Top 10 Free Zero Waste Sewing Patterns || Frugal Friday

[@caesiusgeo]

I've been looking for free patterns to utilize my fabric scraps I have collected over the last few years. I'm pregnant and require new clothing but unfortunately cannot afford it along with the impending hospital and baby care costs. I appreciate the position of non- judgement as sometimes we have little option but to use available resources and information and be thankful of what others have provided of their skills and time etc

[@Frugalisama]

So glad that you find the videos useful & congratulations 🤗

[@cathyswope5174]

I yard/meter free patterns would be great, thanks Sam

[@Frugalisama]

Great, good to hear 🤗

[@jennifermaddock4382]

One thing I've started doing with knit scraps is making underwear using Megan Neilsen's free Acacia pattern. They fit well, they're quick to sew and it's kind of fun to have matching top and undies. I use upholstery fabric to make dog and cat beds for our local vet clinic, stuffed with small scraps of fabric, yarn and quilt batting. They always appreciate them.

[@Frugalisama]

Ah yes I love the Acacia pattern too - what a lovely idea to make beds for the dogs & cats with your scraps, I'm sure they will be much appreciated 🤗

[@dianadivadiamond]

It's like the saying, 'better late than never.' The 1yd/m items sound very interesting. Blessed week to you. Some of the patterns I like. Thanks again my dear Sam.

[@Frugalisama]

Ha ha yes Diana, better late than never & I wouldn't have missed meeting up with my family for the world - little Alice is growing so fast. Glad you found a couple of patterns that you liked - have a lovely week 🤗

[@evanick823]

Thank you for the video. We have to be more sustainable with our sewing and in general. I was just reading about those record breaking heatwaves in America. Fast fashion contributes to climate change and we home sewists also in a small way so whatever we can do to be more sustainable is worth doing. Whether it's using zero waste patterns, sewing with natural fabrics rather than polyester, upcycling our old clothes or charity bargains or using leftover scraps of fabric. Also buying only the minimum fabric required to reduce waste. Always watch your channel, it's full of good ideas.

[@Frugalisama]

Thanks Evanick - yes we can al do our small bit can't we - thanks for watching & I'm glad that you enjoy the videos 🤗

[@joanalmarini]

Liz Haywood has the BEST zero waste scrubs pattern. She designeted it while the pandemic was in the worst phase in Australia and it helped so so much... Actually I´m a physician and made some of them and loved!

[@Frugalisama]

Ah yes I saw those, I had a spell of sewing scrubs last year too for hospitals & care homes 🤗

[@eddieeynon1856]

Thank you for the brilliant video 😍I have actually made three of the Elbe robes: it works beautifully if you have a straight back, but does not hang very well if not. However, it inspired me to design my own duster coat pattern which is rather more fitted, but uses the same amount of fabric. I have my own fabric printed, so need to keep the costs down and not waste anything.

[@Frugalisama]

You're welcome - great that you've designed your own - well done 👍

[@NotesfromtheSewingRoom]

Thanks for sharing 😊💖 I enjoyed hearing about these patterns and the pattern companies that are unfamiliar to me x

[@Frugalisama]

You're welcome Becky, glad that you enjoyed it 🤗

[@jillben-dor5906]

Great information, Sam. Love your thoughtful presentation. As a shortie, might try those trousers on the milanavjc site. And would love more one meter ideas. Thanks!

[@Frugalisama]

Oo would love to see them if you do Jill - the pattern may tell you what height they were drafted for but I guess you can take off length if they're too long more easily than adding if they're too long !

[@judymoodyful]

Another fab video, Sam. Thanks 😊

[@Frugalisama]

Thanks Judith - glad you enjoyed it!

[@buzzi2k]

Totally agree on ZW patterns but really being the most sustainable - the most sustainable garment is one that has lower environmental impact, humane worker conditions, and that you'll wear for many many years.

[@Sqwifeve]

Thanks Sam. Really enjoyed this video, even if, like you, I wouldn't make most of them ( I'm short and still it's have the adjustment issues and fired clothes look better on my shape). But I'm always interested in how I can reuse, etc.

[@Frugalisama]

Glad you enjoyed it - it's always interesting to see design details etc - even if you won't make that pattern it can spur ideas for other projects can't it 🤗

[@zoeem6971]

hey i loved the video an specially the windbreaker! Sadly it is not found through the link. Can i still get it anywhere else?

[@Frugalisama]

Hi Zoe, I've had a look but it looks as though it has been withdrawn unfortunately. I made this video 2 years ago & it was free then but I can't even find it as a paid for pattern. ☹️

[@lilybogaards5089]

Interesting. Sensible look at the concept and examples. For me it confirms that this style of patterns is not for me. I’ll focus on other methods for a more sustainable way of sewing. I don’t waste fabric anyway. Every scrap gets used. 💕

[@Frugalisama]

Thanks Lily - yes I try to give a balanced view - it's definitely not for everyone & a certain amount of scraps come in i=useful - it's when designers don't consider wastage that annoys me - thanks for watching 🤗

[@dotschischloh9767]

Lots of great info. Thanks

[@Frugalisama]

Glad it was helpful 🤗

[@anastasiaartsimovich920]

Hello, Sam! I am a designer myself and have played with some zero-waste ideas. While I love the philosophy behind it I completely agree with you (and your subscriber) that using up every bit of fabric just for the sake of it doesn’t make sense. I would personally still consider a pattern zero-waste if I had some fabric left-over as long as it is in a useful, useable format meaning a rectangle and not oddly shaped bits and pieces that you normally get from the armhole and crotch areas for example. If the pattern is graded then it is likely to require different areas (width x length) of fabric and while you can buy the exact length (in my local shops there are no restrictions) the width (as you pointed out too) is fixed. I have a dress design where with different sizes you have a more or less wide strip of fabric left over. I wonder if it can still be considered zero-waste? Near-zero-waste? Is there a better term to describe this kind of patterns? I loved the video and I would love to hear your thoughts on this. Thank you!

