DIY Thrift Flip

This is a great resource - very thorough and goes into a lot of detail. There has been a lot of thought that has gone into this and it’s definitely paid off!

The descriptions are basic enough for a reader of little technical understanding to grasp, but not patronising, which is exactly what I want from an instructional guide such as this.

The supplementary images alongside the guide are also super helpful - they’re clear both in terms of actual quality but also in terms of layout and being able to depict what is going on.

Excited to try out some of these tips!!

This is a very useful little guide that gives a lot of ideas and tricks for how to reuse clothes and make them into something that feels fresh and new. As a beginning sewer/clothes flipper. this is a great resource.

As a creative person who loves to hit up the op-shop, this book instantly grabbed my attention, through a mix of cute cover art and an exciting title. The book gives a really good introduction to the basics of sewing, great for beginners and a really good refresher for those more experienced with sewing. It is broken up into handy chapters with specific skills (pockets, sleeves, ect) and additions (embroidery, cut-outs, patchwork ect.). The images are really handy, with clear progression of the steps and the final products.

What a wonderful guide book for beginners who want to alter their own clothes! The book begins with a thorough introduction to the tools, techniques, and tips one needs when starting out and walks the reader through the process of thrifting suitable pieces, finding inspiration, taking measurements when fitting the pieces on is not possible, and then finally doing the alterations, even without a guide. The instructions are easy to follow, and the included guides for beginner-friendly thrift flip projects had a wide range of styles so each reader could follow those for at least a couple thrift flips that would be in their style, before embarking on the exciting journey of creating their own thrift flip projects.

As someone who has had “Learn How To Thrift Flip” on my goals/projects list for over a year, the title of the book instantly caught my eye! The cute cover made it feel like this book was going to be approachable and easy to digest, as well as educational. And I was not disappointed! I found this book easy to follow, with a good balance of detailed explanation as well as images to demonstrate the instructions.

I particularly appreciate that the book did not skip the step of first knowing how to shop for pieces to “flip”. That is what differentiates this book, in my opinion, from any other book on sewing, following patterns etc. This book specifically helps you first find usable pieces, which for many (including myself), is likely the even bigger hurdle than learning basic sewing techniques. The shopping principles can then also be applied to “shopping” your closet for pieces to thrift.

Thank you April Yang for the delightful book, and for helping me take the first steps in pursuing a new hobby!

Lots of useful information, especially for beginning sewers. Clear and detailed photos of techniques and some individual projects. This is great introduction to a fun and frugal hobby.

An excellent guide for those getting into upcycling clothing or who people who like suggestions!
I would recommend it to anyone who wants to upcycle, wants to be more environmentally friendly, or who enjoys being creative with how they dress.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to get ideas on how to take thrift finds and turn them into the wardrobe you really want. Even if you're like me, with little skill when it comes to sewing, there are some projects here that you can do.
The best thing about this book is how practical it is. It starts out showing you how to add pockets -- who doesn't wish they had more pockets? And then there are several ways you can alter your clothing so it fits better. Then there are several projects using tee shirts, curtains, pillowcases, and other clothing to create new, cute clothes. Thanks so much to NetGalley for letting me read this.

This is a good reference book for altering clothes or remaking clothes. The instruction and photos are clear. Numerous types of alterations, additions or changes are included from simple hemming and gathers to drafting and adding various types of sleeves and collars; and also tips on working with different fabrics. There are fun ideas such as slashing and "braiding" knit wear or adding yard embroidery. Lots of examples of remakes are explained well with instructions and clear photographs. Although the examples given are not ones I'd use myself, the techniques can be used for so many other fashions. I found the book very inspiring and think it will be a great reference for redoing/updating old clothes and turning thrift finds into fun outfits. Thank you to NetGalley and for offering a preview of this digital book.

What a fun book! This is so well written, with lots of basic sewing information, good info about how to find thrift clothing and other materials that will work for redesigning, tons of photos of every step, and a nice variety of 20 projects. Yang is knowledgeable and likable, and the projects had a wide range of levels of ease and style.

I read a temporary digital copy of this book for review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own

Although I now need to buy a sewing machine now, I think some of these are doable, even with my lack of skills.

I really enjoyed the tips and how-to at the beginning of the book. I love thrifting and finding new uses for what I already have

Are you interested in learning how to take thrifted clothes and restyle them? If you don’t know where to begin this is the perfect place to start. April Yang provides the knowledge and advice on how to start. What basic supplies you need to begin alterations is included in the first chapter. Advice on what to look for at the thrift or vintage shops, how to tell if the garments will fit, and not to limit yourself to just clothing. Look at bedding, curtains and table clothes in a new way.

Instructions and samples are shown of a few possible alterations. The beauty of this book is not as a primer but as an inspiration, a jumping off point to your own creativity. Soon you will have a unique wardrobe of sustainable fashion.

I have watched April (coolirpa) on YouTube for many years and I was excited to find this book of hers.

This book is a perfect beginner's guide to recycling old clothes and mending the ones you have. It also provides basic information about fabrics, stitches, sewing machines, and accessories. The layout is neat and easy to follow. The pictures are clearly labeled as well which makes following the guide straightforward.

Lately, I have found myself wanting to upcycle my clothes due to the nature of today's economy. I have also wanted to be more sustainable for the sake of the environment. And Although, I have a small background in sewing, it has been a while since I did any significant project. This book refreshed my memory and offered amazing tips that I never knew before and I am excited to try.

