Sewing Green: 25 Projects Made with Repurposed & Organic Materials Plus Tips & Resources for Earth-Friendly Stitching

by Betz White, Betz White

By its nature, do-it-yourself 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 and back-of-the-closet 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.

Genres: Crafts, Sewing, Nonfiction, Environment, Adult, Reference, Green

144 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2009

Reviews

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone wants to be more green and here are some great ways to get on the bandwagon. From sandwich wraps to bags and wallets, home dec and clothing, there are many cute projects here using recycled materials or new materials that will replace expendables.
The photos are great and while the upbeat descriptions make it sound easy to walk into a thrift store and find 4 coordinating cashmere sweaters to de-construct and sew to create a beautiful throw, that hasn't been my experience. But you will be filled with ideas, and will certainly have a project in mind when you find a great fabric weather it is new or used.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book and will probably actually buy it! I know, right? It has so many great projects made from vintage cloth, felted sweaters, recycled fabrics, etc. She also has great resources in the back and blogs of current artists. There is a clever picnic blanket made from vinyl tablecloth (heavier duty) with old towels sewn on the opposite side that I really like.

[Elspeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The projects in this book are really cute and can be used to re- or up-cycle old materials to keep them out of a landfill. And yes, that is Alice Wetterlund from "Resident Alien" on the cover ;)

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute projects.

[Lana. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely book. Projects have clean lines and bright colours, reminiscient of Ikea funishings. Best part, the book includes a number of projects that use materials (beyond clothing) that were destined for the landfill.

Instructions are detailed, and projects are at a medium level of sewing.

Each project is also followed by a profile of a "green" resource. While this information may be helpful and inspiring to some, I found that they read like adverts and was slightly annoying (since I'm project orientated).

[Susanne E · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are a few cute project ideas in here - the aprons and the reusable sandwich wrap jumped out at me, though I haven't packed a sandwich for lunch in ages. But at the same time, many parts of this book make me want to go run over an endangered animal with an SUV while wearing non-organic cotton clothing. I have a hard time believing that a fiber made of corn polymers is that much more "natural" and earth-friendly than polyester, and I really don't see why anyone would want to make pajamas out of thrift-store sheets from the 70s. Anyway, OK patterns but silly premise.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book not only has projects but company's that support reusing clothing, green ideas, swaps and even Japanese gift wrap.

Sewing Green

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really neat book on how to repurpose fabrics. Some fantastic patterns and instructions in here - I really like the pajama pants, the recycled cashmere sweater throw, recycled sweater slippers, baby quilt and hat and toy, little girl pillowcase dress. My FAVORITE is the reversible wrap skirt pattern.

Definitely check this out again.

Also check out alabamachanin.com

[E.A. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good introduction and some great 'green' projects that I'd like to try, including a tote bag and reversible skirt. Most of the projects, though, involve using fabrics I might not want to use for clothes, like pillow cases, table clothes and bed sheets. I think I'll reuse some of my old clothes in their place.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

646.4 Wh

pg. 34 Cashmere lap throw. Nice rectangular patterned blocks

pg. 22 Great small flower & leaf patterns. They use for coasters.

pg. 14 Cute aprons made from men's striped shirts

pg. 48 recycled sweater slippers

pg. 52 felted leaf scart

pg. 74 really cute baby hat

pg. 90 reusable sandwich bags

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

What it says--lots of fun projects to do with organic and/or up cycled fabrics and other materials. I enjoyed planning and making the slippers out of my worn-out boiled-wool jacket ("pre-felted"!)--my father loves them!

Great not only for projects but to give creative crafters ideas for new projects--I got an idea for a "holly-leaf" collar from the leaf scarf project.

[Meryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you do not read any craft blogs and have absolutely no ideas for making things out of thrifted/repurposed fabrics, you might find some good stuff here. For me (avid reader of craft blogs) most of it was stuff I'd seen before.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

it has some great projects and not all your usual same old same old projects. Also some great info on repurposing fabric, the patterns could be better designed/explained. I'm excited to try a couple once I find the time!

[Stacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a lot of projects in here that are creative and useful. I made the bottle carrier and it turned out great. I am still working on the wrap-around skirt. I can't find a reverse fabric I like enough. I recommend this book. It will inspire.

[Heidi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry Betz, but this one was snores-ville. I like the leafy scarf on the front cover but fear that upon wearing it I might be mistaken for the Jolly Green Giant! The projects--while cute--were nothing new or groundbreaking considering the cool, innovative stuff I see on blogs every day.

[Jaime David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the layout of this book and the concept of repurposing. There were lots of great tips for environmentally friendly approaches to sewing and crafting. I have not made any projects yet, but am super excited about the lunch bag, sandwich wrap, and produce bags, to name a few.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a few good projects in this book. I wouldn't buy it, but I'd definitely check it out from the library again. But it's not really cutting edge with the repurposing or recycling in my opinion.

[Kenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has some original (and some not so original) ideas and patterns for repurposing other items into sewn garments and home decorations. She explains everything well. Good for beginners to advanced sewers.

[Zippy · Rating 2 out of 5]

A few projects I liked. Some were a little silly to me. Great tips on bargain hunting for re-purposing, although some repetition. I did make the basic napkin ring without embellishments. The instructions for the embellishments did not really make sense to me and there were no photos to help.

[Tamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I might try the door draft that looks like a tree branch. Cute and warm. My favorite. :)

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. I had higher hopes for this book than what it actually delivered. Didn't feel there was anything new.

[reading is my hustle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Projects I am going to make from this fabulous book:

- reusable sandwich wrap(s)

- natural produce bags

- reversible wrap skirt

[Phobean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet book -well designed, well researched and full of useful information. I haven't tried to actually make anything from it yet, but I've my eye on a project or two.

[Juliette Morris Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very pretty book. Good for someone who knows how to sew well, but there are a few projects for lunch bags, etc. that I'm going to try.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some interesting ideas in here, I really would like to make the auto sunshade out of Capri Sun pouches!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love making things out of other things so this is right up my alley. I think I actually will have to buy this. It's so easy to get more ideas from the projects in books like this too.

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

denim shopper bag from a skirt, water bottle sling, reversible wrap skirt,darling aprons from a man's button up shirt.

[Donaji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely ideas for re-purposing items. From kitchen items to baby clothes, this book is an easy reference for sewing small items. Cute ideas for everyone and everything.

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVe the slipper pattern and the pillows! haha

[Kelly (Maybedog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some good projects, very pretty.