I love your thoughts on 'zero waste at all costs' with which I totally agree. I'd rather have a better fitting garment with a few scraps at the end rather than a garment that uses scraps at all costs making it difficult to understand the pattern. That doesn't mean I not here for the pursuit of less waste and thoughtfully designed patterns.
Yeah it’s not really zero waste if the extra fabric takes away from the overall design. That said I think it’s a great idea to design patterns that use the least yardage possible.
My minimal waste approach is buying precisely the amount of fabric I need for the pattern and not making more clothes than I need. All these zero waste patterns are very oversized, if you like that that’s fine.
I actually take my pattern pieces to the fabric store, where we lay them out on the fabric so I buy exactly what I need. Any cotton or linen scraps go into my quilting stash, any knit scraps go to a friend with young children who can use smaller pieces for children's clothes. The amount of fabric that ends up in the bin is minimal.
Glad you decided to do your own thing. Your blouse turned out nicely. It's nice to see the rush one gets from a newly made garment. I usually lay pattern pieces differently than the instructions and use less fabric. I used to do a top or shorts for one of the kids with the extra. Then I would set aside the scraps. Zero waste can be done in several ways. Mine is to cut the scraps for a tied quilt that will go to charity or cut strips and crochet a rag rug. The super tiny bits I would toss into the fireplace. Now I don't have one.
Similar experiences with the pattern! I found the cutting instructions sufficient, but not the actual sewing instructions, for instance the sleeves. Anyway, your shirt looks good, and so does mine. 😅
Really appreciate your honest thoughts on this pattern! I'm interested in zero waste patterns but a bit unsure about some of the silhouettes/companies bc I've never tried them. Think yours turned out lovely.
The fabric you chose is great. Your blouse is cute. I think zero waste can be another way to guilt trip us. Many historical patterns are very conservative with fabric including piecing but no piecing for no reason. You can use scraps to make facings, bias tape or even stuffing.
I love hearing your thoughts on this! the very first thing I actually sewed was the the ZW Gather Dress also by Birgitta Helmersson and it sort of set my expectations for sewing, so it's funny to hear your thoughts as a much more experienced sewist. moving on to sewing patterns that I had to print out and cut out and tape together and fit to myself was such a rough learning curve after coming out of all-rectangles-and-triangles land :)
I agree with what you said about hating it and then coming back and feeling like an Angel haha! I am working on the Roseland Jacket right now and it looks awful on me. Gonna go ahead and do the quilting lines and hope that makes me love it.
I’ve come to your vid because I just didn’t understand why a couple of pieces were there. What are those triangular facing pieces for?? Yeah I’m going to go my own way too.
I'm glad I watched this -- I was planning on using this for a spare yard of chambray, and I'm not sure if I'm skilled enough push away confusing instructions and still make it to the other side. It's super cute, though!
I'm so glad you said the comment about "zero waste just to say it's zero waste" because I do think you sacrifice a lot of design, comfort, and fit all in the name of zero waste. I think I prefer low waste over zero waste, tbh. I've yet to find a good low or zero waste pattern I like but I'm hopeful!
Interesting! Thank you for your honest thoughts and review! 😊 I have this pattern and her Zero Waste Patterns book, but I haven’t made any yet for the same reasons you mentioned….math + intimidation! 😆 Plus, I have been tripped up on knowing how to do the patterns with fabric in my stash that doesn’t match the exact length measurements the patterns call for, so your idea to cut away the excess yardage before cutting out the pattern pieces was super helpful! 💡👍👍 It’s also helpful to see how the 45” width fabric turns out! I would prefer a much more oversized bodice, so I’ll be sure to use a 60” width fabric when I make mine! I think yours turned out great, and it looks super cute on you!! 😊
Hi! I really enjoy your videos! If you want to try other zero waste patterns I highly recommend those of Janet Celeste (Tyler trousers and the ZW top). I hope you find it useful. Looking forward to your next video :)
I came to your video because I couldn’t really understand some steps in sewing and thought I could get clarity. Turns out you were having the same issues! The instructions are a head scratcher. And some of the applications of the leftover pieces of fabric seem like unnecessary doodads. And extra time and complication to a pretty simple garment
I love your thoughts on 'zero waste at all costs' with which I totally agree. I'd rather have a better fitting garment with a few scraps at the end rather than a garment that uses scraps at all costs making it difficult to understand the pattern. That doesn't mean I not here for the pursuit of less waste and thoughtfully designed patterns.
Yeah it’s not really zero waste if the extra fabric takes away from the overall design. That said I think it’s a great idea to design patterns that use the least yardage possible.
Agree!
Thanks for sharing!!
In the end you consume the same amount of fabric anyway so might as well make it fit!
Yes, sewing is an art. It can be done ways to the liking of the artist.
Yea!
