Books like New From Old by Jayne Emerson

Turn discarded fabrics, buttons, ribbons and scraps into refined, personalized accessories and home décor with practical sewing and needlework techniques.

Transform tired wardrobe staples into stylish, personalized pieces with hands‑on projects and practical repair techniques.

"Second-hand fashion has a history as old as the production of clothing itself, but until recently it was given little consideration. Used clothes represent the largest numbers of existing garments but until recently they were not perceived as serious fashion items. However, this has changed dramatically with the rise of vintage web sites, value clothing chains, and the fashion media's perpetuation of the idea that secondhand clothes can be recycled into avant-garde "cool". This book not only shows how important used clothing has become but also what role it plays in culture and history. The Japanese, for example, traditionally salvage sections of kimonos, while in India garments are inexhaustibly recycled. This cross-cultural and historical perspective fills a major gap by offering fresh insights into the innovative use of secondhand dress and age-old traditions of recycling fashion." http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0627/2005295111-d.html. The history, global trade and the current western revival of interest in used garments as a new form of fashion consciousness are the background to this book on the use of second-hand dress and age-old traditions of recycling fashion.

Practical Sew & Mend is a straightforward guide to sewing basics, from button repair to hem adjustments, designed for beginners waiting to master common clothing and linen fixes.