Tag Archives: Queensland Rural

Sew 220 – Spotted wool jumper-skirt

Jane wears Sew it Again 220This upcycle came with a lucky charm because I won a raffle prize – a fantastic Amanda Salisbury photo, below – while attending the inspiring and informative Queensland Rural Regional and Remote Women‘s High Tea.

I met several new contacts and caught up with lots of old friends as we heard the amazing story of the Puglisi family’s winery at Stanthorpe.

Meanwhile the 365 upcycling continues with another jumper-skirt, this time refashioned from a men’s spotted wool jumper. I cut the sleeves off and opened them out before joining the cuffs together to become a butterfly-shaped shawl – with the inside facing out so the woven pattern is accentuated. I crocheted around the edge to secure and neaten. This is draped around the shoulders of an op shop wool jacket, from which shoulder pads were removed.  Continue reading →

Sew 170 – REfashion is non-toxic

Dominique's apron upcycledThe reasons why I’m upcycling natural fibre garments during 2014 include because it is creative, mindful, resourceful, flexible, sustainable, thrifty, bespoke, handy, fun, ethical, reducing waste, shifting habits, demonstrating alternatives and non-toxic.

This Ecouterre article about toxic threads provides further affirmation: “Around 80 billion garments are produced worldwide, the equivalent of just over 11 garments a year for every person on the planet, according to Greenpeace. The growing volumes of clothing being made, sold, and disposed of magnifies the human and environmental costs of our clothes at every stage of their life cycle, which means that even minute quantities of toxins can cumulatively amount to the widespread dispersal of damaging chemicals across the globe, the group says.”  Continue reading →