Sometimes, waste can take up a lot of your fabric. This can be especially daunting if the fabric is really expensive or take long time to make (usually trough for weavers). Here is a very interesting technique of making garments without having any waste. That's how lots of traditional garments are made. Take a sheet of paper and cut it into various squares and triangles, re-assemble in desired fashion and translate this design into fabric. Remember that the material you take away in one area can be added on into another, just don't make your process too small. For beginners its better to stick to large geomertical shapes avoiding curves, tightly fitted designs and small peaces. One last advice, add on extara fabric or leave extra room in the armpits, sleeves, waste and crouch area. Remember you can always gather extra fabric with elastics,belt or string.
Below is my no waste garment I made in muslin...
