Check Your Thread Zoe Edwards

Do you want to create well fitting clothes, but you’re put off by having to make lots of changes to your pattern plus multiple toiles to test the fit? My guest, Elisalex Jewell, is an anythor and one of the founders of sewing pattern brand By Hand London. Elisalex tells us why self drafting using your own body measurements might be for you. 



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Elisalex Jewell is the co-founder of sewing pattern brand By Hand London. You can also follow her on Instagram (@elisalex).



Elisalex´s mum is Orsola de Castro (@orsoladecastro), the co-founder and creative director of Fashion Revolution, a not-for-profit activism movement which works towards a sustainable fashion industry



Elisalex has written a book with self-drafting tutorials and hacks called ‘Made to Measure: An Easy Guide to Drafting and Sewing a Custom Wardrobe’. 





Elisalex prefers dot and cross paper for pattern drafting. UK-based people can order it from William Gee and from Morplan, among others. 



Elisalex recommends DIY Daisy´s book, ‘Sew It Yourself’. You can listen to my conversation with Daisy:




Ep. #46: DIY Drafting and Inclusive Sewing with Daisy Braid




Rosie Martin has the blog ‘DIY Couture’ and wrote the book ‘No Patterns Needed: DIY Couture from Simple Shapes’. 



Elisalex featured on Episode 30 of The New Craft House Podcast. 



By Hand London’s circle skirt calculator is the original draft-it-yourself pattern!



Find all of By Hand London’s Draft It Yourself products on their website, including the Lucy dress (pictured below):

How can you attend a large sewing event more sustainably? Is it possible to avoid getting overwhelmed, to avoid regrettable impulse purchases and to actually enjoy yourself? I take my pal and previous-guest Kim Witten to her first major sewing event, The Stitch Festival in London. We gather advice on how to make the most of these events whilst getting inspired, making considered purchases and connecting with the wonderful sewing community. 



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Show notes:



**Click here to find the How to Sew Clothes from Fabric Scraps downloadable PDF**





Kim and I went to The Stitch Festival in London in March 2024. 



Kim Witten is a Transformational Coach and Research Consultant. 



Listen to Kim in previous episodes:




Ep. #71: Making Personal Manifestos with Kim Witten



Ep. #91: Self Knowledge for Sewing Success with Kim Witten



Ep. #92: Self Coaching for Sewing Success with Kim Witten




Kim enjoyed the printed jerseys on the Dots ‘n’ Stripes stand.



Zoe and Kim spoke to Charlotte (IG @lottejamiesoncrafts) on the Emporia Patterns stand. Emporia recently released two new patterns: Tony Shirt and Zoe Dress patterns.





Vicki Reid’s new fabric designs and buttons were produced in collaboration with Pigeon Wishes and can be found on her website What Vicki Made, along with her woven labels.  





Sharon from Maven Patterns gave excellent advice about taking photos of things you like before committing to buying them. Listen to Sharon’s husband Richard on the podcast:




Ep. #109: More Sustainable Thread Options with Richard from James Tailoring



Ep. #114: More Sustainable Haberdashery with Richard Mendham




Fauve (IG @sew_fauve) and Asmaa (IG @sewgical_endeavours) from GBSB 2024 are collaborating as Imperfectly Perfect (IG @imperfectlyperfectbyfna) to run sewing classes in South Wales.





My lovely colleague Claire was working on the Fabric Godmother stand wearing a dress made using the Vali Dress & Top pattern from Pattern Fantastique.



We bumped into previous-guest Tony Rea (IG @tonyr.maker). Listen to the episode:




 Ep. #124: Fearless Sewing with Tony Rea






Kim plans to use her olive green denim to make the Cosecha Pants pattern by Sew Liberated.

Would you like to have new types of creative fun whilst saving money AND reducing your environmental impact? Sewing clothes from fabric scraps gives you all these things, AND the results are always completely unique. Today I’m sharing everything I’ve learnt over the years about sewing clothes from scraps. And although there’s never a right way or wrong way to approach sewing with scraps, these pointers will help you get started quickly if it’s something you’d like to try. 



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**Download the guide that accompanies this episode ‘How to Sew Clothes From Fabric Scraps’**



Listen to the following related episode:




Ep. #116: Improv Scrap Play with Sherri Lynn Wood




Fast track your fabric knowledge with the downloadable ‘Introduction to Garment Fabrics’ guide. 



