Visit our websiteFor more handy tips and tricks, as well as our class schedule, visit:www.thethriftystitcher.co.uk

•Whenthinkingaboutalteringclothes,rememberthebodyhas2planes–height and width.

• Ifalteringthewidthofagarmentyoumaynotneedtore-fitasthisplaneiseasier to adjust.

• Ifyouarealteringtheheightofagarment,youwillnearlyalwaysneedtore-fitaftertheadjustmentsaremade.Forexampletakinguptheshoulderswillshortenthearm-holewhichmaythenneedtobeadjusted.Shorteningflaredtrousersforexamplemeanstheflareislessatthehem,andtheymaynot look as attractive.

•Tryingtomakeclothessmallerthanabout2sizesinvolvesalotofalterationtime,whichifyou’repayingsomeonemaynotbeworthit.IfyoufindavintageChanelsuitinacharityshopthat’s4sizestoobig,itmaywellbeworththeadditionalexpense.Ifit’saPrimarkdressinthesale,thenjustleaveitontherail!

• Ifsomethingismorethanonesizetoosmall,it’sveryunlikelythatyou’llbeabletogetitletout.Fashiongarmentsrarelyhavelessthan0.5cmseam allowance, meaning that there is total of 1.5 cm available around the bodytoletout.Lettingoutsatinorfinefabricsmeansyoumaybeleftwithtrack-lineswherethestitchingwas.Lettingoutdarkerfabricsmeansthatyou may end up revealing fabric that is a different colour from the faded outside.

• Ifyouletdownahemandgetastronglinewheretheoriginalhemwas,thinkoutsidethebox.Stitchsomeribbonandmakeafeatureoftheribbonwhilst disguising the ugly line.

•Somealterationsorrepairsareboringtodo.PersonallyIwouldrathergetthetediousjobslikereplacingzipsdoneatadrycleaners.ReplacingazipisfiddlyandtimeconsumingandIwouldratherusethetimetomakesomethingfun,It’sgenerallyonlyabout£10-£15togetitdoneforyou.Shortening hems however, is a relatively quick and easy thing to do yourself andnotworthpaying£10for.

•Bigjobsthatrequirealotofspaceandequipmentareoftenworthgettingdonebysomeoneelse.Ifyouhavetoclearawayyoursewingspaceeachtimeyousew,thenthechancesarethatyou’llneverfinishthatpairofcurtains.Ifthat’sthecaseyoucanconcentratemaybeonthesmallhandsewing jobs that are achievable.

• Ifyouwanttodoabigsewingjobbutreallydon’thavethespaceorasewing machine, then go to a sewing studio that offers the space by the hour/session.TherearelotsofplacesacrossLondonthatofferspacebythehourandit’sagreatwaytogetsewingandnotworryaboutclearingup!

•Fabricisnolongercheap,andthecostofcottonandwoolhasjustgoneup,meaningbothourclothesandfabricwillsoongetalotmoreexpensive.Thinkaboutcuttingupexistingoldgarmentsorcurtainstouseasfabric.Recentlyastudentofmineusedasarongsheboughtonherhoneymoontomake a yoga mat bag. Something that would have sat in her cupboard is a reminder of her honeymoon at every yoga class.

•Beforeyoutakestufftocharityshopsthinkaboutwhetherornotyoucouldre-purposetheitem.Takingthewaistbandoffapairofjeansandbindingtheedgeforexamplemakesthembigger.Apairofoldwornoutjeanscanbe opened up and made into a skirt using perhaps an old favourite worn out blouse as the insert.

Thrifty stitching top tips

Height

Width

Visit our websiteFor more handy tips and tricks, as well as our class schedule, visit:www.thethriftystitcher.co.uk

•Clothes,fabricandwoolthatarestoredwillattracttheWebbingClothesMoth. Moth eaten fabric and clothes are depressing and the holes will weaken the fabric and in some cases make it unwearable or unusable. Moths have been a real problem for the last few years, and this year is set to be one of the highest in terms of moth infestations. You can bring moths intoyourhomefrombuyingclothes/fabric,transferencefromsomeonewhohasmothsintheirhome,andtheyflyinduringsummermonths!

•Youneedtousedeterrents,andtheyneedtobereplacedevery6months.

• Ifyougetaninfestation,themothswillattacknotonlyfabricbutbooks,papers and photographs, so all your precious memories can be reduced todust!

•Startbyusinglavenderbags/sachets,andcedar.Ipersonallycan’tbearmothballswhicharesupereffective,butstinky!

•ThebestandcheapestresourceandsupplierofmothproductsI’vefoundisthis one. http://www.mothcontroldirect.co.uk/acatalog/clothesmoth.html

•Pheromonetrapsareagreatwaytobreakthebreedingcyclewithoutusingchemicals.Themothsthinktheyareallmale!Thesestickytrapsarealsoagood way to monitor how big a moth problem you may have.

•Springcleaningisatraditionforareason.Inordertogetridofmotheggs,you need to empty drawers and cupboards and clean out all the surfaces. Moths like to breed under static areas like furniture, so moving your furniture out and cleaning underneath breaks their cycle. Sunlight also kills eggs, so getting rugs and carpets outside and thoroughly beating them andleavinginsunlightwillkillanyeggs/larvae.

• Iflikeme,youdon’thaveaccesstoagarden,thenrunningastickyrollerbrush over your clothing can lift off eggs.

•Ensureyouchangeyourhooverbagregularly.Youmaywellhooverupeggs,andthehooverbagisaperfectenvironmentforthemothstobreedin!It’sprettygross,openingupthehooverandfindingabigbunchofmoths.

Storing fabric and clothes•Thiscanbeanightmare.Intermsoffabricstorageyouneedtobeabletoaccessyourstash,andseeexactlywhatyou’vegot.

•Usingplasticforstorageisacontentioustopic.Whilstplasticvacuumbagsaregreatinthefightagainstmoths,theycanleakplasticfumes,which isn’tgreatforvaluablevintagefabricandclothes.PersonallyIdon’twanttoseemylovelyoldthingsbeingeatenawaybymoths,soIdousesomeplastic storage.

• Ifyouhavelimitedspaceinyourhomeforfabricstorage,tryandusewhatyou already have. CD storage towers are great for showcasing smaller piecesoffabric,justmakesureit’snotindirectsunlightasthefabric will fade.

•AgreatsystemforeasilystoringandfindingfabricsistheAntoniusSystemintheIkeawardroberangewhichyoucancustomisetosuityourownneeds. http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/S29877698

Top tips for clothing and fabric care

Lavenderbagshelpprotectagainst moths