Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably

• #174: How to Make Quilts More Sustainably

  Do you dabble in quilt making? Or are you curious to give it a go someday? Well this episode is PACKED full of amazing tips submitted by CYT listeners on how to do so more sustainably. So you can get maximum enjoyment from the process and finished item, whilst knowing that the negative impact it had on the environment is just about as low as it could get.Support the podcast over on Patreon!(image source: Dinh Pham via Unsplash)Quilt top made by Katie from scraps:Hannah made a quilt from her dad’s shirts:Another amazing scrap quilt, this one by Kathryn:Andrea was inspired to try quilt making after visiting the American Museum in Bath, UK. Andrea’s quilting related book suggestions:BooksWorld of Quilts - Cassandra EllisFarm & Folk Quilt Alchemy - Sara Larson Buscaglia Parson Gray Trade Quilts - David Butler Inspiration Kantha - Anna HergertCountless ones by Kaffe Fassett and Brandon Mably, but these use their fabric collections. Some free and pay-what-you-can resources, also suggested by Andrea:Matchy Matchy quilt patterns (one is free)Cedar Quilt Co (free pattern available)Farm & Folk I have Sara's amazing book, 'Quilt Alchemy' which focuses on dyeing fabrics to then use in quilts; her blog also has lots of useful information on how to quilt. Sew Diy - Beth has a pay-what-you-can course on improvisational quilting. I haven't purchased the course but I basically stole the idea to make various bags as gifts. I think I've posted some photos in the Patreon group. Watch the YouTube video by Mary B about sorting scraps that Louise found inspiring. Here’s some of the strips and 5” blocks that Louise has been creating from her scraps:The mini quilt and the Wild Star quilt from Plains and Pine made by Kat:

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• #173: Quilting Through Burnout with Radha Weaver

  Hopefully, full-on burnout is not something you have, or will, experience yourself. However, we all encounter periods of pressure and stress. My guest, Radha Weaver, is a recovering overachiever who worked in a demanding role at Levi’s for fifteen years. Travelling all over the globe developing multiple product lines eventually proved too much, and it was sewing and quilt making that Radha turned to to reconnect with her creative identity. And, ironically, it was reclaimed denim that she’s since been most drawn to working with. In stark contrast to her former job role, Radha is now carving a path for herself promoting the reuse of existing textiles, and she explains how and why we could incorporate them into our own work also. Support the podcast over on Patreon!Find Radha Weaver via her website, Sewing Through Fog, and follower on Instagram (@sewingthroughfog).Radha mentioned the Fibershed movement that’s committed to the production of ethical and environmentally sound local textiles. Radha compared two Check Your Thread episodes:Ep. #151: Explaining Deadstock Fabric with The New Craft House Ep. #156: How To Run and Ethical Textiles Shop with Bevan O’DalyI recommend you check out Radha’s appearance on the Quilter on Fire podcast which was episode #177. Radha has developed a range of patterns and online classes to help people work with reclaimed textiles and upcycle their jeans, including her amazing tote bag backpack combo pattern:Find the Thrift Your Fabric map to discover your nearest creative resource centres.Radha volunteers at Scrap SF, the happiest place on earth, apparently!Swanson’s Fabrics is a well known source in the US for preloved fabric and notions. Radha recently acquired Feel Good Fibers, a US-based destash market place!

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• #172: Sewing More Sustainably in the Virtual Sewing Room

  Get a sneak peek into the Virtual Sewing Room, a business set up by Jenny Babey that offers online connection with other makers around the globe. Jenny invited me to talk in the VSR last month about my specialist subject: sewing more sustainably. You’ll hear from Jenny about what drew her to setting it up and why you might want to attend, and then you’ll hear the first half of the session I participated in. We get into the fundamentals, as I see them, of sewing more sustainably and I offer up some easy starting points. And we get into a discussion about zero waste sewing patterns, and Jenny and another attendee share their experiences. Support the podcast over on Patreon!Find the Virtual Sewing Room website to learn more and book a session. During the Making for Charity sessions, Jenny often makes washable menstrual pads for the Pachamama Project to help fight period poverty.A couple of the regular attendees took part in the Last Sewist Standing challenge last year, inspiring other attendees to be more mindful in their fabric purchases also. We also talked about the Stash Hub app as a way to track your project ideas and inspiration. Zero waste pattern designers we mentioned:Liz Haywood Goldfinch Textile Studio Thread Faction Studio Birgitta Helmersson (in particular, her ZW Cropped Shirt pattern and ZW Workwear Jacket pattern)My version of the ZW Workwear Jacket pattern:

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• #171: Restoring and Upcycling Vintage Clothing with Debbie Murphy

  Do you love bringing new life into existing clothes? How do you decide when a vintage garment should be faithfully restored, or upcycled and transformed? And what is the environmental impact of saving old clothes from landfill anyway? This week I’m bringing you a fascinating conversation with micro-business owner, Debbie Murphy. Debbie explains how a youth spent sewing clothes to fit in with the style tribes of the 1980s led her to a career in costuming and vintage clothing restoration. She also shares how a health diagnosis sharpened her commitment to zero waste practices in her business, and the study that was done on her business which revealed incredible facts about the impact she's having. Support the podcast over on Patreon!Check out Debbie’s creations on her website, Missfit Creations, and follow her on Instagram (@missfitcreates). We referred to the small and shared spaces sewing episodes. Queue them up to listen if you haven’t heard them already!Ep. #158: Small and Shared Space Sewin, Part 1 Ep. #159: Small and Shared Space Sewin, Part 2Read the study undertaken on the environmental impact of Debbie’s business. Debbie referenced mender, Suzie Ellis (@tailsandtextiles on Instagram)

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• #170: Curtains to Couture with Marcia Riddington and Lisa Hughes

  Do you have a passion for vintage textiles but have yet to work them into your wardrobe? Are you unsure of how to deal with the limited yardage of thrifted textiles? Marcia Riddington and Lisa Hughes, along with the rest of their collective, ‘Curtains for Couture’, share a desire to demystify working with existing textiles and to encourage people to wear what they really want. In this episode, Lisa and Marcia share their tips on sourcing, sewing and styling, so you too can wear ‘curtain couture’ with confidence and joy.Support the podcast over on Patreon!Follow Marcia Riddington on Instagram (@marcialoisriddington). Follow Lisa Hughes on Instagram (@vintage_dahling). Along with Jill, Sorrel, Claire and Nicky, they form the Curtains to Couture collective that can be followed on Instagram also (@curtainstocouture). Four members of the crew:You can use their hashtag #curtainstocouture to share your own upcycled curtain creations!The Sussex-based fabric and pattern company, Merchant & Mills, started the #lessthanametre hashtag, in part to showcase their range of ‘Less than a Metre’ patterns. Recommended patterns:The Pilvi Coat pattern from the book ‘Lotta Jansdotter Everyday Patterns’ by Lotta Jansdotter.  The Trapeze Dress pattern by Merchant & Mills The Carson Dress pattern by Paddle Boat Studio The 52-3 Unlined Coat with Shawl Collar pattern by sisterMAG Patterns(image source: The Trapeze Dress pattern by Merchant & Mills)Marcia recommends following mending expert Alexandra Brinck (@alexandrabrinck)A detail from Marcia’s favourite pair of mended jeans:The jeans are worn here with the jacket Marcia made from a thrifted needlecord tunic:Marcia’s Christmas frock is a great example of how you can incorporate smaller pieces of fabric into a larger garment by combining them with other fabrics:

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