Zero Waste Toys
A short post of thoughts on toys… One of the nice things about having children in your life is going to toy shops to choose presents, or making toys at home. Or even showing children the toys from your own childhood that you kept. Some months ago I was challenged to try making a zero…
Read MoreFree pattern: water bottle holder
This pattern appeared in my newsletter a few years ago, and the ones we made have been so spectacularly useful that I thought I’d share it as a blog post. I made them with my children, and they’ve taken them on school camps, on walks, to swimming and on their bikes. My children made their…
Read MoreFrom waist bag to backpack
Years ago, in the city on a stinking hot day, I saw a young woman on a bicycle, freewheeling along the city street. She was wearing a strappy sundress, sandals, and had a tiny backpack/handbag on her back. She coasted past me as I walked along the hot pavement, and I rather envied her looking…
Read MoreThe jeans waist expansion project
My waist measurement fluctuates wildly these days, growing by up to 10cm/4″ (ie 2 sizes). I don’t think I can conveniently blame the pandemic – I think it would have happened regardless. My tummy muscles are shot to pieces, post-partum and beyond, and I’m becoming a woman of a certain age. Those blog photos where…
Read MoreNew-ish pattern: zero waste tie front top
The tie front top is one of the most popular patterns in Zero Waste Sewing. It was the first pattern I made for the book; I made all the patterns just over 3 years ago now. The pattern in the book only comes in 5 sizes, to fit a 34″/86cm bust to a 42″/106cm. However,…
Read MoreInternet down
Hi Friends, since Tuesday there’s been an Internet outage here. I’m hurriedly writing this in the library before they close. It’s now Friday afternoon with no news on when things will be back up. If you’ve sent an email, left a comment or a DM, please know I’ll reply when we have the Internet back.…
Read MoreFashion in a dystopian world
As my children grow older, their tastes in reading have naturally changed, from picture books to Pony Pals to girl detective novels. Suddenly, almost overnight, the jump has been made to post-apocalyptic teen fiction, for example Mortal Engines, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner…and movies The Matrix, Oblivion, After Earth, to name a few. Which…
Read MoreThat old army coat
Early next year I’m planning to make a zero waste coat. I plan these things ahead: a few zero waste layouts are rolling around in my head, I’ve found/bought fabric for samples (despite the number of sheep here, it’s not easy to buy wool coating in Australia in January) and I’m considering the garment details….and…
Read MoreStyling the Simone Overalls
The overalls I finished last week have been working their way into my wardrobe. I realised I haven’t worn overalls since I was a preschooler – all those years missing out on such a comfortable garment! I had a fun time trying the overalls on with different things to see what looks best. (Do you…
Read MoreMaking the Simone low-waste overalls
The Simone Overalls are a low-waste pattern developed by Emily of Goldfinch Limited, a sustainable textile studio. We met on Instagram, and she was writing the overalls pattern as I was doing the Xanthea top. I suggested we do a pattern swap, since overalls and t-shirts go well together. Xanthea was ready first and Emily…
Read More