DIY Wardrobe Makeovers

April 15, 2015

Inexpensive ready-to-wear clothing may be popular, but its fit isn't always complimentary. Stanley, who made her name blogging at Adventures in Dressmaking (now Create/Enjoy), provides step-by-step walkthroughs for a variety of clothing repair and tailoring tasks, ranging from sewing on a button to tailoring the too-loose waistband of a pair of jeans. Some of the "makeover" projects, such as the raglan-sleeve sweater with a zipper inserted at the shoulder seam, are odd, but others, such as the skirt and blouse combined into a dress, are more successful. The highlights are the tutorials for tailoring, especially the ones for refitting pants for a more stylish and flattering fit. Several of the tutorials originally appeared, in a slightly different form, on Stanley's blog. VERDICT The title is slightly misleading, as the majority of the tutorials are more about mending, repairing, and customizing rather than transforming existing pieces into something completely different. However, the instructions are excellent, and sewists who want to customize ready-to-wear garments to create a more flattering fit will appreciate this guide.

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