Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably

What are the biggest challenges AND the biggest joys of running a business making products from upcycled textiles? Legendary guest interviewer, Kat Camfield, has rounded up three intensely talented Canadian upcyclers: Brynn from B-Bot Clothing, Emily from Woodbrick and Meagan from Salt Legacy. We hear how they each started their businesses and their different approaches to the same problem: trying to divert textile waste from landfill. They all share tips and advice, including sourcing secrets for others wanting to get into upcycling, either for themselves or to start a business.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Want to learn more about the Me-Made-May challenge? Check out:

Ep. #177: Me-Made-May Explained in Under 5 Minutes

You can also find the very-optional-but-very-helpful Me-Made-May Workbook.

Kat Camfield is a sewing teacher and sewing retreat organiser living in Victoria, Canada. You can follow Kat on Instagram @cooperativekatsews.

Hear Kat on previous episodes of CYT:

Ep. #196: Eco Printing - Kat Camfield with Carly from Lorelei Textile Design

Ep. #200: Making Check Your Thread - with Zoe & Kat, Part 1

Ep. #201: Making Check Your Thread - with Zoe & Kat, Part 2

Ep. #204: The Sewing Machine, A Novel - Kat Camfield with Natalie Fergie 

Ep. #214: Is Inclusivity Enough? - Kat Camfield with Frances from Sincere Studio 

Meagan’s business is Salt Legacy. You can follow them on Instagram @saltlegacy:

Brynn’s business is B-Bot Clothing. You can follow them on Instagram @bbotclothing:

Emily’s business is Woodbrick. You can follow them on Instagram @woodbrick:

Brynn creates incredible upcycled sweaters (for example) with their ‘schtick’ being adding denim sleeves. Brynn also makes pouffe shells that can be stuffed with textile waste, and also sells the sewing pattern so you can make one yourself:

Woodbrick’s core products are crescent bags and fanny packs (for example) for kids and adults. Jackets made from upcycled textiles, including quilts, have also become very popular with their clients:

Meagan’s business, Salt Legacy, creates a range of durable bags and accessories from unwanted boat sails. Popular items include their signature tote bag design:

Listen to the previous episode about sizing adaptive and inclusive sewing patterns:

Ep. #219: Flux-Friendly Sewing Patterns with Sasha Starlight

No one should feel obligated to use their sewing skills and free time for anything they don’t want to use them for. However, if funds are tight, you might decide to look into how sewing can save, or even make, some money. In this episode you’ll hear from some members of the CYT Patreon community and subscribers to the CYT newsletter, about how they save money, and also make money, with sewing. If it’s something you’ve been thinking about, this episode is bound to provide inspiration.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Image source: Pierre Bamin via Unsplash

Also listen to the following related episodes:

Ep. #57: Can Sewing Save You Money?

Ep. #58: Sewing on a Budget

Sandra recommended the @sparklesewing YouTube channel on YT for advice on wedding dress alterations.

Learn to draft sewing patterns to sell via:

Pattern Lab London (plus their YouTube channel)

Lydia Sews Things

It is inevitable that our body’s shape and size will fluctuate over time, be that over the course of a day, a week, a month or a number of years. As more-sustainable sewists who want to get a lot of use from the items we make, we should be factoring in these body changes when planning our projects. So does that mean that everything we make should look like a potato sack? Pattern designer, Sasha Starlight, explains why the answer is NO! In this episode, Sasha describes some of the different attributes a sewing project can have to be flux friendly, and talks us through some unexpected benefits of using adjustable, adaptable, flexibly sized sewing patterns. By the end of this episode I’m sure you’re going to be super inspired to get making with your future comfort in mind.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Full descriptions of Sasha’s patterns can be found on her website and bought through her Etsy shop.

Follow Sasha on Instagram (@sasha__starlight) and enjoy her video content on YouTube channel (@sashastarlight).

I made the Palazzo Pants pattern:

Listen to the previous episodes discussing sewing with shape and size fluctuation in mind:

Ep. #72: Sewing for Body Changes

Ep. #76: Sewing for Body Changes, Part 2

The Rhapsody Dress pattern is Sasha’s most recent release:

The Burnside Bibs pattern by Sew House Seven offers adaptability for both size and style.

Sasha and I were discussing pants waist tightener pins.

Do you fancy a fun catch up with repeat guest Lise Bauer? Of course you do! In this episode we find out what has changed with Lise’s relationship with her fabric stash, and we both make confessions regarding recent fabric purchases. Lise also makes a strong case for attending a Frocktails event, and suggests a different way to engage with social media.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

The costumes made by my big kid:

Find Lise and the Last Sewist Standing challenge updates at @the.craft.camp on Instagram.

You can sign up to this year’s round of Last Sewist Standing via the sign-up post on Instagram.

Check out Lise’s personal account @miss.taeschli on Instagram.

Listen to Lise discuss the challenge in the previous episode:

Ep. #118: Last Sewist Standing with Lise Bauer

Ep. #189: Are Zoe & Lise still in Last Sewist Standing

Other episodes of CYT mentioned in this episode:

Ep. #207: Style Shifts and Sustainability with Lindsay Ashworth Fraser

Ep. #207: Style Shifts and Sustainability with Lindsay Ashworth Fraser

The dress I made with the sleeves from the synthetic fabric from Walthamstow:

Find out about The Swiss Frocktails event via Instagram @swiss.frocktails and get tickets via Eventbrite.

Lise is organising Swiss Frocktails with Rebekka @gemeine_wildrebe and Benja @onweekends.

Maker Alexandria Arnold @alexandria_arnold hosts a regular knit night in London.

All of us are aware of and enjoy many of the mental health benefits of crafting, making and mending. Rebecca Jackson understands this better than most, having experienced one of the worst things someone can go through. It led her to set up The Big Fandango five years ago in Bury, just outside Manchester in the UK. The Big Fandango is a social enterprise with workshop space that creates and nurtures community and positive mental health through learning sewing and textiles craft skills, whilst also delivering suicide prevention training to businesses and organisations.

You will also hear from Jeanna Wigger and Mary Morton, authors of the awesome mending book, ‘Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It’, who were delivering a mending workshop as part of their North of England book tour a couple of weeks ago.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Rebecca Jackson founded The Big Fandango, a social enterprise based in Bury, Manchester, UK.

Listen to my episode with Jeanna and Mary about their amazing book:

Ep. #191: Stitch it, Don’t Ditch it with Mary Morton and Jeanna Wigger

Jeanna Wigger can be found @thepeoplesmending on Instagram. Jeanna also has an excellent Substack.

Mary Morton can be found @edinburghstreetstitchers and @mvm13 on Instagram

Listen to my other previous conversations with Jeanna:

Ep. #115: Winter of Care and Repair with Jeanna Wigger

Ep. #132: A Season of Mending with Jeanna Wigger

Ep. #135: How to Triage Your Mends with Jeanna Wigger

Ep. #163: How to Effect Change This Winter with Jeanna Wigger

Ep. #190: The Four Tendencies and Sewing with Jeanna, Kim & Lise 

Ep. #208: Challenging Consumption and Perfectionism with Jeanna Wigger

Mary volunteers at the Shrub Coop, a ZW charity based in Edinburgh, Scotland (@shrubcoop on Instagram).

Find their book, ‘Stitch it, Don't Ditch it’.

Mary and Jeanna regularly recommend the ‘Repair What You Wear’ website to would-be menders. Also @RepairWhatYouWear on YouTube, and in this episode mentioned their videos on how to thread a needle easily for right handed people and for left handed people.