Where to find good quality upcycle garments.

I wrote yesterday about thrift stores.  There are also other places you can look.  If you want vintage items, check out the classifieds for estate sales-some of them are the whole home because, sorry to say, someone has passed on and you might find a sewer and accumulate a wealth of items, including sewing machines and supplies, not to mention antique items like lace and fabric.  I am not too keen on older threads for anything but display or as art themselves, they tend to break easier than threads made today.  You also can upcycle vintage garments into your design.  If there are other ways to locate these items cheap in your area, that would be your best bet.  Just keep your eye on these resources.

I find that consignment stores have better quality and less damaged goods for the main focus of your upcycle.  You may pay a little more, but you will get the labels you desire in great condition.  They usually have sale items too-I have seen $1 racks at some of these stores, and you can pick up nifty items for cheap this way.  If you get to know the shop keeper, she can call you when she comes across new items that you may be interested in, and if you purchase quite a bit on a regular basis, ask for a discount-that will save you money too.

Last, I can't say enough about friends, family, and friends and family of friends and family.  You get the idea.  Just letting people know what you are up to upcycling-even just for yourself or for gifts, they will gladly give you their cast-offs.  They would rather give them to someone creative than just straight up donate them.  Check back if they cast off quite a lot and I have made friends this way that I never would have.  I hope these help you to locate the items you want to upcycle.  The more materials you have on hand when you begin to design the better.  Later, Colleen

How to Thrift! Why you should Upcycle.

Yes, I love popping tags!  You know the song? Of course I wash them first. I thrift carefully and I have some tricks for garage sales as well-comes from lots of experience so I will share.  Share some of your findings below and enlighten us all.

First I will say I don't like paying full retail.  Yes there was a time when I would shop retail but it was mostly on sale, unless I had to have it.  You know what I mean.  Shopping in my favorite stores, having to have the latest look or item they were bombarding me with in advertisements, that brand name, that little tag on the inside of your garment, or on the outside so everyone could see that I had been sucked in.  Retailers add a lot of things to our environments processing garments, not to mention feeding our insatiable appetite fore MORE.  Can we ever have enough.  Then out of our guilt of having so much stuff, perhaps there is no more room.  If something comes in, we rationalize something must go out.  This helps us to justify another purchase.  Now I am not telling you to refuse retail entirely, I am just planting a seed, if you will, to consider buying resale or rethinking what you already have.  Is it really worn out, can anything in that garment be used again?  If you liked it enough to buy it one time, something about it caught you-fits you. Maybe it never really worked when you got it home or you wore it a few times and its not your favorite really.  Before you scrap what you already have, put it aside with the others and let it become part of your upcycles.  Or, put it aside and just think outside the box for a few days until it comes to you, or at least try to consign it and make a few bucks.

Thrifting means you have to hit the location(s) on a regular basis.  What is super may not be there the one time you visit.  If you become an avid upcycler, you will get to know the staff so set aside a few moments to check in with them, they will  want to know what you are up to.  Building these relationships can lead to them keeping their eye out for something special you are looking for.  Perhaps it is a certain brand or item, hey, I got three sewing machines this way that they set aside for me and gave me a call-no kidding.

When shopping I look for particular labels.  I like using fine materials and I tend to gravitate to the "look" of certain brand names-I can, after practice, spot them in the racks.  They usually sort them by garment (long-sleeve, sleeveless, pants, etc.) so look this way, but browse by most racks for something unusual that catches your eye.  Maybe it is the material or pattern not the garment itself.  And always look for skirts, they are great to upcycle on shirts and other items-many have a lot of material.  Don't worry about size unless you are using it as the bodice or the beginning of an upcycle and need it to fit a particular measurement.  Look for stains and rips if you plan to use whole garment.  But if it has a flaw, remember you are upcylcling and you can easily solve the problem with your sewing and design.

Look for natural fibers.  Yes, I buy items that are not all natural but natural fibers like cotton, wool, silk, linen are great to work with, they accept dyes well, and they tend to wear better, therefore, they are usually in better condition when you thrift.  You will be surprised when you get going how you will be inspired just going to the thrift, or you may find yourself knowing just what you are going to do with that garment when you get home, and may leave the store ready to sew and create.

