Tip for getting rid of the thrifty old fabric smell: soak in warm water with a good amount of vinegar for at least 30 min or so (I usually do overnight) before washing normally! I do that with all my thrifted fabric and clothing and works like a charm.
@@withwendy you can also mix some baking soda into the vinegar for an extra kick or for some stubborn smells. Make sure it's dissolved completely before adding clothes or you'll have clumps on the clothes, especially if it's cold water.
@@TheAidababe I have had good luck leaving in a box with a sock full of baking soda for a few days then in the sun a few days at a time. Cycling through a few times. Works well on most leather save suede with heavy cigarette. That I had to pay someone to do.
It may sound random, but when I remove the hanging ribbons you cut out of the clothing, I reuse them as the ribbon part of a present tag! If you cut them down it makes it really easy to tie on the homemade tags, also to hang Christmas decorations which have lost their string 😊 x
Same made me feel seen I get awful back spasm/cramps too but I have a buttload of chronic illnesses that make any kind of pressure whether from a bra band or pants elastic band too painful. I'd literally rather were non stretch stuff than an elastic pressuring my skin
@@LS-vq2or i too get back cramps to the point I can’t sleep and I actually initially didn’t know that it was me wearing tight bottoms causing indigestion, causing me to vomit sometimes. I’m still figuring out some things 😭
I first watched this video while drunk, and I thought to myself, "She is the coolest person ever! This editing is so creative and so well done!" I came back to watch it sober just to see if it was as good, and it is even better. You are so creative, and the fact that you are able to translate that into such a good video shows it. Okay, now lemme go binge everything you have put out. Thank you, youtube algorithm.
I don't drink, but I have been awake the past 24 hours, and sleepaddled mind agrees with you. Sane me is gonna check back to see if sleepy me was on the dot, or correct. Toodules!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also the sigh you make after wrestling your cat away from your fabric/pattern and realise you have no hope of getting it done so you give into the chaos demon's demands
How did you get good at this? I feel like I don't even have an eye on where to begin on what look I should be trying to achieve when getting clothes tailored
@@Bpaynee i started altering my clothes out of necessity, when my pants stretched out, my weight changed or the clothing I thrifted doesn't fit in all the ways I prefer, I made adjustments from there. If you are getting the tailoring done professionally, they will usually be able to tell you what you need. It all starts with a general dislike of a piece of clothing and working from there.
For the first hem, the two parallel stitches on the front are an indication of a coverstitch machine, which you can imitate using a twin needle! That way the hem can stay stretchy :) (edit: spelling lol)
Twin needle hem suggestion: wooly nylon thread in the bobbin. If your machine uses a bobbin case, buy a second one and experiment until you get the bobbin tension screw adjusted just right. The YLI wooly nylon is the best, in my experience. Gutterman's stretch nylon also works.
@withwendy If the pink and black dress was an AU/NZ size 8, that might explain it. I was informed by a Lululemon salesperson here that I needed to SUBTRACT 4 to get my US/CA size. So... if you're a 6 in US/CA, you'd need a 10 if it was made for the AU/NZ market - which may explain the dress situation :) Either way, the tailoring was impeccable!!
The dress came out so good that’s amazing! It actually looks like it’s part of the design since the dress already had the black fabric angled lines on the sides of the bottom of the dress it matched and looks beautiful
Omg the dress came out soooooo good!! My very beginner seamstress self would have folded under pressure, but you’ve given me motivation to try it out! Thanks for another great video!!!!!
For washing, add wash soda. It should always be used, tbh, but it's super effective at getting rid of smells. It even makes BO or cigarette smoke easier to come out. That's because wash soda is a water softener and you need soft water to fully clean your garments. I use it when washing my teenage son's school clothes to get rid of boy smell and also bought a NWT dress off ebay to wear to a wedding, but it ended up being straight from an ashtray by the smell of it. It stunk so bad....i had washed it with plenty of soda and my usual detergent and you wouldn't believe the brown liquid that came out of it. Nasty! And it didn't smell anymore.
What about seam allowance? What I didn’t understand was she said she needed to add 10 cm, but only cut the pieces to add up to 10. But when she sewed them in, it looks like she lost some due to seams.
@@hopegold883 She might have forgotten to mention including seam allowance. She cut two sets of triangles that are 5 cm each (plus seam allowance I assume) to add up to the total of 10 extra CM of ease in the garment.
the comment about how tight pants = tummyache is so relatable!! even if i'm wearing something that I can stretch way more, if it's just a bit too tight my stomach hurts sooo bad. idk how exactly that works but oh well. great video- i also sew and end up spending a lot of time on little alterations to thrifted things, adding pockets, etc that may take me awhile but others don't really notice, so sometimes it can be offputting to say 'i sew!' and then not have a lot of 100% 'from scratch' garments. but tailoring and altering are super useful skills nonetheless :)
Tip: For fabrics that are not natural (ie plastic) sometimes vinegar is not enough to get the bacteria living in the crevices of the material... I combine it with Pursil for athletic wear/scent. It's not just covering with strong fragrance and it works on the stuff that vinegar doesn't work on.
