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How to Make Something out of Practically Nothing: New Fashions from Old Clothes
Instructions for remaking old clothes into fashionable garments.
84 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1976
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 28, 2025
I'm pretty new to sewing anything besides hemming trousers, but I've been interested in learning more about alterations lately. I'd like to take my clothes in and transform them, where possible, instead of buying new ones. Unfortunately, newer sewing resources don't offer much in this department. When I saw this at the local library, I hoped it would have some good tips.
I was not disappointed. There are a lot of practical tips for how to alter (resize) and refurbish clothing, and how to make do with scraps of fabrics, etc. Do you have a remnant of a gorgeous fabric that's not big enough to make a garment out of? She has ideas for how you can make it work. Want to change the look of your tired old coat? Make kids' clothing out of old adult clothing, or just jazz up some hand-me-downs so they look new? She's got you covered. It's mostly about women's clothing, but children's clothing and things for the home are included, too. If there are parts about men's clothing - other than using them to cut up and make new children's clothing - I missed them.
Its biggest weakness is that its an older book with sketches rather than photos. For some sewing techniques, a photo would have helped a lot more than the simple sketches. I know printing photos in books in the 70s was pricey, so I understand why it doesn't, but it's a shame that there's unlikely ever to be a new edition of this.
I was not disappointed. There are a lot of practical tips for how to alter (resize) and refurbish clothing, and how to make do with scraps of fabrics, etc. Do you have a remnant of a gorgeous fabric that's not big enough to make a garment out of? She has ideas for how you can make it work. Want to change the look of your tired old coat? Make kids' clothing out of old adult clothing, or just jazz up some hand-me-downs so they look new? She's got you covered. It's mostly about women's clothing, but children's clothing and things for the home are included, too. If there are parts about men's clothing - other than using them to cut up and make new children's clothing - I missed them.
Its biggest weakness is that its an older book with sketches rather than photos. For some sewing techniques, a photo would have helped a lot more than the simple sketches. I know printing photos in books in the 70s was pricey, so I understand why it doesn't, but it's a shame that there's unlikely ever to be a new edition of this.
Displaying 1 of 1 review