A Swift Turnaround for Old Denim
Lots of our Swishers are Swifties (good taste travels!). Check out this tribute jacket which a super Swiftie has embellished with a strip for every era. We love her 3 pet ducks who tried to steal the shot (they’re called Puffles, Maverick and Butter, in case you were wondering. And no, Taylor Swift is yet to write a song about them, BUT JUST GIVE IT TIIIIIIME!).
PATCH-TASTIC!
We bet your old t-shirt’s not a patch on this one!
Transform a plain top with shapes and designs cut from old fabrics – hearts, stars or a patchwork of different shapes.
Cut with pinking shears if you want a zig-zag edge. Sew funky buttons inside your patches - or pin brooches - to create a real designer look!
Put together different cuts of fabric to make a crazy collage or distinctive design.
Here’s how a Swisher made their own logo top for the Deershed Festival last summer – sustainable (and cheap!)![]()
SWISH TIP: Plain fabric can be cut up to make bold lettering. So why not make your own logo top… even better, a SWISH logo top?! Here’s one we created by cutting letters out of an old pleather jacket.
You can stitch on your letters like we did, or use an iron-on ‘sticky tape’ like Wonder Web (buy it from Amazon or your local sewing shop).
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Can you create your own Swish logo top?
Give it a go, send us a pic and we’ll send you back a free embellishing kit. How great are we? AND HOW GREAT ARE YOU?!!!
Serious about sewing? Start your own rag bag! Old fabric scraps can help you create the most amazing new upcycles. Looking for gorgeous prints, snazzy stripes, or cheeky polka dots? Just grab your old clothes, and let rip!
And not just YOUR clothes. Next time your dad rips his shirt, cry ‘HULK!’ (he’ll like that), then whisk his shirt off and into your rag bag.
When your little sister BUSTS out of her shiny pink tutu? Yep, stick it in your rag bag (but maybe get your sis out of it first..).
Frills and spills mean more material for you to play with. Bag them up, and who knows how they’ll come in handy? Today’s scrap could be tomorrow’s FABULOUS FABRIC FLOURISH!
Here are some ideas to get you started –
A Swift Turnaround for Old Denim
Lots of our Swishers are Swifties (good taste travels!). Check out this tribute jacket which a super Swiftie has embellished with a strip for every era. We love her 3 pet ducks who tried to steal the shot (they’re called Puffles, Maverick and Butter, in case you were wondering. And no, Taylor Swift is yet to write a song about them, BUT JUST GIVE IT TIIIIIIME!).
PATCH-TASTIC!
We bet your old t-shirt’s not a patch on this one!
Transform a plain top with shapes and designs cut from old fabrics – hearts, stars or a patchwork of different shapes.
Cut with pinking shears if you want a zig-zag edge. Sew funky buttons inside your patches - or pin brooches - to create a real designer look!
Put together different cuts of fabric to make a crazy collage or distinctive design.
Here’s how a Swisher made their own logo top for the Deershed Festival last summer – sustainable (and cheap!)
SWISH TIP: Plain fabric can be cut up to make bold lettering. So why not make your own logo top… even better, a SWISH logo top?! Here’s one we created by cutting letters out of an old pleather jacket.
You can stitch on your letters like we did, or use an iron-on ‘sticky tape’ like Wonder Web (buy it from Amazon or your local sewing shop).
Can you create your own Swish logo top?
Give it a go, send us a pic and we’ll send you back a free embellishing kit. How great are we? AND HOW GREAT ARE YOU?!!!
"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About time!" Dawn French

" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert
"‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers inspired about sustainable fashion."
" Laugh-out loud funny"
SOPHIA, 13
" The Swish is amazing. From page one, I loved it"
LOLA, 12
" Funny and truthful. It shows what girls are made of!"
FLORENCE, 14
" Amazing. Kat's story shows so much about self-confidence, and never to give up!"
CHLOE, 15
"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About time!" Dawn French
" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert
" A super fun read - ‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers off their phones/screens & inspired about sustainable fashion."
" Laugh-out loud funny"
SOPHIA, 13
" The Swish is amazing. From page one, I loved it"
LOLA, 12
" Funny and truthful. It shows what girls are made of!"
FLORENCE, 14
" Amazing. Kat's story shows so much about self-confidence, and never to give up"
CHLOE, 15
"The Swish is properly interesting. A teen novel about creativity, confidence and upcycling clothes. About time!"
Dawn French
" Great book – a lovely read for teens"
LORRAINE CANDY, SUNDAY TIMES bestseller and parenting expert
"‘Geek Girl’ meets the ‘The Great British Sewing Bee’! Ideal book to get your teenagers off their phones/screens & inspired about sustainable fashion."
" Laugh-out loud funny"
SOPHIA, 13
" The Swish is amazing. From page one, I loved it"
LOLA, 12
" Funny and truthful. It shows what girls are made of!"
FLORENCE, 14
" Amazing. Kat's story shows so much about self-confidence, and never to give up"
CHLOE, 15

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