Lancaster seamstress Debby Spence shows how you can spruce up a plain sweater or hide a unsightly stain with some embellishments.
Instead of discarding a garment, why not change out the buttons to give it an updated look?
You'll need few sewing skills to add simple accents to a garment you already own.
Correction Nov. 23, 2011 — Debby Spence's business was misidentified in an earlier version of this story. Her business is Debby Spence Ace Dressmaker.
•••
Consider giving your wardrobe a facelift before discarding unwanted items. A little nip here and tuck there can breathe new life into a piece that has been hanging around too long, according to Lancaster seamstress Debby Spence of Debby Spence Ace Dressmaker.
"A boxy blouse can be taken in and change its shape easily with just taking in the sides," Spence said.
More people are taking to their machines and sewing knowledge to mend and change their wardrobes instead of simply discarding clothing.
According to a press release from JoAnn Fabric, sewing is seeing a resurgence, and the company is opening nine new stores nationwide and hiring staff to deal with the added interest.
Clothing repair and mending can cover a rather wide range of activities, varying from those requiring very little skill to projects demanding a great deal of sewing skill and expertise. The rewards of mending vary from the self-satisfaction for a job well done to substantial monetary savings when you've prolonged the life of a garment.
The need for clothing repair comes from various sources. Poor initial garment workmanship or construction can be a problem with ready-to-wear, as well as handmade items.
Everyday wear and tear also will take its toll. Poor garment fit can cause a seam to split or a fastener to break. Still other repairs become part of preventive mending, so its owner can wear it longer without the need of major repair or recycling.
Garment repair and mending can require a bit of creativity. Don't be guilty of rushing into a repair job without giving the situation some careful thought and having the necessary tools to see the job through, Spence said.
"If you spent a lot of money on a piece," Spence said, "you don't want to do a poor job on the alternations or mending. It will easily show and cheapen the look of the outfit."
A group dedicated to helping members fix and re-design the clothing they already own, Sewing Rebellion, was started by former Lancaster resident Carole Lung-Bazile. Today, Sewing Rebellion has chapters springing up across the country, according to Lung-Bazile, who now resides in Los Angeles.
"Humans have this desire to create, and we have gotten away from this as a culture," Lung-Bazile said during a phone interview. "There needs to be some kind of release from that, and people need to share their skills with each other. "
Lung-Bazile, who goes by the alter ego name of "Frau Fiber," noted that Sewing Rebellion groups across the country often are drawn together by a desire for camaraderie, environmental awareness and economic hard times.
Debbie Serdy, of My Aunt Debbie on North Queen Street, also was part of the Lancaster group which worked here to organize the first Sewing Rebellion gatherings a few years ago.
Serdy said that although the Lancaster group disbanded, she still shares ideas for mending and guidance to friends who need it.
Some things to consider asking yourself the following questions before tackling a mending endeavor:
• How extensive is the repair or damage?
• Do I have the knowledge and skill to repair it, or do I need to take the garment out for repair?
• Is the garment worth repairing? Consider garment age, current fashion, fit and its use in the wardrobe. If it is for a child, will it soon be outgrown or can it be handed down?
• What is the time element involved in the repair? Do I have the time to do it? Do I have the time to look for and see to someone else repairing it?
• Can I afford to replace the garment at this time?
The answers to these questions should help you decide if it's time to pick up that needle and thread and get to work or not.
When updating their wardrobe, Spence recommends to her clients that they thoroughly look through their closets.
"Check out everything," Spence said. "Can you change the buttons on that blouse to give it new life, or dye that skirt to change the color or do it in the same color to freshen it up?
"It's all a matter of taking a step back and looking at what you have and what you can do with it," Spence said.
Welcome to the new TalkBack on LancasterOnline. Please use the comment box below to share your opinion on this article. If you would prefer to use the previous TalkBack forums instead, please use this link to post in the TalkBack forums.
