With a busy month of sewing, pattern drafting and writing, it can sometimes be difficult to maintain the practice of sharing – so, along with latest news from the studio, here are a few reflections on maintaining commitment…
Continue reading ➞ Draft, sew, share, repeat: Spring news from Grinlow Studio
Enforcing a ‘never scroll’ rule was the single best thing I’ve done for my creative practice since signing up for Instagram in 2018. If you feel like your being drained by the algorithm, read on for the escape hatch…
Continue reading ➞ Instagram for creatives: a how not to guide
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…
Continue reading ➞ Sewing struggles: the secret to sewing success
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…
Continue reading ➞ Sustainable sewing, part one: magic or myth?
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…
Continue reading ➞ Sewing mindfully: 10 principles for an intentional year of making
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…
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…
Why do we refrain from sharing the more mundane side of making on Instagram? Are some makes too boring for the grid? When we filter our feeds because we feel our makes are not interesting enough, do we inadvertently narrow the playing field? Maybe it’s time to embrace ‘boring’ sewing and share it with the world…
Continue reading ➞ The sewing we don’t share: challenging our own Instagram filter
In this, the final instalment of the ‘sewjo in lockdown’ trio, I give my top tips on how to get that sewjo working: how to return to a creative state of being, what to do while you’re waiting for inspiration and, perhaps most importantly, how to take a break from the whole thing and feel good about it…
Continue reading ➞ Five more creativity tips to get that sewjo workin’
More time in the house, less time commuting, chasing our tails – it seems like the perfect time to capitalise on craft. So why are so many sewists experiencing an unexpected dip in sewjo? Where did the love go? And how do we keep the flickering flame of creativity alive when we’re just not feeling it?
Continue reading ➞ Sewjo in lockdown – part one: the vanishing act
Grinlow Studio 