Alter, Mend or Upcycle your clothes

Alter, Mend or Upcycle Your Clothes

This ‘Alter, Mend or Upcycle Your Clothes course will teach you skills to ‘Make-do and Mend’.  Whether it’s repairing a garment by sewing on a button, or patching a hole, altering or completely remaking your existing clothes, you can get loads more use from them. Over the 3 weekly sessions, there should be plenty of time to work on two, three or more items (depending on your sewing skills and experience).

Course Description

Please use this course any way you want to learn new skills and bring anything you’d like to work on. Here are some suggested projects (as shown in the image):

• Alter something for a better fit*
• Mend a hole (where possible)*
• Turn a T-shirt or shirt into a tunic/dress
• Make a skirt from jeans and decorate it with applique
• Make a zipped pouch,  a patchwork cushion, or crossbody bag from fabric scraps
• Add interest to a plain top by adding lace panels, or applique

There will be tutorials on topics such as taking up or letting down hems, sewing on buttons, taking in and letting out. So bring along things you need to mend or alter and get help with them.

You must have competent sewing skills (be able to use a sewing machine confidently and understand how to sew seams and hems. If you don’t yet have these skills, then please consider taking one of my Beginners sewing courses first). Some dressmaking experience would be an advantage to give an understanding of garment construction but is not essential.  You’ll need to bring  the items you want to upcycle along with extra fabrics and any other materials you’ll need to complete your projects. I’ll be able to give guidance on what you’ll need for each project.

*Please bear in mind that it’s difficult to make things bigger unless you have extra fabric to add into panels.

You’ll also need a basic sewing kit of fabric shears, small trimming scissors, tape measure, pins, fabric marking pens/pencils and a quick unpick.

Artisan Stitch won a Certificate of Excellence in January 2019 and is rated ‘Best sewing classes in Edinburgh’. They won a UK Enterprise award for Best sewing classes 2020 and in 2021, Best Private Sewing Education and also ‘Most Outstanding Sewing Classes.

Who is this aimed at?

• you’d like to mend, alter or remodel your clothes (or charity shop finds)
• you’d like to save money by giving your clothes a longer life-span or you like to look ‘unique’.
• you’d like to live a more sustainable life and help reduce textile waste.
• you enjoy making new craft items (bags/cushions etc) from pre-loved clothes or household textiles

(Adults only – children’s classes are listed in the ‘Kids’ section of the website

What will I learn?

• How to spot potential to remodel clothes by adding coordinating fabric
• Mending skills including visible mending
• how to use even small scraps of fabric
• machine and/or hand embroidery, applique
• how to take up hems
• sew on buttons

Course arrangements

Sewing machines are provided or you can bring your own if you have one.

Useful links:

If you’re looking for a sewing machine, then Andrew at Pembertons  is my trusted and recommended specialist retailer. And what’s more, he’ll sort out a special deal for Artisan Stitch clients.

What sewing equipment will I need?

(I have a small stock of quality scissors and marking tools for sale in the studio)