Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably

Right now, the weather is shifting from one season to another, and the clothing items we’re reaching for are altering accordingly. But it’s most likely you’ll find that some of those items, for whatever reason, just aren’t pieces you want to wear these days. So what can be done about that, aside from donating them and starting a ton of new sewing projects? In this week’s solo replay episode, I’ll share my method for diagnosing WHY you’re not wearing them. I’ll then be suggesting five different ways you can update those garments so that you’re excited to wear them again!

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

This episode was originally released in June 2024 as Ep. #137

Image source: Sarah Brown via Unsplash

If you want to learn more about the Me-Made-May challenge, listen to:

Ep. #84: What is Me-Made-May?

The Clothehorse podcast is a great place to learn more about the life of second hand clothing, including what happens to donated items.

The three questions to ask of each item of clothing:

Does it fit my personal aesthetic (OR is it a basic garment that pairs well with items that really DO fit my personal aesthetic)?

Does it fit with my lifestyle?

Does it fit my body?

My five suggested approaches for updated unworn garments (including me-mades):

Repair

Refit

Remove something

Add something

Change the colour

For repair, consider signing up to the Winter of Care and Repair challenge for motivation.

For advice on how to proceed with a repair, this episode might help:

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

For refitting assistance, check out this episode:

Ep. #86: Garment Alterations with Naomi Fata

The Bernie Belt Bag pattern by Friday Pattern Co. might solve the dilemma of a pocket-free garment.

The free Oversized Detachable Collar pattern by Tilly and the Buttons would really jazz up a plain garment:

If you’re interested in trying your hand at natural dyeing, these episodes provide a ton of information:

Ep. #13: Natural Dyeing with Amy Taylor

Ep. #52: Grow, Cook, Dye, Wear with Bella Gonshorovitz 

Ep. #88: Natural Dyeing Q&A with Amy Taylor

Do the climate and ecological crises just feel too massive to deal with sometimes? When it all feels so overwhelming, it can be tempting to tap out completely and disengage. That’s totally understandable. However, my guest for this episode, Beedy Parker, shows us that it is entirely possible to participate in climate related activism and action, whilst continuing to lead a happy and exciting life. From attempting to influence legislation to hemming her neighbours' trousers, Beedy has been getting stuck in since 1970. Sadly, we can’t all be Beedy, but we can all take heart and inspiration from her example.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

This episode was originally released in May 2024 as Ep. #136

Beedy Parker is a committed naturalist and social and environmental activist living in Maine, USA.

Read more about Beedy (unfortunately this link doesn’t seem to work in Europe, frustrating I know!).

This is another piece about Beedy.

Beedy recommends sourcing a copy of ‘The Needleworker's Constant Companion’, first published in 1978.

I referred to an article by Christina Garton called Weaving While Neurodivergent on the Handwoven Magazine website that is a fascinating read.

Is your wardrobe stuffed with me-mades? Whatever role garment sewing plays in your life, after a while, the clothes can really start to pile up. So how can we continue to take pleasure in sewing, without adding to your problem of too many clothes?

Image source: Megan Lee via UnSplash

This episode was originally released in February 2024 as Ep. #123

Idea No. 1: Challenging ourselves.

Hear more about hand stitching clothing:

Ep. #15: Hand Stitching Clothes with Louisa Owen-Sonstroem 

Ep. #73: The Seeds of Slow Sewing with Alexis Bailey 

Learn more about improving fit:

Ep. #95: Refining Fit with Kate Roberts

Options for online courses to learn and develop new skills:

Project Patterns

Domestika

Craftsy

Idea No. 2: Sewing things that aren’t clothes.

My favourite bag pattern designers:

Noodlehead

Tytka Studio

Motif Studio Patterns

Merchant & Mills

Start your sew making journey at I Can Make Shoes.

Get inspired to make a quilt more sustainably by listening to the following previous episodes:

Ep. #19: Quilting and Considered Consuming with Shelly Sommer

Ep. #26: Harvesting Materials with Eliu Hernandez

Ep. #89: Threads of Sustainability with Bridget O’Flaherty

Ep. #105: A Habit of Curiosity with Heidi Parkes

Ep. #106: Reframing a Relationship with Clothes with Heidi Parkes

Ep. #116: Improv Scrap Play with Sherri Lynn Wood

Idea No. 3: Sewing clothes for other people

Idea No. 4: Sewing for charity

Make washable menstrual pads for:

Pachamama Project

Days for Girls

Make reusable tote bags for Boomerang Bags.

Make dresses and other children’s garments from pillowcases for Little Dresses for Africa.

Idea No. 5: Mending

Hear from super creative mending expert, Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald:

Ep. #39: Modern Mending with Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald

Ep. #40: Experimend with Erin Lewis-Fitzgerald

Get her book Modern Mending.

Consider the spectrum of mending possibility:

Ep. #68: Visible Vs Invisible Mending

Textiles have a long history of being used for political discourse and protest. Lorraine Woodruff-Long is a self-taught and now award-winning quilt artist who is continuing that tradition today by creating exciting and powerful work on political and social issues that are important to her. Legendary guest-host Kat Camfield talks to Lorraine about her journey from marketing professional to artist and teacher, her inspiration, her use of reclaimed materials, the Forbidden Words project, and her tips for those wanting to dip their toe into protest quilt making.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Lorraine can be found through her website, ‘Quilting in the Fog’, and via Instagram @quiltinginthefog:

Lorraine’s first quilt, ‘American Patriot: Words Matter’ (2017), was shown at the de Young Gallery in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco:

Check out Lorraine’s Mosaic quilts.

Kat and Lorraine mentioned both the Haptic & Hue podcast and the Gees Bend Quilters. Listen to an episode about the Gees Bend Quilters on the Haptic & Hue podcast!

Lorraine’s incredible ‘Quilt Melt’ was made in 2017:

‘You’re getting warmer: Rising Global Temperatures 1850 - 2022’ quilt (2023):

‘The Number of Holes’ quilt:

Read more about the Forbidden Words Project:

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

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 

Ep. #221: Upcycling Secrets - Kat Camfield with Brynn, Emily & Meagan

Ep. #227: Threading Change - Kat Camfield with Sophia Yang

Ep. #231: A Business Based on Scraps - Kat Camfield with Justice McNeil

Ep. #232: Magic and Movement for Makers - Kat Camfield with Justice McNeil

Can a stereotypically female activity such as sewing be an appropriate medium through which to tackle male loneliness and isolation? This is a question that return-guest and GBSB finalist, Tony Rea, has been tasked to help answer. In this episode, Tony tells us all about the pilot of an awesome endeavor he’s involved in called Thread Brothers. We also get into the weeds about traditionally gendered crafts and spaces, and explore how sewing can help push us back against ageism.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Listen to my previous conversation with Tony:

Ep. #124: Fearless Sewing with Tony Rae

Find out more about Tony on his website, and see his latest projects on Instagram @tonyr.maker.

Follow the Thread Brothers on Instagram (@threadbrothers.makers) and learn more about the project on the Wellmoor website.

Check out Tobit Emmens’ Substack.

I took a palette bench making workshop with The Salvage Sister.

Tony (and myself) will be at this year’s Knit + Stitch show at Alexandra Palace, London, in October.