November 2023
Stitching Stitching Stitching!
Hi Everyone!
Welcome to the November newsletter, and a special hello to new subscribers.
I’ve been thoroughly enjoying my current work-in-progress, a denim jacket with sashiko stitching. The jacket is mostly sewn together, and I’m doing the stitching at the moment. My stitching is not perfect, but I take heart in the knowledge that any mass of stitching looks good! (and it always looks worse up close when you’re stitching it).
I cut this jacket from 3 pairs of jeans that the opshop rejected; it’s the modular jacket from the March zine, with a few little changes.
There’s a bit of extra pressure with this jacket, as it’s for my teen. So far, all is going OK though!
This jacket is my sew-a-long project for Zero and Zen, which I’m presenting in collaboration with artist Kate Ward. This course combines sewing a modular jacket (with me) with learning to stitch various sashiko stitch patterns (with Kate). The course consists of on-demand sewing modules to watch at your convenience, and 3 Zoom Q&A sessions where we’ll meet to discuss our progress. The Zoom sessions are 3rd/4th Nov, 17th/18th Nov and 1st/2nd Dec. The cost is US$97.
It’s not too late to sign up! Read more and register here.
New zero waste pattern: Optimatium dress
Introducing Optimatium, a zero waste dress which is in the latest issue of Tauko magazine.
Optimatium can be worn as a buttoned up dress or open as a flowing duster coat. It has in-seam pockets, a scooped hemline, gently pleated cuffs, a high neckline and optional bust darts.
This was my first time submitting to Tauko magazine and it was a very positive experience.
Read more about this pattern and a little about the design process here.
Some things you might enjoy
There’s some beautiful stitching to behold in this short interview with sashiko artisan Atsushi Futatsuya. (3:35mins)
Articles of Interest, a podcast on clothes and the people who wear them.
According to this study, microfibre shedding can be reduced by changing the way clothes are cut and stitched.
An article tracing the history of The Beatles through their most iconic looks.
A collection of t-shirts from the Falklands war in 1982. The Australian War Memorial also holds a small collection of conflict t-shirts. I’ve never come across any, but apparently war merch is a thing. (Not to be confused with merch from the music bands named War or Conflict.)
The minimalist wardrobe strategy, here and here. Some very practical approaches to organising a wardrobe.
Sarah Burton to leave McQueen after 26 years.
Aussies: Julia Van der Sommen of the Sample Room in Melbourne is hosting a free workshop for understanding the steps to starting your own clothing label using local manufacturing. It starts this Monday, November 6th.
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.
Investigating zero waste sleeves cut from triangles.
I dug further in to sleeves made from triangles.
Making a denim jacket for Zero and Zen, using 3 pairs of opshop-rejected jeans.
New zero waste pattern: Optimatium dress.
From the blog archives
Enjoy this free pattern for a large beach bag. It’s so handy! The brown one in the blog post has been used LOTS.
Cheers!
Liz x