Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Flip it, Make it, Love it!

In DIY Thrift Flip: Sewing Techniques for Transforming Old Clothes into Fun, Wearable Fashions , expert thrift flipper April Yang, aka Coolirpa, gives you the ultimate guide to turning secondhand finds into trendy, one-of-a-kind fashions.

Perfect for anyone with big fashion dreams and a small budget, whether you're looking to slay your style game or create an Insta-worthy wardrobe makeover, this book has everything you need to go from "meh" to "OMG!"

Getting Started. Essential materials and tools, setting up a workspace, organizing supplies, sewing machine basics, and choosing fabric. 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. A variety of 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.
If you're all about saving cash, helping the planet with sustainable style, and showing off your personal flair, DIY Thrift Flip is your new BFF. It's time to create, elevate, and SLAY!

Ready to make your thrifting dreams a reality? Start flipping today!

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Introduction (4)
• How I Started Sewing and Altering Clothes (4)
• How to Approach the Book (5)
• Getting Started (6)
• Essential Supplies (8)
• Setting Up a Workspace, Organizing Your Supplies (14)
• The Basics of Sewing (15)
• Fabric Primer (24)
• Shopping and Altering Basics (26)
• Where to Shop (28)
• How to Gauge Size When You Can't Try Something On (30)
• What Can and Can't Be Fixed (32)
• How to Use Patterns to Alter Clothes (33)
• Techniques for Altering without Using Patterns (37)
• Seam-Ripping (38)
• Adding Sleeves (40)
• Adding Pockets (46)
• How to Tailor for a Great Fit (49)
• How to Create Space in a Garment (54)
• Thrift Flip Projects (58)
• Beginner to intermediate projects to inspire and guide you along your own thrift flips
• Acknowledgments (150)
• Resources (150)
• About the Author (150)
• Index (151)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

The lovely debut from Coolirpa blogger Yang shows how to customize secondhand clothing with creative alterations. A thorough overview of sewing basics explains the applications for various stitches ("Baste stitching is used to temporarily hold layers of fabric together," while backstitching secures the end of a seam) and needle types (stretch needles work best with elastic fabrics like swimwear and spandex, while denim needles are well suited for thick fabrics). Yang encourages readers to shop "with no goal in mind" so that a clothing item, or even curtain panels or pillowcases, might spark inspiration. The creative projects range in difficulty, with the easiest consisting of cutting slits into the sleeves of a bodycon dress and embroidering flowers to cover up imperfections on a sweater. Standouts include a tiered skirt made from curtains, jeans transformed into cargo shorts, and a romper created out of a maxi skirt. Even novice sewers will be able to follow the straightforward primer on basic sewing techniques, which covers how to perform such alterations as adding cap sleeves or inseam pockets. Yang's handy and inventive guidance is an excellent source of inspiration for eco-conscious sewers. (May)

Booklist Review

Upcycling thrifted clothes looks so easy on social media when creators like Yang show off their dramatic before-and-afters. In this meticulous guide, she walks would-be flippers through the skills and tools necessary to make stylish attire from frumpy, faded, and otherwise unfashionable finds. Yang explains the basics that are useful for any sewing project, thrifted or not, like identifying different fabric types (using characteristics and examples), cutting on the straight of grain versus on the bias, and learning the most essential tools and how to use them. The text also explains techniques like adding sleeves, modifying sizes and shapes with gussets, darts, gathers, and hems, and more. The second half of the book shows how a crafter might use these skills in a variety of projects, starting with simple jersey modifications, moving into more complex outfits like refashioned pants and dresses, and culminating, like any good fashion line, with a full wedding dress. Readers will need some confidence to sail through some blasé instructions like "mark a new bodice shape to fit you," but QR codes that link to video tutorials will help. Overall, this is a thorough guide that will be useful in makerspaces and public and school library collections.

Author notes provided by Syndetics

April Yang is a Southern California-based thrift flipper who has an associate's degree in fashion design from Palomar Community College and has built a substantial following on Instagram and YouTube, where she posts sewing tutorials and thrift flip process videos. Her flips include turning a thrift-store find into a chic maternity dress, a worn-out black dress into a chic evening dress with lace appliques, a blah gingham dress into a cute jumpsuit, and a graduation gown into a glamorous black cocktail dress. She started sewing in high school out of necessity, when she wanted to wear new clothes but couldn't afford them. As she began to post her clothing flips on YouTube under the name Coolirpa, she found a like-minded community who was inspired by her creativity, and her popularity on social media soon skyrocketed. She lives in San Diego, California. To see more of her work, visit coolirpa.com, @coolirpaa on TikTok, and @coolirpa on YouTube and Instagram.