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Transcript:

Caroline: We are recording today on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, including Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Musqueam, and K’ómoks first nations.

Hello, and welcome to Love to Sew. I’m Caroline, the owner of Blackbird Fabrics.

Helen: And I’m Helen, the designer behind Helen’s Closet Patterns.

Caroline: We’re two sewing buds who love to sew our own clothes and want to encourage you on your sewing journey, too.

Helen: Join us for today’s topic: Sewing Love Letters.

Caroline: Aw.

Helen: Aw.

Caroline: Hello, Helen.

Helen: Hi, Caroline.

Caroline: How are you?

Helen: I’m doing well. I just had a margarita flavoured ice cream cone.

Caroline: Oh my gosh.

Helen: I know.

Caroline: That sounds amazing.

Helen: So good. I mean, it’s basically just, like, lime and salt flavoured, but it was incredible. It, kind of, blew my mind.

Caroline: Was it, like, salty sweet?

Helen: Yeah, it was, like, salty sweet. And then obviously had, like, an ice cream base. I don’t think there’s any tequila in it, but it definitely had margarita vibes.

Caroline: Uh, was this from that really delicious ice cream place near your place?

Helen: There’s a couple around town, actually. I don’t know if I’ve taken you to this one, but…

Caroline: Okay.

Helen: …next time.

Caroline: Alright, I’ll hold you to that. Oh my gosh. Well, this episode is the last one of our spring 2022 season. This was such a great season and a long one, too. We did 14 episodes and we had fun guests and super deep dives and some really great community episodes. But this episode is definitely one of our favourites, so I’m excited to dive in. And for anyone who’s wondering, the next new episode of Love to Sew is going to be coming out at the beginning of September, so we have the summer off.

Helen: Yes. And otherwise you can find us over on Patreon. We make our full-length, fun, chatty bonus episodes and sewing-focused mini-episodes all year long over there. So do come and subscribe. Plus, depending on your tier, you can get behind-the-scenes photos and discount codes for both Blackbird Fabrics and Helen’s Closet Patterns. So visit patreon.com/LoveToSew to check it out.

Caroline: Yeah. And we wish you all a great summer or a cosy winter, depending on where you live. And thank you for listening and commenting and supporting us this season.

Helen: Yeah. Thank you so much. Okay. Before we get into it today, we have some feedback. And this suggestion comes from Nico Morgan. She’s @HellYeah.Handmade on Instagram. And she came up with an idea to make finding projects from plus size sewists easier. She proposes adding the word “plus” to the end of your pattern hashtag. So for example, #AveryLeggingsPlus or #ClosetCoreCieloPlus. Seeing a pattern you’re considering making on larger bodies is so helpful. It would be great if pattern designers could start using this hashtag, too. Definitely listening on that point. And we love this idea – we’re for anything that makes sewing while plus size a bit easier, more enjoyable, easier to find what you’re looking for. So thanks for the great suggestion, Nico.

Caroline: Yeah. Thank you, Nico. Love this one. And we also got some great pre-washing tips from Susan after we shared the Wad-Free in our free bonus episode.

So Susan says, “About avoiding tangles when laundering sheets and cuts of fabrics: If you don’t want to purchase the gadget mentioned in the episode you can still have tangle-free cloth! I read somewhere to loosely tie 2 corners of the sheet before putting it into the dryer. You know, like the first step of tying a shoelace. Any 2 corners will do. No need to form loops or to make a square knot. Just that one pass of one end under another and pulling loosely works like a charm on both fitted and flat sheets. It’s never failed me once.

“As for fabric, just fold it to a reasonable size and either safety-pin-baste or machine-baste it together in a few strategic spots. Toss it in the washer and the dryer, but be sure to balance the load with towels or something. I used to zig zag or serge the fabric ends before laundering this way but don’t bother any more. For some reason, the fabric doesn’t fray as much when it’s laundered like this. (I don’t pretend to understand why!)”

Helen: Oh my gosh, I love these tips. They’re amazing. I’m definitely going to try this out with my next load of sheets. Like, tying the corners, genius. And same with the fabric. My fabric is constantly coming out of my dryer in a twisted, hot mess. So thank you for this Susan. And by the way, this is the same Susan who wrote in with the tip about using thrift store butter knives as pattern weights. So you’re just full of good information. Thank you, Susan.

Caroline: Thank you, Susan. Oh my gosh, Helen, do you ever have, this happens to me sometimes when we’re taking all of our sheets out of the dryer, and I’m like, Shea, go get the sheets. And then he comes with the big wad of sheets, and it’s just a big ball, and the inside is wet, and I’m like…

Helen: Oh yeah…

Caroline: …why didn’t he notice?

Helen: …that always happens to me at, like, 11:30 at night. I put my sheets into, like, the dryer after dinner and then forgot about them. And then I need to make my bed before I go to bed, and everything is still wet, and I cry.

