Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably

Latest Episodes:

#101: How to Prioritise Sewing with Jenny Drew Aug 28, 2023

Show notes

Jenny Drew wants you to make sewing a priority, and she’s not going to take no for an answer! This is the pep talk that you might not have known you needed. From feminist and mental health perspectives, Jenny explains why we need sewing in our lives. She then tells us how to make sure we actually do it, even when you think you’re too busy.

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Jenny Drew is the owner of Sew Confident, a sewing school and shop in Glasgow, with franchises in Chorley and Dundee.

You can follow the @sewconfident goings on via Instagram, and keep and eye on Jenny @sewconfidentjenny.

Jenny is passionate about supporting and encouraging women and creatives in business. She’s turned everything she’s learnt into a book: ‘Stop Playing Small: Turn obstacles into advantages and enjoy unapologetic success whilst building a creative business to be proud of!’

#100: 100 Lessons from CYT Aug 07, 2023

Show notes

To celebrate the milestone of 100 episodes, I wrote a list of 100 lessons that I’ve learnt (or relearnt) through making this podcast! From that, I selected ten that had the biggest impact on me, and in this episode I divulge what they are. Plus, we’ll hear from some wonderful listeners from across the globe who share the things they’ve taken away also…

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If you’d like to read all 100 lessons, you can access the documents by clicking the links below.

I’ve split these lessons up into four categories:

Thanks so much for listening!

#99: Sewing Confessions with Julia and Naomi Jul 31, 2023

Show notes

Friends-of-the-podcast, Julia and Naomi, are back! The three of us make some sewing-related confessions….

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This episode features Julia Hincks. Her website is House of Miss Sew and you can find her at @juliahincks on Instagram.

She previously featured on:

Episode #10: Overlockers & Coverstitch Machines with Julia Hincks

Episode #27: Zoe & Julia go Rag Rugging

Episode #67: Zoe and Julia Sew with Reclaimed Denim

This episode also features Naomi Bancroft and you can find her at @whatnaomimade on Instagram.

They both appeared in Episode #53: First Birthday / Ask me Anything with Zoe, Julia and Naomi.

Yet again, I talk about the Four Tendencies framework, developed by writer and podcaster, Gretch Rubin. Find out which of the Four Tendencies you adhere to with Gretchen Rubin’s free quiz.

Image source: Gretchen Rubin.

#98: Zero Waste Patterns Book with Birgitta Helmersson Jul 24, 2023

Show notes

Want to hear about an exciting new development in zero waste sewing? ZW designer Birgitta Helmersson has written an incredible new book that presents a fresh approach to making your own clothes with minimal waste. Birgitta is back on the podcast to tell us all about it, plus she shares tips on using second hand linens for ZW garment projects.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Image credit: Emli Bendixon

Discover designer Birgitta Helmersson’s clothing and sewing patterns on her website, and over on Instagram @birgittahelmersson.

Listen to Birgitta’s previous appearances on CYT:

Find out more about Birgitta’s ‘Zero Waste Patterns’ book, including links for where to buy it in different parts of the world.

ZW pattern designer Liz Haywood wrote a fantastic review of Birgitta’s book. Liz’s version of the vintage shirt is incredible!

The Zero Waste Design Collective is an amazing resource to explore what’s happening in the world of ZW more broadly.

#97: Introduction to Garment Fabrics Jul 17, 2023

Show notes

A garment project that fails because it’s made from unsuitable fabric is both heartbreaking and costly. But navigating the selection available in fabric shops and online can feel overwhelming, particularly if you’re new to garment sewing, or have recently returned after some years. So in this solo episode, we’re going back to the basics of fabric. We’ll be laying the foundations on which to build our knowledge of fabric types, and what garment styles each fabric is suitable for.

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The custom croquis app is MyBodyModel.

If you enjoyed Episode #50: The Future of Fabrics that I made last year, then I thoroughly recommend you listen to Episode #188: Future Fabrics: Sustainable Textiles Masterclass with Amanda Johnston of the Wardrobe Crisis podcast.

#96: Pattern Fitting Q&A with Kate Roberts Jul 10, 2023

Show notes

This week’s episode is the second with pattern cutting and fit expert, Kate Roberts from Project Patterns. We talk about how we can build up our own bank of fitting knowledge, and we get into some trouser fitting nitty gritty. Kate also explores how to adapt seemingly gendered sewing patterns for different bodies.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

You can find my road test/review of the free laminated wash bag tutorial by Polkadot Chair on my blog.

Find Kate’s business, Project Patterns, via her website, on Instagram @projectpatterns and also on YouTube.

