Posts by lizhaywood
Xanthea as a Dress: Free Pattern Update
It’s been a long time brewing, but finally I’ve nailed a dress version of the very popular Xanthea top. Xanthea is a zero waste, bias cut t-shirt for wovens or knits. It comes in 19 sizes, to fit up to a 117cm/70″ bust, and it’s very economical on fabric. It has a long sleeve option,…
Read MoreTrying to fix the world’s problems, one pajama at a time
My children, who aren’t particularly “tidy” sleepers in bed, have been complaining that their pajama shorts cut them in half. You know what I mean by this – a kind of naturally-occurring pajama wedgie. Their pajamas are loose enough, but I told them that if you change position in bed, you often need to move…
Read MoreNew Pattern: Doll’s Clothes zero/low waste
Hi All, it’s been a while since I put out a new pattern, but this one has been a return to my sewing roots! It’s an extension pack for the zero waste cloth doll, and contains 9 outfits all with a storybook costume theme. The pattern is in my shop now; please enjoy 25% off.…
Read MoreMakin’ Mittens
Mittens are not something one sews often in Australia in November. Actually, no-one even wears mittens here, at any time of year, (gloves are the hand covering of choice, if anything) but I think they would be great for bike riding when it’s cold. I badly wanted to try this low-waste mitten pattern by Maureen…
Read MoreThe Wardrobe and the Zero Waste Archive
On a whim, I cleaned out my wardrobe yesterday. Actually, what happened was, I pulled out a garment to wear and saw an insect (not a moth) crawling on it. That galvanized me into action! I confess I own a large number of clothes. Most are homemade, with a sprinkling of op shop and RTW.…
Read More30 Years on from Jem
Exactly 30 years ago, as a fresh-faced 19 year old, I got a job at Jem Leotards as a junior cutter/patternmaker. We happened to be in Adelaide during the past week, so I arranged to go there, as kind of a “commemorative visit”. Jem Leotards is now called Jem Designs and is a shop with…
Read MoreOverlocker Woes: The Curse of the Lower Looper
Dear Lizzy, How do I stop that blasted lower looper from coming unthreaded all by itself, especially starting off? Dear Friend, Yes, it happens to me too. Sometimes the thread on the looper jumps out of its hole and keeps on sewing – HOW? I can offer no absolute solution, but here’s a list of…
Read MoreBook Review: Zero Waste Nähen
It’s my pleasure to review Stephanie Kroth’s new book Zero Waste Nähen. Nähen translates as sew or stitch, and this book is a collection of 25 zero waste sewing patterns. [In the interests of full disclosure, I offered to review this book when I heard it was coming out, as I thought you would like…
Read MoreFinishing that Sashiko Jacket
Have you ever started a project without thinking the design through clearly? “Guilty, your honour!” I’ve now finished adding sashiko stitching to the jacket I cut from an old army blanket, which I’ve been making for Zero and Zen, a course I’m presenting with textile artist Kate Ward. (Btw, it’s not too late to register…
Read MoreSashiko meets Jacket
Right at the beginning of this year, my friend Kate Ward of ZenStitching said I’d like to make myself a jacket and put some stitching on it. Would you like to do a collaboration? Would I! Kate is a textile artist who is passionate about recycling and mending, and is also the person who really…
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