How To

Upcycle and restyle

Upcycle your favourite outfits with this season’s accessories and creative stitching with how-to tips from Sue Locke.

1. One of the quickest ways to refresh a plain skirt is to add an enormous fabric bow and stitch it to the front waistline.

2. Tired of your full length fake fur coat then copy top model Yasmin LeBon and snip it into a cropped version hemming it just above the waistline.

3. Fashion divas never stop loving the classic Coco Chanel suit. Remember you can make your own in a soft wool, decorating it with a toning braid and gold buttons for a fraction of the real thing.

4. With all things metallic still in fashion make yourself a knee-length sequin skirt and keep it sophisticated by adding a black opaque tights and a plain black top.

5. Leftover sequin fabric can be cut to fit the lapels of a plain jacket and handsewn in place.

6. Over-sized soft cotton shirts can be given a fashion lift by creating a channel along the lower edge, inserting a narrow cord and pulling it up to fit snugly on your thighs.

7. Give a pretty blouse a hard fashion edge by adding black cuffs and collar.

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8. Curtain remnants in a heavyweight brocade can make wonderful clutch-style bags. Look out for second-hand chains that can be used for a versatile long strap.

9. If you are discarding clothes that you’ve worn to a special event cut out a small patch first. When you have enough pieces you can patchwork them together and store them as a keepsake.

10.. Smart storage is big news so look around DIY stores for inexpensive containers to house everything from your spools to your fabric.