Goodwill Alterations with Chanté Gibbs
Spring time is around the corner! And one of my favorite pieces to wear are off the shoulder tops. I love how versatile they are and how you can really elevate or casualize your outfit. Plus it’s a great piece to wear during the transitional period between winter and spring!
With the weather all over the place lately, I knew I wanted to find a sweater with a cool pattern or image to use for this month’s Stitched Up. I searched through the women’s section and eventually found a vibrant purple sweater that would be perfect. I loved the butterfly graphic and the nice quote with it. There were no stains or holes, but I noticed the collar was really stretched out. That wasn’t going to be an issue for me with this upcycle project, because I was going to cut it off anyway.
How do I make it?
- First I tried the sweater on to see how it fit me.
- I marked a small line about an inch away from the base of the collar on both sides while still wearing it.
- Then I laid the sweater flat on my mat and smoothed out any bumps or wrinkles. I continued marking the two lines I made and connected them at the bottom of the collar. This created 1 big curved line that I would use to cut my new off-the-shoulder design.
- With my scissors, I started by making small slits on the line near the shoulder seam next to the collar on both sides. Since the back of the neckline is typically higher than the front, I cut along the line for only the top layer of the sweater.
- Next, I drew a line on the back of the sweater about an inch below the original collar and cut.
- Finally, I stretched the opening out carefully after I was done cutting and tried it on!
Parting Thoughts
A great way to clean out your wardrobe for the upcoming season is to donate to your local thrift store! Here are some tips when donating:
- Donate items you don’t wear as often
- Include seasonally appropriate clothes
- Check all your pockets before dropping it off!
- Make a list of what you’re getting rid of
- Check your local store for specific donation guidelines
Chanté is a local thrift blogger and sustainable designer. She is our inspiration and guide to exploring what can be done with some creative alterations and updates of thrifted finds. Each month she starts with a concept, shops our stores, and reworks her thrift finds into high-fashion pieces. She takes us on a thrift journey from start to finish, and it’s a great ride every month!