Caroline: Yeah. I know. That’s why the pro-move is just having two sets of sheets.

Helen: It’s true. I should really upgrade.

Caroline: Okay, let’s get to the show. This is probably the lovey dovey-est episode ever. You guys know we love a touchy feely episode, and today we’re reading your sewing love letters. Sewing and love often go together. Many of us sew because of love, a love for sewing, a love for ourselves, a love for other people we make things for. And through sewing, we sometimes meet people we love, like teachers and sewing friends, sewing students, even. And, of course, we can’t forget our love for all the sewing things, our machines, tools, fabrics, and pattern stashes and that feeling we get when we wear our favourite me-mades. That’s love too.

Helen: Yes. And thank you so much to all the listeners who sent in their sewing love letters for this episode. Even before we started prepping this episode, we couldn’t stop peeking in to see the letters that you were sending in because they were just so, so good. And I cannot wait to read them today, but before we start, Caroline, do you have a love letter to share with us?

Caroline: I do. Okay. I wrote a love letter to my grandma, my mom’s mom. And I’m going to try not to get emotional. I feel like I’m going to cry on this episode, y’all, so just get ready. This is going to be, it’s going to be a teary episode, but this is my love letter to my grandmother.

Dear Nonna,

If you hadn’t dedicated your career to sewing, I would not have discovered that box of fabrics in our basement growing up. If you hadn’t bought my mom a sewing machine for her wedding gift, I would not have dreamed of learning to use that shiny Singer. The stories of the incredible outfits you made my mom and uncle growing up inspired me to want to make my own clothes. I feel sad that I never got to know you in real life, but I have you to thank for helping me find my passion. I’m grateful that I will always feel connected to you through sewing.

Love, Caroline

Helen: Aw, so sweet. That’s just a taste of what is coming today.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. Yeah. I definitely peaked in the inbox and shed some tears over the weeks of collecting these letters. But I want to hear yours, Helen, who did you write your love letter to?

Helen: There were so many people that I wanted to write a love letter to, and I couldn’t choose. So I ended up writing one to my Kenmore sewing machine. It’s my first sewing machine that I got as an adult and the machine I started my business with, so…

Dear Rosemary (that’s her name),

When I locked eyes with you in the midst of my neighbour’s moving sale it felt like I had found what I didnt even know I was looking for. When I took off your dusty lid only to find you were shiny and pristine, I felt like you had been looking for me, too. You stumbled through the novelty prints and polyester with me. You revealed your tension and pressure settings only when I was ready to understand them. And you helped me sew the very first Helen’s Closet Winslow Culottes sample. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Love, Helen!

Caroline: Oh my God. I’m seriously crying about your sewing machine. I remember coming to your place in the early days of Helen’s Closet and being absolutely shocked that you ran your whole business on this old Kenmore sewing machine, but you made me believe in the amazingness that is vintage machines because she was really reliable.

Helen: Oh yeah.

Caroline: And she got you through many years of your business before you upgraded. I mean, she was a workhorse.

Helen: She really was. It took me several years before I finally upgraded, and I still use her occasionally, try not to let her sit for too long. And I definitely will be holding her close probably until I die. You’ll have to pry her out of my cold, dead hands.

Caroline: Put that in your will, I would like to be buried with Rosemary.

Helen: Rosemary and I go into the grave together.

Caroline: That was good, Helen. That was really good. Okay. Now let’s get to your sewing love letters. Our first set of letters are written to heroes of the sewing community: sewing teachers. Emma wrote a letter to her sewing teacher, now friend, Abi.

“Dearest Abi,

You’ve been an amazing teacher since the beginning of my sewing journey. I don’t think I would’ve stuck with sewing if it hadn’t been for you. There has not been a problem that you haven’t offered your time and experience to show me how to solve it, even outside class! I just want to thank you with every ‘stitch’ of my heart, especially through that hard time sewing the coat that my mum had started for me. I just couldn’t have faced it alone!
So thank you, Abi, for believing in me and sharing your skills and friendship.”

Helen: Aw, I love that. Abi helped Emma sew a coat and get through a tough time. And now that is true friendship. And announcement: there’s a new standard for friendship. If they wouldn’t help you sew a coat, then they’re not worth it.

Caroline: Yeah. Throw ‘em out.

Helen: Okay. Leslie wrote,

“I declare my platonic love and admiration for my sewing teacher, Annie Ford who is @Ford_Wardrobe.

When I first walked into class, I thought, ‘WOW! She is pretty young to be teaching a class,’ but when she spoke and explained things, it all made sense! I quickly became obsessed with class, and tried to learn everything I could from her, starting with her Ford Bucket hat. She has taught me everything I know about sewing, and has always let my ideas run wild, without judgement or criticism.

