Tag Archives: Carol

Sew 335 – Sewing is a life skill

Changing buttons for fresh lookToday’s upcycle is simply about changing buttons – as my friend and wool producer Carol Watson has done to personalise a beautiful linen jacket for Sew 335 of 365 (see photos below).

It seems we’ve just blinked and now we’re at the beginning of the last month of the year, reflecting on 2014 and considering what might be up next.

The storms last week had a silver lining – they forced a tidy-up of the Textile Beat studio (for those following the details, I’m still drying out my machines under the overhead fan and have not tried to plug in yet – hence hand-sew projects).

One useful rediscovery during the tidy-up was my seven-point note-to-self written during study last year that provides some homespun perspective and direction for day-to-day actions and reactions. The points are: 1. Being is enough  2. Follow the heart  3. Live and work to your values  4. Make health a daily priority  5. Stay connected  6. Respect process and planning 7. Give/ask for help, and keep learning. I’ve mostly stuck to that philosophy this year, with just a few deviations.  Continue reading →

Sew 234 – Upcycled denim days

upcycled denimSometimes I think I’m whistling in the wind with this Sew it Again project, demonstrating reuse of wasted natural fibre clothing to create refashion that is more current and wearable.

Regular responses are blank or disdainful looks and comments about no time, no interest, no motivation, no skills and no reason to bother. New clothing is so plentiful and cheap, and it is easy, convenient and more sophisticated to go with the flow.

Then new motivation arrives by looking beyond the now, reflecting on the bigger picture, knowing I am swimming against the tide – and enjoying chance meetings and opportunities.  Continue reading →

Sew 192 – Conversions for coast comfort

Carol wears upcycledChanging clothes to suit yourself is simple when you know how and have a little confidence. My friend Carol purchased this Pringle cashmere cardigan from a vintage shop without trying it on, only to discover the cuff bands were uncomfortably tight. Our creative solution was to chop them off, leaving about 1cm of the rib to hold the sleeves together and then blanket stitch the raw edge.

For the no-sew skirt, a large men’s blue cotton polo shirt was turned upside down and waist elastic inserted into what was the hem of the shirt. The collar and ribbed sleeve bands were cut-off and the shirt sliced along the shoulders to create a flared, contemporary hemline that was great for rock-hopping and bush-walking at Noosa during a brief break at the beach. Continue reading →