Hi Everyone!
Welcome to new subscribers!
As the year counts down to a close, I’ve been finding myself enjoying the reminders of its coming. The sweet smell of harvesting hay, the Christmassy street decorations in the nearby town, getting out the sandals and summer clothes, and even the drudge of handwatering the garden.
I don’t feel like this every year, but the past few weeks have been spent very pleasantly writing and illustrating the next issues of A Year of Zero Waste Sewing, a book I’m writing in instalments as zines. Proof that doing satisfying things puts you in an agreeable mood?
Zero waste doll clothes patterns
This pattern is still 25% off (and so is the original cloth doll pattern which the clothes fit). The discount has been extended until 25th December.
The pattern contains 9 doll outfits all with a storybook cosplay theme, and all zero/low waste. Take a look at a gallery of outfits here.
Most people order the pattern to make as a gift for the little people in their lives, but some have made a doll to look like themselves!
Xanthea as a dress
Finally! A zero waste dress version of the popular Xanthea top! If you already have the Xanthea top pattern, the free dress update can be found at the bottom of this blog post.
Xanthea is a zero waste, bias cut pattern for wovens or knits. It comes in 19 sizes, to fit up to a 117cm/70″ bust, works well for large busts, and is very economical on fabric. It has a long sleeve option, and the dress update has two new sleeve styles.
Ordering books pre-Christmas
If you’re in Australia, the last days to order books direct from me are coming up. Australia Post has some delays depending on where you live (I’m in SA, btw). If you’re ordering a book to send to someone, I can wrap it for you and send it direct on your behalf.
If you live in the Rest of the World, order locally via an online or in-person bookshop.
Some things you might enjoy
It's not often I'm wowed by runway fashions, but take a look at these pixelated fashions.
An amazing piece of bobbin lace, worked in a circle, with a beautiful pattern.
Software engineer Sarah Spencer hacked a 1980s knitting machine to knit a night sky map. Impressive!
Read about The National Clothing Product Stewardship Scheme in Australia. (My own personal thoughts: I suspect we're never going to get on top of this until we "turn the tap off" cheap fast fashion coming into this country via free trade agreements.)
Some pieces of yellow silk were discovered in a storage bag at Old Government House in NSW, Australia. A team from NIDA discovered it was a dress believed to have been remade four times.
The conservation of a dress worn by Julie Andrews in the theatre production of My Fair Lady. (10:30min)
On the blog lately
A roundup of the past month’s blog posts from my website, lizhaywood.com.au.
Making Mittens. I tried Process of Sewing’s low-waste mitten pattern. I’ve since made a couple more pairs - it’s an excellent pattern.
Introducing my new pattern: a doll’s clothes expansion pack for the zero waste cloth doll, with a storybook/cosplay theme.
Is it possible to design pajama bottoms which don’t cut you in half? Or is Good Pajama Management the key? There were some gems of advice in the comments! I followed up two weeks later with Wendy Ward’s zero waste trousers.
The free pattern update for making the Xanthea top as a dress.
From the blog archives
Thoughts on compostable clothes.
The free pattern archive on my website, which includes these simply-made felt Christmas decorations.
As this is the last newsletter for 2022, I’d like to say Thank You for following along with my creative adventures during the year. I hope you’ve been inspired and encouraged to try something new.
Also, many thanks to all who’ve ordered books and patterns, written reviews, shared posts, left comments, given recommendations and supported my business in any way; I deeply appreciate it.
Cheers!
Liz x