My minimal waste approach is buying precisely the amount of fabric I need for the pattern and not making more clothes than I need. All these zero waste patterns are very oversized, if you like that that’s fine.
I actually take my pattern pieces to the fabric store, where we lay them out on the fabric so I buy exactly what I need. Any cotton or linen scraps go into my quilting stash, any knit scraps go to a friend with young children who can use smaller pieces for children's clothes. The amount of fabric that ends up in the bin is minimal.
Glad you decided to do your own thing. Your blouse turned out nicely. It's nice to see the rush one gets from a newly made garment.
I usually lay pattern pieces differently than the instructions and use less fabric. I used to do a top or shorts for one of the kids with the extra. Then I would set aside the scraps. Zero waste can be done in several ways. Mine is to cut the scraps for a tied quilt that will go to charity or cut strips and crochet a rag rug. The super tiny bits I would toss into the fireplace. Now I don't have one.
I also lay out fabric differently a lot of the time!
Similar experiences with the pattern! I found the cutting instructions sufficient, but not the actual sewing instructions, for instance the sleeves. Anyway, your shirt looks good, and so does mine. 😅
Yea, exactly! Glad it worked out for you as well 😊
Really appreciate your honest thoughts on this pattern! I'm interested in zero waste patterns but a bit unsure about some of the silhouettes/companies bc I've never tried them. Think yours turned out lovely.
I was skeptical too! I'll give it another go I think. I am curious about her book.
The fabric you chose is great. Your blouse is cute.
I think zero waste can be another way to guilt trip us. Many historical patterns are very conservative with fabric including piecing but no piecing for no reason. You can use scraps to make facings, bias tape or even stuffing.
Omg so relate, I Adore B zero waste patterns but it was so hard for my brain ❤
I love hearing your thoughts on this! the very first thing I actually sewed was the the ZW Gather Dress also by Birgitta Helmersson and it sort of set my expectations for sewing, so it's funny to hear your thoughts as a much more experienced sewist.
moving on to sewing patterns that I had to print out and cut out and tape together and fit to myself was such a rough learning curve after coming out of all-rectangles-and-triangles land :)
Oh that's so fun to hear about!
I agree with what you said about hating it and then coming back and feeling like an Angel haha! I am working on the Roseland Jacket right now and it looks awful on me. Gonna go ahead and do the quilting lines and hope that makes me love it.
See it through! I get this feeling so often mid project that I need to just learn to trust the process
I’ve come to your vid because I just didn’t understand why a couple of pieces were there. What are those triangular facing pieces for?? Yeah I’m going to go my own way too.
I love videos like this (pattern walkthroughs). I share some of the same trepidation that you did so it was very helpful to see your process!
That’s good to know !!
I'm glad I watched this -- I was planning on using this for a spare yard of chambray, and I'm not sure if I'm skilled enough push away confusing instructions and still make it to the other side. It's super cute, though!
I'm so glad you said the comment about "zero waste just to say it's zero waste" because I do think you sacrifice a lot of design, comfort, and fit all in the name of zero waste. I think I prefer low waste over zero waste, tbh. I've yet to find a good low or zero waste pattern I like but I'm hopeful!
Thanks for this! I want to try more ZW patterns but I am equally skeptical!
The neck looks normal, like a Japanese hanten jacket or top. It looks good.
Thank you!
The color suits you really well.
Thank you! I was pleasantly surprised!
Interesting! Thank you for your honest thoughts and review! 😊 I have this pattern and her Zero Waste Patterns book, but I haven’t made any yet for the same reasons you mentioned….math + intimidation! 😆 Plus, I have been tripped up on knowing how to do the patterns with fabric in my stash that doesn’t match the exact length measurements the patterns call for, so your idea to cut away the excess yardage before cutting out the pattern pieces was super helpful! 💡👍👍 It’s also helpful to see how the 45” width fabric turns out! I would prefer a much more oversized bodice, so I’ll be sure to use a 60” width fabric when I make mine! I think yours turned out great, and it looks super cute on you!! 😊
I'm glad you found it so helpful!
Hi! I really enjoy your videos! If you want to try other zero waste patterns I highly recommend those of Janet Celeste (Tyler trousers and the ZW top).
I hope you find it useful.
Looking forward to your next video :)
Oh thank you! Those look great!
That turned out so cute! The fabric looks great on you!
Thank you!!
Making your own buttons would be cool
Could you have a camera behind the sewing machine in this set-up? So we can see you sewing, instead of just your back.
Good point! I’ll try this out next time
😁You should just ask me when there's math!
I came to your video because I couldn’t really understand some steps in sewing and thought I could get clarity. Turns out you were having the same issues! The instructions are a head scratcher. And some of the applications of the leftover pieces of fabric seem like unnecessary doodads. And extra time and complication to a pretty simple garment