reinvention by maya donenfeld
May 8th, 2012
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
Reinvention: Sewing with Rescued Materials is a beautiful new book by Maya Donenfeld . You are probably familiar with Maya’s blog, MayaMade, where she writes about parenting and making with the seasons. Years ago, Maya sent the craft blog world into a sewing frenzy when she came out with the burlap bucket pattern and for good reason: it is simple, beautiful, useful, and recycled. So too is every project in her new book.
Each chapter in the book is dedicated to a specific material: linen, burlap, jersey, wool, denim, tyvek, and vintage. The projects are, yes, made from recycled materials, but they don’t scream, “I’m recycled!” like say, a pop top vest would. They all subscribe to the same natural aesthetic, even the most seemingly unnatural of materials, tyvek. When my copy of the book came I was immediately draw to this chapter, because I’ve always loved tyvek, oddly enough, and I was excited to see someone else out there did too!
I chose to make the color block zippered pouch, but after painting a bit of tyvek I was less than thrilled. I used a silver metallic acrylic paint that ended up looking a sad gray and the blue was nice, but it brought out the texture of the tyvek more than I wanted. It is actually a nice effect, sort of like a faux leather, but it wasn’t what I was after.
Maya suggests painting the tyvek or simply drawing on it with a permanent marker, which of course makes sense as tyvek is as much like paper as it is like fabric. I picked up my ultra fine point Sharpie and went to town. The leather-like effect I got with the painted tyvek made me want to use some actual leather. A few snips from a vintage, buttery leather jacket and I had the makings for a fine recycled zip pouch.
I didn’t use the exact dimensions she specifies for the pouch, but the patterns in this book are meant more as guidelines. Maya even says, “…ultimately the size, shape, and color of each rescued piece informs the final outcome. If you listen carefully, the fabric will tell you what it wants to be.” This tyvek envelope told me to draw a geometric pattern on it, then sew it to some leather and attach an aqua zipper. Sewing the tyvek was easy, just like sewing paper, so use an old needle in your machine. It was my first time sewing with leather and that was simple too. My machine didn’t know what was going on when I tried to sew the tyvek to the leather, and I had to help it along quite a bit.
Maya also suggests leaving a bit of the original printing exposed, “..so that its reinvention efforts are not forgotten.” I think this quote sums up the book nicely. You get to make all these wonderful pouches and hampers and poofs from old materials, but hidden in these newly sewn things are little reminders of what they once were.
The lovely people at Wiley Craft have offered a copy of Reinvention to one of my readers. Please leave a comment telling me about your favorite recycled material to be entered in the drawing. The giveaway will close Wednesday May 9th at noon central. I’m sorry but this giveaway is only open to US residents. Please follow along with the rest of the tour to see more of this lovely book!
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
I love recycling and upcycling. My favorite material (or most used) is old clothes (my husband’s and family members’). I use them to make my kids clothes, hats, clutches, etc. I love it because the items I make are unique, have a history, and often have patterns I can’t find on new fabric. Reinvention would be the perfect way to introduce some new materials into my repertoire. Thanks!
T-Shirts! It is the most multi-functional material to reinvent!
I love the little zippered bag you made — thanks for sharing your process! It doesn’t have to come out right the first time to be spectacular by the end. My favorite recycled material is wool. Love it!
Ooh, I’d love a chance to win this book; thank you!! My favorite recycled materials are vintage sheets and felted sweaters, but now I want to make a tyvek pouch!
Oh, wow—so that’s what you were working on yesterday! This book looks amazing and those arithmetic pillows are Brilliant. By far my favorite materials to re-use are old jeans. I just think denim, with all it’s fading and variations is the best.
I think my favorite recycled materials are a tie between old packaging and old clothing. There are so many textures to use. Thanks for the preview and the giveaway!
I like re-using sheets to make my own patterns.
Wow, that tyvek pouch is great! I would never have thought to use that. I like to up cycle old clothes into new things for my granddaughter or kids of friends.
I love reusing linen. It always feels so elegant, no matter what is created with it.
Oh what a cool book! Thanks for the great give-away offer!
woops – my FAVorite re-usable material is my husband’s old oxfords. they get frayed around the cuffs after a few years and they are so soft to make things. currently I am piecing them together to make a quilt.
I’ve been cutting up and sewing two old bed throws here lately. I love recycling sheets too. I bought what I thought was a sheet at a thrift shop, only to bring it home and discover it was a sheet that had been turned into a shower curtain. I turned it into matching mother-daughter skirts. Life three for that sheet.
felted sweaters for sewing. brown paper bags are ready and waiting. i have a great stash of egg cartons, yogurt cups and other plastics ready for awesome summer fun!
mesh bags from citrus fruits: strong, colorful and airy!
Wool sweaters, hands down! I have reused them as yarn, as drapy fabric for sewing warm garments (my daughter loves her cashmere sweaters), toys, blankets; and as felted fabric for sturdier things like bags, baby shoes and such. And it is a lot of fun to dye.
Leftovers from the fridge — that way I don’t have to cook dinner.
I love reusing old clothes! It’s so much fun to give a new life to something someone’s thrown out.
I love vintage sheets and linens! I just made a tote out of a red/green/cream tablecloth I found at a thrift store… It’s so nice to be able to re-use things!!
Ah cool I will love trying to create with tyvek! Love recycling sweaters!
I have been reinventing old clothes a lot lately!! t-shirts, shorts, skirts, etc.!!!
Currently my favorite recycled material is old clothing. I just made myself a summer blouse out of a shirt my husband no longer wore, and disassembled a worn out corderoy jacket that I want to make into a stuffed animal. i have a lot of worn denim, but am not sure what I am doing with it yet. I would be so happy to win this book and get some great ideas! Thanks for the giveaway!
I am excited to use burlap. My partner works at a cafe- so we have piles of old coffee sacks waiting to be re-purposed!
I love reinventing old jeans, but I have recently also discovered a new passion: upcycling knits.
I like to reuse old linens, especially if they have already been embroidered.
I’ve been reading Maya’s blog for years and she’s always so inspiring and now I can’t wait to see her new book. And now too! I’ve re-discovered your blog, and I’ll be visiting here more often. Love the blog world, for this.