Posts by lizhaywood
Zero waste tie front top
I’ve been sewing (for me) one of the projects from my forthcoming book Zero Waste Sewing – the tie front top. Here’s what it looks like in the book: And here’s mine: This is the fourth version of this top I’ve made; some of my sewing students have made it too. For this one, I…
Read MoreCountry show day
On the weekend was our town’s one-day country show. Regrettably, our family couldn’t go, but we still entered some things in handicrafts and cooking. (Read about last year when I entered some dressmaking, the year before when I wished I had, and the year before that when we went for the first time.) I entered…
Read MoreWhat happens after size 16? A discussion on plus-size grading.
Much talk has taken place in the sewing world on plus sizes, inclusivity and diversity, both in size ranges offered and models photographed. I was very conscious of this while doing my new book, Zero Waste Sewing, and this blog post by Song of the Sewing Machine reminded me again how frustrating is it to…
Read MoreComing soon: my new book Zero Waste Sewing
Hi Everyone, since mid-last year I’ve been working on a new book and it’s now ready to show you. Zero Waste Sewing is a collection of 16 garments all designed to use 100% of the fabric, with no scraps or waste. If you’re looking for a new sewing adventure, creating a slow wardrobe for yourself…
Read MoreHey, got time for sewing?
Afternoon handbag challenge
Sewing brief: in one afternoon, make a new handbag (cross body style) using only stuff we already have at home. The time has come to move onto my next handbag. Since my children were born, I’ve gone from…. For the next handbag era I fancied a cross-body bag so I wouldn’t have to carry it…
Read MoreFree pattern…and reflections on the perfect knitted dishcloth
Like many households, we are trying to “reduce, reuse and recycle”. At least I am, and I’m forcing everyone else come along for the ride. We have been kitchen sponge users for a couple of decades now. A while back I knitted some cotton dishcloths but they were rejected by a majority (ie everyone except…
Read MoreBook recommendation: The Art of Dressing
Have you ever read a book that came just at the right time? The Art of Dressing by Tziporah Salamon was like that for me. I borrowed it from the library last week and had been feeling sort of flat about fashion and dressing. Uninspired, a bit bored. This book, in all its colour and…
Read More3 useful tips for cutting out
Do you enjoy cutting fabric, or do you find it anxiety-producing? I know not everyone enjoys cutting out; I quite like it though. Although I trained as a patternmaker, I started my career as a junior cutter, and worked as a cutter on and off for about 9 years. The most expensive fabric I ever…
Read MoreNinja vs Incredible: book week costumes
It’s been a week of creativity here at Haywood Homestead. The dress-ups box was raided and the hot glue gun’s been going overtime, as the finishing touches were put on book week costumes. The doomed Lucky Prescott costume (see last week’s post) got replaced by Plan B: I converted the Ladybug Miraculous catsuit (made for…
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