Listen to Kate’s previous episode on CYT, Episode #95: Refining Fit with Kate Roberts.

We spoke about the Palmer and Pletsch ‘Pants for Real People’ and the Palmer, Alto and Weiland ‘Fit for Real People’ tissue fitting books.

Kate offers a range of online pattern drafting and fitting courses, with both live and recorded options available.

Clayton referenced sewist @_donnyq on Instagram.

Donny Q on IG.

Have your mind blown (I just did!) on DRESSX - a digital garment shop.

The pattern drafting books by Winifred Aldrich are a fantastic starting point for anyone wanting to create their own blocks and patterns.

#95: Refining Fit with Kate Roberts Jul 03, 2023

Show notes

How much time do you set aside during your sewing project for fitting and making pattern adjustments? An hour? Half a day? None at all? Pattern cutter and fitting expert Kate Roberts tells us why we can’t expect sewing patterns to fit right out of the pack. Kate also shares her TNT method for assessing the fit of a garment, and gives awesome tips for successful solo fit sessions.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

I will be teaching how to make Birgitta’s Helmersson’s ZW Cropped Shirt pattern in a class at Fabric Godmother on 16th September. Check out the listing if you’re interested.

Find Kate’s business, Project Patterns, via her website, on Instagram @projectpatterns and also on YouTube.

Kate offers a range of online pattern drafting and fitting courses, with both live and recorded options available.

Enjoy the ‘Pattern Diaries’ made with Charlotta Ayers from Charlotta’s Patterncutting School. Kate uses the spot and cross pattern paper from William Gee (UK based).

#94: Garmology Podcast – Design for Repairability with Rosanna Watson Jun 26, 2023

Show notes

This week I’m mixing things up and sharing an episode of the Garmology podcast by Nick Johannessen, AKA Well Dressed Dad. This episode features a genuinely engrossing conversation between Nick and his guest Rosanna Watson about outdoor gear and professional repair. If you’re interested in mending or product design, this is a must-listen.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Find everything Garmology podcast related, along with the Well Dressed Dad blog, on Nick’s website.

Garmology is a podcast about "clothes, and stuff", menswear, fashion, ethical and sustainably made, old and new, from a perspective of making, buying, wearing, collecting, evaluating and appreciating. With regular co-hosts and interesting guests, the aim is to provide a view of what we might wear and what we should wear, if we knew more about it. Expect plenty of opinions!

Image source: Nick Johannessen.

Follow Nick on Instagram @welldresseddad.

Rosanna Watson’s business is Snowdonia Gear Repair.

This episode’s original episode page can be found on the Well Dressed Dad website.

#93: Sewing for Social Empowerment with Poornima at Kundakala Jun 19, 2023

Show notes

Most of us who listen to (and make!) this podcast are used to thinking about sewing as a pastime and option for clothing ourselves. A hobby with many wonderful benefits. But for others, sewing skills are a powerful tool that can change lives: preventing isolation, providing connection, offering employment opportunities and raising self-esteem. Poornima Kirloskar-Saini started a social enterprise called Kundakala, in memory of her extraordinary mother, which is achieving all these things. In this episode, Poornima tells me all about this incredible and inspiring organisation, and the women whose lives it is changing.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Discover more about the Kundakala social enterprise via their website. Follow them on Instagram @kundakala_org and via Twitter: @KundakalaOrg.

Read about Kunda, Poornima’s extraordinary mother, the inspiration behind the whole endeavour.

The scarves featuring Kunda’s paintings, stitched by the women taking the Make and Mend workshops, are available to purchase with all proceeds going to support more workshops.

Poornima’s day job is for the Cook for Good enterprise.

Once attendees have graduated from the Make and Mend programme, they can go on to participate in the Saree Upcycle Project.

#92: Self Coaching for Sewing Success with Kim Witten Jun 12, 2023

Show notes

How can we get a handle on our recurring sewing struggles? And what are the steps we need to take to coach ourselves through them? Building on from last episode’s discussion on gathering self knowledge, transformational coach and crafter, Kim Witten, gives us some practical, actionable steps we can take for greater sewing success and enjoyment. We also explore how to fall in love (or at least like) with garments that are associated with a fraught making experience, plus choosing when is a good time to take on sewing challenges.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Please complete the short Me-Made-May Workbook survey!

Find more about Kim’s work on her website, plus her excellent blog with a library of fantastic resources.

Listen to Kim’s previous appearances on CYT:

Episode #71: Making Personal Manifestos with Kim Witten

Episode #71: Self Knowledge for Sewing Success with Kim Witten