A Modern Maker’s Guide to Sewing and Mending a Preloved Wardrobe

Upcycle by Annie Phillips is a practical sewing book built around three core techniques: upcycling, mending, and creating. The 18 projects put those techniques to work on real garments — repairing what’s worn, altering what doesn’t fit, and transforming secondhand finds into pieces worth wearing. The approach is grounded in slow fashion: working with what you already own rather than buying new.

The book is structured to build skills progressively, with expert guidance on each technique before moving into the projects. It’s aimed at home dressmakers and anyone looking to reduce their reliance on fast fashion through practical making.