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Zero Waste Patterns: 20 Projects to Sew Your Own Wardrobe

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Choosing a zero waste sewing pattern is a great way to reduce waste, save money, and contribute to a more sustainable future. I hope this has inspired you, and next time you're planning a sewing project, consider giving a zero waste pattern a try. You might be surprised at how much you enjoy the challenge and the results! Based on using a fabric that is 145cm / 57 inches wide. You can make this top larger or smaller by choosing a fabric with a wider or narrower width. Now, you might ask, why should we be interested in zero-waste design or care about zero-waste sewing patterns? Well, for one, waste is a massive issue in the overall fashion industry, with approximatively 15% of the fabric used for any garment ending up as waste. That most often means straight to landfill. For home sewing, we also end up with little pieces that we have no use (thought I know that many in the community are working really hard to use as much of them as possible). I actually found Cindy through TikTok last year, and was intrigued by the concept of a ‘bog coat’. This ancient way of making clothing has been given a new twist through Cindy’s patterns, which you can find on Etsy. So in this post, let's talk through what zero waste fashion is along with the many different ways you can engage with it. What is zero waste fashion?

Sizing: A (10-12-14-16-18-20-22-24), which is approx. UK sizes A (8 – 20/22) based on our standardised size chart. Available in the shop: Yes, paper pattern. The second book "Zero Waste Sewing" is by Patternmaker and Sewing Teacher Elizabeth Haywood. I actually joined one of her online events last year called "Zero Waste Sewing" in which she gave a lecture about how she came across to now making zero waste sewing patterns. This book is a great place to start if you want to get into zero waste sewing. There are 16 wearable projects in this book, each with illustrated instructions on how to use your fabric to construct the garment. Everything is laid out so it is as straightforward as can be. There's also sewing techniques, and tips on how to draft your own zero waste sewing patterns. Zero waste patterns design out the waste. It takes longer to make a pattern this way but it’s very rewarding. The pattern’s curved lines nest into each other, with the concave parts matching the convex ones. My early experiments with zero-waste patterns included zero-waste jeans, shorts, leggings, pajama bottoms, a wrap skirt, and more. I got better as I went along. The more zero-waste patterns I made, the more my brain seemed to switch into the puzzle-solving mode to think of solutions. I’ve since tried out other designers’ patterns for scrubs, underpants, bras, and trousers. I hadn’t thought things like underpants were possible to make zero waste until this year! If you want to chat about the episode and the challenges then do join us each week in our Facebook group event. The time varies depending on the speed of your Internet connection and the size of the image file. For a 400KB image, for example, you should expect 2 to 4 minutes over a 56KB modem and under 1 minute for DSL or cable modem.

But remember - zero waste is never zero - so any "zero waste fashion" option is creating some sort of waste or environmental impact. Imperfect system, imperfect answers. Still, there are definitely ways to drastically reduce the impact fast fashion and excessive consumption has on the planet. By using every inch of fabric, you can not only save money in the long run but by reducing fabric waste, you are helping to reduce the environmental impact of the fashion industry. This is a great way to contribute to a more sustainable future. SIZE CHART SIZE TWO: Chest/bust 105-128cm / 41-50", waist 85-110cm / 34-42", hip 109-135cm / 43-53"

This zero-waste, beginner friendly envelope dress doesn’t even require a paper pattern. Sizing is customized to your measurements, and you can try it in various fabrics for a range of different looks. This dress is an easy way to create something unique to you. I think that really zero-waste is a bit of a red herring. As several people have said, clever pattern placement can result in a better item more likely to be used because of the fit. I see that many of the zero waste patterns look best on the tall and slim, often with a smaller bust. These would be unsuitable for a lot of body types. I thought I would talk about how I make a zero waste pattern and show you an example from the book. As sustainability becomes a growing concern for many of us, we are looking for ways to reduce our waste and environmental impact. That’s why zero waste sewing patterns are such a fantastic way to help you create a more sustainable wardrobe.As I was researching more zero waste patterns to add to this post – I also found this brilliant resource. A full library of free, public source and paid for zero waste patterns. Find it here. Sizing: US 0 – 18 or US 14 – 32 (approx. UK 6/8 – 18/20 or UK 16 – 34, based on our standardised size chart). Available in the shop: Paper, PDF and PDF + printed copy shop. Companies or designers who may use recovered materials, work reduce waste, and take responsibility for their clothing's end-of-life; Grab your pile of fabric scraps and try your hand at the Sew Scrappy Top. You’ll put all those extra pieces to use in this super fun shirt. This pattern comes in sizes 6 months – Big Kid 14 and Adult XXS – 6XL (see the link above for measurements). By upcycling or reusing old fabric it reduces our carbon footprint and is so much more cost-effective. However, were you to be making garments from new fabric there are some more sustainable fabric choices for zero waste sewing: eco-friendly textiles that are suitable for zero-waste projects include organic cotton, linen and hemp.

Criswood sews also has a collection of zero waste instructions designed for beginners, including the immensely popular Envelope dress. Eligibility. You may only submit Materials to the Service for which you hold all intellectual property rights. In other words, if you submit a digital image to us, you must own all rights to such image or you must have the authorization of the person who does own those rights. The Service is limited to parties that lawfully can enter into and form contracts under applicable law. Minors may not submit Materials to the Service. Further, you may not submit any personally identifiable information about any child under the age of 13. When talking about sustainability in the fashion industry (and, by extension, in home sewing), one of the concepts that comes up often is zero-waste design (or sewing patterns). It’s a very interesting approach, that looks at the pattern cutting process in a completely different way, resulting in shapes that are functional, simple looking, but also very cleverly assembled at the same time.Sustainable sewing embraces shifts in behavior including selecting sustainable fabrics, mending your existing garments, upcycling, and more. If you’re looking to take your eco-friendly practices a step further, try choosing patterns designed to minimize or eliminate waste. These patterns help you sew sustainably by asking you to pull from materials on hand, or show you how to create a complete garment from a single piece of fabric, leaving no remnants behind. I love to see all your projects. Do comment below, or tag me in your makes on social media. Find me at As well as her book of patterns, you can also find several Birgitta Helmersson zero waste sewing patterns online for sale. TheBirgitta Helmersson patterns include In both the sewing books, the patterns are for a range of sizes though some patterns will have limitations, and the books outline this. These books are wonderful ways to get into zero waste sewing, and once you've sewn one up, you'll begin to understand the process to be able to adapt or even create a zero waste sewing pattern yourself! What I do know is that now I have at least ten of these projects ear-marked on my list to make soon!

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