transforming my wardrobe in 2024 (plots & plans)

I'm sewing and knitting my own clothes this year, so with sustainability and thoughtfulness on the agenda, what are my goals for this year?

00:00 intro
01:38 RE-WEARING
03:07 MENDING
06:32 PATTERNS
09:06 MATERIALS
12:12 BOOKS

Patterns and fabrics mentioned:

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[tobywollin]

For the coat - you'll need to take out the lining and take apart the pieces, put them on top of brown paper or newspaper and cut around them to make pattern pieces. Then, choose your fabric - I've found that a heavy flannelized satin coat lining (sometimes called 'Kasha') is the best because you want something slick. Depending on how much warmer you want to make it, you can also find quilted coat lining fabrics that you can use as well. If you're committed to turning this into sort of a winter 'tank', then get the Kasha lining and on the flannelized back, put thin wool flannel (run it through the washer/dryer to shrink it down, which makes it dense), using the Kasha pieces as your pattern. This will make the lining literally heavy as lead, but it also makes the coat impervious to the wind and will keep you warmer. Then sew the pieces of the lining together and sew it into (sorry, you'll be doing this by hand - your hand sewing skills will be aces when you are done) the coat. Take up the bottom to match the bottom of the coat and off you go.

[ImpulseKombucha]

Something that’s made me less scared to cut good fabric is that I saw a reel where someone had saved fabric all beautifully folded on their shelf and pulled it out one day to find that it had gotten sun faded on the folded bit that was exposed and had sort of ruined the fabric. Things change and deteriorate no matter what, so you may as well use them and love them and mend them and use them some more

[marloesk]

Had an idea, had to pause the video. WITH THE GREEN DRESS embroider green leaves all along the slit (two tone, one almost the perfect match shade and one three shades darker) AND then just have one leave going to the side at the top mending it!!

[Calkholmes]

when I make a mock up I like to use a fabric that I might wear but is simple or cheaper in case it turns out well and then I'll have two wearable items at the end instead of just one and a bunch of scraps!

[kavatwastaken]

I have a style challenge for you! I think I saw it on The sorry girls a few years ago. Put a marker of some kind (like a ribbon or tape) on the far right end of the rail in your wardrobe. Everyday, you have to style the first garment in your wardrobe, so the one on the far left on the rail. You can use any other pieces in your wardrobe as well, and when it has been used, it goes back on the other side of the marker. So you'll go through all of your clothes but you have to challenge yourself to use the first item everyday.

[claudiamonteiro]

I relate so much regarding the precious fabric that we buy and become so afraid to cut up. I started sewing wearable muslins to avoid waisting precious fabric. What happened next? I decide that I love my muslins and no longer need another garment from that pattern😂. I now have a huge amount of precious fabric and a wardrobe of wearable muslins... who would have known!!

[ellakae]

Darning is so much easier than it looks I promise! I would recommend starting on some sock to build your confidence first before moving to the jumper

[cypriennezed]

Please make yourself into a Von Trapp child!! Since my 40th birthday, I've been vascillating between "Kid in a Fairy Tale" and "Auntie Mame" and frankly, it's been delightful.

[PsychGal]

I think I would insert a lace panel into the slit of the green dress. I would open it up to make it kore symmetrical and then add a lace panel either to completely fill the gap or to line the edges of it. Best of luck with all of your dreams - they seem ultimately doable and a fun challenge.

[Samantha-gtnq]

The 'nobody can stop me' approach to creating clothes is so wonderful I'm adding it to my self pep-talks immediately. I also love how much joy you have for all of this and I'm so excited to watch these creative projects come to life!

[nathaliesluijs]

the loving support and tips in these comments make me believe in the good of humanity <3 everyone is helping. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME!!!!

[noodlemaiden]

Rewearing something for a week is such a good idea because the weather is probably pretty similar, you know you only have to wash that garment type at the end of the week (top bottom etc) and it gives you chance to wear it in different situations so you know if you really like it or just wear it for that one thing

[Julykus]

I have bought yarn for Doctor Who scarf I think in 2017, tried to crochet it and disliked both the process and the result. I don't like knitting, my hands hurt and also I'm bad with tension. And suddenly couple of weeks ago I watched a video about tunisian crochet and i was hooked! I have about 20 cm of the scarf now! I don't know how long its going to take but I definitely want to finish this project!

[AUsernameILike]

the green dress can be fixed by closing the hole and then embroidering on top of it, maybe also adding some along the rest of the edge of the slit :)

[MxKellyBear]

For the green dress, one idea could be to just cut it at the level of the tear. Then take the remaining length of skirt fabric, cut it in half horizontally to make a ruffle and then attach it to the new hem of main body of the dress. I think it would work well with the style, especially if you shorten the sleeves (you could even add ruffles to tthe cuffs with the excess cut off them).

[rosaidhphillips]

Almost all the sewing I do these days is mending. Theoretically I can draft my own patterns and make things that fit my body perfectly, but my body changes a lot, and it brings me a great deal of joy to be able to keep clothes that exist in use, rather than making new ones. I really want to embrace the creativity of visible mending, but I tend to get sucked in by the technical challenges of invisible mending. Dupilcate stitch on fairisle knitting, darning harris tweed, patching a down jacket... I just can't resist the challenge of figuring out how to match pattern and texture of the original garment as closely as possible. Which is probably why I get landed with so many weird mending projects by my family members.

[imatrack]

Made my first muslin the other day before cutting into the nice fabric... So glad I did, cuz it fit terribly. Can't wait to see what you make with that gorgeous fabric!

[missyrohrer]

I have an idea for the green dress! If you can find a color or pattern that you love with the green, you would create a couple gores in the skirt to make it look more intentional!

[janetlettrich]

Yes, yes, yes! Von Trapp Children clothes from curtains! Can't wait to see this!😍

[flagerdevil]

Definitely make a mock-up before you cut into your beloved fabrics! That will make sure that you don't make dumb mistakes or simply have a pattern that doesn't work/fit. 😁❤️