I was at a liquidation store that had linen blouses for $3, but only in huge sizes. I bought one figuring I would tailor it down to my size, but to my delight, it was Australian sizing and fit perfectly!
I adore the way you’ve done this video! The whole aesthetic is so nice. And amazing work on tailoring! It’s so nice seeing how to size up options, it’s so easy to fall into the trap that if you no longer fit an item that you have to get rid of it ❤
for smelly clothes you can add like a teaspoon of baking soda and a teaspoon of salt to your wash and that should help (believe it or not, that's the two main ingredients in most scent boosters!)
Wendy! I think this is my favorite video of yours to date - and I’ve watched almost all of your videos!!! The knowledge, the candidness, the cute cut scenes. IM HERE FOR IT!
I enjoy your sewing work. May I add that the triangles you added to the lace,pink& black dress are called gussets. I do admire how you your process step by step leading to a successful finish.
thanks for the great inspiration Wendy! Only thing is I would have loved to see how you sandwiched the fabrics in the dress upsizing so everything is so neatly closed off. Great job overall!
this is the first time i've ever realized that you can tailor things and size UP rather than down, this is such a lovely video and you have such great editing and also a soothing, lovely voice!!
My mother was one of those magical women who can sew anything. If she found a pair of unstained, clean, non-pilled sweats from the thrift store, she could turn them into $120 slacks in one afternoon. It's amazing what happens when clothes actually fit your body properly and are neatly pressed. HUGE difference. (And believe it or not, ironing a basic t-shirt makes a difference.) A few years ago a woman she encountered often in an office she frequented complimented my mom's style and said that she always looked sharp. My mother let her in on ALL her secrets. How clothes are supposed to fit the body, insisted on tailoring EVERYTHING you wear, explained how just ironing a seam down the front and back of pant legs elevated an entire look, and how to choose jewelry that flatters an individual's features. Ten minute lesson. The lady was beyond excited. A month later she was showing off her new look to my mom. The best book I've ever read on the subject is by Linda Dano called, "Looking great... it doesn't have to hurt." It was published in 1997, but I've found the advice here to be timeless. She put everything my mother did into an easy to understand format. I've dug up a dozen copies over the years and give them to young ladies who are trying to figure out how to 'adult.'
Left is the hem you did and right is the original. Honestly, I have no idea. You're too good now! I really enjoyed this video because I love the idea of tailoring your loved clothes to fit you better.
i’m thouuuuusands of years late, but the 8 dress is most likely a UK 8! our standard sizing runs much smaller, so a uk 8 is around a us 4 - if you ever see a uk tag in a garment and you’re a us 6, look for ones that say 10 :) (obviously the averages change by the decade and manufacturer too, but generally that’s the conversion!)
I've been a long time fan and I am absolutely in love with your creative direction, both in sewing and video production/storytelling. This video really taught me a lot and it was so fun to follow along on your journey. The transition were incredible!
Tips for removing that musty smell from old clothing: - bicarb; this can be more gentle or more effective on some fabrics than vinegar. Best thing is not to soak but to actually wash with it on some kind of quick wash/pre wash setting.) - line drying; fresh air and a good battering with the wind if you can get it is - alcohol; a basic vodka is good. I spray the garmet with a solution, but be careful yo Google if this is OK depending on fabrics!! Some combination of all of these always works for me. As you do it more you get a better feel for what method or combo of methods will work best for each garment :)
To freshen up the smell of thrifted clothing I make a vodka and essential oil spray to apply after washing. Fill a spray bottle with approximately 1/4 vodka, about 20 drops of essential oils like eucalyptus or tea tree and remaining space with water. It also makes a huge difference to hang in sunshine and fresh air if possible. I know this is not normal everywhere but in Australia we hang most of our laundry outside and IMO there's no beating that fresh smell!
Hands doiwn best way to get rid of smells in clothing that I have found is airing outside. I've tried Oxyclean and different deoderizing laundry products and nothing works as well as a week or two hanging outside. I've gotten coats with strong perfume smells and my ex worked on a boat where he'd get oil and gas on his clothing I'd air those outside before I even put them in the wash.
For the musty smell - I think it would depend on fabric/ instructions- a good overnight soak in oxi clean may help and then washing with a detergent containing enzymes like Persil perhaps followed by a rinse with vinegar added. All as warm/hot as the fabric will allow.
