November 2014 Any book that mentions World War II within the first nine pages is onto a winner with me, and Beth Huntington's The Refashion Handbook is no exception. Pointing out that refashioning has been around for a long time, and informing American readers that when "clothes rationing was introduced in Great Britain, there was a movement called Make Do and Mend", Huntington has got me on side before she's even started on the nineteen projects this volume contains. The American aspect of this beautifully presented paperback has one drawback, however, and that is the concept of thrift stores. Not that British high streets aren't littered with thrift stores - they are, we just call them charity shops. In some towns they outnumber the regular shops, in fact. However, the big difference is the prices. Huntington reports that "most days all items of clothing are a dollar" at her local thrift store, and on Wednesdays, it's half price. This means, for example, you could buy the pullover sweater to transform into a merino wool cardigan for fifty cents, which works out about 30p for us Brits. On a bad day, you would be paying a dollar, or about 60p, for a dress, to shorten and redesign the bodice, or design new sleeves. or combine with contrasting fabric to make something new and joyful. Oh, American cousins! If I could buy a leather jacket for 60p, I too would turn it into a laptop sleeve. But charity shops this side of the pond have far higher price tags on clothing. I would not be surprised to see a GBP20 ($30) tag on a jacket and even dresses that have seen better days are likely to cost GBP5 ($7). This makes it very difficult to buy garments with a view to experimenting or just because the buttons are amazing. However, the inclusion of basic refashioning skills and step-by-step instructions backed up by photos make this book a lot easier to follow than the original Make Do and Mend pamphlets - which assume far greater sewing skills than I possess - and certainly act as inspiration to tackle items in your wardrobe that don't fit or sit right. Charity shop clothing is not always cheaper than clothing from chain stores, but it is of course, an excellent way to reduce landfill and support a good cause at the same time. Beth Huntington's sunny disposition and normal silhouette (she models all her creations) add to the mix to make this an encouraging and practical handbook for anyone, whether plus size or petite, to create unique and thrifty garments in true Make Do and Mend style. To see the review in full: http://mumtopia.blogspot.co.uk/ Mumtopia
