Publisher Description

DIY Thrift Flip teaches how to shop and sew sustainably by providing how-tos for finding, upcycling, and customizing secondhand clothing with basic sewing instructions.


Expert thrift-flipper April Yang, aka Coolirpa, takes you through every phase of the process, including how to find the best clothes and fabrics and easy ways to alter and tailor shirts, dresses, pants, coats, and more.
Getting Started. Essential materials and tools, setting up a workspace, organizing supplies, sewing machine basics, and a concise fabric primer.
How to Shop for Alterable Clothes. Where to shop, what types of clothes to look for, what can and can't be fixed, and how to gauge size when you can't try something on.
Altering Basics. How to use patterns to alter clothes or parts of garments, techniques for altering without using patterns, the basics of garment altering, adding sleeves, hems, and pockets, and how to custom-tailor an altered piece for a great fit.
Projects. Beginner to intermediate-level projects inspire and guide you along your own thrift flips.
QR codes give you access to techniques, tutorials, and project details.
Also included are basic sewing techniques, sewing and clothing terminology, clothing silhouettes, how to measure the body, and more.
With DIY Thrift Flip, you'll learn how to build a wardrobe of original pieces that shows off your unique style and boosts your creativity in the process.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS
 
Introduction
How I Started Sewing and Altering Clothes
How to Use This Book
 
1 | Getting Started
Essential Materials
Setting Up a Workspace
Organizing Supplies
Sewing Machine Basics
Fabric Primer
 
2 | How to Shop for Alterable Clothes
Where to Shop
What Types of Clothes to Look For
What Can and Can't Be Fixed
Gauging Size When You Can't Try Something On
 
3 | Altering Basics
Using Patterns to Alter Clothes or Parts of Garments
Techniques for Altering Without Using Patterns
The Basics of Garment Altering
Adding Pieces: Sleeves, Hems, Pockets
How to Custom-Tailor an Altered Piece for a Great Fit
 
4 | Projects
Beginner to intermediate projects to inspire and guide you along your own thrift flips
 
Resources
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Index
 

Review

"[A] lovely debut…Yang's handy and inventive guidance is an excellent source of inspiration for eco-conscious sewers." * Publishers Weekly *
"A must-have. This amazing title will thrill readers who enjoy thrift-shopping for clothes they can upcycle. Bonus: readers can refer to this book for sustainable living and craftivism ideas." * Library Journal STARRED Review *
"DIY Thrift Flip is an encouraging, inspirational guide with instructions for turning thrift-store finds into more fashionable, fun, wearable clothes…Enabling thrift-store shoppers to make secondhand basics their own, the style guide DIY Thrift Flip is confidence giving." * Foreword Reviews *
"Overall, this is a thorough guide that will be useful in makerspaces and public and school library collections." * Booklist STARRED Review *
"DIY Thrift Flip will prove to be an invaluable and budget conscious source of information, instruction, and inspiration." * Midwest Book Review *
"Navigable and cheerful, DIY Thrift Flip is a handy, encouraging resource for new and experienced crafters alike." * Shelf Awareness *

Details