Pattern suggestions for self-piecing:



Brindille & Twig (all children’s)




Boxy Tee



Lounge Sweatshirt



School Sweats



Vintage Pants



Wide Loungers 




Grainline Studios




Linden Sweatshirt



Scout Tee



Willow Tank & Dress




Helen’s Closet




Jackson Tee & Pullover



Orchard Top & Dress



Sam Apron 



York Pinafore




Named Clothing




Ninni Culottes




Tessuti Patterns




Amara Vest



Athina Top



Kate Top



Myka Top



Tosca Tunic




True Bias




Marlo Sweater




Waves and Wild 




Driftwood Dolman (men’s/straight fit)



Field Trip Joggers (men’s/straight fit)



Field Trip Joggers (teen-male/straight fit)



Heyday Dungarees (adult’s)



Heyday Dungarees (children’s)




Pattern suggestions for pattern-led piecing:



Bel’Etoile




Isa Sweater, Dress & Top adults



Isa Sweater, Dress & Top kids 




Blueprints for Sewing




Geodesic Sweatshirt



Saltbox Tee & Tank 




Elizabeth Sweetwater 




Ziggy Top



Boatneck Colourblock T-shirt



Striped Zipper Jacket




Jennifer Lauren Handmade




Emmie Tee




Matchy Matchy Sewing Club (most of them)



Megan Nielsen




Karri dress




Misusu Patterns (most of them) which include childrens as well as adult designs. 



Sew Liberated:




Nest Sweatshirt




Tessuti Patterns




Lennox Sweatshirt




Tilly and the Buttons:




Sonny Jacket - there are lots of other panelled jacket patterns that would work equally well, but I’m suggesting the Sonny because it comes in a very inclusive size range. 




Here are some wonderful, creative businesses and individuals who are creating awesome garments with piecing fabrics:




@tannerfrostbowen



@zerowastedaniel



@holycowsberlin



@broken.supply.co



@lesreloux



@softpawvintage



@threadandsprout



@isabelle_sews



@judywillimentross



@theconsistencyproject



@the.light.touch 



@rachiesews



@m.o.s.s.o.m 



@kionek



@spunkybruiser



@sweetfindupcycled



@elizabethsweetwaterpatterns



@pettypopcornmakes




Improv quilters, modern quilters and boro practitioners are also a fantastic source of piecing inspiration. Take a look at the following:




@sherrilynnwood



@momiyamatakao



@modernstitchwitch



@encodedstudio



@spontaneousthreads



@blue_movement2017 




Two more resources that might be useful:




Improvisational Quilting for Garment Sewists e-course - Sew DIY



Making a Scrap Patchwork Hovea Coat from Leftover Fabric - Megan Nielsen blog

Have you got your fabric scrap strategy sorted yet? This is the second part of the Scrap Strategies episodes and we’ll be discovering more systems, solutions and uses from the Check Your Thread listeners. Then we summarise all we’ve learnt to help YOU choose what’s best for you!



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Image source: Ksenia Chernaya via Pexels



Listen to:




Ep. #119: Seasonal Stash Organisation




Check out the resource Amy spoke about regarding textile recycling.  



Thread and Sprout on Instagram (@threadandsprout) is a great source of inspiration for how to combine fabric scraps.  

If you’re a garment sewer, I’m sure you’re more than aware of how quickly fabric scraps and leftovers can start to pile up. Your fabric scraps contain so much creative potential, but you need some strategies in place so they don’t overwhelm you. In this episode, we hear from CYT listeners who share what scraps they keep, how they store them, and what they use them for. Use these responses to form your own scrap strategies and solutions!



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Image source: Fiona Murray via Unsplash

Are there fabrics in your stash that you’re just too scared to cut into? I talk with Stephanie Canada, vintage sewing pattern and fabric seller, about when and why it's ok to use the precious fabric. Plus she shares her sourcing secrets, and tells us when it’s important to chuck vintage sewing resources in the bin… 



Support the podcast over on Patreon!



The website I used to research the sustainability credentials of various banks is bank.green. 





Find Stephanie’s shop at her website ‘Backroom Finds’. 



You can also find her on Instagram @backroomfinds and on Youtube @StephanieCanada.



Listen to the first episode with Stephanie:




Ep. #125: Vintage Sewing Not Vintage Values with Stephanie Canada




Stephanie bought an entire sewing shop!



Stephanie recommends these reproduction pattern companies:




Mrs Depew Vintage



Wearing History 




@WithLoveKristina on Youtube is Stephanie’s pal. 



My most precious length of fabric:





Listen to:




Ep. #72: Sewing for Body Changes



Ep. #76: Sewing for Body Changes, Part 2