Glow up your wardrobe? Get embellishing!
Embellishing your clothes isn’t just eco-friendly; it’s the ultimate way to show off your style! Like Kat, the heroine of The Swish, you can transform ordinary pieces into jaw-dropping originals with just a few simple tricks.
How to Make Fabric Bows
If you’re still a starter sewer, a big project can be daunting. Start small with this trick to sewing a pretty bow.
Get dynamic with denim! Two fun ways to upcycle old jeans
Here are 2 super-fun upcycles to put a new skirt in your wardrobe, and some SPRING in your step (d’you like what we did there?)
Super-simple: turn them into a cute bag with a few stitches and a squirt of fabric glue!
Stretch your skills: cut out a simple pattern to turn your old jeans into a bucket hat
Goodbye winter, hello legs!
Here are 2 super-fun upcycles to put a new skirt in your wardrobe, and some SPRING in your step (d’you like what we did there?)
Turn a mansize tee into a mini-skirt
We love the simplicity of this upcycle. Plus, let’s face it, who HASN’T got a saggy t-shirt lurking in a drawer somewhere? Get sewing, we say, and turn baggy into bee-oootiful!
This one takes a bit more tailoring, but you can follow simple steps to get there. A sewing machine will speed things up, but hand sewing with backstitch does the job just dandy. Slooow sewing is super soothing AND lets you catch up on your fave TV. (We’re currently hooked on ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’. Quick, find me something else to sew – another ep has just started!!)
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.
Some STARTER SEWER Projects
We love this cosy ‘how-to’ vid from Youtube. Scrunchies are a great ‘first project’ – easy to make, and who doesn’t love a scrunchie?!
Sequin scrunchie made by a 13yr old Swisher; thrifted jacket embroidered by her flashy 16yr old sis! (Big sisters do that, don’t they?)
SWISH TIP: Watch to the end of vid, and you learn how to make a ‘brand new’ pillowcase from a fabric scrap. It’s the cyyyyyyycle of life (if you’re a pillowcase….)
NB Lots of online upcycling vids involve a sewing machine, but it’s not a must. Handsewing ROCKS! In fact, sewing machine stitch is just super-speedy back stitch. You can do by hand, easy-peasy. Who cares if it takes a bit longer? Means you get eeeeven more time to chillax over your sewing. 
Get sewing with running stitch!
The best thing about sewing? It’s so easy! You can start designing and customising your clothes with just a few, simple skills.
Thread a needle, grab some fabric, and follow this vid to learn BASIC RUNNING STITCH.
In no time, you’ll be off AND RUNNING (see what we did there?)
How To Sew on a Motif
Want a quick hack to transform a top? Pick up an embroidered patch, online or from local sewing shop. Whatever your mood, you'll find a motif to match - from a beautiful rose to a desert cactus; a 'happy face' emojii to a 'Day of the Dead' skull. Be bold, and you can transform a tatty tee into a statement piece. Best thing of all? It's super-simple to sew! Here's how:
33 DIY WAYS TO UPGRADE YOUR OLD BORING T-SHIRTS
Youtube is packed with upcycling 'how-to' vids like this one here. If you can make it past the beardy man dancing in a lady’s dressing gown (no, we didn’t understand it either) you'll find super-cool, super-creative hacks for transforming a baggy tee. Some require a spot of sewing, but we’re talking simple stitches – and not too many of them - so why not go for it? Pluck up your courage, pick up a needle, and make the sweet sliiiiide from no-sew to sewer.
THRIFT FLIP
We love this vid by Ninilei showing how to turn leggings into a mini-skirt + spaghetti strap top (2 for the price of 1. Very thrifty!) It’s a cute and easy upcycle that requires only simple running stitch. Even better, she explains how to make your stitches, AND reveals her trick to making a great knot (we’ve tried it, and are fully converted!)
One tip from us – a good skirt needs a bit of heft! So try to use leggings (or jeggings) with a bit of thickness to them. A saggy, skimpy pair will mean a saggy, skimpy skirt (and that ain’t NO girl’s friend!)
Learn How To Sew - One Stitch at a Time!
Sewing is easy. Pick up the basics, and you’re off!
First up, knots. They hold your beee-ootiful stitches in places - and there’s a knack to making ‘em. Watch our vids to learn how.
More fun vids and super sewing tricks will be landing over the next few weeks, so keep checking back to see what’s new!
