand whether in traditional thrift shops or other venues, or even online, and how to tell what can and can't be fixed. She goes over the best way to seam rip, to add sleeves or pockets and basic tailoring. She also talks about using sewing patterns to help you alter or reuse clothing, as well as tracing off a pattern from existing clothing. It's quite comprehensive but again accessible to someone new to this craft. 

And in the final section there are a number of projects by a number of different sewists of other sizes and shapes as well as her own projects. From embroidering on to sweaters with bulky yarn to cutting slits in a knit dress for decorative purposes to upcycling a pair of leggings into a short/sport bra workout set, there are varied ideas. She shows how to cover unwanted logos, or add embellishments to make a dress look totally different, or make a loose cardigan style jacket out of an oversized t-shirt. She uses pillow shams and curtains to make quick tops, or even a corset style top. I thought the variety of examples was a good feature, showing different styles of remakes on different people. 

While this book isn't exactly for me, I did like the approach and the casual tone of it. It's not intimidating, but also not so simple that the projects look cheap or unfinished. She gives a lot of info but it's all useful and at the beginner/adventurous beginner level. I think if someone was new to upcycling this would be a great starting place. 

Weekend Review: Sew It Yourself

 

Sew It Yourself / Daisy Braid
London: Hardie Grant, 2022.
207 p.

This is a cheerful, colourful book with multiple pattern-free projects included - 10 clothing pieces, and 10 accessories, all with variations. The accessories range from scrunchies and tie belts to bags and face masks. The clothing covers tops, dresses and even one pair of pants/shorts. All of the clothing is boxy and voluminous, based on rectangles, squares or trapezoids, some with lots of ruffling or gathering. 

If you are a younger sewist, or someone who likes more free-form, body based sewing, you will love this. The patterns are very trendy right now, with tiered ruffly skirts, big sleeves, lots of gingham and 'sweet' colours. The accessory ideas are a great intro to sewing, and I think that total newcomers to sewing might be attracted to this book by it's trendiness and bright layout. 

The book begins with the basic facts of sewing: tools, materials and key skills to learn. It starts out simple, from how to measure yourself and cut out a project, and advances to making and applying bias binding, and even caring for your clothing. Then it goes into the project chapters, which have both photos of the project, and illustrations of the steps. Most of the projects are straightforward, being cut out in big blocks of squares or rectangles, with no closures, so they are accessible to new sewists. 

This kind of sewing is definitely not my style; oversized, ruffly or ginghamy is not my aesthetic. So I am unlikely to make any of these, except perhaps the boxy jacket which might work for me. But, the clear and friendly tone of the book, and the easy to approach instruction and projects, are welcoming to anyone wanting to learn. I found it well put together, with lots of variety and levels of sewing included. I think this would appeal to a newer or younger sewist who loves these kinds of outfits, and it would serve them well. 

Weekend Review: The Magic of Pockets

The Magic of Pockets / Jess Driscoll
Portland, OR: Microcosm, c2022.
128 p.

I found this little book from a little publisher thanks to my library. It's always fun to find something interesting that I've never heard of before. This book is a delight. Jess Driscoll lives in BC and is a writer and teacher, and this is her first published book. It's a short guide to the politics and past of pockets, quickly moving on to the practicalities. 

The subtitle is a clear summary of the book - why your clothes might lack pockets, and then a lot about how to add them, in a variety of styles and techniques.

It starts out with patch pockets, with a few options as to shape and placement. She also starts with hand sewing and then moves on the machine sewing tips. The book is aimed at DIY oriented people, who may or may not have sewing experience, and it does move slowly and clearly over the options presented. Patch pockets are suggested for pants, skirts, even tees, and each one is explained in terms of fabric choice and technique. 

There are illustrations, but in line with the DIY ethos of the book, and the publisher, they are hand drawn sketches, mainly. After the variety of patch pockets, she moves on to apron pockets -- really just multiple patch pockets in one. Then a chapter on how to insert side seam pockets to something without any; considerations of fabric, seam allowance, and bulkiness are discussed. Also, the pocket pattern is made by evaluating the size of the opening by hand size, then drawing around your hand or phone or whatever you want the pocket for, to create the pocket bag. Very hands on ;) She even adds a little bit at the end of this chapter about how to add a pocket bag to fake welt pockets, if you want to make them real. 

The short book concludes with a whimsical chapter on tie-on pockets. From historically influenced pouches to tie under your clothing, to pouches to wear around your belt, or even Jane Austen inspired 'pocket' bags (reticules), there are ideas here that are unusual and charming. 

The style here is relaxed; the author is sure that anyone can do this. She makes it seem easy to follow these instructions even if you've never sewn much before. And giving you all these tools, she makes you feel like adding pockets to all your current clothing is a political act -- you'll be giving yourself convenience and the ability to carry what you need. It's a delightful addition to the pocket conversation, and easy enough for beginners to follow along and feel empowered. 

You can check out examples of the interior pages to get a taste of the writing style and illustrations, at the publisher's website now.

