The Sewing Social

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Sewing Social, I'm joined by Sarah Laws, founder of My Handmade Wardrobe Patterns, pattern designer, sewing educator and passionate advocate for helping people create clothes they truly love to wear. Sarah takes us back to where it all began, sharing how learning to sew as a child sparked a lifelong passion for dressmaking and ultimately led her to desi...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Amy Scarr (also known as Almond Rock Sews on Instagram) shares her inspiring journey into garment sewing, from discovering a love of making her own clothes to becoming a passionate advocate for "Big Four" sewing patterns and creative dressmaking. Amy explains why she champions brands like Simplicity, McCall's, and Butterick, she busts some of the co...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Luke-Matthew Iveson, winner of The Great British Sewing Bee, shares his inspiring journey from learning to sew with his grandmother as a child to becoming one of the UK's best-known sewing personalities and content creators. Luke reflects on his experience of winning The Great British Sewing Bee, how the show transformed his life, and the opportunities that f...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr Claire Ashley shares how she discovered sewing during a challenging period in her life and how it grew from a practical skill into a powerful source of creativity, confidence, and wellbeing.  From teaching herself to sew, to building a colourful handmade wardrobe, Claire reflects on the lessons, challenges, and joys of her sewing journey. We explore the mental...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr Claire Ashley explores the fascinating connection between sewing and mental wellbeing, uncovering the psychology behind why we sew and what keeps us coming back to our machines.  From motivation and creativity to identity, self-expression, and emotional attachment, to handmade clothes, we delve into the deeper role sewing plays in our lives. We also discuss com...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Claire Ashley to explore ADHD, how it really presents in adulthood, and why sewing can become a powerful tool for self-regulation. We discuss the core symptoms of ADHD, why so many women are misdiagnosed or diagnosed later in life, and the link between ADHD, anxiety and chronic overwhelm. This is an honest, practical conversation about neurodiver...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr Claire Ashley explores anxiety - what it is, why it happens, and how it affects the body as well as the mind.  Drawing on both her medical expertise and lived experience, she explains the physiological response behind anxiety symptoms, from racing thoughts to a heightened stress response. We talk about practical strategies for managing anxiety in everyday life,...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Claire Ashley, (a GP and passionate sewist) for an honest and informative conversation about burnout, how to recognise the symptoms, and what recovery can really look like. Claire shares her personal experience of burnout alongside her medical perspective, explaining the science behind chronic stress and how it impacts both our physical and mental...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lauren Guthrie shares the story behind her journey from working as a physiotherapist to founding Guthrie & Ghani, and how a love of sewing slowly grew into something much bigger than she ever expected. We talk about her experience on The Great British Sewing Bee and how that moment shaped the direction of her career, as well as the realities of building and ev...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lisa Wagner shares her remarkable journey from learning to sew alongside her mother and grandmother in Australia to becoming a couture dressmaker, pattern drafting educator, and founder of Draft.ed. We explore the value of skills passed down through generations, why fit is about so much more than measurements, and how learning to draft your own patterns can transf...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Amy and Theresa from Matchy Matchy Sewing Club share their journey from passionate sewists to successful sewing pattern designers, and how they’ve built a brand centred around creativity, sustainability, and approachable garment sewing.  In this episode, we talk about designing beginner-friendly sewing patterns, embracing experimentation, and their “scrap theory” approa...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lucy from Sew Essential shares her journey from passionate home sewist to running one of the UK’s best-known sewing businesses.  We talk about confidence, creativity, and how sewing can quietly shape the way we see ourselves.  Lucy reflects on the evolution of the sewing community, the pressure of perfection online, and why experimentation and “getting it wrong” a...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Rebekah, also known as Sewno65 on Instagram, shares her journey from self-taught sewist to running her successful memory keepsake business, The Gathered Seam.  In this episode, we talk about her creative process, balancing sewing with family life, and the powerful role craft can play in navigating grief and personal growth.  A thoughtful conversation about sewing, story...

