In this clothes upcycling and sewing tutorial, I'll explain how to make a dress bigger or looser. This is a practical DIY sewing project that's suitable for beginner sewers.

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I’ve owned this black shirt dress for many years but, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve increased a couple of dress sizes. This dress had become too tight. The buttons were popping and gaping and I didn’t feel comfortable wearing it.
Wherever possible, I try to upcycle my old clothes to give them a longer life in my wardrobe and, with it’s button down style with side seam, it was perfect design to simply add a piece of fabric to the side seam which would increase the width.
The first step was to find fabric that matched the dress.
In my upcycling pile I found this Mandarin style top that was now also too tight for me.
The fabric on the back would be perfect for this project.
I later used the fabric from the front of the top to make a gorgeous little handbag. I’ve created a tutorial on this upcycling project that you can watch on my channel.
The first step was to open up the side seams of the shirt dress.
Next, I separated the Mandarin top from the front and cut it up to create two separate pieces.
I then measured and cut these into two separate triangles. I decided to cut them into triangles because I wanted the new dress design to flare at the bottom, not have the original tight, straight style.
I then pinned these to the side seams of the dress I’d cut. The new seams were then sewed on the machine.
And finally, a new bottom hem is sewn and it’s finished.
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Thanks for watching,
BEX.

My videos and tutorials include:
* how to alter clothes that are too big
* make a tight dress bigger
* make a dress bigger
* increase a dress size
* make a small dress bigger
* make a tight dress looser
* increase the size of an ill fitting dress
* make a too small dress bigger
* how to upcycle clothes ideas
* upcycling clothes ideas
* upcycling clothes before and after videos
* sewing tutorials for beginners
* easy sewing tutorials
* quick sewing projects
* charity shop upcycle
* op shop upcycle
* sewing for beginners
* DIY sewing projects
* sewing basics
* easy sewing projects
* sewing techniques
* sewing for fashion
* DIY clothing upcycling
* thrift store clothing transformations
* clothing refashion ideas
* sustainable fashion DIY
* revamp old clothes
* creative ways to upcycle clothe
* refashion thrifted clothes
* upcycling clothes without sewing

ABOUT SECOND LIFE UPCYCLING
Second Life Upcycling is about altering, recycling and upcycling clothes to give them a second life. On this channel, you'll find easy, quick, and simple step-by-step clothes upcycling tips and sewing tutorials.
I have been thrifting, second-hand shopping, and sewing for 30+ years. My passion is following an ethical lifestyle when it comes to my clothing choices and living an environmentally friendly life. I rarely buy new clothes (or anything new for that matter), instead shopping second hand shops, charity stores and flea markets.

THE BENEFITS OF CLOTHES UPCYCLING
Clothes upcycling promotes a more sustainable, creative, and responsible approach to fashion, all of which contributes to a healthier planet and a more sustainable future.
* Clothes upcycling helps reduce waste by repurposing old or unwanted garments, often diverting them from landfill.
* With the fashion industry being one of the planets largest polluters, upcycling and repurposing clothing reduces the need for new materials and decreases carbon emissions associated with the product and disposal of clothing.
* Traditional clothing manufacturing consumes significant amounts of water, energy, and raw materials. Upcycling clothing not only extends the life of existing textiles, conserving these valuable resources, but promotes more sustainable consumption patterns.
* Upcycling clothes and other materials encourages creative freedom by transforming old clothes into unique, personalised garments. Upcycling and sewing fosters innovation and encourages people to experiment with designs, creating one-of-a-kind items that reflect personal style and creativity.
* Upcycling clothing can be very cost-effective by reducing money spent purchasing new clothes but can also assist charities when clothes are purchased second hand from charities.
* Repairing and mending clothing enhances the longevity of existing garments, giving them longevity in your wardrobe and limiting the need to purchase new clothes. This contrasts with fast fashion items, which are frequently designed for short-term use.