How Can I Make My Clothes Last Longer?

Add more care to your Me-Mades and make May about maintenance.

Reverse applique’ & embroidery to take care of a worn t-shirt. Martha sewed another t-shirt to the inside of the top one.

Do one mending task each week: hems, buttons, seams, or patches. Use fabric from your overflowing stash. Make May about using what you already have, not buying more. Hang fabrics where you can see them and put pieces in your closet for outfit ideas.
Each Friday night from 5-8 pm, you can join us at Sewing Meetup. Bring whatever you’re working on and make new friends.

Pick 4 UFOs.
Finish one unfinished object per week. Join an Open Sew or local meetup to avoid home distractions and get more done. Choose garments you rarely wear, restyle them, and fix what kept you from wearing them — add a scarf, embroidery, shorten sleeves, or swap buttons.
Remember, The Sewing Hive has monthly Upcycle Meetups on the 3rd Thursday of each month, where you can get tips and inspiration from each other and from the host, Hannah. She’ll show you a new upcycle trick each month.

Use Your Stash.
No buying fabric, patterns, trims, or notions unless it’s for an emergency repair. Use leftover fabric scraps or old linens to make camisoles, drawstring bags, kids’ items, patchwork tops, jean pocket extensions, bias binding for towels/napkins, and other small projects.

Power Sort.
Spend 15 minutes pairing clothes to create new looks. Make a short list of what you actually need. May is about turning your stash and half-finished pieces into a wardrobe you’ll wear.