Zero Waste Sewing and Sustainable Sewing

Zero Waste Sewing and Sustainable Sewing is a growing trend with emphasises on using environmentally friendly, ethically sourced materials, tools and techniques for making clothes, home goods and accessories.

We can make a creative impression on fabrics out of fashion clothes and vintage clothing locked away in cupboards. The key principles is set around the use of natural and recycled materials; up-cycling and repurposing textiles. Youtube and online blogs teach us methods of reconstructing garments, adding cool new features and you can find repair techniques to fix absolutely every part of a garment, upholster a chair or even completely repurpose a pair of men’s trousers into a lovely ladies jacket (I’m not sure about this one). Sometimes, it can’t be helped and we might need, or want to buy new fabrics. Think about what you buy and its purpose. Will it be a keeper? Buying natural fabrics, cottons, linen, silks means you will have a strong, long lasting garment, easily be repurposed. Use natural dyes, you can find easy methods online to create your own, unique style.

A great tip to help you choose ethically when buying clothes, look online to see if the store you visit has any of the following assurances for their fabrics. GOTS (Global Organic and Textile Standard) OCS (Organic Content Standard) BCI (Better Cotton Initiative). These assure us to know that the companies are following good standards. Harvesting to manufacture, shipping and retail methods are following methods to minimise negative impact on the environment while ensuring workers are working safely and paid a fair wage. The fabrics are safe to use and you can happily choose these knowing the garments are been produced in an ethical and responsible manner.

If you have ever spotted the OEKOTex mark, this assures us that the garment or fabric is safe for human use. It does not address fair labour practices or sustainable methods in production.

Zero Waste Sewing uses a piece of fabric wholly in the construction of a garment, without the use of printed paper patterns. Drawing out pattern pieces for a garment, on a small sheet of paper and upscaling directly onto your fabric. It takes a bit of thinking, but that’s it. Start with a simple bag and work up toward making garments. Ann Ladbury and Betty Foster often drew patterns on a grid to upscale onto fabric without the need for making a paper template first,

Have a look at my YouTube videos for Zero Waste designs to help you get started.

Keep smiling, and happy sewing

Useful Contacts

Cheshire East Council

Tel: 0300 123 5500 www.cheshireeast.gov.uk

Cheshire East Council, Westfield, Middlewich Road, Sandbach, CW11 1HZ

Cheshire Police

For non-emergency calls please 101 or 0845 4580000 (only call 999 in emergencies)

Stockport NHS Foundation Trust’s Stepping Hill Tel 0161 483 1010 www.stockport.nhs.uk

Stepping Hill Hospital, Poplar Grove, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK2 7JE.

Wilmslow Town Council

01625 402907 townclerk@wilmslow-tc.org.uk

Community Groups

Rotary Club of Wilmslow Dean 01625 535580 or 530535 www.wilmslowdeanrotary.org.uk

Wilmslow Royal British Legion Club

01625 523715

Email: info@wilmslowlegionclub.co.uk

The Green Room Theatre Wilmslow

Ticket-Line 01625 540993 email: mail@greenroomwilmslow.org.uk https://greenroomwilmslow.org.uk

Independent Community Website www.wilmslow.co.uk www.wilmslow.org.uk www.whatsin-wilmslow.co.uk

Local MP

Esther McVey MP (Conservative)

01625 529922 officeofesthermcveyMP@parliament.uk

Local Councillors

Wilmslow Dean Row

Lata Anderson (Residents of Wilmslow)

07908 245751

Lata.Anderson@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Wilmslow East

David Jefferay (Residents of Wilmslow)

07729 707215 david.jefferay@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Wilmslow Lacey Green

Don Stockton (Conservative)

01270 686474 don.stockton@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Wilmslow West & Chorley

Mark Goldsmith (Residents of Wilmslow)

07729 707215 mark.goldsmith@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Iain Macfarlane (Residents of Wilmslow)

07767 667828

Iain.Macfarlane@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Around Wilmslow

Wilmslow Library

South Drive, Wilmslow, Cheshire. SK9 1NW

Tel: 01625 374060 email: wilmslow.library@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Opening Hours: Monday – 9am - 7pm, Tuesday –9am - 5pm, Wednesday - 9am - 1pm, Thursday – 9am - 7pm, Friday 9am - 5pm, Saturday – 9am1pm. Sunday closed

Wilmslow Post Office

Tesco, Green Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 1LD

T: 01625 524036

Opening Hours: Monday – Sunday 8am – 8pm

Wilmslow Health Centre

Chapel Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire. SK9 5HX

T: 01625 548 555

Opening Hours: Monday, Wednesday & Thursday

8am – 6pm, Tuesday 8am – 8pm, Friday 7.30am – 6.30pm, Saturday 8.45am – Noon (pre booked appointments only on Saturday)

Wilmslow Dental Practice

26 Chapel Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5HZ

T: 01625 441763

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm (closed for lunch 1-2pm)

Closed Saturday & Sunday

Citizens Advice

Admin phone number is 01625 432847