The results of the recent US elections represent a massive blow to the future of our planet. The fight for equality and all forms of social justice have also suffered a huge setback. So, what do we do now?Support the podcast over on Patreon!(image source: Lucas Favre via Unsplash) I outlined the mission and values of Check Your Thread in the following episode:Ep. #71: Making Personal Manifestos with Kim Witten

Many of us sew in a small space, or in an area of our home that’s also used for other activities and by other people. If that’s you, how’s the space working for you? Whatever the constraints of your space, there are tons of changes you can make and heaps of tips that you can deploy to make things work more smoothly. Today’s episode is a guide that collates all the awesome ideas from last week’s episode, with a whole bunch more thrown in as well. We’ll cover furniture and storage solutions,...

Is the space you have for sewing pretty small? Or maybe you sew in a space that is shared with other people and also used for other activities? Or perhaps your sewing space is both small AND shared? We’re spending this week’s and next week’s episodes finding out how we can make these situations work better for ourselves, so that we can have successful and fulfilling sewing lives, no matter the configuration. Today we’re going to hear from lots of sewers about their small or shared sewing...

How does a small business advertise the products it sells so it can stay afloat without encouraging over consumption? In the second part of my conversation with Bevan O’Daly,  owner of Bawn Textiles, we hear how she navigates this conundrum. Bevan also explains the difference between a small business and a micro business, and the additional challenges faced by the latter. Plus we get a fascinating view into her other world: textile conservation. Support the podcast over on Patreon!Bawn...

If you ran a shop that supported makers to create more sustainably, what would it look like, and what would you stock? Bevan O’Daly is the owner of Glasgow-based Bawn Textiles and her goal is to provide responsibly sourced fabric, yarn and haberdashery for ethically minded makers. In this episode, Bevan tells us about the criteria for the items she stocks, why she sometimes talks customers out of purchasing, and the ingenious solution she’s devised to help makers pass on their unwanted...

Have you ever made a sewing pattern straight out of the packet and been disappointed with the results? Pattern designer and fitting expert, Elisalex Jewell, gets us excited about the possibilities of pattern hacking and learning to fit clothes to your body. She also talks about how having Orsola de Castro, founder of Fashion Revolution, as a mum impacted her own relationship to fashion and sustainability.Support the podcast over on Patreon!Elisalex Jewell is the co-founder of sewing pattern...

Are you ‘clothing self-sufficient’? If that’s a goal you’re interested in working towards, what are the potential benefits of being on that journey? Inspired by gardening expert Huw Richards, in this solo episode I explore two approaches to clothing self-sufficiency.Support the podcast over on Patreon!(image source: Galina Kondratenko via Unsplash)Follow gardening expert, Huw Richards, on his YouTube channel.Huw wrote ‘The Self-Sufficiency Garden’ book with Sam Cooper (@chef.sam.black on...

Are you ready for a bit of a shake up this week? We have a guest host for this episode: we’re in the safe hands of regular guest Shams el-Din Rogers, and of course she’s presented us with an incredible conversation. Shams is talking to Toronto-based textile artist and mending workshop facilitator, Allie Davis. They have a fascinating discussion about whether it’s cultural appropriation or appreciation to teach techniques from a culture that is not your own. Plus, they explore the benefits and...

I know that CYT listeners love to hear how sewing is being used to positively impact the lives of others, so I know you’re going to love today’s episode! For years, Mel Keane has been improving the lives of members of her community who are struggling through various types of volunteering. This has included setting up sewing workshops to help people clothe themselves and their families, as well as to build skills and confidence. The workshops Mel facilitated at a refugee centre helped forge a...

Many of us sewers feel confused and even wary of the term deadstock fabric. Does buying fabric labelled ‘deadstock' really save it from landfill or incineration? Or are we enabling fabric producers and fashion brands to get away with overproduction, incentivising it even? And what’s the difference between ‘deadstock’ and ‘overstock’, and how, as consumers, can we tell the difference? This week, you’ll hear my conversation with Hannah and Rosie from London-based The New Craft House as they...

Do you want to hang with me and regular guest Meg Grandstaff as we grill each other about sewing plans and goals, and cackle over basically everything? This episode is a chatty conversation in which we have a catch up about our current creative obsessions, projects and plans. Support the podcast over on Patreon!You can follow Meg’s sewing and knitting endeavours, as well as learn more about #scrapbustingseptember via Instagram (@the_grand_stash).Previous episodes with Meg Grandstaff...

This week’s episode provides a window into the ideas and processes of quilt artist Eliu Hernandez. Much of Eliu’s practice focuses on the reuse of existing materials, and he’s taken this further than you might previously have thought possible! I loved nerding out about denim with him, and even if denim isn’t your jam, this conversation may help you take reusing garments to a whole new level. We also discuss the portability of hand stitching and unpicking, crafting as a new parent, and...

