Clothes Upcycling 101 – Eco Fashion Sewing

Clothes Upcycling 101

When it comes to clothes upcycling (a.k.a. refashioning, recycling, remodelling), to make beautiful final clothing projects that you'll love and actually wear, you need to know a few things.

Fashion upcycler Mariana Kirova, previously bridal and alteration professional, and creative owner behind the scene, loves to share experience and projects so you learning the essentials faster and enjoy creating beautiful sustainable clothing yourself.

It's the new wave for home sewists, creatives, and pro fashion designers to explore how to make clothing in a new, more sustainable way reusing already existing clothes. The best part? It is available to anyone who wants to make and create! And often for next to nothing. Just by using your sewing skills.

Make Your Own: Simple Ways To Refashion Clothes
Discover how to recycle clothes just with basic machine skills (or more advanced - your choice!). Use the unique upcycling[...]
How To Recycle Old T-shirts Into New: Redesign Ideas For 40+
How to recycle old T-shirts into new, especially those old favourites of yours, could involve different things.Soft, comfortable and cotton,[...]
Clever Ways To Refashion Clothes With ‘One New From Two Old’ Technique
It's exciting to get into the different ways to refashion clothes with the 'One New From Two Old' technique. It's[...]
How To Make Quality Refashions [Quality Miniseries Part 2]
If you strive to make quality DIY clothes here you’ll find the secrets on how to make quality refashions.This 3-Part[...]
How To Prevent Clothing Projects From Looking Tacky [Quality Miniseries Part 1]
There are different ways to prevent clothing projects from looking tacky. This 3-Part Quality Miniseries on the podcast explains how[...]
How To Refashion Clothes [Beginner Miniseries Part 3]
Are you tired for looking and looking for the perfect idea on how to refashion clothes?But more specifically, your clothes.[...]
Find Own Upcycled Clothing Ideas [Beginner Miniseries Part 2]
Are you still looking for different DIY upcycled clothing ideas every single time when you want to recycle old clothes[...]
How To Start Upcycling Clothes [Beginner Miniseries Part 1]
Where and how to start upcycling clothes is a question I’ve been asked the most since I began talking on[...]
10 Tips To Beat Procrastination When Sewing & Refashioning
This episode reveals how procrastination when sewing looks like when refashioning old clothing into new.  Procrastination is quite common for[...]
What Is Refashioning & Why You Should Consider It
Do you love sewing and clothing, and care about the environment? If yes, then you'll like to talk clothing upcycling[...]

Sewing Essentials

Of course, you can upcycle and create unique clothing by using only hand-sewing techniques. However, machine sewing has the potential to get you to that next level of creativity.

Get on top of those machine and other sewing basics, thus enjoy clothes upcycling more, with the help of our sewing essentials below. 

How To Set Sewing Machine Settings For T-shirts Right
Follow the 7 key areas in this episode on the podcast and set the right sewing machine settings for your[...]
How To Fix Common Sewing Machine Problems
By Mariana Kirova Troubleshooting your sewing machine or stitch. I know first hand it is not a happy situation. The[...]
Upcycle Sewing: #10 Tips For Neat Finish
By Mariana Kirova Have you felt disappointed of your DIY refashions? Have you ever wanted to get neat and professionally[...]
Safety Sewing Rules: Room, Equipment, People
Safety sewing measures To prevent injuries or general health issues of yourself, your family members, kids, and pets at home[...]
The 3 Main Fibre Groups Used By The Fashion Industry. Part 3: Synthetic Fibres.
This article is the final part of a three part series which covers the most common textile fibres used in[...]
The 3 Main Fibre Groups Used By The Fashion Industry. Part 2: Regenerated Fibres.
Do you remember those beautiful summer baggy pants with the colourful pattern you bought on your last Asian holiday? It[...]
The 3 Main Fibre Groups Used By The Fashion Industry. Part 1: Natural Fibres.
Do you really know your clothing? Have you ever thought about your favourite garment in your wardrobe? What fibre it[...]

Design Hacks For Clothes Upcycling

In clothes upcycling you will find one of the greatest variety of projects - from taking the initial garment apart and using the resulting fabric with a pattern to never-thought creative ways and techniques.

Our successful formula for making beautiful styles is a mixture of old design fundamentals combined with suitable upcycling technique and a dash of redesign brilliance.

Remember, the best is to start from wherever skill level you are at the moment, and to build up your creative and design skills over time, step-by-step.

And if you think you are not a creative type, then listen to this episode of our podcast The Art Of Refashioning. It will help you decide whether creativity is your 'thing' :)

Below you will learn about design basics, upcycling techniques, tips and hacks that will boost your clothes upcycling skills up.

How To Mix And Match Colours For Clothing Upcycling
Knowing how to mix and match colours for clothing (including upcycling) is critical design skill. It is one of the[...]
How To Recycle Old T-shirts Into New: Redesign Ideas For 40+
How to recycle old T-shirts into new, especially those old favourites of yours, could involve different things.Soft, comfortable and cotton,[...]
7 Questions For Successful Clothes Upcycling For Beginners
Reworking old clothing is one of the best ways to save money and safe the environment, however, clothes upcycling for[...]
The 3 Myths About Creativity And How To Build Yours
Do you love sewing and clothing, but struggle from those big, misleading myths about creativity? Have you ever thought you[...]
Free Resources For Refashioning Ideas & Tips
Not finding good free resources for refashioning ideas? Very often, the biggest hurdle for people who want to rework existing[...]
Clothes Upcycling: The Upside-Down Concept To Recycle Old Clothes
By Mariana Kirova One of the best things when comes to reworking old or unworn clothes, beside being an excellent[...]
DIY Clothes Review
By Mariana Kirova It’s completely ​OK to have bumps while refashioning and experimenting when turning old clothes into new. But,[...]
DIY Refashions: Creativity Is Skill
By Mariana Kirova ​Do you think you lack creativity? Do you think: “I’m not a creative person?” When it comes[...]
19 Tips on How to Make Upcycled Clothes That Look Great
By Mariana KirovaWas your last upcycled project successful?Did others wowed: “You look amazing!”? If your answer is “no”, then this[...]

Learn Online With Mariana

We love to meet passionate creatives of any age who want to step up to the next level of the learning process.

Make sure to subscribe with any of the freebies here. It will get you started and keep you in the loop for the new exciting things coming out this year!

Here is what some of our previous students have said for our online solutions so far...

Our online students have shared...

"Excellent value... very practical and affordable solution!"

I have just purchased the Learn To Sew course and am very excited.


It looks great and is excellent value for what is available on it. I have done a couple of sewing classes and though great while in the class it is always the way that when at home I can't remember something and this course will eliminate that as it will always be available to me.


Thank you Mariana for providing a very practical and affordable solution!

KIM G.  //  Felt crafter & sewist

Local Workshops On Clothes Upcycling

In addition, if happens you are local in Perth, Western Australia, then you might want to sign up for our local workshops here.

So, when time comes we will send you a note on our new event, talk or hands-on workshop.

Our previous workshops' participants have shared...

"I learned a lot how I could reuse or rework my clothing"

This is the best workshop I've ever attended, thoroughly enjoyed the day!


I now can develop and wear something that I've never thought about before. It was very inspirational, to keep on rethinking and reworking unused clothing, to applying it to my grandchildren clothes.

RINI M.  //  Sewist & aspiring clothing upcycler

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