April 2025
Haywood's Laundry Flowchart, zero waste news, and some links you'll enjoy
Hi Everyone!
Welcome to the April newsletter, and a warm hello to new subscribers.
Meanwhile in Australia…
I’ve reinstated Haywood’s Laundry Flowchart* above the laundry hamper. My family is reasonably well trained now, but it doesn’t hurt to have a reminder.
Although our fellow Aussies up north are dealing with flooding and tropical rainfall from Cylone Alfred etc, we are in severe drought. After a very dry 2024, this year’s rainfall has totalled a grand 3mm (that was last week - it may as well have been snow, such was the excitement). Why can’t rainfall be spread more evenly?!
If there’s any silver lining to the non-existent clouds, it’s in the laundry. Less water is a great reason to do fewer loads of washing, and as chief laundry maid, I must insist on it!
Want a flow chart for your laundry? Here’s a hi res pdf:
* This chart could probably be expanded to include brushing and pressing, especially if you have pets.
(Still) coming soon: zero waste party skirt
Slowly, oh so slowly, the party skirt is taking shape. Take a look at an earlier sample in last month’s newsletter.
At the moment, I have five samples in various states of made, which have already been spoken for by the younger Haywoods who have a weakness for swishy skirts. Here’s one in cotton lawn.
New zero waste pattern: eye mask
For eye mask devotees, this is a free pattern on my blog. Really happy with how this turned out.
Save the date: Making Zen, 26th-30th May
Making Zen is five-day online event for hand stitchers and crafters, that’s free to attend. 20 textile artists will guide you through workshops on a range of stitching techniques and creative processes. I’ll be presenting a new zero waste pattern as one of the workshops.
More details in next month’s newsletter.
That grading book
The grading book I started writing last year has regretfully been put on hold for a while, as I’m just not up to working on it. A UTI in November (requiring travel to see a doctor), covid in December, alongside long covid, took more out of me than I thought, and something had to go. So I’ve kissed it goodnight and tucked it away in a file on the computer for later. Maybe later this year if things improve.
In zero waste news…
The National Zero Waste Conference in the USA is happening on October 22-23. There’s no need to travel - it’s all on Zoom. The call for speakers closes May 1st.
Are you a fashion company in New Zealand? Emma La Rocca of emroce swimwear is offering a chance to participate in their FREE zero waste design trial. Details are here.
Material Happiness in San Diego is now stocking my books, Zero Waste Sewing and A Year of Zero Waste Sewing, alongside second hand & sustainable fabrics and craft supplies.
Minski++ in Adelaide, Australia is also stocking my books along with a delightful range of craft materials, ceramics, fabric, books and accessories.
Some things you might enjoy
Sarah Burton debuted for Givenchy.
Some sewing newsletters here on Substack, including this one, curated by one of my favourite reads, The Sewing Machine Newsletter.
Fashion and I cross paths! It appears that being in your 50s is cool.
Cutting out lace with a soldering iron rather than scissors. Who knew? The comments have some useful tips too.
Quick, book yourself airfare! The fabulous and long running Alice Springs beanie festive is winding up next year. 2026 will be the last one. Here’s hoping it will continue in another form.
I might to have to re-think my book signing style after watching these beautiful creative signatures.
A minor revolution in France: women are now allowed to wear shorts over their leotards for gymnastic competitions.
13 designers, journalists, artists, and business leaders share their hopes for the future of the fashion industry.
Make a DIY hemming guide out of cardboard.
I may have just ordered a book on British outdoor clothing on the strength of this podcast interview with the authors - listen to it on all the usual podcast places.
Aussies, if you're on holidays and passing through Shepparton in VIC, stop and visit the Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE) which houses the Loel Thompson costume collection. More than 10,000 objects, collected over 40 years by Loel Thomson OAM, tells the stories of everyday Australians from Federation to the present day. (Thanks Elena for the tip.)
South Aussies: The Button Bar in Adelaide Arcade is for sale. If you’re interested in this unique business opportunity please contact Van on 0417 870 959 or email buttonbar@gmail.com
On the blog lately
A roundup of the past month’s blog posts from my website, lizhaywood.com.au.
Feel free to subscribe to my blog for weekly posts direct to your inbox, however, if you don’t need more emails in your life, I always do a roundup here.
The Tale of the Gigantic Waistband: adding back elastic to a pair of trousers.
Three posts on the quest for the perfect eyemask…
3. The finished pattern and how to sew one.
From the blog archives
The Bias Cut Failure. Not everything works out every time!
Cheers,
Liz x
Feel better!