Customising Clothes with Embroidery: 15 Fun Projects to Inspire You to Upcycle the Clothes You Already Own

“Just because something has lost its appeal, or has a small hole... doesn’t have to mean it has to be thrown away and replaced with something new,” writes designer Mabbott in her on-trend debut. She kicks things off with an overview of tips and techniques for both hand-stitching and embroidering with a sewing machine, then offers a list of necessary tools and materials, including scissors, thin needles, beads, and an embroidery hoop. As for the projects, there’s a leafy monogrammed “houseplant initial jumper,” a designer-inspired “snake clutch bag,” a charming “embroidered fluffy coat,” a fun “cutwork denim top,” and a “daisy cardigan” that’s spiffed up by adding flower stitches onto the buttons. Mabbott shines in the free-motion stitch projects, in which designs are done directly onto clothing instead of patches: the simple line-drawn flowers against white blouses are eye-catching and original. Step-by-step photos accompany each project, and Mabbott’s can-do attitude shines: “Once you’ve got the knack of working with materials like this you will be able to customise anything.” This is just right for crafters ready to ditch fast fashion. [em](Feb.) [/em]