Ask your friends if they would toss their items to you prior to dumping them at a thrift store for donation.  You can accumulate a good stockpile for upcycling this way at no cost.  They will even start telling family members and you could end up with some really cool stuff for nothing but a thank you, although I usually create a "little something" as a thank you if it is a considerable amount of stuff or something super cool.

Garage sales will be something I blog about later.  Thrifting is so much fun.  If you regularly hit a store or five, sorry I love this part of my business, on a regular basis, you will find some really cool stuff.  And if you shop a consignment store, they will hold stuff for you to come see if they know what you like and also can point you to what you are looking for in the racks.  Oh the thrill of the shop!  I can still shop but do not have to add to the planets demise, I am helping Her by reusing what is already here and ready for another life as one of my creations.  Have a great day and hit a thrift and pop a tag!  Later, Colleen

New Upcycles Gone Viral!

Fun upcycle with corset in back.  Sewed bits of scraps at sleeve cuff and ruffle at bottom.  Upcycled very large men's tshirt and sewed in the arms-of course the corset did the trick.  Do you love the vintage lingerie trim I found.  This is one I will not be selling-it hangs in my room, so fun-I love the skeleton!
Well, it is official-www.magickalthreadsandstitches.com is up and pay pal should be set in next few days.  The store is open!  I wanted to share some of my new upcycles with you here too-they are just making the scene.  Hopefully, if you are an upcycler, you can be inspired by my designs to be creative yourself!  I will be putting up tutorial, but loading the store has taken a lot of my time.  I am selling on Etsy now and they are buying, and so happy that store is reaching customers.  I am working on networking and if you have any ideas, please let me know.  I have been making some connections, but need more traffic.  I am using Pinterest too and that seems to be getting me out there.  Some of my designs have been repinned 6 times in less than a week.

Enough business!  How is your sewing going?  Have not heard much from you and I would like to.  I want to do some more corsets and sorry about bustle word mix up, maybe I am to show you that next.  Working on colorful Steam Punk right now and it is my creative rendition, but want to go straight up and try some daring Steam Punk in the near future.  Just like to expand my creativity if you know what I mean.  I am also going to expand my handbags and purses-putting them up this week on Etsy and in store online (my own .com).  Handbags would be another great tutorial in the near future.  My favorite is using denim.

Wanted to check in with you and share so here are some upcycles:

 This denim topper/jacket was upcycled from shorter denim with added denim plus sun and stars on back. It is at my store.

This upcycle is made from women's shirt and I used the bottom portion to make a sun-I love the sun and was born a Leo under this planet (leo/leo rising how crazy) using applique over denim upcycled jeans.

 Want to know about my sleeve tattoo?  Well, a koi fish swims upstream and has a spiritual transformation and turns into, or shape shifts spiritually, a dragon.  I am on a spiritual journey and feel I am somewhere in the "becoming a dragon" without forgetting I am a koi at heart.

I hope you are inspired to go out and upcycle.  Please come visit the new store and leave me a messege if you will.  I have color magick and intentions of upcycles in bio of each garment in my new store so go check it out!  Enjoy this moment, there is not another one like it!  Later, Colleen

DIY Add a Corset to Anything

Today I want to show you how to add a corset.  Do you have jackets, shirts or blouses, hoodies, or even pants that are too loose in an area or the garment is too large, then add a corset.  It is easy to do and can make all the difference.

I bought a Harley Davidson hoodie at thrift, I love anything Harley and swipe them up regardless of size (I will always figure that out later). So, follow tutorial and let me know how it went or if you have questions about project.

bustle ANYTHING:

Place garment face down and find the center.

Fold over and pin material where you would like the corset.  Remember it is going to lace up and you want some of the corset to show-so pin accordingly down each side.

I used bias tape for ties and string through for corset but you could use fabric pieces sewn or town or anything else you would like, possibly ribbon-I would use thick ribbon 1-3".  On the inside (where you will not see it) pin your tabs.  Then sew close to the edge and cut the extra material after you are finished.  I matched up the two sides from the bottom so they would be in the same place when laced up.
Then run your string through the top from the middle so you have same on both sides.  Cut the piece larger and adjust it to the length you would like when it fits you.  Then go out and strut your stuff-you will definitely get comments.

 Here is my corset after finished.  I used black thread but you can use the same color as the garment if you do not want it to show.  I wanted it to show!

 Amazing right!

