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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Much like other "zero waste" topics, it probably isn't possible to make 100% zero waste anything, but as modern sewing has become inherently wasteful, there are many changes, both big and small we can make to use more of what we have, which in turn will help lessen our impact on the planet.
Many of us picked up sewing with the intention of reducing our impact on the planet, only to learn that most patterns insist on throwing away shocking amounts of pattern tissue, fabric, thread, and so on. This is a terrible waste of resources including energy and water used to create these supplies.
Fortunately, as more people are becoming increasingly concerned about the planet and the impact of our activities, clever people have been sharing their solutions.
This Page
This Page
This page contains some general sewing tips as well as specific guides and examples for how to use more, and waste less materials while crafting.
General Sewing Tips
General Sewing Tips
Cleaning & Maintenance Your Sewing Machine!
Cleaning & Maintenance Your Sewing Machine!
Nothing eats up threat or ruins a project quite like a dirty and uncared-for sewing machine. If you are happily sewing along, only to look down and see your stitches are coming out horribly at different angles or being eaten by the machine itself, then this may be your machine's way of crying for help!
Gently cut your project free from the machine (you can probably save it with your seam ripper), and unplug your sewing machine for a safe cleaning.
9:38 minute video shows you the basics of modern sewing machine care.
Waste Less Thread
Waste Less Thread
Thread Bunnies
Thread Bunnies
Thread bunnies are often used by quilters, but anyone can use this clever trick. You simply take a small piece of fabric and slide it in at the end, as the piece(s) you are sewing come out from under your machine's sewing needle. Instead of getting lost into the machine with long tails at the beginning and end of each sewn piece, you can use much less thread, by simply feeding in the next piece(s) directly in after the bunny.
Cut the thread between the thread bunny and the piece you just finished or just started sewing as you go!
If you keep the same piece of fabric close, then you can use it over and over again. If you want you could use scraps from previous projects, and create little pieces of textile art, which themselves could be used in future projects.
Clothing
Clothing
Bottoms
Bottoms
Skirts
Skirts
Make/Use: Wrap Skirt "This Wrap Skirt is a simple design with modifications for shaping to the body and transforming its form." MakeUse: Wrap Skirt Pattern (PDF)
Trousers
Trousers
Make/Use: Spiral Trousers "These demonstrate a dramatic rethink of how trousers can be made and are the most difficult form to master. More details to come."
Dresses
Dresses
Make/Use: Long Tshirt "This Long Tshirt is based on the same pattern as the Cropped Tshirt, its just longer."
Make/Use: Tube Dress "This Tube Dress is one of the simplest garments in the range - all that is needed to make it is a single straight seam." MakeUse: Tube Dress GRID (PDF)
Make/Use: Wrap Dress "This Dress wraps around the hips and overlaps at the back for a fitted silhouette with a Kimono style wide sleeve" MakeUse: Wrap Dress Pattern (PDF)
Skirts
Skirts
Circle Skirts
Circle Skirts
The Shapes of Fabric: Conquer Circle Skirt Patterns This type of skirt can use more or less the whole piece of fabric, especially if you use the center to make godets (instead of throwing the center circle away), or you use the handkerchief style instead of the circular bottom hem, so that you don't waste the corners of the fabric.
Tops
Tops
Blouses
Blouses
This tops uses a square of fabric to creat a top. Some pieces are cut off, and most are used to help finish the edges and create structure.
T-Shirts
T-Shirts
Make/Use: Cropped Tshirt "The Cropped Tshirt is derived from a danish bronze age pattern."
Make/Use: Long Tshirt "This Long Tshirt is based on the same pattern as the Cropped Tshirt, its just longer."
Outer Wear
Outer Wear
Coats
Coats
Long Coat "The Long Coat is based on the same pattern as both the Cropped Tshirt and the Long Tshirt. The only deviation is collar/neckline selection. Once you understand the Tshirt, this coat is easy!" Make/Use: Long Coat Pattern (PDF)
Reusable / Washable Hygiene Items
Reusable / Washable Hygiene Items
Period Care Items
Period Care Items
We can significantly reduce our ecological impact by using reusable and washable period care items. Not only can you sew reusable period pads (which are more comfortable and less harmful to your health than the plastic, single-use kind), but you can also sew bags for storing your used or unused period items - be they period pads or period cups!
Some of the reusable period supply charities listed in this directory offer free kits upon request. So you can start sewing period pads for other people in need without having to dip into your own pockets. Some of the charities also accept fabric and thread donations to pass on to their own workers or volunteers.
Useful Concepts
Useful Concepts
Flat to Form "The transformation from "Flat" to "Form" is integral to understanding the Make/Use system"
Joining "Make/Use garments have been joined using a range of techniques; hand stitching, machine stitching and needle felting."
Modifications "A key concept in the creation and transformation of Make/Use garments involved their modification through either volume rotation, swapping or resetting design details."
Prefinishing "After marking out with chalk the chosen Make/Use garment design, the next step is to pre finish the edges of the garment before cutting out." This guide goes over a variety of options, including machine embroidery and paint.
Resources & Guides
Resources & Guides
Clothing
Clothing
Make/Use: Make "Garments and techniques"
Reusable Hygiene Items
Reusable Hygiene Items
Period Pads +
Period Pads +
Organizations
Organizations
North America
North America
USA
USA
North Carolina
Too Little Children: The Pad Project "There are several ways to support The Pad Project, from sewing pads to donating underwear and fabric."
North Dakota
The God's Child Project: Sanitary Pad Project "The goal of the Sanitary Pad Project is to keep girls from missing school due to their periods. Quilters from across the country are joining together to create reusable, sanitary pads for teenage girls in GCP’s Vista Hermosa Center and Dreamer Center. Rather than using crumpled-up newspaper or dirty rags from the garbage, these girls will comfortably be able to stay in school during their period. By keeping a young girl in school, we help lift her and her family out of poverty and break them out of the cycle of poverty for generations to come.
NOTE: While schools are not open, we also make sanitary pads available to the women in our Mother’s Club and their family members. All pads are used to benefit women in need."
Oceana
Oceana
New Zealand
New Zealand
Make/Use "is an open source system for making user-modifiable, zero waste garments. Make/Use provides a user-centred toolset that helps consumers gain agency in the making and ongoing use of the clothing they wear."
Related Topics
Related Topics
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