1. Cheap Summer Adjustments for the Office
One of the best money-saving moves I ever made was to storm the local thrift store, buying up clothing that didn’t fit me. This may sound silly, but I was buying suits and skirts for a new office job. I couldn’t afford to buy a few weeks worth of outfits at a local department store, but I didn’t need to, thanks to some DIY know-how.
Business-casual or business-dress clothing can be very expensive. With the right instructions, you can get second-hand clothing for cheap, and then modify each piece to fit you perfectly. Suits and dress skirts are actually designed to be tailored, and will often have larger seams and extra buttons just for this purpose. This is a big advantage for you, and could potentially save hundreds of dollars.
Try these tailoring tricks:
2. Fix Minor Rips and Tears
Rips happen. Even the most careful closet caretakers can experience torn clothing. It may be your favorite pair of jeans that are worn in the knee, or a shirt sleeve that lost a fight with a screen door. Sometimes, it's that prize thrift store find that doesn't come home with you due to a slight tear. Don't worry, there are professionals here to help with this chronic syndrome.
Easy Mending Tutorials:
3. Just Add Beads
Adding beads to a project is a quick way to add color, texture and style. Beads differ in quality, from plastic pony beads to expensive glass masterpieces. There isn't a wrong or right bead for any project, though. Pick what looks good.
Beads are a no-brainer for jewelry, but they can also be added to clothing and accessories to give it a little something extra. Beads used for clothing are usually made of more durable material like metal or plastic to prevent them from getting damaged in the washing machine. I have seen glass beads used on clothes before, but these are hand-wash only items. Make sure that you are using durable beads for your clothing projects, or hand wash items that have fragile or hand-painted beads.
- Try one of these bead inspired projects
- Add beaded fringe to your jeans
- Easy beaded earrings
4. Got an Old T-Shirt to Spare?
If you've got an old t-shirt that has seen better days, you're in luck. T-shirts are one of the most easy pieces of clothing to refashion. Here are my top uses for old t-shirts, with complete tutorials:
- Racerback Tank Top
- Tube Top/Skirt
- Tank Top Bag
- Babydoll Shirt
- T-Shirt Scrap Flowers
- No-Sew T-Shirt into a Tank Top
- Turn a T-shirt into a Long Skirt
- T-shirt into a Halter Top
- T-shirt Dress Tutorial
- T-Shirt Quilt Instructions
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Have any questions? I'd love to hear from you:
Please Note: Photographs, patterns and illustrations contained in this article are copyrighted ©Rain Blanken and Getty Images, and licensed to About.com, Inc. Do not redistribute these photographs or illustrations in any form.
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