An un-holey tutorial

unpicker

Unpicking. We’ve all done it. After you’ve unpicked, sometimes you need to remove the holes and restore the fabric to its pristine state…before sighing deeply and restitching. Here’s a technique from the workrooms of Caroline Charles, which is described in The Dressmaker’s Companion, along with other handy stuff. You’ll need some water and a steam…

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Painting meets Sewing

Meg Mader's portrait of Liz Haywood

Have you ever wondered what you would look like if someone painted your portrait? Earlier this year, artist Meg Mader asked if she could paint me for the Clare Portrait Prize in April. I felt extremely humbled and honored! The idea was that it would coincide with Zero Waste Sewing‘s book launch and we would…

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4 pieces of advice for fashion students

Advice for fashion students

This week’s short post is inspired by a conversation I had with a high school student. What would I say to someone planning to study fashion? What would I have said to my 17 year old self? Learn how to sew. If you understand how clothes are constructed before commencing your fashion studies, you’ll be…

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Turnin’ 3

It’s been 3 years since The Dressmaker’s Companion was published. Many thanks if you bought a copy or borrowed it from the library. The book has seen a bit of a revival during the pandemic – from people at home learning to sew? Because of Zero Waste Sewing? I can’t be sure. Here’s how I…

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