Yes, I do cut those hanging ribbons out of clothing immediately after purchase. I have never regretted that decision. It is a minor personal victory but I take what I can get! Never would have thought of doing that to a stretched out sweater, great outcome! QUERY: I may have over-shortened by 1 - 2 inches a full sequined (teeny tiny size dots basically) black skirt which has a loose black lining that is only attached to the waist area. I have a few ideas (I have saved most of the cut fabric possibly 5 - 6 inches), but I trust Wendy and subscribers for better ideas. This would have to be completed on a strictly hand-sown basis as my insurance carrier would prefer if I stay away from sewing machines for the immediate future🤣? BTW just to give you an idea of my skill set, one of my "saves" is to wear the skirt with black bike shorts, opaque black tights and/or boots.
This may or may not work but you could take some contrasting fabric and cut a long strip of it, hem it on the bottom of the strip, gather it at the top and sew it onto the bottom of the skirt to create a cute little ruffle on the bottom of the skirt. Just a thought I had 🤷♀️ I hope this helps
I have a special pot for it but I boil the clothes with vinegar for about 10 while stirring then let them simmer on low for an hour. Throw them into the washer for a rinse only cycle and hang to dry! For an extra measure I have wool ball I soak in essential oils and will toss that in the dryer for extra good smells.
Hey Wendy :)! You're one of the YT channels who inspires me in my plan to SEW again! One thing about "thrift smell" especially for stretchy fabrics that's not suitable to wash warm though is I have tried is soaking them for long hours (depends on how "mouldy" they smell) Canesten Laundry Diainfectant Sanitizer before putting them in the wash , and IT WORKS GREATt! Sometimes it needs an additional spraying of the same solution straight to the clothes, especially on its corners you know where. But most of the time if the thrift shop is not too "mouldy smelling" to begin with, Canesten is my deal!
Wendy!!!! I switched emails and thus updated my RU-vid and had to resubscribe to everything from memory, and after a friendly jab from the algorithm, I realised I missed you!!! It's like reconnecting with an old friend! I'm excited to back-track on everything I have missed. You are as radiant as ever :)
You can add sodium percarbonate in your laundry to get the smell out! It won't damage the clothes, you can use the stuff a ton of different ways. It turns into hydrogen peroxide when it is in water
That dress alteration was a tour de force. Hats off for taking on such a touchy project! The sweater though....it came out OK but wow was that risky. Pinching out fabric from both the armhole and sleeve at once sets off a bunch of dominoes. For every 1 cm you pinch, the sleeve becomes shorter by 2 cm (1 cm from bodice +1 cm from sleeve). Pinching off fabric makes the armhole larger (weird, until you think it through), and reduce sleeve width, which can frustratingly move the seam placement. Although you managed it here, it's super difficult to recreate a professional looking seam on luxury knitwear. Who cares on a cheap sweater, but if I'd paid $50 for a thrifted piece, I would've recommended other ideas first. Like a stay tape, sewn inside the shoulder seam to hike up the sleeve. Gentle steaming, to see if it could shrink the fabric a little. Massive Bernina jealousy over here. It's fantastic that an active maker has such a nice piece of equipment.
That first hem you were looking at isn't actually a overlocked edge slapped with two neat rows of stitching, it's actually called a coverstitch! Unfortunately it does require an entirely separate machine, however it can be replicated (on the outside at least) by using a twin needle, just slap it in your machine the way you would a regular needle, thread an extra spool the same way you would with one so you have one separate spool for each needle (try not to get them twisted when threading, I like to do them one at a time), adjust the tension how you need to (usually lower, could be different for you though) and sew away!! It's a super easy and effective way to get the l o o k of a coverstitch, without having to fork out the extra money for an entirely separate machine. Hope this helps!! Regards, a fellow sewer wanting to share the sewing joy 🥰🥰
I’m tailoring and taking in a lined vest. Struggling in solidarity! But! It was hand sewn, score! So it’s easier to work with :) this was so fun to watch ..congrats on breathing new life into these garments 🎉
Put about 600ml/1 pint of undiluted white vinegar in a spray bottle. Add 1-2 squirts of your favourite dish detergent. Spay on thrifted garment esp. on under arm seam or crotch area. Leave aside overnight. Next day spray the garment again before adding to washing machine.
the best way i've found to get rid of scents is to hang the item in fresh air and sunshine for a couple days (it worked for a skirt that had been stored in perfume for two years and that no amount of washing would get out). just took it out in the sun and pegged it on the clothesline inside out, and let the fresh air/sun combo do it's trick, and brought it in each night!
Congrats on the mirror! 😆 I usually get the thrift store smell out by washing the garment with a cup of vinegar or soaking it in a diluted vinegar bath.
