Are you ready for a new way to dress up your wardrobe? Do you want to stand out from the crowd? DIY Frankenpants and Frankenshirts are the answer. With a few simple supplies you can transform your old clothes into one-of-a-kind fashion statements. This guide will walk you through the process of creating your own personalized Frankenpants and Frankenshirts. Get creative and have fun!
The clothing makes the monster, even if you’re just a human with a little bit of a rebellious side. If you’re anything like me, you’ve had a favorite pair of pants or a favorite shirt that you’ve worn until it’s thread bare and falling apart. But, what if I told you that you don’t have to say farewell to your jeans, leggings, or even your favorite band t-shirt? Well, if we take a page from Frankenstein’s monster, and if you’re not afraid of DIY projects, you can create something new, from something old.
First thing is first, you’re going to want to make sure you have a little sewing know-how in order to create your very own Frankenpants or Frankenshirts. I’d suggest using a sewing machine and serger if you want your new outfit to last for a good long while, but, if your knowledge is based on the basics, you can also feel free to hand-stitch them as well.
Some things you’ll need are:
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-A pattern. Whether it’s store bought or hand-made, having a pattern for what you want your new pants or shirt to look like is important. (Click here to find out how to make your own patterns.)
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-Scissors.
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-A sewing machine.
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-A serger.
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-Thread.
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-Needles.
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-Old pants or old shirts.
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-(Optional) Patches.
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-(Optional) studs or spikes.
Now that you have all of these on hand, it’s time to find a room with good lighting. If you’re going to be creating Frankenpants or Frankenshirts, be prepared for it to take some time. You’ll want to make sure you’re comfortable while you’re working on your new creation.
The next step is figuring out the overall look you want to shoot for. You can create as many or as few patches of fabric as you want, but, you’re going to want to make sure you have this mapped out before you start cutting. Try to maintain the integrity of the inseams on the crotch of pants as much as possible as these will take a lot of wear and tear.
Cut out your patches. Whether it is whole legs, one half of your favorite pants with another pair of pants, or even several holes filled in with patches or leggings. Make your cuts as clean as possible. If you want a frayed look later, you can always fray after you’ve sewn them in.
Once you have the pieces cut out, sew them to your desired design. Some people will like the look of the seams on the outside of the pants which gives a more rugged and edgy look, while others want the seams on the inside. Make sure that it’s a cohesive decision throughout the look to ensure that it looks as though it’s meant to look that way.
As soon as you’ve sewn all of the pieces in, this is where you will begin to create the overall look of the frankenpants, you’ll fray the edges, add in any patches that you may want to add, as well as put in any spikes or studs that you may want on your pants. Another fun idea is to add in functional zippers into the splits of the fabric, so you can show more or less skin at a whim.
With Frankenshirts, you can always do something similar to your pants, but, a more popular route to go is to just re-vamp the shirts. Cut it up to show off your back, tie them in pretty knot-work designs, or even slit the sides. You can dramatically change the overall look and feel of a worn out shirt with a few cuts and change in the seams. See this site for a huge list of ideas!
After all of that hard work on your end, it will be more alive than you would have believed possible!
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Have you ever upcycled your clothes? Put a pic in the comments!