Send us Fan Mail This week, Sally, now known as Made by Sally on Instagram (and previously Secret Life of a Seamstress), shares her inspiring journey from early childhood creativity to confidently showing up on camera.  She opens up about overcoming insecurities, building self-belief through sewing, and learning to truly understand fabrics.  We also dive into how she curates a wardrobe that fits h...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Riddz POV shares his journey from self-taught fashion enthusiast to emerging designer, exploring how customisation and upcycling became the foundation for creating his own clothes.  He talks about the realities of teaching yourself to sew, developing your style, and turning creativity into something more purposeful. We dive into the importance of sustainable fashi...

Send us Fan Mail Kit Giroux shares their journey from passionate sewing enthusiast to semi-finalist on The Great British Sewing Bee, offering an honest look at what it takes to grow your skills and step into the spotlight.  They talk us through their creative process from initial ideas to finished garments and how sewing has become a powerful form of self-expression. In this episode, Kit also dive...

Send us Fan Mail This week on the show, I'm speaking to Liz from the small business Flying Bobbins.  Liz shares her inspiring journey from working in the fashion industry to building Flying Bobbins into a thriving sewing business.  In this episode, she opens up about the realities of transitioning from corporate fashion to running a creative small business, and what it really takes to turn a...

Send us Fan Mail *Trigger warning - Please note that this episode discusses baby loss, listen at your own discretion and please skip ahead if you need to. In this episode, Jenny Fazackerley of "Jenny Stitches" shares her journey from accountant to successful fabric shop owner and sewing studio founder in Cumbria.  She talks about starting a sewing business, navigating the challenges of c...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Erica shares her inspiring journey from police officer to skilled traditional upholsterer, transforming her career through creativity and craftsmanship.  She highlights her commitment to sustainable upholstery, using eco-friendly materials and preserving time-honoured techniques.  She also introduces the innovative Sew & Stow cutting board, designed to make fa...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Izzy shares her inspiring journey from a career in landscape architecture to launching her own sewing business, Izzo Sew Studio.  She talks about how her passion for sewing grew into a platform that helps others build confidence in making and fitting their own clothes.  Izzy discusses the power of sewing as a form of self-expression, a more sustainable approach to...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Becky from Pattern, Paper, Scissors, shares her journey from fashion designer to founder of a creative sewing brand designing patterns for children and families.  Becky also sells fabrics, kits and designs sewing labels in her online shop. We talk about the realities of balancing motherhood and business, the power of creativity, her passion for sustainable fashion...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Tali Thomason shares her journey into sustainable sewing and the art of building a slow fashion wardrobe from reclaimed materials.  She explores the inspiration behind her book "Slow Stitch Style" and explains how intentional, ritual-based sewing can transform the way we relate to our clothes. From reclaiming fabrics to embracing a neurodivergent-friendl...

Send us Fan Mail Join us for an inspiring and honest conversation with Caz, winner of Season 11 of The Great British Sewing Bee, as she unpicks the story behind her success.  From childhood crafting to stepping into the sewing room spotlight, Caz shares the journey that shaped her skills and her self-belief. We dive into what it really felt like to compete on national television, the mindset shift...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Sewing Social Podcast, Gemma Daly sits down with Yvette – also known as Blossom Sandwich on Instagram – co-creator of Stash Hub, the must-have sewing organiser app for managing your fabric stash and projects. Yvette shares her refreshingly unconventional journey into sewing, which began with stitching tiny hammocks for her pet rats.  After discouraging exper...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Sewing Social podcast, host Gemma Daly sits down with Nicole Akong, a talented sewer, maker, and content creator, for an inspiring conversation about creativity, career change, and sustainable fashion.  Nicole shares her sewing journey from growing up in Trinidad and Tobago, where she first fell in love with making at her mother’s sewing machine, to building...