Gather up your torn clothes and old fabrics because it's time to sew! Freelance seamstress Adele Trifunovics shares her top tips for making new things out of old fabrics.
Each, sock, jumper and t-shirt has its beginnings far from the shop it eventually ends up in. Usually, a garment's story begins on a plantation, where cotton is picked in dangerous conditions. The cotton is then sent to factories where it is woven, spun, dyed and sewn, before ending up in shops here in Sweden. All these steps require an incredible amount of labour, time and energy, and have negative consequences for both the workers and the environment. Introducing children to the issue of sustainability at an early age teaches them to care for the environment while allowing them to be creative. quiet activity with children as they can do with their nanny.
How to sew sustainably
Adele Trifunovics has found a way to minimise the negative impact of clothing production on the climate and people. She does this by Remake, an initiative to transform clothes and fabrics into new products. Previously, Adele worked with a company that only sold remodelled clothes and learned how to turn old clothes and fabrics into new ones.
- "The best thing about Remake was that we got to be both creative and environmentally conscious. You really learn to work with fabrics and understand how textiles work," begins Adele.
She says she usually sews with her 6-year-old cousin. As an adult, it's important to make sure that all parts of the work process involving a needle or scissors are done by an adult. But brainstorming and pattern drawing can be left to the children. Let the children be creative and let them explore!
- It's such a fun project to do together, and you can see how engaged children become when they are involved in the process," she says.
But for Adele, sewing is not just a fun project, it's a way for her to relax and have a quiet moment.
- Nowadays I hardly ever buy new things, I just use old clothes, curtains, tablecloths and sew new garments. It's both economical and environmentally friendly," she explains.
Adele's work process is based on the issue of sustainability and she looks for inspiration from several sources.
- I start with a piece of fabric or a garment, for example an old t-shirt, and ask myself 'how can I make something new out of this'. This is where the brainstorming begins, I usually come up with between three and four ideas before finally choosing something. Depending on what I choose, the next step is different, sometimes I print out a template to use for sewing and cutting, and sometimes I make my own template. If it is a garment I want to sew such as a t-shirt, it is a good idea to take out a t-shirt you already have and use it as a yardstick, that way you get a free template. I often use YouTube clips to get inspiration.
Sewing - without needle or thread
Make a bracelet from an old t-shirt
- Take an old t-shirt that you no longer use
- Cut three long straps from the bottom of the t-shirt
- Tie the straps together, this will be the "starting point" of the bracelet
- Braiding the straps together
- Tie the end together
Remember to be daring, use multiple t-shirts for colourful bracelets or glitter and beads to spruce things up.