Overall, I think this book is worth it for anyone wanting to learn the basics of sewing. I also think that those with experience can learn from the projects detailed in the book . I cannot wait for April to come out with more books in the future.

Thrift Flip is filled with tips on shopping for and altering clothes from thrift stores. April covers all the bases when going over essential supplies and setting up your workspace. She has a section for altering with tutorials on adding sleeves and making pockets. She also has a tutorial section with full projects she's made. Her directions are clear and easy to follow and she's added plenty of photos for each step!

As someone who is self taught at sewing this is a great book. Altering clothing from thrift stores is how I learned to sew, this book does a break job at showing step by step instructions on how to do different projects. I highly recommend it!

I received this DRC from NetGalley.

I think this is a good resource for someone new(ish) to sewing clothes, and it's a great idea to upcycle otherwise unused items. Even if the aesthics aren't all my style, I can appreciate the general tips and ideas of what to do. I don't think these will all be quick and easy projects for people completely unfamiliar with sewing clothes, and I think there could be more about finishing raw edges, but I suppose if you don't care about having perfectly finished garments, then this could be enough to get started.

DIY Thrift Flip
Sewing Techniques for Transforming Old Clothes into Fun, Wearable Fashions
by April Yang; Coolirpa
Publisher: Quarto Publishing Group
Rated: 4
Obtain: Buy
Back of Book: "Join the thrifting revolution! DIY Thrift Flip teaches you how to find, upcycle, and customize secondhand clothing for sustainable style with simple sewing instructions.
Expert thrift-flipper April Yang, aka Coolirpa, takes you through every phase of the process, including how to find the best clothes and fabrics and easy ways to alter and tailor shirts, dresses, pants, coats, and more.
Getting Started. Essential materials and tools, setting up a workspace, organizing supplies, sewing machine basics, and a concise fabric primer.
How to Shop for Alterable Clothes. Where to shop, what types of clothes to look for, what can and can’t be fixed, and how to gauge size when you can’t try something on.
Altering Basics. How to use patterns to alter clothes or parts of garments, techniques for altering without using patterns, the basics of garment altering, adding sleeves, hems, and pockets, and how to custom-tailor an altered piece for a great fit.
Projects. Beginner to intermediate-level projects inspire and guide you along your own thrift flips.
QR codes give you access to techniques, tutorials, and project details.
Also included are basic sewing techniques, sewing and clothing terminology, clothing silhouettes, how to measure the body, and more.
With DIY Thrift Flip, you’ll learn how to build a wardrobe of original pieces that shows off your unique style and boosts your creativity in the process."
Impressions: Get pumped! This is the book you've been waiting for.This book is a great resource for thrifters who are looking to alter items for fit or make something completely new. I like that there were 16 pages dedicated to supplies and settings, with descriptions on utilizing it all. This book includes information from a sewing standpoint but also how to thrift and what to look for. Finding the right pieces is crucial to your success. Not all patterns, fabrics, and styles will make a good recycled flip. The basic alterations to items are addressed however I feel like hemming pants and taking in waists could have been helpful additions. This book has a great overview of how you can thrift-flip your wardrobe. Whether you are a beginner or have some experience this book will give you a good foundation of knowledge. It is simply up to you, the reader, to take the first cut and make something new.
I received an ARC of this book via the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

I got this book to see some cute ways of changing up something you already have into a different outfit.. like Marge Simpson with that Chanel suit.

I adore all of the cute, petit outfits.. One thing that really stood out to me was how the author also had some plus-sized items and model, and even a couple for the guys.

Could have totally been longer! 👗

I love the cover for this book and really enjoyed the book as well. I love DIY and I also love thrifting so it was perfect for me. I really enjoyed the step by step instructions on altering pieces and photos. I would definitely purchase this book and it would get many uses.

I love this book as a person who’s currently testing out DYI flips to maintain a sustainable closet. The steps are clear and direct, I’m definitely testing out the heart shaped shirt. What I noticed besides the perfect alignment, font accessibility, and order is the diversity of people wearing the outfits, different body types and different styles that could fit modest fashion lovers like me, this book is a charming scoop.

A great primer on altering clothes and remaking thrifted finds into new forms. Includes basics of sewing, more advanced techniques to try and make your own patterns, plus a number of step-by-step projects. New to me ideas, brought over from the authors popular online channels. Illustrated thoroughly with photos and clearly written. Recommend for fashion sewists of all ages and abilities.

I enjoyed reading this one. I’ve followed April Yang; Coolirpa on YouTube for years. I have always enjoyed her videos and the creations she makes out of thrifted clothing are remarkable. I like the ideas given in this book and I hope it will spark my own ideas for clothing thrift flips. I definitely recommend.

This little book is GREAT. The first part is a beginner's introduction to sewing techniques and equipment, including tailoring tips, how to add pockets, and adding sleeves to a sleeveless garment, among others. After some tips on keeping an open mind while thrift shopping, there are basic instructions for 20 projects, ranked by degree of difficulty and accompanied by QR codes to more detailed online tutorials. The project styles are mostly for young people, but the techniques and ideas can be used for anything or anyone. My favorites include a lace-up corset made from a floral pillowcase, a flared swing skirt made from a man's shirt, and a tiered skirt upcycled from a set of window curtains.

Highly recommended.

This book has lots of pictures and good written descriptions of basic sewing techniques. It would be a good introduction to people who want to start seeing their own clothes but don't know where to start. It is also very relevant to the slow fashion movement and growing interest in thifting from all ages.