Posts by lizhaywood
Presenting the Zero Waste Bra Pattern
Here’s the pattern for the zero waste bra I’ve been working on. The previous posts about this project are: June 2021 when I thought I could make a bra; this led to a zero waste bra in one size but I put the project aside; then I picked it up again some weeks ago; last…
Read MoreLet the Bra Making Commence
This week, the story continues with the zero waste bra pattern I dug out of the zw archives for another whirl. My teen asked me to have another try making her a zero waste bra, so I’ve revisited the pattern. I’ve been on hold with this project until now because the bra haberdashery I ordered…
Read MoreRevisiting the Zero Waste Bra
It brought a certain joy to my heart when my teenage daughter asked if I could have another stab at making her a zero waste bra. Challenge accepted! It’s been 18 months since I attempted a zero waste bra. (See the two blog posts on this: the first one, and the second one with the…
Read More3 Buttonhole Woes (and how to fix them)
It’s feeling like Buttonhole Week here at the Haywood Homestead – I’m working on three projects at once, all which need buttonholes and I must have sewn well over 60. My “everyday drive” sewing machine is a 1964 Singer that doesn’t make buttonholes, in spite of having an array of embroidery stitches. I make buttonholes…
Read MoreZero Waste and Fabric Economy
Sometimes I hear the throwaway line: zero waste patterns often use more fabric than regular patterns. Maybe that’s the person’s experience (or they’re repeating something they’ve heard), however, my own observations show the opposite. Actually, I didn’t notice just how economical zero waste patterns could be until I’d made lots. Sometimes the fabric savings are…
Read MoreThree Tips for Tucks
Have you sewn tucks in a garment before? They’re simply a stitched fold of fabric. The stitching might go all the way along the fold or stop part-way. This week’s post is coming to you from my sewing machine, where I’m sewing a zero waste blouse which has tucks front and back (long-time newsletter readers…
Read MoreJune, July & August: A Year of Zero Waste Sewing
Hi Everyone, Almost a year ago, I started a new book project, A Year of Zero Waste Sewing – A year of exploration, making and musings on zero waste patterns and clothes, to be published in instalments as a zine. The first one is complimentary – read about this project and download your free copy…
Read MoreWrapping up 2022
Hi Everyone, this is the last blog post for 2022. The blog is now on “annual leave” until late January-ish. Many thanks indeed for reading, commenting, and suggesting useful stuff. I send each post off into the digital realm each week with little idea of who actually reads it (other than my mum) so it…
Read MoreOn Writing Sewing Patterns
Please enjoy this little vignette I created for Instagram, showing how I write a sewing pattern. The pattern shown is doll’s clothes for the zw cloth doll. At the end are some writing tips that I’ve found really helpful. Here are some things that have really helped my instruction writing… 1. Write with two people…
Read MoreMaking Wendy Ward’s zero waste trousers
Some time ago I bought Wendy Ward‘s new book How to Sew Sustainably. Actually, I borrowed it from the library and liked it so much I bought a copy. I really liked the trousers and dress made using the same cutting concept, and wanted to try them. Cleverly, the dress is the trousers turned upside…
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