Painting meets Sewing
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…
Read More4 pieces of 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…
Read MoreTurnin’ 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…
Read MoreYay! It’s finished! Introducing the Sawyer Hoodie
Hey, it’s finally done! A new zero waste pattern. Thanks for reading each week as the project unfolded. The pattern is now in my shop – please enjoy 25% off until the end of September. The Sawyer hoodie comes in 12 sizes, from an 87cm/34″ bust/chest to a 142cm/56″. Making multiple sizes has has been…
Read MoreThe knit fabric experiment
The zero waste hoodie top pattern is almost here! Are you sick of hearing about it yet?! (No? Last week’s post is here.) The pattern is with the Editor at the moment, getting checked, wormed and vaccinated before it’s released into the world. So this is a short blog post to show you the knit…
Read MoreInside the glamorous world of fashion photography
It’s photography week for the zero waste hoodie top. I find photo shoots lots of fun. Also incredibly tiring as well, probably because I talk non-stop the whole time! There are no modelling agencies out here in rural Australia. Therefore as well as using myself as a model I ask “regular everyday people” to model…
Read MoreMaking a zero waste pattern Part 4: just keep drawing, just keep drawing…
Welcome to the next installment of the zero waste hoodie top pattern, which is unfolding week-by-week on this blog. If you’d like to catch up on the back story, Part 1 Where I tested out the initial idea from a tiny sketch. Part 2 Where a sample is sewn and some thought given to multiple…
Read MoreMaking a zero waste top: episode III
Hi Everyone, welcome to week 3 of this zero waste top project. So far….. Week 1 showed the idea I started from. I made an initial pattern, cut one out and pinned it together. In week 2, I sewed a proper sample, had a think about making multiple sizes and found some fabrics to use.…
Read MoreAs it happens: part 2 designing a zero waste top
It’s week 2 of Making a Zero Waste Top, and to my relief things are coming along nicely. If you missed Part 1 it’s here. With the “exciting” bit done (ie seeing if it’s going to work), it’s time to settle down to some sewing and problem solving, which I enjoy too. During the week…
Read MoreAs it happens: designing a zero waste top (part 1)
Many pattern designers and authors, including moi, like to keep their projects under wraps until it’s ready to show. Often it’s to stop someone pinching their idea before they bring it to fruition, but sometimes it’s because they aren’t sure of the outcome or how long it’s going to take. Over the next several weeks…
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