Zero-Waste Sewing — Episode 74
In the first Sew & Tell podcast of 2022, we talk about zero-waste sewing; what it is, pattern suggestions, and how to implement it in your sewing practice. Then we’ll share a little something in our Sewjo segment and answer a listener question.
Episode published on 1/13/22. Now available on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts. Please subscribe and leave us a review if you love Sew & Tell so we can grow our sewing family even larger.
Episode Summary
- Welcome
- Discussion Segment 1: Zero-Waste Sewing
- SewJo
- Sew & Tell: What’s the first thing that you sewed (or are going to sew) in 2022?
Related Links
Birgitta Helmersson ZW Gathered Dress and Block Pants
Sewcialists article on Zero-Waste Sewing
Ongoing Sewing Pun Tally
Meg: 6
Amanda: 5
Kate: 3
Other Notes
Let us know: What’s the first thing that you sewed (or are going to sew) in 2022? Leave your answers in the comments below!
Note: By answering our Sew & Tell question, you are giving us permission to read your answer in an upcoming episode.
Find us on Instagram: @sewandtellpod
Email us: sewandtellpodcast[@]peakmediaproperties.com
I’m easing into my 2022 sewing projects. I had to take a little break from the pre-holiday sewing, crafting, market making, gift making marathon that is November and December for me. My mom introduced me to the kitchen scarf…or kitchen boa as I have seen some sewists call it. I found lots of tutorials online for this amazing project. It is like an apron, hot pad, towel, wipe anything and everything ALL IN ONE accessory. When it is made out of fun scrap fabric in my stash and an old kitchen towel or thrifted towel it can also be a great sewstainable scrap busting project! So I have made a few now for family and friends. A nice little New Year’s surprise gift that will be well used and loved all year long.
When you mentioned that you purged 3 bags of fabric it gave me palpitations. I’ve been sewing for many decades and am not one of those fabric hoarders but have never thrown out a fabric leftover. I use them, every single piece. It is just a matter of the fabric waiting for it’s moment. Most of the people that I know who sew do the same. If you go back to the quilters that existed at the start of our country, the women who sewed thru depressions and wars, sewists were the ones who never threw anything out, remaking existing garments into newer garments, reworking every single scrap and bit of clothing into a new garment or usable item. Having worked in the textile industry at one time I can tell you that scraps were sent to a local processor and turned int reprocessed wool and made in yard goods for clothing. I get upset when I hear about zero waste as if someone just invented the wheel. It has been practiced by sewists as long as I know of. Zero waste practitioners/pattern designers are preaching to the choir and simply using a gimmick to make money, IMO. What has changed, IMO, is the fact that we now have fast fashion, cheap throw away fashion, and landfills and barges headed for Bangladesh are loaded with this misery. Fast fashion lasts two minutes, is tossed and off it heads to steaming dumps overseas. I think we would be far better served by cultivating a culture of quality clothing that would last longer, be mended as needed and not be replaced instantly. It is how we dressed for decades. Ban /change the fast fashion mode of doing business by the fashion industry and you will do far more for our environment than having a few baggy dresses made by garment sewist from patterns that take more fabric to begin with than traditional garment patterns that leave behind a bit of “lagniappe” to play with creatively. ZWF is a marketing gimmick. Instead, hold the fashion industry accountable.
I would like to add that the first thing I’ve sewn in 2022 I am currently working on is a dress from the Sewing Workshop and will be out of vintage linen harvested from two 50s era garments.
The first thing I finished in 2022 is a reversible rugged outerwear vest inspired by a Patagonia vest I saw. I made it from insulated Carhartt canvas and Polartec Thermal Pro fleece. I started this toward the end of last year, but have been thinking about it for ages. It was a big project, and I’m so happy with how it turned out!