Sustainable Sewing--My Definition

During the redesign of my website and goal setting for 2015, I found myself more focused on what I want my business and this website to be. The phrase Sustainable Sewing seems to sum it up perfectly. What do I mean by that?

To me, sustainable sewing is using sustainable fabrics produced ethically while creating little to no waste in the process. It's a response to fast fashion that is a complete disaster for our environment, whether polyester dresses, vinyl handbags or single use plastic shopping bags. My products follow this principle, as do my sewing patterns. I would like to do more of this in my personal wardrobe this year, and invite you to do the same.

Image source: bitcointalk.org

My hope for this website is to be a resource for you for sustainable sewing. I will share my projects, recommend indie designer patterns, continue offering free sewing tutorials and helpful tips, provide a list of helpful books, plus maintain a list of recommended sources for finding things like organic cotton knit fabric.

This will not be a blog about sewing solely with hemp! In fact, I've never sewn with hemp. We won't be making feed sack depression-era dresses. Think beautiful materials, stylish modern patterns, and ways to use the leftovers from a project without having to throw them in the trash. Clothing, accessories, home decor, even some quilting with tee shirts and scrap fabric.

I'll be posting my projects to Instagram (dancingthreadsri), flagging them with #sustainablesewing. What I will NOT do is affiliate marketing or paid advertising. Any recommendations you see here are completely and wholly my own. I do not accept ads, and I do not accept free product in exchange for reviews. You can trust that everything I publish here has been purchased by me and personally vetted first. 

To give you a sneak peek, here is a project I have planned, but haven't yet purchased the supplies:

This is the Marianne Dress from Christine Haynes. (photo source: www.christine haynes.com). Isn't it lovely? Classic, but modern at the same time. I hope to make it from an organic knit fabric with a white yoke and navy/white striped body. Can't you just picture anchor buttons on the cuffs? I have high hopes that this will be a summer staple dress for me that will last for many years to come, without going out of style.


Let's make a difference through our sewing. Increase your confidence. Choose sustainable fabric over polyester. Support independent designers, and look fabulous while doing it! Will you join me?