‘Zero Waste Sewing’ is a philosophy that encourages the reuse of fabric offcuts, the repurposing of preloved textiles / clothing or the redesign of patterns/garment construction to minimise or create no waste. It encourages us to look at ‘waste’ materials as a valuable resource or be more mindful with the ways we use materials in the first place.

With a spirit of adventure, join Barley Massey for a fun and social event in creatively transforming your own ‘waste’ textiles into something new and functional. Barley has been a professional “upcycler”, championing creative textile reuse for over 25 years. She will share some of the techniques and tips from her own making practice and show you a collection of examples to inspire you before you get started on your own version.

All levels of sewer are welcome but basic sewing skills are recommended. If you have never used a sewing machine before and would like to attend this class, we recommend attending our Beginners Sewing 1 class first.

On completion of this class participants will confidently be able to:

– Calculate your size and use a paper pattern to cut out your cloth pieces

– Explore the range of features and stitches on the machine.

– Re- Cut existing clothes to make a new garment. Or create your own waistcoat fronts by patchworking offcuts together.

– Add a lining and ‘bag out’ your waistcoat.

– Apply buttonholes (if needed, you may be able to reuse existing buttonholes if restyling a garment)

– Get a professional and tailored finish.

– Apply learning and techniques to other garment projects.