Zero Waste Sewing

Zero waste design has been a growing trend in the fashion industry, and I’m very excited to see it catching on in the craft world, as well!

The idea behind zero waste design is really in the name: designers create patterns that use every last scrap of fabric on the bolt to reduce the amount that goes to landfills. A happy side effect of zero waste design is that saving materials also saves money. Everybody wins!

Betz White wrote an excellent piece for Sew, Mama Sew! on zero waste sewing, describing the concept of zero waste design and its environmental impacts. Betz says:

Currently the industry wastes about 15% of fabric used in garment construction. Zero-waste designers must truly innovate by specifically engineering their designs to not only look great but reduce waste and, by doing so, even cut manufacturing costs. Sometimes it means creating pattern pieces that fit together like a puzzle, other times it means no cutting but folding, draping and stitching the fabric into shape.

As a crafter nursing blisters on my fingers after a recent sewing marathon, that no cutting idea definitely appeals to me!

Betz has already dabbled in zero waste design with simple projects like her 10 Minute Pillowcase Apron, and it sounds like she’s got some more zero waste projects and patterns in the works! I’m excited to see what she comes up with and am trying to think of ways to make my own sewing projects zero waste, too!

Have any of you worked on zero waste design? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments.

[Image Credit: Creative Commons photo by: cedwardmoran]