Monthly Archives: May 2014

Sew 141 – The ripple effect

When you throw a rock in the pond, ripples emerge as a result of that action. This Sew it Again project is not exactly a rock, rather a deliberate and sustained action that is demonstrating the multitude of ways we can reclaim our wardrobes by resewing.

Over the past few decades as women relished long-denied educational and workplace opportunities, we readily outsourced our clothing requirements. Home-made was considered old-fashioned and we embraced easy (and cheap) opportunities to buy off the rack.

The more we bought into the fashion thing, the more we lost the skills and confidence to ‘do for ourselves’ thereby becoming disempowered and dependent on fashion houses and clothing supply chains.

In the same way the food revolution reclaimed the freedom, pleasure and nourishment enabled by home-cooking and baking skills, we are poised to revive home-sewing skills as part of the fashion revolution. Continue reading →

Sew 140 – Making a difference

This website encapsulates a creative, wholehearted leadership journey by me, Jane Milburn, with no set destination except to demonstrate a more sustainable approach to the way we engage with what we wear.

Family and friends are supporting me to unhitch from the ‘office job’, immerse in slow fashion and use simple home-sewing techniques to model creative ways of re-using instead of re-buying.

It is affirming to know that my efforts are not in vain and the Sew it Again project is considered worthy of being archived for posterity.

The State Library of Queensland has selected Sew it Again for regular archiving in the National Library of Australia’s web archive, PANDORA and I’ve enabled that to happen. Exciting. Continue reading →

Sew 139 – Clothing recommission

Some people wear vintage clothing well – but there are other people who don’t and some garments that make you feel out-of-date.

Such was the case with this lovely brushed cotton frock which my friend Ele gave me to update for her as Sew 139, see below.

But first, I’ve included a photo of this quick and easy refresh Ele achieved for her verandah chairs using large op-shop bought t-shirts and a bit of hand-sewing using blanket stitch one evening.

This upcycle just goes to show you don’t need a sewing machine, you don’t need heaps of time or money – you just need a little motivation and effort to transform an old sofa with $25 worth of cast-off clothing.

Continue reading →

Sew 138 – Washing and wearing

After our clothing has been made and sold, the main environmental impact comes from the way we wash and dry it.

In The Sustainable Fashion Handbook by Sandy Black, the University of Oxford’s Chris Jardine estimates that each washing machine or dryer uses about 10 percent of an average household’s electricity consumption.

Simple options for reducing environmental impacts (and cost) of washing and drying are:

Wash full loads – the energy required for a washing cycle is the same, regardless of whether the machine is full or empty;
Wash at as low temperature as possible – heating the water uses most of the electricity required to run the machine;
Dry garments on a line, not in a dryer – line dry garments outside on a washing line, or inside on a well-spaced clothes rack. Continue reading →

Sew 137 – One of a kind

Having an original, one-of-a-kind garment is interesting, fun and an expression of creativity – but it is not for everyone.

We all have our own preference and taste, whether that is conservative, conventional or high fashion as determined by so-called trendsetters and style leaders,

Because I’ve never been one to follow the crowd, upcycling existing clothing suits me well – I can experiment with different styles and enjoy natural fibres without breaking the bank.

My Upcycled exhibition in Coolah was a unique opportunity to present an alternative and adventurous way of engaging with our wardrobes, rather than simply buying off-the-rack, ready-made fashion as has become the norm over the past two decades.

My premise is that home-sewing is a life skill, just like home-cooking, and the Sew it Again project aims to transform the way we think about and wear our clothes. Continue reading →

Sew 136 – Upcycled show makes mark

It has been affirming to see the Upcycled exhibition receive such a positive reception during the past 12 days on show in Coolah’s Pandora Gallery.

By all accounts, it had a positive social impact and provided an engaging opportunity to bring together new members of the community in a creative and uplifting way.

I could also see people shifting their thinking about clothing and textiles, and being inspired by what can be done with stuff in their wardrobes that they aren’t wearing.

Even local solicitor Michael Baxter (photo below) – in town for a Wills and Power of Attorney talk during National Law Week – engaged in the concept and brought a male perspective when he passed through the gallery and asked the question – do you upcycle men’s things too?” Continue reading →

Sew 135 – Upside-down jumper skirt

We don’t live in a perfect world, therefore shopping for the perfect outfit can be a difficult process.

It was the inability to purchase garments that work with my shape, in fabric and colours I like, that led me to upcycling and resewing existing clothing in quick and easy ways.

Having simple home-sewing skills and a basic sewing machine is empowering because you can take charge of your clothing and textile needs. You are not dependent on others or what happens to be ‘in fashion’ at the time.

In the same way that we are now valuing home-cooking skills and thinking about where our food comes from, we are becoming more mindful about the clothing that covers our living, breathing skin. Continue reading →

Sew 134 – Wool jumper to beanies + bag

By upcycling every day during 2014 for the Sew it Again project, I’m following my heart on a creative journey that bridges memories from childhood, professional expertise, networks, and a love of natural, sustainable fashion.

As well as upcycling for its own sake, I’m sharing skills and creative ideas with others interested in refashioning clothing they are not wearing and working to shift society’s thinking about the ecological impact of current clothing habits.

Today we had a second workshop as part of my Upcycled exhibition at Coolah’s Pandora Gallery which was a lot of fun, with Carol, Stella, Chris, Natalie, Georgina and Diane all leaving the session inspired by what is possible when you apply a little creative thinking.

And star pupil from Sunday’s workshop Jacki went home and produced this jeans skirt (see below) as a result of seeing what can be done. No doubt Jacki is on the way to upcycling her wardrobe forever more, using her existing sewing skills laced with creative inspiration.

To create Sew 134, we chopped off the sleeves from a wool cardigan, mended the holes then covered them with beads from a reject necklace. We then knotted the ends to form a pompom of sorts for what are now beanies. The buttoned front of the cardigan became a carry bag, with the shoulders and back of the cardi being trimmed and sewn into a long strap. A bit hard to show in photos, but once you start cutting you can devise your own method. Have fun.

Sew 133 – Alter a turtle neck jumper

Alternative ways of living and shopping that are more healthful and mindful for ourselves and our environment are all around us when we open ourselves to them.

It is great to see Reverse Garbage in New South Wales has a new shop ReConsidered at Redfern to increase the reuse of materials and decrease the amount of valuable resources heading to landfill. This South Sydney Herald article quotes Reverse Garbage CEO Narelle Mantle saying the project is promoting care and responsibility for one another and our environment. “ReConsidered seeks to inspire others to literally reconsider the notion of what is ‘waste’ and ‘garbage’ and to see value and function in materials which have been thrown to the wayside.”

This aligns with my Sew it Again project this year, in which I am valuing natural fibre clothing as a resource that can be reinvented for a second life. Sometimes it only takes a small change to make an otherwise attractive garment more comfortable. Continue reading →

Sew 132 – Mending a Woolaby

The beautiful warmth, softness and lustre of merino wool from which a Woolaby rugby jumper is created makes you want to hold on to it forever.

When holes inevitably appear over time, the life of a natural fibre garment such as this can be extended by mending the holes – in this case using woollen hearts cut from another beyond-repair jumper.

Reconsidering ways to reuse and revive resources is the subject of David Sherlock’s dramatic Think Before You Throw art sculpture from reject stuff at the Coolah waste transfer station. A trip to the tip to see this and other sculptures from the Waste to Art project overseen by my leadership colleague Ele Cook was the highlight of my morning! Continue reading →