Give your wardrobe a second life in this creative appliqué workshop to upcycle clothing. You’ll learn how to upcycle clothing using fabric motifs, embroidery, and decorative touches.
Do you:
Have a favourite top with a stain
Or jeans with a hole
Or just a plain T that needs some ‘pizzazz’
Don’t throw them out—upcycle them with appliqué. This class shows you how to cover damage or decorate plain garments using appliqué techniques.
What You’ll Learn
We’ll start by using a bonding medium to attach fabric patches. Then, you’ll explore ways to embellish your designs with:
Machine embroidery
Hand embroidery
Buttons and beads
You’ll learn how to combine visible mending with creative textile art to make your clothes truly unique.
Who This Workshop Is For
This class is ideal if you:
Want to try visible mending or creative clothing repair
Enjoy sustainable fashion and upcycling sewing projects
Love adding personality to your clothes with fabric motifs and stitch
You must already have basic sewing machine skills. If you already have Free-Motion embroidery experience, then it is perfect for this workshop.
What to Bring to Motif Magic
Garments you’d like to embellish (e.g. denim jackets, jumpers, trousers, plain tops)
Fabric scraps, old clothes, trims or other textile bits for appliqué (Curtain fabrics and vintage doilies are great for floral motifs as seen in the image)
Buttons, beads, and embroidery threads (optional but please ensure everything you add is washable.)
Creative Inspiration – if you’ve seen anything online or in a magazine, then please bring it! Otherwise you can choose from a selection of my resources.