It’s time for our second annual Holiday Giveaway Calendar! Everyday in the month of December we are giving away an amazing prize! It’s super easy to enter, just leave your comment answering the bolded questions below by noon EST 12/8 and one lucky winner will be chosen at random from all eligible entries!
Today’s we are giving away two great prizes from Betz White, her book, Sewing Green and a 5 piece sample set of her amazing organic fabric.
By its nature, sewing is environmentally friendly. In Sewing Green, Betz White takes stitching to an even higher level of sustainability, presenting 25 projects made from “repurposed” thrift-store finds and organic fabrics.
White’s whimsical yet practical designs include an apron constructed from men’s dress shirts (and a wallet from the shirts’ cuffs!), a soft blanket pieced from secondhand cashmere sweaters, and even a tote bag refashioned from used Tyvek envelopes. Along the way, White dispenses tips on everything from how to deconstruct old garments for reuse in new creations to how to wrap gifts with resusable fabric scraps instead of paper. Inspiring profiles about well-known leaders in the eco-stitching movement are sprinkled throughout, and a complete resources section helps crafters make eco-smart choices. With Sewing Green, today’s sewers will be fashioning handmade heirlooms and sustaining traditions for generations to come. Find out more, check out her blog
Inspired by the season, the latest Betz White organic print collection is cast in a rich palette of Indian Summer. Brilliant Goldenrod, Bittersweet, Orchid and Moss are grounded by Sweet Mulberry, Peacock, and Chocolate Brown. Digitally printed on demand, the 100% Organic Cotton 4.5 oz sateen drapes beautifully, has a lustrous sheen and is ideal for apparel, home décor, craft projects and personal accessories. Original design by Betz White professionally printed in the USA. The 5 piece sample set consists of the following prints: Indian Summer Floral, Deep Bright Stripe, Wood Pile, Peacock Sprig and Mulberry Sprig. Each cut measures 9"h x 13"w (approx. 23 cm x 33 cm) To see the full line of Betz White organic fabrics, check out betzwhite.etsy.com.
To enter, just leave your comment answering this questions by noon EST 12/8:
What’s your favorite tip for sewing ‘green’?
We want to congratulate mama3davis on winning yesterday’s two books from Nicole Smith: Fashion DIY: and DORM DÉCOR! Her comment was chosen at random from all eligible entries. Thanks to everyone who entered and good luck in today’s giveaway!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.49 PMby kluckingbear
I buy fabric leftovers at the thrift shops and I repurpose clothing, blanket, sheets, etc. into new items.
Dec 7, 2009, 06.47 PMby mrsjoker
Wonderful gift for us old hippies and young ones too
Dec 7, 2009, 06.45 PMby lizro
Use fabric from thrift store clothing!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.43 PMby marylou86
I like using old clothes to make new ones… right now I am working on using my husband’s old wool pants into a pencil skirt!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.42 PMby mprevitali
REFASHION OLD CLOTS!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.41 PMby trickygirlb
Using recycled fabrics, whether it be from refashioning, old linens, or fabric found at thrift stores, garage sales, or in relatives closets, preferably natural fibers, I’ll use synthetics, if it’s free or cheap and looks and feels decent, but I prefer fabrics that breath.
Dec 7, 2009, 06.40 PMby stacystemp
Take clothing that I’m tired of and reuse/repurpose it into other sewing projects.
Dec 7, 2009, 06.34 PMby hsitarzewski
I love keeping my son’s outgrown/stained/ripped clothes to turn into quilts and blankets. They become useful pieces for him and sentimental reminders for me!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.34 PMby hashi
I mend. I even darn socks!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.33 PMby fraiche
When I need fabric or a new thing to wear, the FIRST thing I always do is go through my closet. 90% of the time I can deconstruct an old piece or two and use it to make something totally different. Saves me money and saves the clothes from going to waste! Also helpful if you’ve spilled on/ripped/etc. something that you love but can no longer wear as is.
Dec 7, 2009, 06.33 PMby rvnl12
i love the idea of felting old sweaters. i have yet to make it to Goodwill to find some. this season i saw a pic of sweater sleeves used to make wine bags!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.32 PMby egdirb
Charity shops all the way and never throw anything away.
Dec 7, 2009, 06.30 PMby louana
looking through my wardrobe to find clothes I don’t wear and cutting them up to make clothes for my kids.
Dec 7, 2009, 06.29 PMby dewreb
Using thrift store finds to create something new!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.28 PMby sadiemama
Raid your grandma’s, aunt’s and mother’s basement & attic for fabric, linens and other treasures to sew and craft with. I have found the most beautiful fabrics this way and gave new life to forgotten things!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.28 PMby happybox
Use, Reuse and reuse again. And save every tiny bit htat is leftover!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.25 PMby nenasew
I reuse tshirts by making them into usable things such as caps. If the tshirts are too old and ragged, they start a new life as cleaning rags
Dec 7, 2009, 06.23 PMby amcoffee
Lately I’ve been hunting for vintage linens at thrift stores to make spring skirts for my girls. Last year I bought some knit tops that I hated and wanted to get rid off because they were so shapeless and dowdy, instead, I cut the sleeves to 3/4 and trimed out the ugly neckline to make them look more updated with raw edges. I think in ages past it was standard to turn old clothes and sewing scraps into quilts, there was no waste. I have many quilts made by my grandmother that incorporated scraps of my mom’s dresses.
Dec 7, 2009, 06.20 PMby jsuereth
I love to use old fabric – either from clothes or from thrift stores. I all try to use all of my scraps for things like covering buttons and magnets to appliques for my daughter’s clothes.
Dec 7, 2009, 06.11 PMby hands-of-gold
I save lots of my larger scraps, using them when I teach my neighbor’s children how to sew! Not really very green, but they have lots of fun…
Dec 7, 2009, 06.11 PMby susieq1202
hunt for recyclable fabrics at flea markets, thrift shops. Save extra buttons that come with new garments and let your imagination roam!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.11 PMby bathina
Refashion all clothes of my family and friends help to stay green. We all have to much and too quick waste- so why not saving and ther´ll be new fashionable time for it!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.09 PMby chelsea888
finding recycled fabric at second hand stores
Dec 7, 2009, 06.09 PMby ahkraus
I cut and reuse portions of otherwise stained kids clothes once outgrown. These are great for fun and utilitarian patches over holes, or just appliques, and of course patchwork!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.08 PMby sew-darn-cute
sometimes i thrift a garment for the buttons or fabric… have gotten some amazing pieces! recycle – reuse… ps. i didn’t win the sewing machine, the necklace, or the books so far…. i’d love to win this book!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.06 PMby jules87
save all your bits n bobs, they will come in useful, there are patterns on here that use scraps!
Dec 7, 2009, 06.04 PMby mbeara
I love raiding my grandmother’s closet for old treasures to refashion, and I love hitting up the thrift stores for fabrics, and materials
Dec 7, 2009, 06.01 PMby makeworkproject
Reuse, repurpose, refashion.
Dec 7, 2009, 05.59 PMby nehmah
Find cotton knit garments, in very good condition. I can cut them down to make play clothes for children who are in difficult circumstances. Nehmah
Dec 7, 2009, 05.53 PMby angelas
If poss go for organic fabrics.