We at Deseret Industries recently challenged some DIY friends to upcycle some items from Deseret Industries. To make things more interesting, we picked the items! Each of our participants was mailed a mystery box of items to transform. Here’s what Lisa @the_clothingproject_slc did.
Wow! I really needed a fun project right now! Thank you to Deseret Industries for including me in this fun idea. When I opened my mystery box, I found a collection of colorful clothing to repurpose: a kimono-style robe, a pleated skirt, a swimsuit cover-up, and a button-down shirt.
At first, I tried to think of how I could combine all of the clothing into one item. Maybe a picnic quilt? A summery rag rug? A patchwork dress?! In the end, I decided to do what I love best—work with each piece one at a time to create unique clothing items for me and my family.
Floral Robe —> Wrap Top
I started with the robe because I instantly knew what I wanted to do. I have seen numerous fun tops on Instagram and Pinterest with floral prints and puffy sleeves and have been wanting to make my own.
Here’s what I did:
Pleated Skirt —> Blouse
One of my refashion rules is to use what the item gives you. It saves so much time, and I believe it increases my creativity. I felt like I had a stroke of genius with this project—I used the original waistband to make the neckline! It came together so well and turned out so cute!
Here’s how I did it:
Swimsuit Cover-Up —> Bag
Surprisingly, this project was the most time-consuming! I thought sewing up a bunch of squares wasn’t going to be that difficult . . . but it was. I found an opportunity to be resourceful and used the rest of the robe fabric for the lining!
Here is how I made it.
Button-Down Shirt —> Skirt and Scrunchie
I have made a lot of things from button-down shirts over the years, including peasant blouses, jumpers, and dresses, but never a skirt! I thought this would make the perfect back-to-school outfit for my daughter.
Here are the steps I took:
And there you have it: my DIY challenge is complete! I hope you enjoyed seeing the before-and-after transformations of my projects. Which one is your favorite?
Lisa Hanson is the creator of the Clothing Project SLC, an Instagram account dedicated to thrifting, refashions, and body positivity. Visit her on Instagram @the_clothingproject_slc. She’d love to meet you and see your thrifted and refashioned creations.