Turn a man's shirt into a woman's 'shacket' with decorative stitching

(with Sue Arnold, aka Miss Wattle)

Restyle an everyday men's business shirt into a light-weight women's jacket using just a bit of hand sewing: no sewing machine or special skills required.

This hands-on workshop will guide you through two creative stages: first, learn how to reshape a man’s business shirt into a stylish woman’s jacket; then, explore ways to embellish your new 'shacket' using decorative hand-sewing techniques. You can enhance your creation with patches, pockets, buttons, sashiko, embroidery, beads ... the possibilities are endless.

Along the way our friendly tutor will help you explore your personal style, unleash your creativity, and reduce textile waste by giving garments a second life.

All skill levels are welcome, and we'll have plenty of thread and fabric scraps available for patching if you don't have much at home.

What to bring

A long-sleeved men's shirt that fits comfortably around your torso (from the op-shop is fine)
6 clothes pegs
sewing kit with:
- pair of scissors
- sewing needle
- thread in a colour matching your shirt.

We'll have plenty of fabric scraps for decoration and patching, but you'll need to bring along other notions and haberdashery items if you want to use them. This could be:

fabric from beloved clothes or textiles
embroideries or doilies you've inherited
custom patches and appliques
buttons and beads
ribbons and decorative trim.

If you've had something stashed in a cupboard waiting for the perfect project, this is the ideal opportunity to use it!

Who is it for?

This session is for anyone wanting to reduce textile waste, sew unique new creations, and learn artistic ways to restyle and personalise their clothes.

By creating beautiful, individual pieces, we add value to existing objects and ensure they stay loved and appreciated for years to come.

Additional info

Children over 12 are welcome if accompanied by an adult.
The session will be held indoors.
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible event environment for all attendees. If you have accessibility or inclusion concerns regarding this event, contact us about how we can help.

The REthink Nillumbik program is funded by Nillumbik Shire Council and supported by Edendale Community Environment Farm and NECAH (Nillumbik Environment and Climate Action Hub). The project will be delivered by Going Green Solutions and supports Council's climate action goal of net-zero community emissions by 2035.

Turn a man's shirt into a woman's 'shacket' with decorative stitching

What to bring

Who is it for?

Additional info

Image by Freepik