A while ago I was looking into the different ways you can make your wardrobe more eco-friendly, and one of those is sewing your own clothes. It creates less waste and pollution than buying cheap stuff at the shops, and doesn’t use sweatshop labour.
It’s been a while since I’ve done any sewing, so I thought I’d ask a friend to give us some more info. Libby sews a bunch of her own clothes, including the cute dress you see in the photo, which makes me want to haul out the sewing machine and give it a go again! Here she tells us how she got started and shares her tips with us…
How did you get started with sewing?
I always wanted my Mum to show me how to sew when I was a kid. She was scared I would sew my finger with the needle, so I had to wait until year 8 when I took Home Economics. I took sewing classes for 3 years of High School, even doing the SEAC class in year 10. I sewed many things over the years; quilts, clothes, handbags, artwork etc. I really started sewing my own clothes when I moved to Perth to do some study. I needed a hobby to keep me out of the shops and spending too much money. It was a great way to be creative and end up with something useful at the end.
What do you like about being able to make your clothes instead of buying them?
I like being able to pick unique fabrics that you won’t find in the clothing stores. It’s always good to know you’re wearing something that no one else will have. People are always impressed when they ask where you got something and you say you made it yourself. It’s also handy when you have a specific idea of what you want in your wardrobe, but you can’t seem to find it anywhere.
What’s your favourite thing that you’ve made?
I have a few dresses I’ve made over the years that I still wear. I just love the pattern of the fabrics I found. I don’t usually sew things without a pattern, but one year I made a Harem costume for a Morrocan party and it turned out really well. It’s great when something works out like that, because sometimes a sewing failure can be quite frustrating.
Do you have a favourite source for patterns or fabric?
Spotlight often have a sale on patterns, sometimes even buy one get 2 free. I have bought many like this over the years. My favourite website for fabrics is http://www.fabric.com/ when the exchange rate is good. They have a huge selection of Amy Butler fabrics, which I love. I just seem to collect fabric and have a cupboard full of it, that I will get around to using some day.
What advice or tips would you tell people just starting out?
It is good to be organised when sewing, otherwise the mess can get out of hand pretty quickly. Invest in a few good basic patterns and start with some cheap fabric, if you’re not sure how it will turn out.
