Button SwapI collect and save buttons. I look for garments with pretty, or different buttons at yard sales and thrift stores, and buy them for the buttons, alone. I remove buttons from my worn clothing.
Getting the Perfect Length on Cut-off PantsI recently found some cool pedal pushers in my community center. I hate the length, but they fit for shorts, so I had to cut them down. Sometimes, getting each leg the same is a challenge.
Altering Clothes to Fit More SnugglyYou ever have clothes that you wish were a size or two smaller? This tip is what I do to all my clothes that I want them to fit snug.
Use Vinegar When Lengthening GarmentsSometimes when you lengthen a garment the crease line from the previous hem remains. The way to get rid of that is to moisten the crease with vinegar, and iron on the hottest setting allowable for the fabric. I always use a press cloth to protect the fabric.
ReUse, ReCycle, ReImagine, ReFashion!I confess, I love clothes! I love shoes and handbags, costume jewelry, and art. As a creative individual with limited funds, I have scoured thrift shops for years on the hunt for bargains. When my sons were young I clothed them in second-hand, like-new clothes that saved us so much money and they looked great! I would look for interesting things, like t-shirts with cool graphics that could be cut and appliqued onto jeans, etc. to create entirely new and original looks.
Changing the Direction a Shirt ButtonsRemove buttons carefully, with as little damage to fabric as possible, and stitch up buttonholes. Stitch giant press studs (or hooks) to reverse side of button edge, positioning the corresponding half of the press stud (or eye of the hook) on top of the stitched up buttonhole.
Alter Thrift Store Dresses For New ClothesI've been looking for tops for my white skirt and ivory skirt and looking for print skirts. One day, I found a dress with a print I liked and thought, "I wish this were a skirt." That's when I realized I could cut it in half and make a skirt.
Bind Edge of Robe SleevesBuy some lace, about 2 inches wide in any color you like. Fold in half lengthwise and press with a warm iron. Bind edge of sleeve, like you bind a potholder. Sew with thread of the same color as the lace.
Renovate Old ClothesRe-use clothing parts to renovate clothes in trouble. For instance, if sleeves on a shirt are too short, cut them off just above the cuff and sew on some cut-off sweatshirt sleeves from a too-small or stained garment.
Link: Hemming JeansHow to Hem Jeans! I found this tip several years ago and I love, love, love it! If you do it correctly, you can't even tell they have been hemmed. It works on other pants, slacks, etc.
Lengthen Jeans With Contrasting FabricParents of small girls, don't throw away those jeans because they're a little short yet still fit everywhere else! I used spare fabric to make this top (just used one of her dresses for a pattern), and then sewed a cuff around the bottom of the pants to match.
Cut Down Winter Pajamas for SummerIf you have kids and you know their winter pajamas won't fit them next season, cut them down for the spring/summer. Cut the pants into shorts and the shirt into short sleeves or even tanks.
Make Last Year's Dress Into This Year's BlouseWhen my daughter was in grade school, I couldn't afford new school clothes every year, so I purchased an A-line (no waistline) dress pattern with the option of cap or long sleeves and three neckline options.
Making Shorts from PantsWhen you want to cut the legs off worn or too-short pants to make shorts, lay a pair of shorts that are the perfect length over the pants, matching waist band to waist band.
Remove Sleeves to Make Summer BlousesRecently, I saw a lovely blouse on a lady. I complimented her on it. She replied, "Thank You, I bought this along with several other blouses, at a sale, all having long sleeves, I took them home, cut the sleeves off and made me all summer time blouses." She most likely saved a lot of money by doing this.
Need to take in a huge T-shirt? Hate pinning? Turn it inside out and have a friend staple around the edges until it fits. Sew 1/2 inch inside the staples and then trim off excess. Fast!
Turn a Tight Sweater Into a CardiganWhen your child's pullover sweaters become too tight to wear, turn them into a cardigan by cutting them straight down the front and binding the front edges with an attractive trim.
Shortening Pants and SleevesTips for novices sewers about how to shorten long sleeves and pants. Also advice on beginning sewing machines.
Use a Handmade Patch to Cover a Stain or AdIf you find a big stain on the front of your infants onesie or child's t-shirt, or would rather not be advertising some company name splashed across the front, cover it up with a hand-made patch!
Elastic in Summer ShortsOne of my daughters is so slender that her summer shorts literally would not stay up on her, despite their having a half back elastic.