This is a Harley hoodie and I have it upcycled and on sale on Etsy.  Let me know how your project came along.  I bought the jacket larger than I wear-do now you can too.  Don't pass something up just because it is too large.  Have a great day and open your present and live it.  Later, Colleen

Another photo of patch

Read article below for DIY. Later,Colleen

DIY tricks to cover spots and holes

Hope you are having a great day, I know I am!  I wanted to share a little secret to fix a garment that has a hole, a stain, something you have on it that you are about ready to toss it out but you LOVE it.  Well I have the perfect trick.  Personally I like denim on anything but you may not, so go to your scraps and find a piece of material that you feel coordinates with the garment-personally I think denim goes with everything, even something formal.  Cut out a shape that you like-I love hearts.  Then pin it over the problem.  Sew it on using a heavy or universal needle (depending on your machine of course) and use the thread of your choice.  Use a thread of the same color of the scrap if you want it to blend in and a contrasting one if you want it to show.  You are going to be sewing from the top so bobbin color doesn't matter.

Then you can start at one end of the scrap and go back and forth down the scrap with a straight stitch and angle down about the same width until you reach the bottom.  Of course you could do anything you want and you may have fancier stitches on your machine, so go to town,  Also, sometimes I then turn the material with needle down and go across my stitches the opposite way to make like a checkerboard type stitch.  Remember wabi-sabi-there is perfection in the imperfection, and do it your own way.  This is what makes it unique and yours.  I then place similar shapes and fabric around the garment (no too many unless that is your design) and stitch them the same, or different if I want unique look to each patch.

When you are done clip your threads and wash, especially if you want tattered look it happens in the wash.  After a wash and dry (if fabric can take it) you have a garment of art and you can wear it once again, only this time with even more pride so when they ask you, "Where did you get that," you can say, "I made it."

Below is a photo of only one patch on the Target sweater I love but I put about 5 patches at random places so this one patch is not singled out.  Have a great day-more upcycle ideas and a tutorial this weekend.  Working on website but it is tedious.  Shooting for Sunday or Monday.  Later, Colleen

Following this blog is another photo of two patches-had trouble getting them to page.  Take care!  You know you are already thinking of the garment and ideas are flowing through your head.  You can do it!

Upcycle Ideas

Here are some more upcycle ideas!  Still working on the .com of business which will be a full store of my creations and I have hundreds of items to share with you.  I hope you are trying to look at your clothes differently and create something that you will wear, or you could buy one of mine!

Upcycle Ideas:

 This upcycle uses women's and men's shirts and notice the little tassel in the front left (in picture).  The black trim id black bias tape.  The colors are light blues and gray-so you are laying back and can accessorize with colors for intentions.  Used black thread and trim for grounding,

 I love the way it hangs and the flowers on the right,  Very different from store bought and only one because there will never be another dress with quite the composition.

 I put a tie on the back so it can be adjusted for width.  Just love the way the different layers (which I sewed together to get that effect) come together.

Tassels on front with applique.  Gives it a tattered look that I love and only gets better with wear.  Tear the material if you can to get a rougher look rather than cutting.  The edges will fray better.

 Here I am ready for the rodeo.  I love to pick up interesting tshirts that are a little short to wear and add something to them to make them more modern.  Went for men's shirt that had a western looking color theme and left the bottom tattered.

 Love that play of the front with buttons from the shirt going down the side!

 The shirt already had the metal details at the top.  Don't you love her, little western pin-up.

 I took in the back with darts on each side and double seamed them down before attaching the bottom.  Also wanted to call attention to the back, so I pieced in a triangle going down from the back center.  This way you can tailor the t to fit any shape or use a shirt that is not as fitted as you would like.

 The men's shirt was Abercrombie and I made sure I used that piece of the shirt in a place I was already calling attention to.  I thought it was fun.

 Here is another upcycle if re-figuring a shirt and adding other tshirts to get a layered boho look gone fairy.

 I used the little tassel/applique in the front.  I selected colors that were already faintly represented in the shirt and played them up.  Now we have pink, burgundy, and green.

 Side view of dress shows how flattering the drop waist can be.

Close up of the tassel front and the lines I pieced together.  I like to add material to material so I will sew on one layer and then add another.  I try to use conflicting or different tones for this to make it obvious.

