Posts Tagged ‘patternmaking’
As 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…
Read MoreOn going digital
Can you teach an old dog new tricks? I wondered that two years ago when I decided to learn computerized patternmaking. In 1990-91 when I did my patternmaking training, patternmaking software was rare and expensive (it’s still expensive). I learnt to make patterns Old School, and since I never worked anywhere that used computers, I…
Read MoreI wanna be a cowl girl
Last week’s festive season batik cowl neck dress has been an absolute winner! I’ve worn it twice already. Did you like the cowl neck? It’s a shallow cowl, the sort where you don’t have to press your hand to your chest when bending over to avoid displaying everything. It’s an easy bit of patternmaking if…
Read MoreLutterloh from the op shop
Arriving home from an op shop visit, my husband presented me with someone’s Lutterloh books. Lutterloh is a pattern making system from Germany. It was developed in 1935 and is still available today. Lutterloh is a pattern drafting system only. There are no instructions for cutting or making the…
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