Before September passes us by I wanted to mention the Oxfam charity shops campaign ‘Second Hand September’. The charity launched the campaign back in 2019 to encourage people to buy only second hand for 30 days. Their website states ‘not only are you reducing the harmful effects of fast fashion and refreshing your wardrobe without…
‘Left over scrap fabric is a conundrum for every stitcher’ says the organisers of the Knitting and Stitching Show. I’ve taken on the challenging of sharing my tips on how to use up scrap fabric left over from dressmaking at the show. Find me at the Knitting and Stitching Show on Thursday 6th October at…
‘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…
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,…
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.…
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…
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…
‘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…
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…
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…
