How To

Mini Makeovers

With restyling and recycling in the forefront, you can with creative mending, repairing and decorating, transform once-loved but out-of-date clothes into something new and stylish.

Instead of staring at a wardrobe full of clothes that don’t inspire you, you can step out in style!

Here are a few suggestions to get you started:

* Dye the garment – This solution works best for light coloured fabrics

* Fix a dirty hemline by covering it with a trim – either by shortening it or using an overlocker to create a lettuce edge finish.

* Add or remove trim - which ever suits your taste.

* Add volume and flow to skirts by tapering the skirt, legs or sleeves.

* Add slits and vents - open a seam up from the hem to create a slit or vent in skirts or trousers.

* Add a layer of organza under a skirt or as an overskirt.

* Remove sleeves from tops and dresses and add trim around the armholes or create straps with shop bought trim. Convert a jacket into a vest.

* Change necklines - for a more flattering look, lower or reshape the neckline.

* Fuse iron-on's - add rhinestones or crystals for extra sparkle.

* Shorten the garment dramatically. Turn a dress into a tunic or a jacket into a cropped bolero.

* Update closures with decorative buttons, hooks and zipper pulls.

* Cut off trousers at hip level and add fabric bands or ruffles to make a skirt.

HANDY HINT: If you love wearing one-of –a-kind garments, shop at second hand stores for inexpensive garments and make your mark by restyling them to create your own designer look!

These great ideas have been taken with permission from the book - Singer Simple Mending and Repair by Sonya Nimri (ISBN 9781589233409). This book contains basic mending skills - handy for rescuing favourite garments, which are advantageous when picking up sale bargains and absolutely essential for those who love vintage clothes!  This latest title in the Singer Simple series focuses on tips and techniques for every sewing situation from sewing on a button to repairing delicate eveningwear.

Clearly laid out in a spiral bound stand-up format, each technique is accompanied by excellent illustrations, step-by-step instructions and useful additional tips. Starting with an introduction to useful tools and equipment, basic hand and machine stitches used for repairs, darning, patching, seam repairs and buttonholes. More advanced techniques include replacing zippers, and speciality repairs for leather, velvet and lace. There are also some great creative ideas for adjusting garments to improve the fit, changing the silhouette, or lengthening/shortening hemlines with ruffles, tucks and fancy trims. Garment care and stain removal tricks complete the picture. This super title is good value at £12.99 and is available from bookstores or contact RotoVision on tel: 01273 727268.