If you strive to make quality DIY clothes here you’ll find the secrets on how to make quality refashions.

This 3-Part Quality Miniseries on the podcast explains how to get your DIY refashions to the next level. Therefore, if you care about the final results of your makes the Miniseries is exactly what you need.

Here you’ll learn essential part of what separates homemade projects made in a bad way from beautifully handmade works. Handpicked from my dressmaking experience and fashion studies, I break down the 'quality mystery' into easy to apply tips and tricks.

Don't forget to download the Clothes Upcycling Starter Kit below. Your DIY sewing world will never be the same once you discover how to make unique styles of your own!

The 3-Part Quality Miniseries walks you through the main pointers so you’ll never wonder how to make quality refashions.

It covers all the main areas: quality from sewing perspective, quality in relation to the overall look (design), and lastly quality when sourcing second hand clothing material.

And in particular:

Listen to episode #10: 

Top 10 Design Tips For Quality Refashions. Quality Miniseries Part 3.

Or listen on the podcast page HERE.

[0:30] Overview of what is included in the three parts of the Quality Miniseries. 

[4:15] Why quality and where the content for this miniseries originates from.

[5:30] Some clarifications about fashion fabrics and quality of the materials when it comes to reusing what’s already in circulation second hand, clothing in this particular case. Also, what I mean by  quality in the overall look (design) and how this is different than actual designing of a garment.

The Top 10 Design Tips on How To Make Quality Refashions

[7:50] Tip 1: Get the balance of the overall design right.  Check out my example project of top and pants outfit I’ve made for Jane Milburn’s Slow Clothing Project.

[10:50] Tip 2: Ensure the symmetry of the halves (left and right) of the garment. Listen to some examples which pieces have to be symmetrical. Some thoughts about this in asymmetrical designs.

[13:07] Tip 3: Construction seams of same type needs to be the same length. Listen to hear the trick I do to measure those easy, without the use of the tape measure.

[15:00] Tip 4: Paired pieces should have same size and dimensions. Another trick I use to ensure this at stage of cutting.

[16:50] Tip 5: Ensure the functional side of the garment is presented. Some simple tips how exactly to do it especially when sewing for yourself.

[18:50] Tip 6: Ensure that closures work well. Learn my tricks for securing buttons either sewn by hand and machine. Check some details about other closures, too.

[21:00] Tip 7: Stitch additions securely and neatly.

[21:35] Learn more about supporting the material in Tip 8 when adding embellishments and other add-ons. Three ideas on how to do this, including shortly on types of interfacing and how to apply iron-on type of interfacing. In this example of a T-shirt project you can see details on using interfacing in order to support the main material.

[23:35] Furthermore, Tip 9 covers refashions that are expected to last a bit longer such as jackets or jeans, for example. Listen to some tips how you could enhance the quality of these makes.

[26:33] And lastly, Tip 10: Do not use glue, Velcro or similar if you want to keep good quality of your make. Listen the only one occasion when I use glue on clothing. Download the leather freebie that I mention from this Leather Jacket Refashion post.

[29:15] Quick wrap up of the 10 design tips on how to make quality refashions.

[32:50] Some details on what’s next.

Rate, Review & Subscribe On Apple Podcasts

If you love the conversation, please consider writing a review and rating the show. This will help me reaching out more people and helping them learn the ins and outs of refashioning. The ultimate goal: the more we are, the more valuable textiles saved from being wasted!

Go to the show page here and click “Listen on Apple Podcasts”. In iTunes then select the “Ratings and Reviews” tab and click 5 stars to rate and select “Write a Review”. Make sure to let me know what you loved most about the episode!

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To support your upcycling journey we've got an amazing freebie for you: Clothes Upcycling Starter Kit: Create your own designer clothing from vintage and unloved garments.

If you're new to the website, you can download it by signing up when prompted or on the Starter Kit's page over here.

It's time to start recycling those castoffs and add unique clothing pieces to your wardrobe. But to immerse into the making process while ensuring great final results, Mariana's got you covered. She loves sharing her findings, observations and upcycling ideas with like-minded aspiring creatives.

Once you feel the deep satisfaction of creating beautiful pieces of your own, you'll never look back to ready-to-wear wardrobe style!

In the meantime, the more sewists utilise what's unworn and in circulation the less valuable textiles will end up in landfill, right?

It is great win-win-win: to you, the planet and to material already in circulation!