A Skirt for All Seasons: Ways to Wear a Bryer Skirt

This month I introduced a new pattern, the zero waste Bryer skirt. This pattern comes in 20 sizes, to fit an 86cm/34″ hips to a 183cm/72″. It has generous pockets, an option for back waist elastic, and the length can be changed. The pattern is in my shop now – please enjoy 25% off. I…

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Book Review: Zero Waste Patterns by Birgitta Helmersson

It’s my pleasure to review Birgitta Helmersson’s new book, Zero Waste Patterns. Birgitta is a Swedish/Australian designer and pattern maker based in Malmo, Sweden, where she and partner Sam Grose run a shop and studio. She has been making zero waste patterns for over a decade. Take a look at Birgitta’s website, where you’ll find…

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How I came to write the Zero Waste Sewing book

Last week, the Zero Waste Sewing book turned 3. Many thanks if you’ve bought a copy or borrowed one from the library. I hope you enjoyed reading and making things from it. I thought you might be interested in how I came to write this book… Back in 2016, I happened to read about zero…

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Book Review: Zero Waste Nähen

It’s my pleasure to review Stephanie Kroth’s new book Zero Waste Nähen. Nähen translates as sew or stitch, and this book is a collection of 25 zero waste sewing patterns. [In the interests of full disclosure, I offered to review this book when I heard it was coming out, as I thought you would like…

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A zero waste Me-Made-May

MMM 2022

It’s May already and this year I’m participating in Me-Made-May again. The idea is to challenge yourself to wear your me-made clothes during the month of May. Here’s an excellent rundown of what Me-Made-May is, what it isn’t, who it’s for and how to take part. Me-Made-May, begun by Zoe Edwards, is now in its…

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New-ish pattern: zero waste tie front top

The tie front top is one of the most popular patterns in Zero Waste Sewing. It was the first pattern I made for the book; I made all the patterns just over 3 years ago now. The pattern in the book only comes in 5 sizes, to fit a 34″/86cm bust to a 42″/106cm. However,…

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Zero Waste Sewing book launch

Liz with Zero Waste Sewing book

During the week we had the book launch for Zero Waste Sewing. We wondered whether we would have to cancel it but Covid-19 has yet to make inroads to our rural South Aussie town. However, it was the very last gathering before Clare library, who hosted the night, suspended their program of events. Just 30-40…

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Yay! It’s publishing day, and blog tour roundup

zero waste sewing book publishing day

Publishing day is finally here for Zero Waste Sewing! A blog tour has been running over the past week, with each reviewer making something from the book. They all made something different, and all of them departed from the instructions at some point to make it their own. This is one of the hopes I…

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The official Zero Waste Sewing blog tour

Blog tour dates

Tomorrow the blog tour for Zero Waste Sewing begins! Each stop on the tour has a review of Zero Waste Sewing and shows a garment from the book made by the reviewer, with their own fabric choice, interpretation and aesthetic. Monday 9th Jane Milburn of Textile Beat Jane is a sustainability consultant, TEDx speaker, upcycler,…

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The zero waste coat that makes me look like a Jedi

zero waste coat with light saber

Yep, it’s funny how an idle comment can change your perception of a garment…. Over the past few weeks I’ve been making some of the clothes from Zero Waste Sewing in different fabrics, and this week I made a coat. Zero Waste Sewing has couple of coat patterns. One of them has a matching dress…

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