Weekend Review: Girl's Guide to DIY Fashion

Girl's Guide to DIY Fashion / Rachel Low
Lafayette, CA: C&T, c2015.
160 p.

This is a very cute book aimed at preteens who are interested in fashion and making their own wardrobes. It's really fun and lively, with lots of bright photos -- of girls who actually look the same age as the intended audience -- and accessible projects. 

It's written by a woman who teaches sewing to kids, and this experience shows. The projects are clearly explained, with lots of step by step and diagrams for them. The projects are fairly easy, too, but will allow young enthusiasts to make something good enough to encourage them to continue. No simple pillowcases here! The structure of the book is also great. It starts out explaining fabrics, measurements, and sewing tools, as well as encouraging young creatives to make mood boards for their designs. 

The projects are collected into sections for different parts of life, for example, "Back to School" includes a ruffly skirt, cardigan and pencil case. It even suggests trying things like stenciling stars onto plain tights for a more exciting fashion statement. 

It then moves on to "Fun With Friends" (leggings, jewellry, shoe painting) and "Slumber Party" (jammies, obvs), "Rockin' Summer" (sundress, hairband, flipflop glam) and "Going to A Party" (fancy shift, tie on collars, shoe clips, purses). The layout makes sense for young and excitable makers -- what do you want to make, and for what occasion? Here are some ideas!

The tone of the book is encouraging, never talking down to kids or over their heads, but also clearly believing that they can accomplish these projects. The projects are doable in small time increments, so hopefully makers won't be bored or distracted before they finish something, but are also wearable and very customizable. I would have loved this book when I was that age and first interested in how to make my own wardrobe items. It's a bit of an older book but I just found it via my library, and was impressed with it. A colourful and cheerful read for any young girl wanting to sew with her friends. 

*caveat: it really is for girls, as the title states, all the projects are ones that young girly girls would be inclined to want to make. Lots of frills and dresses and accessories. If that's what you are looking for, you've found a great source. 

Weekend Review: Girl With a Sewing Machine

Girl With a Sewing Machine / Jenniffer Taylor
Tunbridge Wells, UK: Search Press, c2017
144 p.

This is a cute, DIY style book with lots of projects for ambitious beginners. Written by Jenniffer Taylor, a contestant on the Great British Sewing Bee in a previous year, this is a book that brings back the more free-form 70s kind of sewing book -- it's quite fun. 

There are no patterns per se in this book: there are measurements and a guide on how to draft your patterns according to your own measurements. Most of the patterns are quite simple, but there are a few like some wrap trousers and a dungaree dress that look more complicated even though the process of drafting them is fairly straightforward -- a lot of rectangles and angles to trim. 

The book starts out with some very simple craft projects -- a teacup pincushion, for example -- to get familiar with hand-sewing and your sewing machine, then talks about measuring yourself correctly, and moves on to drafting patterns. There's even a section on customizing existing clothes using doilies, dyes and block printing.

There is an intro telling Jenniffer's story, and showing that she's a rock'n'roll kind of girl, which explains her more independent and free form sewing style. Taylor sprinkles sewing tips throughout the book, little things that help in the sewing room such as keeping bobbins organized, that add a little more to the text.

The projects do have a certain DIY aesthetic, which may not be for everyone, but they are still nicely finished and look modern and wearable. This book would be great for a younger sewist, especially one who likes to do things their own way. Anyone who wants a step-by-step, clearly outlined pattern to follow will likely find this book stressful, but if you know a creative go-getter who learns by doing, this book has lots of energy and inspiration to just get going on making and customizing a wardrobe. 

Weekend Review: Generation T

Generation T: 108 ways to transform a t-shirt / Megan Nicolay
NY: Workman, c2006.
258 p.

This is a book I've owned for a long time. Although published in 2006, it has a very 90s grunge/punk feel to it, reminding me of the PostPunk Kitchen blog and books of the same period.

It's a fun book for anyone who might not be an accomplished sewist, who just wants to reuse and upcycle old tees. I gave it to my teenage niece when she got interested in developing her own fashion sense and she liked it.

There are a variety of upcycling projects in here -- from shirts to skirts to bags and pillows. I have to say that many, if not most, of the designs will appeal mainly to young women, and not to the middle aged or those who prefer a more finished look to one's clothes. There's a lot of cut and tie going on.

But it's a creative spark for those interested in remaking clothing, and has some fun ideas that can be adapted into something more to a reader's taste if the original doesn't appeal. I have a feeling that this would be a hit for a craft group, or for people wanting to do something a little different. These days most of these kind of t-shirt projects can be found online, but I think this book still has enough interest to be a fun and quirky read.

I really can't say that this is a staple for me as a sewer, but I have kept it for over a decade so there is something there that appeals! If you like a free-wheeling, non-patterned compilation of upcycling ideas, you might like this book. There is a second book as well, but I find that the projects in that one are reaching -- this book kind of reaches the limit of practical or usable ideas for me.

Definitely something to appeal to the newbie or the young person interested in tackling their excess fast fashion and learning sewing basics at the same time.


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For a recent post in which I talk about t-shirt refashioning and share more links, check out this discussion about scarf making with old tees!