Make do and mend!

[libertychick]

Inspired by some of the other threads on here I have been doing some wardrobe decluttering and decided I am going to not shop at all for three months and will instead 'make do and mend'!

I have a list of projects to try and make some of my stuff more useful - first project is to try and dye a mock suede brown mac style coat to black. It's cotton outer, polyester lining and has become very faded and battered but is a good fit on me. The colour has never really suited me and is so faded now that I would not wear it so nothing to lose if the dye job does not work.

If the dye does work then I will probably get new buttons too.

Advise on dyeing clothes very welcome and also would love to hear if anyone else is doing stuff like this and share ideas.

I need to fast from shopping. I keep buying cheap bits from H&M and eBay but I still have nothing to wear.

I'm going to dig out all my clothes that need repairing and get mending.

No advice about dyeing but new buttons seems a good way to freshen it up.

Good luck. Seems like a worthwhile project and perhaps in the New year I will be prepared to stay away from the shops. No dyeing advice.

If you go onto pinterest there are lots of ideas and instructions on how to refashion Tshirts, jumpers and shirts.

Good plan can recommend the washing machine dyes, although I have found that black does tend to fade quite quickly. Make sure the coat is v clean before you dye it as any stains won't dye as well

Prima my wardrobe is full of cheap bits I never wear. I am hoping that a 3 month shopping ban will break the habit.

Mirpuppet come join me now! Although it's hard to do now with all the lovely A/W stuff in the shops

Virgil thanks for the pinterest tip. I have a pile of things I have put to one side to see if anything can be done with them so any sources of inspiration are v welcome

Kissyfur I have a dyelon washing machine dye. I have dyed some trousers black before and they did fade but just did it again. I had the coat dry cleaned at the weekend in the vain hope that would make it look better so it's spotless. I think the biggest risk is shrinking - the label says it can be machine washed on a wool cycle but the dye has to be done at a 40 cotton cycle.

liberty I would get a cold water dye and use that instead - the kind of fabric that should go on a wool cycle is about 95% likely to shrink at 40, in my experience.

Oh thanks hopefully I'll hunt down a cold water dye instead.

I often pick up things in charity shops and make adjustments. Sometimes to make them fit better (adding tucks/moving buttons), but most often I change the length - take hems up or down, or shorten more significantly. A dress can be cut down to make a tunic top, trousers to crops or shorts - it can revitalise something that's "not quite right" or is damaged/stained.

Currently on my To Do list is a lovely Kaliko wrap dress that is mid-calf, which I am going to cut to knee length (which suits me better). I also have an H&M top with a gaping neckline which needs a few stitches.

Hi cointreauVersial I have a shirtdress in my pile that I think I will cut down to a shirt - it has a drop waist which doesn't suit me. Also have a couple of short dresses that I thought might work better shortened to tunic length.

Getting very excited about all this! Although I will need to buy a sewing machine so won't be saving much in first month or so.

Luckily, sewing is in my blood - my mum was a fashion designer, and I have always had a sewing machine.

I usually lurk on here as you're all too glamorous for me!

I am also doing a bit of make do and mend. I used to do it a lot more. I once got a Jaegar dress reduced from £149 to £19 in an outlet store. The top of the dress just didn't sit right but it made a great skirt.

I have a couple of white shirts that need some darts in the back and a dress that would be better as a tunic. I also have a lovely dress which has a hole in it so I'm taking it apart to make a pattern from it and I plan to make a new one in a similar fabric. I made my ballgowns at university but that was way back so I hope I can remember what to do!

Great deal on the Jaegar Helena

I am a good knitter - learned at school when I was about 6 or 7 and at that stage my mum used to knit a lot so I would spend hours knitting dolls and teddies clothes! Got back into it a few years ago and really enjoy it. Also doing some crochet - one of my projects is to crochet a gorgeous ball of merino and silk mix yarn into a scarf - it's a ball of yarn I've had for about 2 years but the colours are perfect for this A/W.

I learned the basics of sewing at secondary school when I was about 11 but never took to it so relearning now. My granny was great at sewing - I lived with her for a while when I was in uni and she used to do great stuff with my clothes - saved me a fortune - I regret now not sitting and learning instead of leaving her with a pile of adjustments and heading to the pub!

Leaving the dye job until the weekend as the cold dye looks a bit more labour intensive than the machine stuff.