Cut up your clothes
Two weeks ago I rummaged in my closet for my monthly decluttering (ok, I
was just trying on stuff to wear...). I discovered an old, extra large
pair of jeans and promptly tossed it into the Give-away bin. But a small
voice stopped me and said, "Wait a minute, maybe there's something you can
do with that!"
Thirty minutes later I had chopped off the bottom of my jeans, cut across
the seams, and re-sewn them (somewhat haphazardly) back together. It was a
cute skirt. Imperfect, but I could see them with heels and fishnets (a
little streetwalker) or a t-shirt and sneakers (sporty), a cute tank top
and flip flops (beachy).
Later, I tried the same with an old shawl I hated, trying to make a top.
It didn't fit, ripped at the seams, and made it into the Cloth-scraps bin
instead of going to a Goodwill store. Oh well.
Lesson learned: You CAN cut up your clothes, refashion them, make them
into something new, or even just experiment. If you do it right. And take
measurements carefully.
There are simple fixes: cut off the bottom of pants and skirts, trim
sleeves, pull sleeves off and replace them, make jeans and shorts into
skirts, make skirts into tube tops, etc etc etc
The tough fixes will probably require a tailor, unless you happen to be a
whiz with a sewing machine.
For the rest of us, a word of caution: take good measurements. Don't just
go by another piece that fits (my mistake!) because the fabric may not be
as stretchy or fluid, you can create unsightly bulges and wrinkles, and
you may or may not have zippers, snaps, or other fasteners. And if it's a
piece you already love to death, which fits well and looks great on you,
don't mess with it.
That said, go alter the other clothes! Go crazy. Try something new. Let
your creativity emerge. You might end up with something new you adore. Or
you might end up with a piece of junk.
It's a risk, but don't cry if it's a disaster. After all, they're only clothes.