I like thrift store and consignment shopping and then mending and altering clothes to fit me and my style. A sustainable wardrobe is my goal. Last week, I went to one of the local consignment shops called Dannie Duluth.
I brought several tops, pants and a dress along with me to consign. Most of these were purchased on Poshmark and were not quite my size or style. Rather than alter them or hang them in my closet to never wear, I decided to attempt consigning for the first time! I’ll have to see if they sell and I make some money or if they are donated in the end anyway.
Consignment Shopping
Consignment shopping was not something I was interested in before moving into the RV. These stores never crossed my mind when I was looking for a good deal – but this was all years before the online resale apps and sites. Now, I think consignment might be the way to go. They have dressing rooms! I can try things on before making a purchase. Several times I have found a brand I know and love, and when I get the item shipped I find that it’s too small. Likely, the previous owner laundered it without reading the label. This is especially true since I am looking for natural fibers – and those shrink when tossed in the dryer!
Altering and Mending
the consignment purchase
One of my purchases was a pretty salmon-pink, 3/4 length sleeve top. I loved this shirt because of the button closure down the back. It’s a great length for my long torso and the material is soft lyocell. (This means it is pretty sustainable. I will have to write a post about what I learned on this topic one day soon.) The sleeves had elastic around the forearms, which was a bit too tight. The elastic also cheapens the look on this otherwise nice looking top. It also has a couple grease stains on the shoulder that I was unable to wash out.
altering
First, I remove the stitching around the elastic on both sleeves.
Then, I press the fabric flat. Using a ruler, I fold the end of the sleeves twice to make a one inch hem. I pin this in place and use the iron to be sure the fabric is flat and the pins are in a neat line to guide my stitching.
embroidery as mending
I’ve used embroidery on a couple items in my wardrobe for hole patching. It’s a fun way to add color or a design and save the garment! In this case I used embroidery to keep my eye from seeing the stains on the back shoulder. This only required an embroidery needle, thread and a bit of creativity. I also made use of my embroidery hoop which helps keep the fabric taught when making a design.
I will add a few more quick posts on the altering and mending of the items I bought at Dannie Duluth consignment shop soon!
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