[@anastasiaartsimovich920]

I realised after writing this that this is exactly the case with Milan AVJC patterns as they indicate different required widths. In effect, you work with a standard fabric width and the rest is a remnant.

[@Frugalisama]

Hi Anastasia, thank you for taking the time to comment - I think maybe minimal waste might be the term, although Near zero-waste describes it accurately also. I think when time has been spent in the design process of developing a pattern to consider less fabric waste then the result is always going to be a more efficient use of fabric. I would be interested to see your designs 🤗

[@anastasiaartsimovich920]

@@Frugalisama I'll show you once I release something :) made a note for myself!

[@Frugalisama]

@@anastasiaartsimovich920 Ooh - fab, look forward to it 🤗

[@alisonc297]

I'd be interested to see how you get on making one of these patterns up. I struggle with the thought of pattern layout not taking account of grain lines in the fabric....

[@Frugalisama]

Ye I think any pattern matching & directional prints will have to be ignored too - I'll see how I get on 🤗

[@craftymystic4868]

Thanks, Sam! Family first, always a good idea. I noticed your grand baby holding your hand pretty tight in one of the IG pics!

[@Frugalisama]

Yes agreed Deb - she had her arm stuck up like that - I think she was probably tired bless her 🤗

[@craftymystic4868]

@@Frugalisama I think she was hanging on to Grandma……….

[@raquelseydewitz203]

Thanks for sharing

[@Frugalisama]

My pleasure Raquel - thanks for watching 🤗

[@joanalmarini]

Also Danielle Elsener (DECODE) has a fantastic scrub pattern (just mere dificult for begginers than Liz´s) for free. Finaly, the zero waste wardrobe web site (in Polish but we can always use google translator) has some GREAT free patterns

[@Frugalisama]

Oh fantastic thanks for the heads up for that one, I’ll look it up 🤗

[@lesleyb7935]

@@Frugalisama did you find this site? I've had a look but can't find anythiing. Thanks. :-)

[@damitapparel689]

I prefer using my scraps to make closet core poufs the interior is filled with all my serger scraps(i have an industrial serger, since i sew a ton for home and business purposes so a ton of serger offcuts.) All my knit scraps become baby mittens and hats i donate to less fortunate moms. Anything more than 20cmx 150cm isnt scrap to me though lol.

[@elisa4620]

Exactly. I think sewing can be zero/low waste even if one garment might not have been. I think true zero-waste sewing is about being mindful of the garments you choose to make and about what you do with the scraps and the leftovers/remnants from your project. Putting some fabric on a garment when it doesn't have any purpose (utility or style) doesn't make any sense, just like using more of it just to have no "waste". But the concept and designs of zero-waste clothes are very interesting and we can learn from them.

[@franreichenberg7466]

Is a dead lightweight tent a source of of ripstop?

[@Frugalisama]

Yes I think it would be, I seem to remember them doing something with a tent on the sewing bee one year 👍

[@SIC647]

Hi The link to Milan AVJC in your description isn't working.

[@Frugalisama]

Ok, thanks for letting me know, they may have updated their website, you should be able to get the patterns here: tinyurl.com/9kc4mn9x

[@vickifenlon2235]

Hi Sam, a bit jealous you got to see family. All my family is in US and I'm in Ireland. Will probably be next Spring before I head over. Haven't seen my kids or grandgirls in 2 years already.🙁

[@Frugalisama]

Aw that’s rough Vicki, it was hard not being able to see them during lockdown so I’m making the mist of it now. Hope you get to communicate with them often by zoom/Skype/FaceTime 🤗

[@vickifenlon2235]

@@Frugalisama I FT with the grands often. They are 18, 17, 14, 10, and soon to be 7. The youngest had just turned 5 last time I saw her and now has 2 school years experience. It's tough, but thank goodness for technology. The two oldest girls have each been to Ireland to visit in summer when they were 15. So looking forward to my next 15 year old to come. Maybe by summer, 2022…

[@carolinearnold_et_les_bobi6838]

I find it strange that you cannot buy the amount of fabric you wish in a real shop (not online). In all shops I have been, you can get whatever you want, the only restriction is sometimes you need to take at least 50 cm, but I regularly buy 70-80cm for tshirts and 1m40 or 1m60 for tops, for instance. (I'm from Belgium)

[@Frugalisama]

Ah that's interesting Caroline, we sell in 25cm increments & fat quarters because we sell quilting fabric, so our minimum is 25cm but I've never been in a shop in the UK that sells in smaller amounts. I think Minerva, (online only), do now though!

[@elainesnyder8210]

I enjoyed the video very much. Interesting but I am nm like you I don't care for the boxier look. 🤗

[@Frugalisama]

Glad that you enjoyed it Elaine - yes I like a bit of shaping or at least a fabric that draped 🤗