Kickstart your creativity

Sensing a sewjo downturn? The ebb and flow of creativity is a natural part of the process, so it’s good to understand what is happening before you give up. Read on for ten top tips on how to stay motivated and build a creative habit…

Share your sewing struggles for sewing success

Whether you’re just getting into sewing or you’ve been at it for a hundred years, sometimes it can feel like everyone around you is a sewing wizard while you’re constantly fielding mishaps. Well, dear reader, it’s simply not the case! I think it’s high time we share our sewing struggles so we can fully celebrate those successes…

Sustainable sewing, part one: magic or myth?

Sewing can feel like magic – paying creative dividends in wellbeing and self-sufficiency – but is it really sustainable? Kicking off with a confessional, this short series explores our sewing habits and how the drive towards sustainability can sometimes turn out to be anything but…

Sewing mindfully: 10 principles for an intentional year of making

After a year of sorting and refining my me-made wardrobe, I’m planning on a more purposeful sewing trajectory this year. The makes wish list grows and grows, but I’ve resolved to tame the beast as best I can so that when I sew, it counts. So, if you’re looking for an alternative way to plan your sewing this year, here are a few guiding principles for a more relaxed and intentional year of making…

Sewing the Papercut Patterns Waver Jacket: review, hacks and tips

The Papercut Patterns Waver Jacket might just have saved my sewing practice this year: a slow burning passion project that kept the creative flame alive. Read on to find out more about this versatile pattern and some hacks and tips on how to turn it (or any other simple jacket for that matter) into a sturdy piece of Scandi-style outerwear…

Sewing productivity: five ways to build a creative habit

When it comes to creativity, no amount of equipment or space will ever contribute as much to your productivity levels as building the habit of creating. Easier said than done, a habit is an elusive beast that will give you the slip first chance it gets. If you want to up your sewing ante, read on for five tips to snare a reliable sewing habit for life…

On failure and creativity: why sewing ‘fails’ are always wins

According to the annual Good Childhood Report, children in the UK have the lowest levels of life satisfaction across Europe – largely because they are afraid to fail. Where did we go wrong? And could ‘sewing fails’ be the answer? Read on to find out how failure is an integral part of creative endeavour

Studio debunk: five mantras to save money on your sewing space

It’s time to look beyond the seductive facade of the Instagram sewing studio. If you don’t have a designated space, let alone your own room, or you worry you can’t even afford to get started, read on – with a bit of thrift and creativity you can begin your journey towards a dream sewing space today…

In pursuit of stash zero: sewing sustainably in lockdown

A quest to use up every last bit of fabric in my stash over the course of lockdown has changed my sewing style: coveting new fabrics and patterns has been superseded by a heavy itinerary of mopping up. It may not last forever, but for now it’s a creative, sustainable and thoroughly enjoyable shift in pace…