Create a Fashionable New Look

Updating old clothes is a great way to save money, learn new skills and help the environment. You can repair and update your closet or that great new thrift store find using a few simple crafty techniques. When you've mastered the simple techniques, you can challenge yourself to try something more complex.

Japanese Boro-style stitching

courtesy of agatheringofstitches.com

Stylishly repair worn-out clothes with just a needle and thread. There's a trend now for visible mending so you can accentuate, rather than hide, your work.

The Japanese tradition of Boro stitching is a good example of this. Rather than throwing out a garment that was in need of mending, patches and stitching were added to repair it so it could be worn again.

Today, boro stitching is recognized as an art form and you can see historical examples in museums that have layers and layers of fabric stitched in distinctive parallel and perpendicular lines. Mending the clothes you already have makes them one-of-a-kind and uniquely yours.

Add embellishments

Maybe your clothes just need a little something extra to make them special. 101 Tees has some great ideas for dressing up plain t-shirts.

You can adda bit of sparkle with some beads or sequins stitched along a neckline. Add wide ribbons to the straps of a tank top to create cute little cap sleeves. Embroidering flowers or other designs on your clothes allows you to express your personality and to show off your stitching skills at the same time.

Sometimes all you need to make a plain garment feel new is a little time spent with a needle and thread and your imagination.

Transform it

courtesy of makery.co.uk

If patching and adding embellishments isn't enough to save those tired clothes in the back of your closet, you can use a variety of techniques to change something old into something entirely new.

A crew neck sweater can become a cardigan with a little cutting and sewing. Cover up stains by dyeing your clothes a different color. You can add or take away sleeves, collars and cuffs. Give your coat an updated look just by changing the buttons.

Without spending a lot of money you can create an entirely new wardrobe out of clothes you already have. Add some thrift store treasures to the mix and you'll have even more possibilities for clothes that look and feel new. Check out the list of books below for more ideas.