Seamwork Radio: Sewing and Creativity

We often get asked how to help clothes look less "homemade," but what's the stigma behind homemade? In this episode, we explore that and share some tips for making your clothes look polished.

In this episode, Sarai and Haley talk about their favorite go-to fabrics for sewing clothes, what makes them so versatile and useful, and their favorite manufacturers and shops to go to when they need them.

In this episode, Sarai and Haley talk about how to tell if you are burned out or bored. They share the symptoms of burnout and how to recognize them, why it's so easy to confuse burnout and boredom, and three questions you can ask yourself to use sewing and creative activities to move past both.

Being a beginner is as fun as it is intimidating. Not all beginners have the same amount of knowledge or the same amount of confidence. In this episode, Sarai and Haley share three levels of beginners, how to identify where you currently fall, and how to pick patterns that help you grow your skillset.

Sarai and Haley talk about why it's hard to pick the best projects that challenge you without frustrating you, how to identify the skills you need, and our favorite method for learning new skills, project by project.

If you love to sew, you probably love a helpful shortcut. In this episode, Sarai and Haley share a long list of shortcuts to help save you time and headspace while you sew clothes.

Wondering what kinds of sewing books are best for learning how to sew? In this episode, Sarai and Haley share a framework for building a sewing library, including three types of sewing books you should have.

You might have sewing goals in mind, but it's easy to get distracted. If you are struggling to set and keep goals, Sarai and Haley share a bunch of ideas to help you uncover your most important sewing goal right now. They also talk about balancing having fun with your sewing while still working towards a larger goal. 

When you're feeling crunched for time, it's hard to make space for sewing. In this episode, Sarai and Haley share 14 different activities for when you're short on time but feel like doing something sewing-related.

Feeling stressed out? In this episode, Sarai and Haley talk about why it's hard to sew when you're stressed and share super practical tips for using sewing as a way to remove stress and not add to it.

Some of your future sewing projects will fail, so what can you do when you make a mistake? In this episode, Sarai and Haley share 3 simple steps to help you get past a mistake or failure.

Sewing is such an involved hobby, and with all the possibilities for mistakes, sometimes you can take it a little too seriously. That can kind of suck some of the joy out of sewing. Here are creative ways to make sewing more playful.

This episode talks about the four main reasons you might not want to wear something you've made, how to plan to make things you'll get more use out of, and a quick exercise you can do at home to help you brainstorm ideas for future projects.

What if you could bring your projects with you wherever you go? When Alexis Bailey asked this question, she had an idea. Now she's the owner of Fibr & Cloth, selling supplies and kits for hand sewing and a growing collection of zero-waste patterns.

Are there fabrics that are gathering dust in your stash? If you can already picture a few unused cuts of fabric, and you're cringing, this episode shares 12 tips to help you use more of the fabric that you buy and buy fabric that you will most definitely use.

Sewing shines a bright spotlight on any changes your body might be going through. In this episode, Sarai and Haley share 9 tips for sewing through body changes, big and small.

Do you criticize your sewing projects more than you would someone else's? Our inner critics can be loud and diminish the joy that sewing brings us, so Sarai and Haley share some ideas to help quiet yours.

Before fast fashion lowered the cost of ready-to-wear clothing, sewing was an economical solution to expensive clothing. But in a time where cheap clothing is just a click away, that isn't necessarily the case. In this episode, Sarai and Haley talk about the types of sewists that really do save the most money, plus give a ton of tips that anyone can use to cut your sewing costs.

Sarai and Haley talk with Jen about how she wove data and narrative together for her book This Long thread, to create a collection of stories, interviews, and essays that reflect the everyday crafts of BIPOC in a way that honors individuality.

What is "choose your adventure" for sewing? In simple terms, it's niche sewing. Sarai and Haley discuss how a beginner mindset can help you become more advanced, how to go about tackling a skill you've always wanted to learn, and how to combine different resources in order to become your own teacher.

In part five of the Sewing by Design series, Sarai and Haley talk about finding your fit. Creating clothing that fits is such a motivating factor for why so many people sew. But learning about fit and applying those lessons to your own sewing practice can be intimidating. Sarai and Haley cover why fitting is a challenge for most people, then provide a simple framework for approaching fit. They dis...

Have you ever wanted to tap into your inner designer? In this episode of Seamwork Radio, Sarai and Haley continue their conversation about the Sewing by Design framework and chat about how building a wardrobe with intention and purpose can transform your sewing practice. Sarai shares tips based on our Design Your Wardrobe program to help you tap into your inner designer.

What's the secret to building (and keeping) your sewing momentum? Falling in love with sewing. In this episode, Sarai and Haley continue their conversation about the Sewing by Design framework and discuss how to build a sewing practice that you love. So that you can design an experience that's tailor-made for you.

In part two of the Sewing by Design series Sarai and Haley discuss the first phase of the Sewing by Design framework, Laying Your Foundation. Sewing is ultimately a collection of component skills and by identifying the most vital techniques you can ultimately simplify the learning process. This episode covers the 8 skills needed to get your sewing journey off on the right foot.

Learning how to sew can be hard! Especially when you lack a mentor to guide you on your journey. In this episode Sarai and Haley introduce the Sewing by Design framework and how it can be your roadmap for cultivating your sewing practice regardless of your skill level.