Hope I gave you some more outlandish ideas to upcycle your clothes.  These items will be in my store.  I will let you know and we will have a grand opening, eat cake, and drink tea to celebrate crafters everywhere doing what they love to do best and make money so they can do it some more.  

I will always share my ideas with you as I design and give away my secrets.  I do not do this for any other reason than I have been given this all freely and want to share it with everyone, call it good karma!  So go make a cup of tea and enjoy your present, unwrap it, it is your one moment only like this and was given to you freely to enjoy.  Later, Colleen

New Upcycles/Business going viral!

I am so excited! I am going to be putting my designs for sale online.  My husband is working on it right now so I will let you know but it will be www.magickalthreadsandstitches.com how cool is that, I am putting more of my upcycles up now and later today so you can see them first. I added some features on blog so we can communicate better. Shout out to Kenya, Russia, and Germany! I am so glad you are here, lets be friends. We can set up hang out and talk!


UPCYCLES:

Add caption

This I love!  It is my favorite, almost don't want to sell. Lollapalooza concert shirt married with men's shirts and Chicos 3/4 sleeve jersey tshirt. Having the dress form really helps when getting the hang of the garment right, keep checking online or at thrift stores in your area.  You could even ask retailers if you could purchase mannequin from them, that would work too. Of course nothing replaces trying the garment on to see how it hangs prior to sewing. Pins are my friends!

This is a thermel t married with mens shirts. Remember what I shared about color magick. This first entry would be bold and presenting your best self yet grounding and protecting with the interspersed black. This is green and blues predominantly and would incorporate both the effects of those colors (see posting on color magick). Both are 100% cotton so they would be great conductors of your intentions with color for the day.  Plus while I was sewing I thought about my intentions and usually use black thread but sometimes utilize different  colors depending on my intentions. Starting to see my methods of madness?!!

Here I stayed mostly with gray or grey depending on where you live. I can just feel the differnce putting this on.  Remember gray is...

 neutral so you are invisible or almost wearing a cloak. Now if I want to I can accent with any color using color magick and add desired intent (like red, purple, blue, pink, etc.). So you see, it is more versitile if you will, leaving me with even more possibilities and feeling super safe!

Another favorite I won't sell marries Isaac Mizra (Target) sweater with Anthropology skirt with appliques and part of a dress ( the peach at the bottom). I did not really wear skirt so pulled stuff together and wah'la. The skirt had rolled down waist so I incorperated it in the front in case I don't want to wear cami. I am wearing hand dyed cami that was once dingy white. Looks great now and perfect layered with this upcycle. Now we have orange, yellow, peach, etc. Cool right.

I really would like to interact so leave reply, should work now and happy sewing! I will post pictures later today so check back and I hope you are seeing more possibilities in your own closet. How green and frugal of you! Later, Colleen.

DIY Upcycle Slip Dress

I love the look of slip dresses under other garments but will not pay the large price tags.  So I scoured my closet and found a dress, now too large for me-even arm holes were showing my under garments. I nominated it for a project. Look for something with an under slip at thrift or your closet that may have a lining (mine was polyester) with some sort of lace or flouncy feature at the bottom.  If you find a slip, you could easily dye it and attach lace.

I included some images of other upcycles with the slip under these garments.  I converted the slip to hi low hem line-love this-but you may not want to do this.  It is black-we talked about colors before, and is a good psychic protection under other garments. I also added some lace that I found at Walmart at the collar, which peeks out under other garments.

I was having trouble with my machines, two out of three are now out of commission, and used the old trusty Kenmore-which has issues of its own but was my only option yesterday.  I met with  much frustration but did not give up.  If I can continue with my craft through these moments-sometimes they result in destruction and loss of a garment for that purpose-but if I can just keep going without breaking something they always result in some sort of fantastic break through.  I will say here as an artist, and I am not alone, some of my greatest design breakthroughs or discoveries come from my mistakes.  It is like finding your way in a blizzard, or when you are lost somewhere, or charting new territory, and finding your way is personal.  Sometimes the way can not be guided by anyone else.  It is your path and you need to keep walking!  So with that I will say I stayed close to my higher powers and got through it.  Not totally happy with the way it hangs but convinced myself it did not matter, I did not need to wear it as a garment and could delegate it as a "slip," an undergarment, and work on perfecting the next one.  Let me also say that I am a perfectionist, even though I believe in wabi-sabi-perfection in the imperfection.  Wow, what a contradiction.  In any event, don't use your favorite garments to try something you are unsure about the first go around, or realize that you CAN accept if things do not go exactly as planned.

