Upcycling is more than cutting up old clothes and hoping for the best. It’s about learning how garments are built, how fabric behaves, what can realistically be changed, and how to make thoughtful choices that lead to stronger, cleaner, more wearable results.
In this two-session course, we’ll move through the core foundations of upcycling: garment literacy, repair literacy, alterations, fit, form, focal point, seam options, common upcycling issues, and ways to create a more professional-looking finish. We’ll also look at how to repurpose garments that are too damaged to wear, how to thrift with an upcycler’s eye, and how to decide what a garment is asking to become.
This course is designed for people who want to build confidence altering, repairing, reworking, and reimagining clothing. You don’t need to come in with a perfect plan. You’ll learn a practical framework for assessing garments, making design decisions, and choosing techniques that match both the fabric and your current skill level.
By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to approach upcycling projects with less overwhelm, fewer “well, that went sideways” moments, and more confidence in your ability to turn existing materials into something with new life.