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Is refashioning and up-cycling clothing a new idea??? What vintage sewing books can tell us!
So many of you were so surprised that refashioning was happening back in 1918, so let's take a look back at the history of refashioning our clothes!
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Sparked by so many comments/DM's I received last week from people being 'so surprised' and 'who would have thought way back then', that refashioning was happening way back in 1918 from an article I shared.
The article I shared was the 1918 version of one of my Thrift to Vintage episodes! It is a riveting read! (Watch the video to the end to hear more about that!)
Through the investigating of this topic, I fell in love even more with the term "Garment Renovation" as the older term for refashioning or upcycle or (as I have only just very recently found) thrift flip (FYI I don't like that one!). I see it repeatedly in my older sewing books.
So it got me thinking, do you like this term Garment Renovation to describe what we do? Is it still relevant?
I use it semi-frequently, but maybe we can make it official... You know, just for us? What do you think? Or, what is your favorite term for what we do?
So I thought why not let's chat about this subject if refashioning and upcycling is a new fad, as it seems! Or if indeed it was sewing skills that most possessed at one time in history.
I will share with you some of the research from my own collection of vintage sewing books and what they tell us about refashion old clothes from the past!
LINKS:
The Man from Bernuthsfeld https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mann_von_Bernuthsfeld
A Stitch In Time BBC series - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09l2qzs/episodes/guide
I hope you enjoyed the video and the look at a little of the history of refashioning through my sewing books!
Let me know your thoughts and what your experience was in the comments!
Until next time...
Evelyn xx
Hi Evelyn,
I’ve just discovered your YouTube channel and site. I’m just getting back to sewing after decades away (I haven’t actually started yet!) – and I’m so thrilled to have found you! You have such wonderful tutorials and videos. I can see a lot of time binging-watching your videos in my future!
I’m especially pleased that your focus is vintage clothing, and I have a couple of questions:
1) Are there any classic or foundational vintage sewing books that you’d recommend, that could teach sewers vintage techniques? Are there any eras you’d recommend (perhaps different eras for different techniques)? For the type of vintage clothes you sew, are there any other vintage techniques (such as refashioning) used at that time which have been lost to modern sewers, and deserve being re-discovered?
2) I have a mast cell condition (severe allergic reactions), so I’m looking to sew with as few ‘modern’ notions as possible (i.e. to minimize artificial glues, chemicals, stuffings, treatments, etc… in notions and fabrics). I recently read that vintage books taught sewers how to use self-fabric interfacing, make their own shoulder pads, etc… It was actually this tip – and thinking vintage sewing might have other techniques that would help me avoid modern notions which are often chemical laden – which has led me back to sewing. I’ve already bought bias makers so that I can create my own bias bindings (something I’d never heard of when I learned to sew in the 70’s!)
So my second question is: have you done (or would you consider doing) any tutorials on vintage sewing/tailoring techniques that make use of easily available materials, and could be constructed by the sewer?
Thank you!
Hi Anne! Thanks so much for following along! I’m so happy to have you here! For sewing books, I would say anything you find 1950’s and earlier is good! As for sewing techniques etc… I feel like what is taught now is sewing ie how to use a sewing machine and follow a pattern. What was taught back in the day was dressmaking ie understanding how garments go together so you can adjust patterns, make alterations, refashion and mend clothing and create as you want. You can definitely make your own shoulder pads and a bias tape maker is a must! I will be doing many more great workshops for Vintage Sewing School very soon that may interest you! So stay tuned!
I love the term Garment restoration. I only found your videos a couple of days ago and have spent these days, when not working, watching one after the other and learned so, so much. I first came upon a video by you, when I was searching for information on how to use a vintage pattern, which I now have in my possession. I like this pattern for the simplicity and lack of loudness of any modern pattern, which terrify me, but still unsure of how to best use it, but your videos have helped me understand it and I think I will get on quite well, eventually, with vintage patterns. I have never used a pattern before because they see so confusing and I lack the confidence and knowledge, but this vintage one seems so uncluttered. It is for a round skirt and your videos have helped so much in my understanding and gaining of knowledge. There is a 1950s blouse too, but I am not quite ready yet. I am still unsure how to work the measurements out for my self and add it to the pattern though. It says the skirt is a guide only. So do I add my measurements to the skirt and draw a pattern within the pattern type thing…?
It would be amazing to see you vintage book collection such amazing hints and ideas that you just don’t see anymore 🙂
That’s very interesting to see that people have always been interested in clothing from the past! I guess people don’t change much as time goes on. 100 years ago they were doing the same thing with vintage clothing that we are doing today!! The only thing that might have changed is maybe the styling of the fashion. I feel like there may be more styles of vintage fashion because there have been more eras that various people have experienced. Personally, I like the “vintage streetwear” style since I grew up in that sort of culture, but I love seeing other styles of retro and reworked clothing! All secondhand clothing is better for our earth when compared to the constantly shifting fashion trends, set by big corporations today, so let’s continue to spread the word of vintage fashion!!
I somehow came into possession of a copy of “Vogue’s Pocket Book of Home Dressmaking” copyright 1943 – and there is a chapter for “renovate and remake” which has everything from simple adjustments to full on suggested pattern layouts for cutting one garment’s pattern pieces out of the disassembled pieces of a completely different garment.
And well before that, because fabric was *expensive* before powered spinning and weaving, garments were patched or remade, then turned into patches for other garments or patchwork quilts, then turned into rags, then turned into paper.