Zero waste project 16: adapting a non-zw pattern

Another quick project today: a #zerowaste version of the #dressedletshirt by @deer_and_doe_patterns.

This pattern was the very first proper garment I made when I started sewing for real in October, from the #dressedlelivre book. I wear that pink t-shirt all the time and decided it might be fun to try and make it again but zero waste! The patterns in this book are sized for 80-116cm/31-45” bust, 86-122cm/33-48” hips. I made this from exactly 110x63cm of organic cotton jersey.

I cut the front on the fold, the back with a seam, and the bottom hem and shoulders straight across. I sewed and top stitched darts to match the shoulder slope of the pattern, and angled sleeve hems to match the original sleeve shape. The front neck cutout became the mostly-useless-lets-call-it-decorative boob pocket (husband said it could be useful for bus tickets and credit cards, he’s right!). That’s not part of the original pattern, I did this instead of the back neck reinforcement I usually do with this piece. The other small pieces at the back neck and between the front and back were pieced together for the neck binding – it’s wider at the front and narrower at the back.

This was my first attempt adapting a classic sewing pattern for zero waste, and I like how it turned out! It has the same silhouette, and the seams and angled lines turned out kind of decorative. I’m too tired to get nice photos of it being worn, but in real life it’s everything except boxy – and because it’s black and simple will be easy to pair with other clothes I have. And it used significantly less fabric than my first version.

I bought some performance fabrics recently for activewear, so I might make this again in one of those!

Have you hacked a classic pattern into a zero/low waste one?

#zerowastesewing #sustainablesewing #youcanhackit #patternhack #diyzerowaste #deeranddoe