GreenStitch Episode 5 - Lori from Sew Forth Now

What fun to chat with Lori from the Sew Forth Now podcast! I've learned so much from her over the the past few years and she's just as nice and genuine as she is on her own show.

A few tips from Lori about avoiding waste in sewing:

• Make a muslin to ensure a good fit. Old bedsheets work great.





• Cut carefully - once you cut, there's no going back.





• Save your scraps, especially with knits. Often you can save a major fail by putting those scraps to use. And they're great for piping or binding.





• Approach buttonholes with caution - double-check positioning, make a practice run with the same interfacing as your garment, etc.





• Have a tissue pattern that you know you'll never use again? Use it for creative packing material.

Lori, thanks so much for a fun interview!

Here are links to some of the other things I mentioned in this episode.

Emily's great tutorial for little boy shorts out of a men's shirt.

And above are the four pairs I made for the young nephews. They're now in Indiana - early reviews are positive!

Fons & Porter Magazine (the pattern I referenced was "Tipsy" in the September/October 2010 print edition)

Sleeves left over from two of the pairs of shorts....could they become something for the twins' little sister?

Here's the hostess apron experiment. I sort of liked it earlier. Looking at it now...not so much. I think I can find a better use for that apricot muslin.

Fons & Porter Magazine (the pattern I referenced was "Tipsy" in the September/October 2010 print edition)

As always, thank you so much for listening!

GreenStitch Episode 4 - Wardrobe Refashion

During Episode 4, it was great to chat with Nikki Prested, founder of Wardrobe Refashion, I really enjoyed getting a few insights into her background with refashioning and how she sees the practice influencing other areas of our lives.

To visit Wardrobe Refashion, go here and then click the "Blog" button.

By the way, Nikki was also featured on Good Weekend magazine's recent "Enriched List" of Australians making a difference. Check it out here!

Other links from this episode:

• The adorable peasant top from a large T-shirt. Thanks so much to Michelle from "My Gramma Said."
  


• The effort to preserve Vivien Leigh's costumes from "Gone With the Wind."

And congrats to Jodi and Jen for winning the giveaway items - they'll be in your hands soon!

Please join me next time for my interview with Lori from Sew Forth Now.

GreenStitch Episode 3 - A visit with Ginger Hendrix

I so enjoyed the interview with the awesome Ginger Hendrix. Ginger's humor and energy really made my day. If you haven't yet listened to the podcast, I know you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Click on the title or here to get to the full episode.


Here are the links to keep up with Ginger's creative escapades:

• Wienerdog Tricks
  
  
• The Trick Shop ("Where all your PDF pattern dreams come true")

Because I always tend to think in terms of "key messages," here are my thoughts from my chat with Ginger:

• You don't need to have a deep background in sewing to be successful at it. In fact, if you don't have long-standing "rules" rattling around in your head, you can more easily unleash your creativity. Just jump in and do it!
  
  
• Using reclaimed materials is a tremendously creative experience - partly because you aren't overwhelmed by endless options. You can accumulate a bit of a stash, and let the things you have on hand begin to "speak" to each other. You won't find things that match, like you would in a fabric store...but things will tend to "go together" in their own way.
  
  
• Part of organizing your stash includes constantly culling and letting go of things you've decided you may not use. You haven't invested much in it, anyway -- don't be afraid to send it back to a thrift store so it can be ready for someone else to scoop up.
  
  
• Let your friends know you're making new things out of old things. Invariably, they will give you stuff. Thank them warmly, use what you like, and donate the rest.
  
  
  Here are links to some of the specific topics Ginger covered:
• Old polyester!
  
  
• Putting words on things



• Duffle bags for camping



• Vintage polyester couch cover



• Supplies from the car junkyard



• Why 'Wienerdog Tricks'?
  
  

Ginger has generously offered a coupon code to GreenStitch listeners for purchases at the Trick Shop. Just enter GREEN25 to get 25% off.

Thanks so much, Ginger, for a really fun interview!






Here's the sheer blouse, dyed muslin skirt, and odd mesh sashes that I hope to turn into a cute hostess apron. Hmmm. Time will tell...



Remember to leave a comment on this or any other of the blog entries and your name will go into two drawings --one for the zippered pouch made out of curtain scraps (photo in previous post) and another for this set of six vintage pillowcases.


I'll do the drawing the evening of Aug. 15, so there's still plenty of time to get in on the giveaways. Thanks so much for being among the first listeners to the GreenStitch podcast.


Next podcast coming up soon, with a spotlight on another idea-filled blog for refashioners.