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…

Can you save money sewing your own coat?

Sewing coats is hugely satisfying, but the expense of coating fabrics, linings and interfacings – not to mention patterns and notions – can seem off-putting. Is it possible to sew a decent winter coat for less than you’d pay on the high street? Read on to find out…

Sewing for your nether regions: new thrills for the jaded sewist

I’m just going to come right out and say it: I made sanitary towels. And do you know what? The process delighted me as much as, if not more than, sewing a pretty dress. Making things from scratch you previously considered impossible to make from scratch – the things that fall into the category of ‘I buy them’ – is a uniquely satisfying proposition. So read on (if you dare!) to find out why our ‘unmentionables’ might be just the ticket for sewjo joy…

Sewing relations: communing through the medium of buttons

A recent inundation of sewing notions led to a weekend of gleeful sorting. Through buttons and braids I found myself reminiscing about my gran, the woman who taught me how to knit and inspired me to see heaven in a single polyester button…

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…