Sustainable Sewing: Eco-Friendly Tips and Practices
Are you someone who likes sewing but ends up with lots of leftover fabrics and wonders how to utilize them instead of throwing them away? You can try sustainable sewing techniques to reduce fabric waste, a major contribution to global waste. Sustainable sewing indicates sewing in a way that results in minimal waste material, whether using a computer sewing machine or a traditional one.
According to Earth.org, “The average US consumer throws away 81.5 lbs of clothes every year; in the US also, an estimated 11.3 million tons of textiles waste ends up in landfills on a yearly basis.” It’s time we realize our responsibility to future generations and start using sustainable methods. Over this blog, you will learn eco-friendly tips and practices to help you utilize fabrics efficiently.
Eco-Friendly Practices
1. Avoid Fast Fashion Style
Fast Fashion refers to trendy clothing that lasts for a short time. Buy clothes that suit your style instead of purchasing a new dress whenever the latest collection arrives. You can even try to make them with your existing clothes or fabrics by unleashing your creativity.
2. Prioritize over Second Hand and Thrifted Fabrics
One of the best sustainable sewing practices is buying fabrics from second-hand stores or thrift places. This way, you can use the fabric materials properly and save some bucks. Check out a few antique stores to buy clothes and remodel them per your designs.
3. Use Natural and Biodegradable Materials
Do not buy synthetic fabrics or threads or those made from heavy chemical dyes. Switch over to natural fabric made from cotton, silk, or wool and biodegradable material, which are easy to decompose. Always look for its content and origin to find naturally processed fabrics.
4. Refashion Existing Clothes
You can make a pinafore dress from old shirts forgotten in a cupboard or a cute short dress from a maxi dress. Sometimes, we keep clothes that are too long or short for us. Instead, modify the designs and sizes and use a fashion ruler to mark the curved or straight edges appropriately to create a perfect new dress.
5. Don’t Buy More Than You Need
Before sewing, estimate the amount of fabric you need by keeping shrinkage in mind. Try not to buy more fabric that you will use in your project.
A Few Environmental Sewing Tips to Follow
1. Increase the Life of Clothes by Mending
Mend the seam rips by adding a patch or sewn the holes with buttons instead of throwing them away. You can also try using some sewing tools to help you restore the clothes. Use a cutting mat for a perfect base to cut out your new fabrics or mend the old ones without damaging the table front or any fabric.
2. Purchase Color Block Fabrics instead of Printed
Prefer purchasing fabrics in a single color or color block pattern as they can be used for multiple projects compared to printed fabrics with limited use.
3. Repair Sewing Machine and Tools
Take care of your sewing machine by oiling it regularly and repairing other sewing machine supplies. For instance, you can always sharpen the scissors with a scissor sharpener to restore dull blades instead of buying new ones.
4. Make Toile from Stash
Toile is a mockup that one prepares before sewing the actual dress to have a proper idea. Instead of making it with new fabrics, stitch them with the stash of old materials. This way, you can use the old fabrics effectively.
5. Use Leftover Fabrics to Create New Essentials
You can always utilize leftover fabrics to make new quilts, pillow covers, grocery bags, rugs, or patch works. You can prepare other kitchen essentials or unique bed covers. Just iron them nicely with the handy mini steam iron; these old fabrics will be ready to be stitched.