Zero Waste Competition
Summer Term 20
What a term! The Pandemic meant we had to quickly adapt and put our courses online, as teachers we had to adapt to this new way of teaching and found that maybe we had got too dependent teaching with our hands and that without teacher’s hands ‘interfering’ student’s understanding of projects and problem solving skills improved more than being in the classroom! We were so impressed with what they have made through online lessons.
The theme for the competition was ‘Zero Waste’. Normally we are less prescriptive with projects but due to the pandemic we had to set projects so that we could teach online.
However, the students still added their own creative flair on the projects, which is amazing too see.
We set projects of:
-Zero waste shorts, where they had to draft their own pattern that used the whole fabric from measuring themselves.
-Patchwork bodice, where they were given a pattern they had to assemble and workout the correct size that would fit them and then patchwork remnants together to make the fabric.
-Easy rucksack, which is another zero waste project, where they had to measure out specifications of the bag from a rectangle of fabric.
And some students did their own projects out of garments from home or adding to ones they had already made.
Our Judge for this competition is Lily Fulop.Lily Fulop is author of Wear, Repair Repurpose: A Maker’s Guide to Mending and Upcycling Clothes. Which a copy of is first prize for the winner of the competition.
‘Replacing buttons, darning socks, and other mending skills have largely been lost to the decades. Yet, as the eco-conscious are ditching fast fashion, these techniques are being rediscovered as easy methods to revamp closets with personal flair, hello, visible mending and sustainability.’
Lily is a person after our own heart with her ethos of her book, so we were so excited when she agreed to judge and offer a copy of her book as a prize!
Here are her overall comment:
‘Thanks so much for sending these! I love the zero-waste theme, and it was so cool to see all the different interpretations. Thanks so much for giving me the opportunity to judge!’
The Competitions Entries
Zero Waste Shorts- A made these shorts from measuring herself and making her own pattern. She did this through online lessons!
Judge’s Comment
These look really comfortable and roomy! I love the bold choice of fabric. Awesome job!
Zero Waste Shorts- C made these shorts from measuring herself and making her own pattern. She did this through online lessons!
Judge’s Comment
The fit on these is really great! They look very even and well-made, which means she was really careful about measuring and planning. Nice work!!
G made this patchwork top and decided to add sleeves. G was new this term and we have only taught her online! We’re so impressed with what she has done this term.
Awesome patchwork! I love the intentional layout of the rectangles with alternating fabric. It looks like a lot of measuring and planning was done! Collars can be tricky, but she did a nice job with the curve. I love that she experimented with sleeves on her own! I think she should keep practicing with sleeve patterns to work on getting the exact fit she wants.
E made this patchwork top. She decided to add a belt so that it can has the option to be more fitted. She didn’t want to make the top smaller as she wanted the option to wear it for a long time as she keeps growing.
Judge’s Comment
I love how she thought about making this shirt last so she can wear it when she gets bigger! That’s very sustainable and smart to make something that can be worn different ways. The patchwork is really fun, and neatly done. She made an interesting design choice with the straight neck and the sleeves that stand out from the patchwork!
C joined us doing online lessons and made all her projects at home with hand sewing. We’re so impressed with what she achieved through hand sewing. She made this satchel bag at home and then went over her hand stitches with the sewing machine.
Judge’s comment
I’m impressed that she stitched it by hand! It’s smart that she reinforced it, too. I love the applique detail of the paw print– it shows a lot of creativity and personality!
Zero Waste Shorts- R made these shorts from measuring himself and making his own pattern. He started this with online lessons and then finished off in person.
Judge’s Comment
I love how much personality these shorts have, and the way he styled them! The fabric is really fun, and the overall fit looks good (although they might be a little asymmetric, but that might have been a funky design choice!) I hope he keeps sewing!
Patchwork top, A made this top through the online May half term course. She had to assemble a bodice pattern, working out which size would fit her and then patchwork the fabric together to cut the bodice out from.
Judge’s Comment
Love the patchwork design that she created and the shape of the shirt! She laid the squares out in a way that looks intentional– it was smart to center the middle column! Next time, she can keep working on finishing the collar a little neater, but it’s awesome that she tried out different stitches! Keep it up!
Runner’s Up
D had made this top (and skirt) previously. But what we’re impressed with is she came up with a way to keep wearing the top as she grows. She came up with the solution with adding a zip and inserting a lace panel so it becomes a feature.
Judge’s Comments
This is so smart and creative! I love how she’s thinking about making her clothes last as she grows, which is very sustainable and a great way to tackle waste. I’m impressed at how she rethought the design and added a feature that felt like it was an intentional part of the original design– It’s really cute! The sleeves are really well-done too.
Denim Jean Up-cycle- taking a pair of Dad’s jeans, E first had to alter the waistband to fit her and then she took the lower part of the legs, opened them up, joined them together and attached them to the top of the jeans. She had to use lots of problem solving skills to achieve her unique design.
Judge’s Comment
Wow! E definitely has the eye of a designer, and transformed these pants into something really unique! I love that she thought outside the box, and made something that feels very high-fashion.
Patchwork Top, M came up with her own patchwork design top. She worked out how to add french darts into the top t omake it more fitted. She made this through online lessons.
Judge’s Comment
I love this patchwork design! The straps and style of the neck are really cute, and nicely done. I’m impressed that she figured out how to do darts, and alter her clothes so that they fit her better! It shows that she has a lot of creativity, confidence, and skill.
Third Place
P made this Easy Rucksack that doesn’t waste any material! She made this rucksack through online lessons.
Judge’s Comment
This looks very professional!! I love the contrasting fabric used in the straps– that was a smart design choice! I’m impressed that she figured out how to sew the fasteners on, and create something sturdy and functional. Awesome job!
Second Place
Patchwork Dungaree Dress- M came up with her own patchwork pattern and her own design to make from her patchwork. She really challenged herself with a difficult patchwork. She lined the dress to add that professional finish and had a zip in the side seam.
Judge’s Comment
I’m impressed that she came up with this whole pattern and even did the tricky details like sewing a zipper and lining! She went the extra mile to make this high-quality, and the skill shows! I love that she came up with the design and silhouette herself!
First Place!
J came up with her own unique patchwork pattern and incorporated lace that she already had to make this top. All done through online lessons.
Judge’s Comment
This top is incredible! The patchwork is very well-done– I love the way she aligned the patchwork with the center-seam detail and the radiating shape below her neck. The lace addition is an awesome way to make use of the fabric she had, while adding an interesting design element. The stylized wide sleeves and silhouette is very flattering. She also chose great colors and distributed them evenly throughout the pattern in a way that looks very intentional. Great eye for design and details, and impressive skill!