How to make a starting knot
How to make a finishing knot
Glow up your wardrobe? Get embellishing!
Embellishing your clothes isn’t just eco-friendly; it’s the ultimate way to show off your style! Like Kat, the heroine of The Swish, you can transform ordinary pieces into jaw-dropping originals with just a few simple tricks.
Make Fabric Bows
If you’re still a starter sewer, a big project can be daunting. Start small with this trick to sewing a pretty bow.
Get dynamic with denim!
Two fun ways to upcycle old jeans
Super-simple: turn them into a cute bag with a few stitches and a squirt of fabric glue!
Stretch your skills: cut out a simple pattern to turn your old jeans into a bucket hat
Goodbye winter, hello legs!
Here are 2 super-fun upcycles to put a new skirt in your wardrobe, and some SPRING in your step (d’you like what we did there?)
Turn a mansize tee into a mini-skir
We love the simplicity of this upcycle. Plus, let’s face it, who HASN’T got a saggy t-shirt lurking in a drawer somewhere? Get sewing, we say, and turn baggy into bee-oootiful!
This one takes a bit more tailoring, but you can follow simple steps to get there. A sewing machine will speed things up, but hand sewing with backstitch does the job just dandy. Slooow sewing is super soothing AND lets you catch up on your fave TV. (We’re currently hooked on ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’. Quick, find me something else to sew – another ep has just started!!)
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.
Get sewing with running stitch
The best thing about sewing? It’s so easy! You can start designing and customising your clothes with just a few, simple skills.
Thread a needle, grab some fabric, and follow this vid to learn BASIC RUNNING STITCH.
In no time, you’ll be off AND RUNNING (see what we did there?)
CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE...
Some STARTER SEWER Projects
We love this cosy ‘how-to’ vid from Youtube. Scrunchies are a great ‘first project’ – easy to make, and who doesn’t love a scrunchie?!
Sequin scrunchie made by a 13yr old Swisher; thrifted jacket embroidered by her flashy 16yr old sis! (Big sisters do that, don’t they?)
SWISH TIP: Watch to the end of vid, and you learn how to make a ‘brand new’ pillowcase from a fabric scrap. It’s the cyyyyyyycle of life (if you’re a pillowcase….)
NB Lots of online upcycling vids involve a sewing machine, but it’s not a must. Handsewing ROCKS! In fact, sewing machine stitch is just super-speedy back stitch. You can do by hand, easy-peasy. Who cares if it takes a bit longer? Means you get eeeeven more time to chillax over your sewing.
How To Sew on a Motif
A quick, super-cool way to customise clothes is to sew on a motif (that’s an embroidered patch to you or me!) You can buy motifs online or from your local sewing shop, and they come in aaaaall shapes and sizes. So there’ll always be something to fit your mood or your style.
They work really well on denim - stick one on the back pocket of your jeans, or go crazy and scatter them all over your jacket! Simple and stylish, they’re a great way to upcycle an old t-shirt (plain or stripy tops work best, we reckon).
Best thing is they’re easy-peasy to sew. Watch our video to learn how!
33 DIY WAYS TO UPGRADE YOUR OLD BORING T-SHIRTS
If you can make it past the beardy man dancing in a lady’s dressing gown (no, we didn’t understand it either) this vid is PACKED with super-cool, super-creative hacks for transforming a baggy tee. Some require a spot of sewing, but we’re talking simple stitches – and not too many of them – so, why not go for it? Pluck up your courage, pick up a needle, and make the sweet sliiiiide from no-sew to sewer.
THRIFT FLIP
We love this vid by Ninilei showing how to turn leggings into a mini-skirt + spaghetti strap top (2 for the price of 1. Very thrifty!) It’s a cute and easy upcycle that requires only simple running stitch. Even better, she explains how to make your stitches, AND reveals her trick to making a great knot (we’ve tried it, and are fully converted!)
One tip from us – a good skirt needs a bit of heft! So try to use leggings (or jeggings) with a bit of thickness to them. A saggy, skimpy pair will mean a saggy, skimpy skirt (and that ain’t NO girl’s friend!)
Learn How to Sew - One Stitch at a Time!
Sewing is easy. Pick up the basics, and you’re off!
More fun vids and super sewing tricks will be landing over the next few weeks, so keep checking back to see what’s new!
How to make a starting knot
How to make a finishing knot
"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
LISTEN HERE
"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
