So yesterday I was doing some simple fixes to some clothing I bought at the thrift store. And as I was unpicking dead elastic from a skirt I got to thinking that with tough times like this more people need simple sewing skills. How to mend a hole, (in jeans or a knit) how to remove a zipper and replace it, how to patch a worn out section of fabric, how to hem a pair of pants or skirt, how to remove old elastic and replace it. etc.
And I got to thinking that perhaps some tutorials are in order for basic sewing and mending skills? So if I did make some tuts(I can even make video and text with pictures.) which ones would you want to see first?
1.) How to mend a hole, (in jeans or a knit)
2.) how to remove a zipper and replace it,
3.) how to patch a worn out section of fabric
4.) how to hem a pair of pants or skirt
5.) how to remove old elastic and replace it
6.) Other(comment to tell me what this is.)
Please comment and let me know! If you are all ready a skilled seamstress think about what was something that took you the longest to figure out how to do and pick that one.
Bethany of MrsMulticraft(Now Crafting Baby!)
Bethany of MrsMulticraft(Now Crafting Baby!)
15 comments:
the thing that always gets me is when the fabric in my jeans wears away and leaves a hole in the crotch area... many a favorite pair of jeans was replaced becouse of this. it's probably an easy fix, but as a beginner, it's not something I've tackled before...
Great idea Bethany!! I think a tutorial on replacing zips would be very useful for thrifters:))
I'd love to see a tutorial on how to fix holes in knit. Many a tshirt of mine has been put into the refashion pile because of a small hole in the middle that I didn't have a clue how to fix.
I vote also for mending holes in jeans and knits as this is something I've always had trouble with.
Thanks for offering to put in the time for tutorials on these absolutely necessary skills. I totally agree that if more people knew how to do these sorts of easy fixes, replacing buttons, hems, and such, we wouldn't need to consume so much clothing.
I'd love to see the tutorials for replacing zippers and elastic. :)
so far still tallying votes. :) I'm going to wait till Monday to give as many people a chance to "vote". I may have to find something to remove a zipper from and replace! lol so far it's a 3 way tie between 1, 2, and 5.
So true! I tend to forget that this is something people don't know any more... from what I know, the perceived threshold is highest for zippers and hems. Also, I find that when I mend something, I'm putting in less effort than my mom and grandma used to (which I can see because I'm wearing some of their mended things)... I just go by my intuition, but they learnt some "official" way of doing it! So I'd like to know about that.
@Ky: I have a similar problem with the inner thigh of my jeans wearing out long before the rest of the pants. I extend the life of my jeans by taking scrap denim and sewing a patch to the inside of the jeans. I make sure the right side of the patch is facing through the hole so the color of the patch will be close to the color of the garment. On the outside, all that can be sean is the stitching, the worn out part, and the right side of the patch. In a normal standing position, even this can't usually be seen. Maybe this will give you some ideas?
I need help making the armholes on sleeveless tops smaller. They always are too big and give a peek-show of my bra from the side. Often the armholes are bound all the way around with bias tape or something, which makes it so much tougher.
I vote zips and elastic!
Bryony
EOD
oh zippers please, I have a couple of still good sweatshirts that just need the zippers fixed...for me and my kids. But any and all would be great, especially since I'm teaching my daughter to sew and would love for her to grow up knowing how to fix things.
added these to thee tally so far! looks like replacing a zipper is in the lead so far! With mending holes and replacing or fixing elastic tied for second. :)
Yes tutorials please!
I think the zipper would be most useful. Especially since there's so many different types and they all have their own issues--invisible zippers, regular zippers that can be installed about 3 or 4 different ways, exposed zippers, fly-front zippers, separating zippers.... I've been sewing for most of my life, and zippers STILL give me fits!
looks like zippers have won out! Now I have to find something with a zipper in it to replace for you guys! I'll keep my eyes open and will probably do one of the others in the mean time. :) But I know I have issues with zippers being broken or worn out in thrifted clothing all the time. So I'm sure I scour up something!
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