Upcycle/Recycle!

Well, finally, I tackled another project that I’ve been putting off because of that good ol’ “fear of the unknown”! I’m a pro at doing that, which is absolutely silly, which is also what I tell myself repeatedly when I find myself in this situation! The majority of times, the hype is worse than the actual project, and that was definitely the case in this situation!

For quite awhile now, I’ve been following a few IG accounts that focus on recycling textiles, mostly clothing, and repurposing them into wearable clothing instead of allowing them to be discarded into landfills! It’s fascinating watching them transform a dirty, dingy article of clothing that has definitely seen better days into something “new” that is trendy and sought after! Let me share a screenshot from one of my favourite IG accounts, susoriginals so you can get a clue as to what I’m even talking about!

Isn’t it so fun, I just love the look of it! So if you’re a thrift shopper and see a sweater that has the cutest logo, for example, but, oh darn, after closer inspection, you see a hole or some stains that would normally have you putting it back on the rack, now you don’t have to….we can transform it into something perhaps even better than it’s original form!!

I’ve had it in my mind for ages to give it a go, I even had the focal logo I wanted to use, a London Majors logo from a white hoodie, which was an easy choice because I personally cannot ever wear white anything, not because I don’t love the look of crisp white pants or a lovely white sweater but because I’m too much of a dirt magnet lol!! These sweaters were on sale for $20 at the end of last season so I bought it knowing full well this was what I wanted to do with it and at that price, I was ok if it didnt turn out! In this contemplating stage, I also thrifted two other sweatshirts that would work for the “patchwork” look I’m most drawn to.

I’ve confessed to you all several times that I prefer/need to follow a pattern when making something so not having one was probably what was holding me back from starting this. Most of the people I follow that do this are youngsters,  you know, in their 20’s lol, some didn’t even have any sewing experience before attempting this…they just jumped in and just “figured it out” so they don’t use patterns, they don’t write patterns, they just basically show you how to do it in YouTube videos! So one day, when we were in the car for a long drive to an away ballgame, I just started watching the videos and by the time I was done, I was feeling confident that I could indeed do this too! One thing they all stressed is that you really can’t mess it up, there’s no right or wrong way, it’s just a creative process that you should have fun with! How refreshing to hear such an encouraging comment…and I took it to heart!

Back at home the next day, I got to it! I took a current sweater of mine that I like the fit of and laid that flat out on a piece of cardboard to trace, which would become my rough template. I had already previously dissected all the sweaters, cutting off the hoods, bands, arms, and separated the front panel from the back, again, just following what I saw in a video!

This is the video I followed the most, I found it full of information, How to Make a Patchwork Hoodie!

Ok, before I show you the end result, let me show you exactly what I started with….

I had the aforementioned white Majors hoodie, a blue hoodie and a grey crew neck! And now, drunroll please….here’s what I ended up with….

O……M……G!!!!!!! Friends!!!! Can you even believe how stinkin’ fun this turned out, cause I sure can’t lol!!!!

I’m beyond thrilled with this and, as predicted, it was seriously so easy!!! Once I had my front and back panels, and my sleeves, I just sewed them altogether, attached the hood and then the bands and that was it! Because I don’t use my serger as much as my sewing machine, I always forget how quick serged projects are lol!

Sadly the London Majors ball season is over for this year but when the next season comes around, you know I’ll be cheering them on in my custom made, one-of-a-kind hoodie!!

Now I’m on the hunt for more treasures to be found at the thrift stores so I can make even more of these, I can see this being a new sewing addiction lol!

Hope you enjoyed my latest sewing adventures! As always, if I’ve inspired you to give this a try, I’d love to see your finished project too!

Till next time, take care my sewing buddies!

Shawna