3 Easy Tutorials on Upcycling Clothes & How to Make DIY Keepsakes (2024)

Today, I'm going to be sharing three tutorials on upcycling clothes. A friend of mine asked me to upcycle some of her late dad's clothing to honor his memory. I think this is an amazing way to create keepsakes when a loved one passes away.

Although I'm sharing step-by-step DIY tutorials on two shirts and a jacket, these upcycle ideas can be applied to any men’s or larger clothing. Here’s how to refashion old clothes with some upcycling tips and a lot of love.

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Tools and materials:

  • 2 Large button-down shirts
  • Jacket/blazer
  • Scissors
  • Sewing machine
  • Pins
  • Ruler
  • Elastic
  • Snap closure
  • Marking chalk or fabric pen
  • Iron
  • Needle and thread
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Pinning the button packets on the shirt

Upcycle project 1: Plain button-down shirt

1. Size the shirt

Pin the button plackets right sides together. Sew the inside edge of the plackets. Once sewn, cut the plackets off.

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Cutting the shirt

2. Cut the shirt

Cut off the collar and sleeves from the shirt. Cut a V in the front and the back. Trim the sleeves in a few inches for a more elegant look.

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Pinning where you want the top to be cropped

Put the shirt on to measure how much to crop. Pin the length, remove the shirt, and cut the shirt to the desired length.

3. Finish the tank top

Serge all the raw ends and hem all the edges. Reattach the shirt label if desired for sentimental reasons, or leave it as is.

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Marking where to cut on the DIY shirt

Upcycle project 2: Fish design shirt

1. Cut the fabric

Place the shirt on a flat surface. Mark and cut across the entire shirt horizontally below the sleeve line. Cut the button plackets off.

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Cutting the front of the shirt

Cut two large triangles from the shirt top for front tying tails.

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Wrapping the fabric to measure it

2. Measure the chest size

Measure the chest area. Wrap the fabric around the chest area to see the fit. Pin new side seams based on the measurements.

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Sewing the side seams of the DIY shirt

3. Sew the side seams

Sew the new side seams, then sew a triangle on both open sides on the bottom, leaving two long tails for tying.

If needed, sew elastic on the back so the front of the bandeau lies flat and smooth.To add elastic, gather the back into soft pleats and sew about 8 inches (20cm of elastic) just below the top on the inside.

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Marking where to add a clasp to the shirt

4. Close the front

There are two choices to close the front:

Choice 1: Snap, clasp, or other button style closure. Wrap the bandeau around your body, dressmaker’s dummy, or the person you’re making the shirt for. Mark where to put the closure. Remove from the body. Hand sew the snap or clasp in place.

Choice 2: After measuring and marking where to close the top, pin and then sew in place with a top or invisible stitch at the closure at the very top of the bandeau. The top can be straight across or slightly angled downward.

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Folding the straps lengthwise

5. Make the straps

Put the bandeau on once the front closure is done. Mark where the straps will go. Make four straps from the scraps of fabric by cutting them 2 inches (5cm) wide and 10 inches (25cm) long.

Fold the raw edges into themselves lengthwise by making small folds until it resembles a strap. Iron them flat.

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Sewing the straps

Sew a lengthwise seam and then sew them onto the marked areas.

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Upcycled tie-front top

6. Wear the upcycled top

Pull the bandeau over the head (if the front is sewn) or snap into place if using a clasp. Tie the straps together in a flirty bow, and tie the front ends in a lovely, tummy-grazing knot.

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Marking where to crop the men's jacket

Upcycle project 3: men's suit jacket

1. Crop the jacket

Lay the jacket on a flat surface and crop the bottom to below the first button on top of the front pockets. Save at least one of the front buttons.

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Pinning and hemming the jacket

2. Hem the jacket

Pin the lining and outer layer together. Serge and hem the entire bottom of the blazer.

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Creating a new buttonhole in the jacket

3. Create a second buttonhole

Mark a spot above the existing button. Measure the existing buttonhole, mark with pins, and cut the buttonhole. Sew on one of the saved buttons.

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Cutting out the shoulder pads

4. Finish the jacket

Open the lining to remove the shoulder pads and stitch back the lining to close. Cuff up the sleeves. Wear this lovely jacket with jeans or an ultra-feminine skirt for a striking contrast.

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Upcycled jacket made from a men's blazer

Upcycling clothes tutorial

Here's the finished DIY jacket! I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on upcycling ideas for clothes. Let me know in the comments which of the three upcycling projects was your favorite and if you’ve ever upcycled a loved one’s clothes to hold onto keepsakes.

