#1 Turn a short sleeve shirt into a singlet
To convert a short-sleeved shirt into a singlet, make sure you accurately measure both sleeves of your shirt, before cutting these at the same point. Once the sleeves have been cut off, fold the edge over twice and stitch a very fine hemline of 2-3 centimetres in width. You can add gauze, sequins or lace to the neckline for a dressier look, or keep it plain if you prefer.
#2 Cut-off pants or jeans to make shorts
If you would like to turn your winter pants or jeans into shorts, the first step is to measure the length of your pant or jean leg so that when you cut them down, both sides are even. Make sure to allow a couple of centimetres additional length on either leg, as the fabric may ride up, especially if it’s denim.
Denim doesn’t need to be hemmed once it is cut-off, it can be frayed to give it a distressed edge, which is a style that doesn’t date. Other pant fabrics generally need to be hemmed once they have been cut off, or if you’re after a more tailored look, can be folded and finely hemmed to make a cuff.
#3 Convert a long sleeve shirt to short sleeve
To convert a long sleeve shirt into a short sleeve, carefully measure the sleeve length and cut both sides off at the same point. Fold the freshly cut sleeve over at the armhole before stitching a hemline of 3-4 centimetres in width. If you would like to make your t-shirt stand out, sew some colourful buttons on the front of the shirt or along the shoulder, or attach a contrasting coloured lace, gauze or other type of fabric to the hem.
#4 Make a winter coat into a cropped jacket
Before you decide to turn your winter coat into a cropped jacket, assess whether the tailoring of the jacket would suit a shorter length. If so, then you need to determine how short you would like your recycled jacket to be, then carefully cut and hem your winter coat to this length. If you would like more detail on your jacket, remove the buttons and add new buttons of a contrasting colour, or ruche the hemline into a pleated or fluted finish.
If you lack confidence in your sewing abilities, or don’t have the time to recycle your winter wardrobe, drop into your local Sunshine Coast drycleaners for professional clothing alterations. Have your clothes dry-cleaned at the same time, so that your hot new summer wardrobe is ready to go when the temperatures start to soar!
These leading Sunshine Coast dry-cleaners offer a complete range of clothing alteration services.
If you’de like further tips on styling your wardrobe check out Update Your Wardrobe On A Budget and Top 5 Fashion Hacks.
