RECYCLING GUIDELINES

PURPOSE:

1. To learn how to take good used but presently idle pieces of fabric and create something again useful.

2. To quit storing cast off clothes and put them back into service.

3. To eliminate the pile or box of scrap materials that most homes have.

EXPERIENCE:

A knowledge of sewing skills would be necessary for most and any attempts in this area; however, a 1st or 2nd year sewer could certainly find things to do comparable to skills learned in their level of sewing.

FAIR CLASSES:

1. The fair classes are presently just two with age and experience in sewing to be considered in each.

2. "Before" snapshots are the best way to provide the judge with the information of what the used fabric was originally.  If that is not possible, then a good written description of the original fabric and use should be provided.

3. Class I would be for making over a garment into another garment.
   a) This could be styling to current fashion and size not changing a great deal.
   b) Children's clothes could be styled from teen or adult clothes.
   c) Men's clothes could be refitted and restyled into women's clothes.
   d) Fabric, like the usable portion of a quilt, blanket, sheet, etc., could be made into items like vests, hats, or patchworked into skirts, capes, etc.

4. Class II would be for recycling fabric into items that would not be worn.
   a) Jeans patchworked into casual spreads for picnics, bedspreads, tote bags, curtains, etc.
   b) Pieces made into appliance covers, used for appliques, patchwork items.

STYLE SHOW:

1. If in the style show, be sure to accessorize your outfit and follow guidelines for style show participants.

2. You should plan to attend the Personal Appearance workshop ahead of the Style Show for help with your commentary card; take your garment along for advice in your progress also.

3. If doing a child's garment, you must coordinate yourself to the child's outfit and model with the child to get credit for the Style Show.

4. Your commentary card should include a description of what the fabric was before you began recycling and an estimate of what costs were involved.

COST CARDS:

Are information -- not a criteria for judging other than that they need to be included and exhibited. They help the member to realize the amount spent and the observer to form realistic ideas of a budget for the project.

SUGGESTIONS:

1. Restyling needs to be more than turning up or letting down hems or cuffs.

2. Making a floor length skirt into a short skirt or slacks into shorts could be incorporated into Buymanship restyling or could be a project for a beginning sewer; slacks into knickers could perhaps be an intermediate level depending upon the style.

3. Persons exhibiting in Recycling may be of the same ages as sewing exhibitors and may exhibit somewhere in Sections 1-4 and Section 5 only.