As I’m sure you’ve noticed, a whole industry has built up around home sewing with the primary goal of selling us lots of stuff. Most businesses rely on shifting a large volume of products, so much of what’s been designed for us is pretty bland and homogenous, including a lot of what comes out of the traditional publishing industry. However, some creators are sharing their sewing knowledge by creating really interesting products outside of the usual production and distribution methods. In this episode I talk to zero waste sewing expert, Liz Haywood, about her recent innovative project: a series of self-published zines that can be combined to form a book. We explore why creators might choose the DIY route, how you might go about it, AND how it can be better for the planet. 

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Listen to my previous conversation with Liz Haywood:

Liz created an amazing minimal-waste sunhat pattern:

And a zero waste beanie hat pattern!

Read more about Liz’s collaboration with Nicole Akong on the beach towel kaftan pattern:

Liz created the Optimatium dress pattern for Tauko Magazine, see below how the photoshoot looked for the magazine layout:

Check out Liz’s denim coat version of the Optimatium pattern. 

All the ‘A Year of Zero Waste’ zines and book are available on Liz’s Etsy shop, and January’s FREE instalment can be downloaded via her ‘The Craft of Clothes’ blog.

Gregory Lagola (Gregory Joseph) is the New York-based designer featured in the December zine.  

Quilter Zak Foster has created a range of printable, digital zines. Included in that range is the ‘Cutting Up Jeans’ zine made with previous CYT guest Eliu Hernandez:

Liz made the Cris Wood Sews Cinch Belt Pattern, a FREE sewing pattern. 

Liz also made these amazing trousers from the book ‘Couture Zéro Chutes’ by Charline Durpoix and Mylène L’Orguilloux.

AND she made the FREE ZW Eccles Cardigan pattern by Empty Hanger Patterns.

Find all my downloadable resources through which I share my own hard-won sewing knowledge!