Posts Tagged ‘patternmaking’
The scrubs hat challenge
My friend Belinda, a health care worker in Victoria, has been making scrubs hats for her co-workers. She wondered if it was possible to make a no-waste scrubs hat? Preferably one that’s quick and easy! Zero waste hats are tricky because our heads are round, curves take a bit more thinking to work out, and…
Read MoreMaking Mompei trousers
Weaver Kaz Madigan of the Curiousweaver studio alerted me to a free pattern on her website for making mompei trousers, a traditional Japanese pattern. The pattern was originally published in Curious Weaver mag 25 years ago and is ideal for narrow widths of handwoven fabric. A Japanese friend said her grandma used to wear them.…
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 MoreZero Waste Fashion exhibition
As restrictions ease here in South Australia, an opportunity which I thought was lost has been offered to me again. The garments from Zero Waste Sewing are now on display in a gallery here in Clare for the month of June. The exhibition was going to be in April but by then everything was in…
Read MoreMaking a zero waste pattern
We have passed the 100 day mark and now there’s only 96 days to go until Zero Waste Sewing is published. I thought I would talk about how I make a zero waste pattern and show you an example from the book. A zero waste pattern uses 100% of the fabric, with no scraps or…
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 MoreThe unexpected conclusion to the hug-me-tight experiment
Last week’s hug-me-tight experiment has taken an unexpected turn. You can read about the adventure so far here. This is the cutting concept I started with: I felt that the maroon double knit hug-me-tight that I was experimenting with was too short (it finished at my waist), although the sleeves were good and the collar…
Read MoreThe experimental shorts: the crushing verdict
In the world of patternmaking, I like to persist with things and Get It Right. It’s not often I give up easily on a project. Last week I experimented with a short/trousers draft, which I found in one of my old sketchbooks. Unfortunately I hadn’t dated it or noted the source, but I might have…
Read MoreExperimental shorts
Last week’s Built by Wendy, Sewn by Lizzy dress is progressing…slowly. Meanwhile, I came across an interesting idea for cutting trousers (or shorts) and thought I’d give it a whirl. Here’s the concept: It’s closely related to these zero waste pajama pants, except that the triangular/diamond gusset is cut from the tummy rather than…
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