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Zero Waste Sewing: scrap busting ideas

zero waste sewing scrap fabrics with Barley Massey

‘We have got enough fabric in the world, so much in our sewing spaces. You are forced to slow down and embrace the creativity. A whole new skill set.’ Zoe Edwards said in her popular podcast, Check your Thread. In conversation with Barley Massey from Fabrications, they talk about creating larger pieces of fabric from…

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Zero Waste Sewing: Cushions

zero waste how to make a cushion pad and cushion cover from scrap fabric

How to use up those tiny tiny fabric scraps I have been sharing ideas on how to use up fabric scraps for this week’s Zero Waste Week. I have now reached my box of the smallest pieces of scrap fabric. No matter how creative we are they are tricky to use. We can’t quilt them,…

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Zero Waste Sewing: Applique

zero waste week applique monogram letter set and Mirabelle skirt

The smallest pieces of fabric can be used to applique anything! Once you get into it, you can’t stop. I love adding monograms to bags, cushions, children’s clothing. Applique just means adding a piece of fabric on top of another piece of fabric. How to applique Minimal amount of equipment is required to try applique.…

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Zero Waste Sewing: Pockets

zero waste scrap busting fabric ideas pockets

Pockets are the perfect project to use up small pieces of fabric for zero waste sewing. Fun and practical! Add a patch pocket as a design feature or an in-seam pocket to hide things in. Patch pocket on Betty Tote Bag uses up a small pieces of vintage fabric How to make patch pockets Add…

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Zero Waste Sewing

zero waste week scrap fabric hot water bottle cover

Make a hot water bottle cover from scrap fabric Making our own clothes is eco friendly in many ways. One of the problems most sewists have is how to use up their scrap fabrics. Unless we use a zero waste pattern, small scraps of fabric are inevitable. Creating a larger piece of fabric from small…

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Zero Waste Week: Sewing Inspiration

zero waste week megans fabric scrap busting coat lining

‘This coat is definitely my most worn me made but I rarely share the full eyeball-dazzling glory of the inside because usually I’m in it!’ Megan exclaims on her Instagram feed @nutmeg_makes. Olive Road London got involved in the Sewing Bee Style competition by giving away a £20 voucher and bag of goodies for Reduce…

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The Sewing Book Club: Summer Reads

The sewing book club summer reads for dressmakers on holiday

Six sewing themed summer Reads. If we can’t take our sewing machines with us on holiday, at least we can read about sewing Holidays are the best time to catch up on reading. Perhaps fish and chips in South-end-on-sea or two week’s lying on a sandy beach. I’ve pulled together a collection of books that…

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Vintage sewing inspiration

Olive Road customer makes We all love a fabric stash, a collection of fabrics we can fold, re-fold and admire. Amazing as they all look together, fabric really is there to be used. My business is created from buying people’s fabric stash. So when a customer sends me a photo of their creations from my…

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Sewing Machines in the Movies

My top six films for sewing machine day Encanto Blink and you miss it but there is a sewing machine in Encanto! Right at the beginning of the film. Mirabel pulls her skirt from under a vintage sewing machine as she starts singing. I noticed it as I’d just finished making my niece her very…

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Dressmaking patterns now available at Olive Road London

Paper patterns from Maven Patterns and Seasons of East I met Sharon from Maven Patterns , her husband Richard (from James Tailoring) and their daughters at the Knitting & Stitching Show in October 2019 and loved their patterns. The clean designs that champion vintage fabrics, classic with a vintage style. Shop now Choose from the…

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