Sustainable Sewing
Like many people I started my sewing journey thinking it would a good way to reduce my impact on the world. But it is easy to get a bit… erm… impulsive (!?) while in a fabric shop and before you know it you have a cupboard full of potential clothes and you are still having to nip to the shop to buy something for a particular occasion.
But don’t worry – with a bit of mindful shopping there are ways to make your sewing more sustainable.
Shop your own wardrobe
Many of us that item that doesn’t quite fit right or is a bit unflattering that lives in the wardrobe unloved and gathering dust. Take out all these items and look at them with fresh eyes. Is there something you can do to make it something you love? I bought a dress because I loved the fabric but was gutted when I got it home and tried it to discover it was the singularly most unflattering thing ever created. With a top that the bottom hem was unravelling I created a dress that I now love!
Preloved Clothes Shopping
I used to go into preloved clothes shops and very carefully look through the items in my size and maybe scan the size up. Now I look at everything (ok, maybe not a size 8/10. I’m not a miracle worker!). In the men’s section you can get trousers that can be upcycled into a skirt (big pockets!), dresses a couple of sizes down that can be made into skirts and tops in sizes up that with a couple of darts and tucks can be your new favourite things!
Raid the linen cupboard
This is as much a beginners sewing tip as a sustainable sewing one. When you are starting your sewing journey dig out an old duvet cover or fitted sheet. There will be a lot of fabric to work with and it won’t matter if you make a mistake as the fabric was only destined to sit unloved on a shelf. I’ve made skirts from curtains and dresses from duvet covers before now! In fact the Make it Fab bunting was made from a vintage bed sheet!
Mend it Monday
If you are nervous about cutting into that charity shop find, drop me a line. This dress was brand new with tags on and during a Mend it Monday evening it was transformed into a very wearable skirt, by someone with limited sewing experience, proving you don’t need to be a Sewing Bee contestant to ace a transformation challenge.
Come along to a Mend it Monday session or open studio time and I will guide your hand in making something amazing that you will love!
