December 2020
Hi Everyone!
Welcome to the December newsletter, last one for the year.
I'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has bought my books and patterns - your purchase directly helps my family and I'm very grateful.
If you've written a review, posted a make on social media, left a comment or a like, please know that these things really help micro businesses like mine and I sincerely thank you.
Reflections on 2020
We're all going to be reflecting on the year, so I thought I'd add mine :)
While 2020 has been a tough year for many fashion and creative businesses, things have worked out okay here although in unexpected, and sometimes delightful, ways.
Country areas in Australia have been largely untouched (but not unaffected) by the pandemic due to our very isolation and hard decisions made by our leaders. Sometimes I turn off the news and walk out to the front paddock where kangaroos are grazing and feel like I live in another world...
Zero Waste Sewing was published on the eve of lockdown back in March, and all scheduled sewing classes, workshops and book talks were cancelled. This was a bit of a blow to put it mildly, but plans for PDF patterns were already in the pipeline and now I had a bit more time to work on them (although not really - had children home doing homeschool).
A conversation with our doctor led to producing a low-waste scrubs pattern (a free creative commons licensed pattern) which I wrote, illustrated, formatted, sewed and photographed all in one terrible, urgent week of really late nights.
I met (online of course!) many wonderful people sewing scrubs and masks, and some people who couldn't sew but bought a machine and learned how so they could help - now that is pretty amazing!
Because we were in lockdown, I used myself and my husband as scrubs models, and discovered what a great model my husband is - so obliging! Felt like designing menswear just so I could use him.
South Australia opened up again in June, and a chance to have an exhibition of the projects in Zero Waste Sewing (scheduled for April and cancelled) was offered to me again. A virtual exhibition is here.
In books, The Dressmakers Companion, my first book (2017), has had a bit of a revival in sales, to my great delight. Zero Waste Sewing has just won a NYC Big Book award.
Early in the year, I realised that I don't think I can go back to making non-zero waste patterns - zero waste is the path I'm going down now.
I connected with Zero Waste Design Online (ZWDO), formed by four zero waste cutting practitioners who seek to educate, network and provide resources, and had an opportunity to share my zero waste design process at their community call (it's at the 27:04 mark and goes for 8mins).
Although I no longer work in industry, I still have a heart for the fashion industry and all its problems of wastefulness and I'm hopeful for the future.
Zero waste Cendre top pattern
Cendre is still 25% off until the 4th of December, so if you're thinking of buying this pattern now's the time. Shop the pattern here.
Take a look at Sue Stoney's boat neck version on her blog.
2021 Fibre Craft Retreat
A weekend of workshops, creativity and fun at Hummocks Station near Snowtown in South Australia, a 2-hour drive from Adelaide. Registrations open in March. Expressions of interest from tutors are now open. Further details are here.
Some things you might enjoy
Read about the new Library of Fashion Research in Oslo. It contains books, periodicals and also fashion ephemera such as show invitations, brand magazines, look books and direct mail produced from 1975 to the present. Here's their website.
Here's a tutorial for sewing a french seam in a seam with side split. I didn't think this could be done!
A amazing boat shaped like a zipper pull by Japanese artist Yasuhiro Suzuki.
The delights of braiding wool. Scroll down to see some examples from the National Estonian Museum.
Podcast listeners: here's one on Folkwear patterns.
A Youtube video on Mary Quant's PVC rainwear collection in the V&A (4:18mins).
Need a photo for something or just want to browse? Free photos from the Library of Congress.
South Australians: War and Pieced: The Annette Gero Collection of Quilts from Military Fabrics is on at the David Roch Foundation in North Adelaide until the 19th of December.
On the blog lately...
How to take good photos of yourself wearing clothes you've made: a photography tutorial
New pattern!! The zero waste Cendre top in all its glory.
The Cendre top blooper reel: what not to do!
An interview with Aussie wool grower Allen Kelly on mulesing, the pandemic and sustainability. So interesting and learnt lots!
Sewing a pork chop. A what?
...and on the blog archives
Hot tips for perfect stitching-in-the-ditch.
Taking the time to fix a favourite garment makes it a favourite all over again.
How we created the cover for The Dressmaker's Companion. Most of the tools on the front cover are my everyday sewing tools. The cover went on to win a silver medal at the 30th Benjamin Franklin book awards in the US.
Sending very best wishes as the year rounds to a close,
Cheers, Liz