Sewing Green: 25 Projects with Repurposed Materials

Sewing Green shows how to turn old men’s shirts into pretty aprons, and make a wallet from the shirt cuffs! Author Betz White was born into a family of makers, earned a degree in fashion and after becoming a mother, left the corporate world to share her creativity to other sewers.

Read more on how to mend and alter clothes. Use organic cotton sewing thread and organic cotton fabric. If sewing with polyester, launder in a microfibre filter. Keep sewing materials away from children and pets.

Only buy used clothing from charity shops that don’t test on animals. Also read our post on removing stains, naturally.

Taking care of your own clothes saves money, cuts down on waste and keeps favourites in rotation for longer. Mending and altering can sound daunting, but you don’t need fancy skills or a sewing machine to get started.

Most repairs and changes can be done with a needle, thread and a bit of patience. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you look after your clothes and get more wear out of everything you own.