Buttons, repurposing & Sew Bee Yourself


Hi Reader,

I’ve sewn LOTS of buttons this past week.

It was half term, and I was back in GSA’s costume department helping with alterations.

What really struck me (again) was the designer’s ability to tweak existing stock into completely new looks. With a few smart changes, pieces were transformed into convincing Victorian for Onegin and delightfully quirky for High Buttoned Shoes.

The buttons I stitched were added to waistbands for braces and to jackets where they completely shifted the authority of the garment.

I added trims that changed an era and panels that made something wearable again.

Nothing new made. Everything repurposed.

It was a reminder that costuming is sustainable fashion in action and we can absolutely apply those same principles to our own wardrobes.

That’s what this week’s blog is about:

Sewing Tips

Gathering That Doesn’t Snap

Instead of two rows of gathering stitches, zigzag over thicker/strong thread (like jeans or button hole thread) and pull that to gather. It distributes tension better and is far less likely to break.

If you’d like to build the kind of skills that make this possible, Sew Bee Yourself is where we do exactly that.

As one member put it:

With SBY I feel supported and capable. Before joining, I could do simple sewing but the finish wasn’t very good… Now I’m so pleased with what I have made that it looks good enough to wear outside the house.” Sharon J.

The next session is Friday 27th February at 2pm GMT.

Come and join us:


See you at the sewing machine!


Vee ✂️

P.S. 👉 Read the Sustainable Fashion Approach to Repurposing Clothes blog post
https://www.sewingteacher.co.uk/sustainable-fashion-approach-to-repurposing-clothes

Vee Tanner

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