Craft: noun; an activity involving skill in making things by hand.
Whatever your reason is for wanting to learn a new skill, I’m glad you’re considering me to teach you.
Hello, I’m Chantal. I started sewing for my Barbie back when the internet was brand new and the Spice Girls were my idols (I mean - they still are to be honest and Barbie can have a new outfit whenever she wants one!).
My Granny would always be sewing for all of us Grandchildren and that definitely cemented in my mind pretty early on that hand-made clothing was special. I don’t know when I started to use a sewing machine and at some point my Granny taught me to knit - but I don’t actually remember a time when I couldn’t knit or machine sew.
The great thing about these skills is they are pretty much with you for life once you’ve mastered them. A little refresher and you’re back up and creating.
I can’t say I created much in my teenage years - or in university. I still did the odd project and I actually helped run the knitting society at uni (teaching 50+ people at once standing on a chair with my massive demonstration needles will always hold a place in my heart!).
Then lock down happened and for the first time in a long time I could rest. I had wanted to learn how to sew with patterns for a while and now faced with endless time I started to create. It was magical. I haven’t stopped since!
Why I make my own clothes.
Let me start with a story.
I wanted some new jeans, and like a lot of us, I was feeling a little lazy and ordered some from a well known brand for next day delivery. Yay!
Well my excitement was short lived because when they arrived and I tried them on I noticed the quality was just awful. They were missing a belt loop entirely!
I know what you’re thinking, why didn’t I make my own?
Well because sewing takes time and energy and resources - I wanted a quick fix.
But…
I should have just made them.
It had been so long I’d forgotten how bad fast fashion can be!
Sewing for yourself means that you can make sleeves longer if they are always too short on you. Sewing for yourself allows you to use good quality materials that will last. Sewing for yourself allows you to slow down - and really think about what you are adding to your wardrode. Creating for yourself is slow fashion. But with time you can think, adjust and appreciate all the steps involved in garment production. And you can add all the belt loops you want!
I am passionate about sewing because it allows me to separate myself from the fast fashion mindset - of wear it a couple of times, landfill and repeat.