We can all agree that mending items when they break to keep them in use out of landfill for longer is important. Repair cafes and organisations have been popping up across the globe to help facilitate keeping stuff in use for longer. But how much do you know about the inner workings of these groups and how they operate? And how much fun is it to volunteer for them, or even start one from scratch? My third replay episode of the summer is my conversation with Carla Bruni and Meg Grandstaff from...

Living in a way that limits your negative impact on the planet gets a bad wrap. It’s often viewed as restrictive, limiting, frustrating, dull, even joyless. This week’s episode is a replay of my conversation with a maker who blows that whole notion completely out the water. Sarah Lancaster, AKA Sarah Sew Love, is a New Zealand based sewing teacher, maker and sustainability phenomenon with a vibrant aesthetic and buckets full of positive energy. We talk about lots of things, from the social...

Have you ever sewn an entire garment by hand? Or even considered it? This week’s episode is a replay of a very popular conversation from the CYT archives with hand-stitching expert Louisa Owen Sonstroem. Louisa explains why you might want to do more stitching by hand rather than machine, and gives advice on how to start.  Support the podcast over on Patreon! Louisa Owen Sonstroem has a website and can be followed on Instagram (@louisaowensonstroem).  Find out more about Louisa’s...

Sometimes sticking to a tight budget can feel really complicated, as well as frustrating. But if you’re looking to spend less on your sewing, then I have five super simple tactics for you that require very little effort to implement. AND, what is even more awesome is that each one will automatically help you reduce the environmental impact on your sewing!  Support the podcast over on Patreon! Image source: Tomáš Petz via Unsplash Check out related episode: Ep. #58: Sewing on a...

Attending a fabric swap can be the most fun ever! It’s one of the most ethical ways to offload your unwanted fabric, plus it will also give you access to new-to-you fabric that you’re excited to sew with. AND you’ll get to meet other passionate sewers. In this episode you’ll be coming along with me and friend-of-the-podcast Catherine Weight as we attend the London Destash Fabric Swap. The event took place in January 2024 and was organised by Yvette from Stash Hub and Sarah from Olive Road...

It seems like every day, another small craft business announces that it’s closing down. In this solo episode I’m looking at the causes. What can we do to both support small businesses AND buy less new stuff for the sake of our planet? Support the podcast over on Patreon! Image source: Tim Mossholder via Unsplash Find out more about the Last Sewist Standing challenge: Ep. #118: Last Sewist Standing with Lise Bauer This Forbes article, ‘The Benefits Of Shopping Small All Year...

Do you practice values-based spending? You probably do, but possibly never thought of it in such terms. In this episode, regular guest Shams el-Din Rogers and I discuss how to align your spending and your making with what’s really important to you. Plus, Shams and I share what we think, or rather hope, our wardrobes broadcast about ourselves! Support the podcast over on Patreon! Find Shams el-Din Rogers on Instagram @shamseldinrogers. Listen to her on previous episodes of...

Have you heard of the multiple forms of capital? It’s the theory  that there are numerous ways in which we can be wealthy, beyond our finances. This week’s guest, Laura Oldanie, is a green living and money coach who talks to me about the concepts and the practicalities related to living a rich and resilient life. As makers, we are used to flexing our creativity and resourcefulness. So let’s investigate how we can apply these skills more broadly to achieve abundance, resilience and...

This week you will hear an episode of the Sew Organised Style podcast about a social enterprise based in Australia called The Nest Community. The Nest is an incredible charity that empowers women by fostering healing and connection. And they do this important work by keeping existing crafting materials in use and by sharing craft skills and knowledge. Support the podcast over on Patreon! I made my pallet bench at a workshop run by The Salvage Sister: In this episode you will hear...

This is the second part of my conversation with Maria Theoharous in advance of our feed swap next week. In this part we find out just how organised IS the maker of the Sew Organised Style podcast?! Plus we share which of our previous guests have surprised us and how… Support the podcast over on Patreon! This is the second instalment of a two-part conversation. Listen to the first part: Ep. #138: Making Sewing Podcasts with Maria Theoharous Maria Theoharous makes the Sew...

Have you ever wondered what it might be like to make a sewing podcast? Maybe not, but I’ve recorded a conversation with fellow sewing podcaster, Maria Theoharous from Sew Organised Style, that will give you some insights anyway!  Maria and I came up with lots of fun and illuminating questions to pose to one another. We talked for so long that we're splitting this chat into two episodes, the second part will come later this week. So press play if you want to know which episodes Maria and I...

Whether it’s because you just participated in Me-Made-May, or you’ve recently had a wardrobe sort out, what do you do with the items you find yourself no longer wearing? In this week’s solo episode, I advise you on how to diagnose why you’re not wearing them. I then suggest five different ways you can update those garments so that you’re excited to wear them again!  Support the podcast over on Patreon! Image source: Sarah Brown via Unsplash If you want to learn more about the...