Cover Image: DIY Thrift Flip

DIY Thrift Flip

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Member Reviews

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. It is a very simple book about how to sew and make your clothes out of items found in a thrift shop. Excellent pictures and instruction.

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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.

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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! 👗

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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.

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What a fantastic little book! April Yang's DIY Thrift Flip is a short, sweet, and to-the-point guide on how to give new life to thrift shop finds, complete with the basics of sewing instruction and several inspiring project ideas.

As a thrifting devotee, I found the project section, which is the longest section of the book, the most valuable--though I often find eye-catching clothes that have thrift-flipping potential, I'm still fairly new to sewing and alterations and don't always know what I could do with the item in front of me. Almost every project in this book is something I would consider making, so I now have a solid arsenal of ideas to refer back to the next time I'm in a thrift shop.

My only critique of DIY Thrift Flip is that the beginner sewing section was a bit too basic, both for myself personally and for most of the projects featured. The information will certainly get a new sewist started, but they'd probably be better off finding more thorough instruction elsewhere, especially if they're serious about the craft.

Regardless, I'm happy to have this guide, and I know I'll refer to it in the near future.

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This is a fantastic resource for all sewists (yes, including absolute beginners!). This book provides a detailed, but succinct, overview of the basics, including materials, vocabulary, and techniques for beginning to sew--specifically through the lens of "thrift flipping." Also included are several project ideas that feature different skills, such as tailoring, adding space, and gathering. I specifically appreciated the portion describing warp/weft/bias on thrifted fabric that does not include the selvage edge. After taking a sewing 101 class, I found this part to be challenging, so thanks for the explanation!

My only critique is I wished there were more QR codes directing reads to explanatory videos. This is often my gripe with craft books--as a visual learner, only so much can be gleamed from text and photos.

I am grateful for the free ARC PDF copy that was provided to me by NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group. All opinions are my own.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!

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I’ve been sewing for about 15 years now, and I was looking forward to getting some inspiration from this book.

There’s a lot of great practical knowledge here. Beginning sewists can really benefit from the opening sections. If you already sew, you’re familiar with the tips seen here.

The projects in this book are definitely aimed at younger people. They are mostly trendy rather than classic. In some cases, I wondered about the viability of thrifting the fabric for these items at all. Some of the projects, like the Lolita dress and button down skirt, really spark your imagination and shine as an upcycling of the original item. Other projects, like the joggers, don’t live up to the amount of work it would take to alter them.

I think this book is ideal for beginning sewists who like unique clothing and can use this as a jumping off point to make their own creations.

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This book contains many good tips for people looking to customize thrifted items to better suit their size or style. Some of the tips fell a little out of the realm of diy and more generally towards sewing ideas, such as using a pillowcase as fabric for a commercial corset pattern, but there were many tips that would be approachable and accessible to those without experience with commercial sewing patterns and will likely suit those looking for "diy" tips for thrift flipping. Many of the tips were very unique as well and the tutorials were well laid out and easy to follow. The pictures that went along with the tutorials helped to clarify important steps that readers may have a hard time visualizing.

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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.

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4⭐⭐⭐⭐
DIY Thrift Flip
Sewing Techniques for Transforming Old Clothes into Fun, Wearable Fashions
by April Yang; Coolirpa

Wonderful book filled with techniques and projects for the at home sewer (even beginner!) to tackle some makeovers. The photographs are plentiful and detailed, and this mid-level sewer found some good pointers to take forward in my craft.

I would have welcomed additional projects in other clothing styles such as boho-chic with a relaxed and carefree vibe. Some of the projects felt too young for me with a schoolgirl or cosplay look. I hope the author of DIY Thrift Flip is a trailblazer for others to write more books on this environmentally friendly trend. I see a great need for books of inspiration on repurposing a wardrobe.

Many thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Quarry | Quarry Books and Netgalley for this ARC. All opinions expressed are authentically my own.

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👗 "DIY Thrift Flip" by April Yang, aka @coolirpa, is packed with amazing inspiration! It's full of projects using basic thrifted garments. While I'm not advanced with a sewing machine myself, if you have the skills, this book offers fantastic ideas to transform simple pieces into something fabulous. 💫 #NetGalley #ThriftFlip #DIYFashion #SewInspired 🧵

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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!

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I have just begun to learn to sow, and have been looking to repurpose clothes that doesn’t fit my style anymore or things that don’t fit right anymore. This book provides great instructions for a beginner with original ideas!

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This book shows ways that you can alter or upcycle thrifted pieces to create new clothes. Whether clothing, curtains, or bed sheets, the book explains how you can create patterns, alter, or create all new items from a variety of fabric types. It also shows before and after pictures of some items created by the author, so you can get some ideas and inspiration for your own projects.

I do think this is more than a beginner level book, even though the basic tools and notions are shown for someone who has never sewn before. I also would love to see more size inclusivity talked about, maybe show examples of smaller garments pieces together to make plus sizes. But it is a good resource for some inspiration or basic technique ideas.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarry Books for an advanced copy of this look

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DIY thrift flip has helpful tips and tutorials for buying and flipping thrifted clothing. I found the instructions easy to read as a beginner sewist and enjoyed seeing all of the ideas for how to find new life in thrifted clothing.
I really liked the idea for taking a 2 piece outfit and turning it into overalls. It’s given me ideas for also turning a set into a jumpsuit or dress as well.
I can’t wait to try some of these tips the next time I go thrifting.

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