That was really fun and interesting to watch! Everything came out pretty good, especially the dress! I think I saw it mentioned already but vinegar is generally pretty good in taking away smells. I always wash my sweaty sport clothes with some extra vinegar in like that plastic laundry detergent thing that you sometimes get when buying laundry detergent? (not sure how to name that) And then place it on top of the clothing. Have to say, because you and other youtubers that I watch that do alterations and thrift flips (and sewing in general) I decided I wanted to change a dress I bought last year. I thought it was a real wrap dress but it turned out to be sewn together and that just made it look odd plus a lot of extra space in the boob area which is definitely not good. So when I looked closely to the dress I noticed that there should be enough fabric to become a real wrap dress. So I took the seams apart, sewed in the ties and a button on the inside to have the bottom part of the wrap part sitting in place and it turned out really good and now it fits so good as well!!. So thank you for helping me to dare to do it!
Love your videos Wendy! I’ve been watching for years and I’ve always loved your aesthetic, I wish I could edit for you 😢 I noticed the blur on the screen of your door, I’d suggest getting some window film from amazon, it’s cheap and easy and it’s one less thing for your editor to do 🤗🤗
Gosh this is sooo good! The dress is amazing, I won't even notice it's modified if I didn't watch the process. Makes me wanna have a sewing machine of my own...
Love this, and the editing style was so cool 😍 From the label on the dress that's River Island, which is a brand we have here in the UK, so you were probably looking at a UK 8 x
Tip for getting rid of thrifty old fabric smell is using dr.bronners pure Castile soap with hot water in the washing machine (no soaking just washing) it also works good on exercise clothes
With thrifted stuff I check for material type and when possible I do a "prewash" soak. I add Vinager and more detergeant then normal and hadwash/ let soak in the bath tub for a few hours or over night. If its a really nice peice I bit the bullet and pay for a professianl cleaning service.
if you haven’t already, do you think you can do an in-depth video about taking in the waist line for pants? (jeans, cargo, sweats, etc). all the times i’ve tried i’ve failed.
Typically that "old fabric smell" is really bacteria smell. You'll wanna throw especially smelly garments into the freezer to get rid of smells. I have had some garments that have just continuously smelled after thrifting and I've had to give them away because even after multiple washes and freezer sessions it wouldn't come out. Remember also that distilled white vinegar is your best friend when thrifting.
4:02 : Regarding the bad smell, I would give a try to sodium percarbonate (AKA Oxyclean powder). It does wonders to get rid of strong sweat smells on sports clothes, so it should do the trick with thrift store smells as well. Pour hot water in a large basin or bucket, add 1/2 scoop of powder and let the item soak for an hour while stirring from time to time. Rince and wash in the washing machine after. If the item is white, you can even let it soak longer and the white will become brighter. However, if it's a dark colour, make sure to remove it after an hour, or else the dye might run off.
Hello ! I just wanted to say I love the aesthetics and the attention to editing in this video ! I used to watch you during first quarantine, and loved all the projects you had (from tapestry, interior decoration, sewing), and I'm so glad the channel is continuing, and to see the new creative turn you took ! Also wishing you the best with your family :) Now I may try to get more motivation to go back to sewing, after a 18 month break and an unfinished dress.
Your projects always come out so incredible and professional! I loved how the dress came out! 😍😍 Watching this made me feel more prepared to adjust some clothes I have tucked aside to fix up for myself ☺️🫶 thank you!
Tip for removing any bad smell from your laundry: use vinegar instead of softener in the softener compartment of your washing machine, some good liquid detergent (I like the Ariel one because the smell is really nice in my opinion), and last, but not least (this one is perfect for removing sweat smell), throw some baking powder in the middle of the dirty clothes inside the washing machine. Also, use a setting on the machine that leaves your clothes soaking for some time
Hi Wendy. I love your channel. I would like to create some athletic wear for myself - I have issues with fit with many brands. But I am new to sewing and would especially love to learn more about the fabrics used in athletic wear and how to sew with them. Any chance you could film something with activewear?
To remove thrift smells and stains (i only use it on light color clothing) i make a paste with baking soda and water peroxide (oxygenated water), apply it in the trouble area and voila! Removes the armpit and sweet stains/smells. Also in general a mix 1:1 of water and white vinegar, let the item air outside a couple of hours. Repeat add much as needed to remove smells and bacterias (also from sneakers). Those were my Latina mom tips of the day 🙂
Great video, wish I could sew at all. lol Can't even sew a straight line to hem curtains. As for the smell, try 2 cups of white vinegar and 1/4 cup salt in a deep wash on regular or long cycle.
So the edge that was overlocked and then topstitched was actually likely coverstitched! Basically it overlocks and sews in one, and that's how most commercial stretchy clothing has the hems done since it gives a finished and also stretchy seam
that smell I have done a prewash of white vinegar and baking soda. then the actual wash with detergent, white vinegar and baking soda again, for some reason hypo-allergenic type fabric softener works great but so does adding more white vinegar too
Honestly your sewing skill are astonishingly good. As someone who has tried sewing themselves I cannot express how much I admire your work. *chef kiss*
