I learned how to sew in middle school but didn’t pick it back up until the beginning of the pandemic. I filled my free time between online classes with sewing projects and TikTok. Wearing the clothes already in your closet and updating them into something you’ll wear more often is a great way to participate in the sustainable fashion movement, so look in your closet before you look in the thrift store if you’re inspired by one of these flips! Many of these items I bought secondhand, wore for a while, and then updated into something I’d wear more often. I spent quite a bit of time putting together these tutorial videos on TikTok for each of my thrift flip projects and wanted to share some of my favorites here.
Formal Skirt → Fun Skirt
This was one of my first major thrift flipping projects. Though I loved the fit of the skirt and the slit detail at the bottom, I knew I would not wear it at that long of a length. This was one of the trickiest thrift flips I’ve done, as it required completely taking apart the sides, hemming the back and repositioning the front, all while keeping the waist and zipper intact. I still have to replace the lining but I absolutely love this skirt. The length is perfect and I love how the slit looks higher up on the leg!
Watch how I did it here →
@acteevism thrifted this skirt over the summer and finally flipped it!! ##thriftflip ##sewing ##watermelonsugar ##harrystyles
♬ watermelon sugar excuse me – one direction audios
90’s Dress Thrift Flip
When I saw this dress in the thrift store I thought it would fit me perfectly (aside from the tie around the neckline that needed to be replaced) but when I brought it home it seemed like the straps were child sized. They were so tight around the armpit area that I struggled to even get it on and off. I took some length from the bottom of the dress and used it to extend the straps so the top would fit a bit better.
Watch how I did it here →
@acteevism I love how the neckline came out ##sewing ##thriftflip ##happyeaster
♬ original sound – carneyval
Cropped Sweater
This next flip was one of the easiest thrift flips I have ever done. I originally got this sweater on thredUP and absolutely loved the color but it was too long and too bulky to be tucked into my high waisted pants and skirts. This update took all of 10 minutes and made a huge difference in how it looks.
Watch how I did it here →
@acteevism one of my fav easy flips so far 😭 ##thriftflip ##sewing
♬ Magic In The Hamptons – Social House
Tee → Tank
This was quite possibly the most viewed thrift flip out of all of my thrift flips on TikTok. I was inspired by a few other people on the app who were creating tank tops in this style and wanted to try it out with a tee shirt I had. I have since done this with two other tee shirts (since my tee shirt collection is way too big) and I love how it turns out every time!
Watch how I did it here →
@acteevism diy tank from an old tee shirt ##thriftflip ##sewingskills ##diytee
♬ Dr. Soulja – Gibby
Cardigan To Matching Set
This next flip was also a really difficult one for me. It was the first time I sewed bottoms from scratch, and trying to make shorts with a limited amount of fabric without a pattern was a nightmare. I must have seam ripped this project apart 5 or 6 times. Though the shorts are a little wonky I love how the flip turned out. I wear this set a ton and didn’t have to spend a few hundred dollars on the set I was inspired by!
Watch how I did it here →
@acteevism haven’t done a flip in quite a while I was a little rusty ##sewingskills
♬ Watermelon Sugar x Adore You by Adamusic – Adam Wright
Quilt Jacket Thrift Flip
After seeing a few people turn quilts into jackets and other clothing items, I decided to tackle my biggest project to date: creating a pattern from scratch and sewing my own jacket. I was able to finish it all in one day and even tried out a few new techniques and I just love that I now have a unique Christmas quilt jacket!
Watch how I did it here →