A long bias-cut skirt is updated by cropping to knee-length then worn as is, or with hem-off-cut recast as collar or wrap.

Wikipedia defines fashion as a general term for a popular style or practice, and often refers to the newest creations of textile designers. As fashion trends emerge they’re unique and stunning – that’s the nature of fashion. But in time they tend to look and feel dated – like a planned obsolescence.

That’s where upcycling comes in. By resewing existing garments, you can recreate them for a second life using simple home-sewing techniques as I’m demonstrating with my 365 day Sew it Again upcycling campaign.

Upcycling is a greener way of recycling – finding a new purpose for unwanted stuff instead of moving it on.  This UK Upcycling website says “upcycling is all about taking disposable things and creating something useful from them.  Usually the only energy being used is your own and it can save you money too.

“Instead of paying extra for eco-friendly fabrics such as organic cotton or bamboo silk, try transforming an old item of clothing into something new.”

Upcycling helps the environment in several ways:

• Old items aren’t going to landfill to release methane gas and contribute to climate change
• You overcome the need for traditional recycling, which takes energy and resources
• Making use of old items might save buying new – reducing need for more manufacturing

Today’s upcycle was a Yarra Trail skirt of gorgeous quality linen and a cast-off top from my daughter. I trimmed skirt to knee-length by removing the bottom part of skirt, cutting just above where some fluting began. I just zigzagged the hem which flares nicely because of bias cut of skirt. You could just wear the skirt like that as a simple straight knee-length skirt. I went on to fold the hem off-cut in half right-sides together so it became a semi-circle. I cut off the ribbons (inside skirt, used for hanging) and inserted them at either end and sewed all together (see photos).  After turning right side out, I added buttons at either side which the ribbons can then wrap around to secure. This feature now works as a peplum wrap, collar or one-shoulder cape. (Before sewing on buttons, I had used a brooch to secure as in photo above)