The author may collect a small share of sales from the links on this page.

3 Easy Tutorials on Upcycling Clothes & How to Make DIY Keepsakes (2024)

FAQs

How to upcycle clothes for beginners? ›

There are plenty of ways to revamp old garments without ever needing to pick up a needle and thread. Upcycled clothing ideas include fixing holes with fabric glue or using it to add fun embellishments like stud buttons or lace. Iron-on patches are an easy way to jazz up an old pair of jeans or worn elbows on sweaters.

How can you upcycle old clothes into something new? ›

10 ways to upcycle clothing
  1. Dye it. Whether it's an old bridesmaid dress or a shirt with a stain on it, dye can give a once-worn item new life. ...
  2. Patch it. ...
  3. Embroider it. ...
  4. Cut it. ...
  5. Turn it into a quilt. ...
  6. Turn it into a tote. ...
  7. Turn it into a scrunchie. ...
  8. Give it to the dog.
Jul 19, 2022

What material is the best for upcycling clothes? ›

Materials: The best upcycled clothes are natural, sustainable fabrics. Recycled cotton, denim, hemp fabric, and linen not only keep waste materials out of landfills, but are compostable at the end of their second life.

What is the easiest clothes to make? ›

Knits are a popular choice for beginners – take a look at the selection of knit dress patterns for beginners here. From Tilly and the Buttons is a simple to make pull-on dress with scoop neckline and elasticated waistline. The plain skirt version is perfect for those new to sewing.

Can you upcycle clothes and sell them? ›

Selling upcycled clothing isn't just practical from a value standpoint, after all: it's also fantastic for encouraging the use (and reuse) of high-quality fabrics. In this post, we're going to offer up some handy tips for starting a business selling upcycled clothing online.

Can you make money upcycling clothes? ›

Upcycling fashion is a very lucrative business! That being said, there are a lot of challenges along the way to make enough money to actually make it worthwhile. If you like to have multiple hustles or are looking for a part time hobby to supplement your income, upcycling fashion might be just the thing for you!

Can you legally sell upcycled clothes? ›

To avoid legal complications, upcyclers should either use materials that are free from copyright restrictions or obtain the necessary licenses. This ensures that the upcycled clothing sold is not only stylish and sustainable but also compliant with intellectual property laws.

Why are upcycled clothes so expensive? ›

While these eco-friendly materials offer immense benefits for the planet, they often come with a higher price tag. The increased cost of producing sustainable fabrics is reflected in the final price of sustainable clothes.

What are the pros and cons of upcycling clothes? ›

An advantage of upcycling is that it reduces landfill waste. It can save you money, by adapting what you already have into unique masterpieces. It can provide a sense of purpose and reward while encouraging creativity. But upcycling can also have disadvantages such as reducing spending within the economy.

How to turn a tshirt into a keepsake? ›

Turn t-shirts into a quilt. A keepsake memory quilt would make a wonderful gift, a great wall-hanging, a couch throw, a homemade sleeping bag, or a cozy bed cover. You can treat the t-shirts just like you would any other fabric. Stitch together large squares and add borders, or make a patterned quilt.

How to turn a tshirt into a bag? ›

  1. Step 1: Cut the sleeves off. If you'd like to fold the t-shirt in half you can cut both sleeves at once so that they are identical. ...
  2. Step 2: Cut the neckline area. ...
  3. Step 3: Determine how deep you want the bag to be. ...
  4. Step 4: Cut fringe. ...
  5. Step 5: Tie Fringe.

Is upcycling clothes hard? ›

Upcycling is a time consuming activity requiring a surplus of time and energy because of the innovation required and resources needed to make the upcycled textiles into profitable garments.

Is selling upcycled clothing legal? ›

If the upcycled product tarnishes the reputation of the brand or causes trademark dilution, the original trademark owner may have grounds for legal action. For example, using authentic Chanel buttons to create costume jewelry and selling it as a Chanel product could lead to trademark claims.

How do I start minimalism clothing? ›

How to Create a Minimalist Wardrobe and Closet
  1. Admit that you own too much clothing. ...
  2. Wear fewer colors. ...
  3. Embrace the idea of one. ...
  4. Donate, sell, recycle, discard. ...
  5. Donate, sell, discard some more. ...
  6. Impose an arbitrary moratorium on shopping. ...
  7. Set a monthly spending limit. ...
  8. Purchase quality over quantity.
Oct 30, 2019

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