Sticking through the creation process is spiritual in nature to me.  I stay close and realize that I am being guided and that the errors or difficulties I am having are part of the process to learn what I need to learn.  When I am determined to continue to accept my precious gifts of discovery and major breakthroughs in my art and finally get there, it is always well worth the journey.  I have a giddy kid like reaction, jumping up and down, telling people who really don't care or who don't understand my craft and how amazing this event was.  Regardless, they rejoice with me and sometimes share my enthusiasm genuinely.  So keep on sewing, or doing whatever it is you are passionate about, and realize it is a process to something great that will be given just to you!

Upcycle Slip Dress Tutorial:

Slip Dress under upcycle of turtleneck sweater dress (I hate things around my neck) with pieces from another project with a sweater that I appliqued into a sun-part of my spirituality.  I appear to be rocking out-could't resist.

FINISHED PROJECT.

Original garment

Slip underneath.  I cut away the top garment, which was like a sweater weave, leaving a little wabi-sabi edge to later sew down for tattered look.

I left little less than 1/4 inch.

I just cut away sides at top where attached a little closer.

Cut away the back how you will.  I matched it to the front.  You can see top overlay folded for another project another day at top.  Oh, I will use it-you can count on it!

I pondered to hi low.  I could have detached the whole skirt and the reattached but seemed like too much work, so I pinched material in front when trying on how I wanted it to hand, pinned and sewed.  This is quick, but next time I will detach the bottom and then reattach hi lo because I did not like the way it hung-blame it on the polyester and the Kenmore.

 After I took the sides in-it was too large, especially arm holes.  I again would do this differently.  I tapered stitch back into the side seam and it hung weird for me, so I would take in arms and marry to garment quickly, letting the garment hang looser rather than worrying about a tailored fit.  Then, as above, I went over the seams with denim thread (Walmart) so it would lay flat and look fun.

Used denim thread to sew down the material left when cutting other garment.

Found fun double zig zag stitch on Kenmore and sewed it over the hi low adjustment seam in front.  Made it lay flatter and looks fun, I like stuff to stick out sometimes, but would change next time-even though I accepted and embraced it in the garment.

Pin and sew trim to collar, I overlapped on one shoulder and may add embellishments later.  Seriously got this trim in spool for $3.49 at Walmart.  I used less than one spool.

Attached two seams (showing second seam attachment) and then went down middle in that double zig zag on the Kenmore to match the front.

 Now you are all done.  If you don't want hi low, it would be a snap.  I did not worry about extra little material around neck-just attached and it was fine.  I love it and am on the hunt for another one.

I am going to be dying material (natural fibers take dye better) in a DIY soon.  Going to use beets (purple), blackberries (black), and onion skins (pale yellow or off white) to start because of their magickal properties and the associated color magick (see previous posts on color magick in your wardrobe and the fabrics you choose and their magick).  Keep reading to see the DIY Slip Dress layered with some of my previous upcycles.  Happy Sewing!  Keep on the look out for items that you can use for slip dress at thrift stores and garage sales (too cold here for that right now, but maybe not where you live).

Here are examples of the DIY Slip Dress other under Upcycle Garments.  Hey, if you see a project below that you like and would like a tutorial, let me know.  These garments are for sale and can be custom ordered, let me know if you are interested.  I may fall in love with it and keep it, but I can always make you another one and show you how it was done.  Happy Sewing, Later, Colleen

Sorry for messy house, this is just a leopard Gap sweater of slip dress with sweater leggings and booties.

Rear view.  Don't you love how it peeks out under sweater!

Slip shown under upcycle Hollister sweater and pieced together bottom with back tie tunic.  The tunic is longer on the sides but slip just adds to fun.

Slip dress shown here with Cowgirl tunic I constructed marrying a mans shirt,

Side view.  My dog Lilly kept trying to get in the action, what a Diva.

Here I layered it under a top/tunnic upcycle marriage of  a t-shirt with pockets, another top, and my grandmother's broach.

Another view, love it.

Have a great day and realize your beauty!  Really feel it and enjoy your creations and flaunt them.  Be BOLD!  Let me know how it goes and leave comments if you will.  I feel so alone in blogville.  Adios