Now as our paths in life diverge, I’m confident she has left me with the tools I need to make and upcycle all the things! I even purchased the same overlocker she has.

Thank you so much Annie for being the best sewing teacher, you’ll do amazing things in Melbourne!”

Caroline: Oh, I love when teachers work with your ideas and don’t shoot them down. It sounds like Annie is an amazing teacher. Look out for her, Melbourne listeners.

Helen: Yes.

Caroline: Okay. Our next one is from Tammy. Tammy wrote, “I recently learned that my favourite teacher passed away. Here’s what I wanted to write to her.

‘Dear Mrs. Jackson,

Thank you for your patience and high standards in your Home Ec classes. Opening the sewing lab at lunchtimes and after school created a community of teenagers who were passionate about sewing. Encouraging our curiosity and asking us to tackle seemingly impossible projects fuelled my lifelong drive to learn new skills.

Forever grateful,
Tammy’”

Helen: Aw, this is so moving. Mrs. Jackson created a place where teenagers could be creative and safe. Imagine having a group of close sewing friends in high school. I mean, I actually can imagine that because I also had an amazing home ec teacher, shout out to Ms. Orchard. Always kept the class open, and I was there all the time. So I totally understand where you’re coming from, Tammy.

Caroline: Oh, that is so awesome. I never had home ec class in high school. They ended it before I was in high school. And I’m always sad about that because I feel like so many people start, kind of, their love from sewing started in high school.

Helen: Yeah, it’s true. I know. I hope it’s something that will come back in force.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Okay. Our next writer, Gail wrote us a poem:

“For my quilt mentor Claire
You have helped me do things I would not dare
I am blessed that you are always there.”

Caroline: Oh my gosh. This is so sweet. I didn’t know about quilt mentors. I feel like you need to have one, Helen. How can we make this happen?

Helen: I do need one. It’s so true. Any volunteers?

Caroline: Let us know. Email us. Okay. Our next group of letters is to fabric. And Lauren from Parker, Colorado wrote,

“Hello you gorgeous beast (my fabric stash, but also you lovely ladies!)

I must confess my love to you, my beautiful stash of ribbed knits, polka dotted polyester blends, and gorgeous green cotton twill that will someday become a pair of Lander pants. I’m sorry that there are so many of you, I just can’t help myself when I see something new and fun and must add it to the rest. One day I will show the world the many different ways that you can be worn. But until that day, you’ll continue to sit on a shelf, in a drawer, in a box, and some on the floor. Just know that I’ll constantly, always, forever and ever think of you and how much I love you sew.”

Helen: Aw, I am definitely calling my fabric stash a gorgeous beast from now on.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: And I can totally relate to this “some on the floor” part of this message as well. It’s always, there’s, somehow, always some of it is on the floor.

Caroline: I’m just picturing you, like, every morning when you walk into your studio being like, hello, you, gorgeous beast.

Helen: Throwing open the doors on the fabric closet.

Caroline: Yeah. Good morning everyone. Oh my gosh. This is so good. Thank you, Lauren.

Helen: Alright, Yvonne wrote, “To my precious lace fabric: I love you because you complement my body. If I sew a bra with you, it looks like a piece of art. I feel beautiful when I wear you. Even though you are invisible to everybody else.”

Caroline: Oh, sewing with lace can scare people off some times. Yvonne, I’m so glad you go for it and sew with it, and I can tell that you love it. It is such a beautiful fabric.

Helen: It is. This is one of those letters that makes me think about the connection of a love for sewing, but also the way that sewing makes us feel loved because we’re putting that care and energy into ourselves and wearing something that makes us feel confident.

Caroline: Yeah, absolutely.

Helen: It’s very multifaceted.

Caroline: Okay. Noa wrote,

“To the half-made dress in a fabric I now regret, I’m sorry to tell you that you were a practice dress that I don’t know if I’ll finish anytime soon. To be honest I had this fantasy in my head of people giving me compliments and getting to reply ‘thanks, I made it’ and smile at their surprised faces. Now I’ve come to the realisation that a navy bedsheet with peach and cream coloured spots is just not the vibe. I hate to break it to you this way but I reckon after your extended break hanging out with my fabric stash, eventually you’ll have to become something else. Nevertheless, thank you for getting me excited about creating something wearable for once instead of more scrunchies – we both know I already have way too many.”

Helen: Aw, these are so good.

Caroline: These are cracking me up. It’s just not the vibe.

Helen: It’s just not the vibe. I feel like every sewist has a garment in their collection that they started and then hid at the bottom of a box or, like, shoved in with the fabric stash somewhere. And it’s a good plan to count up the lessons you learn, work on something else you’re excited about, and maybe come back to refashion it or just let it go. I mean, I guess it can always become scrunchies now, right?

Caroline: Yeah. And I was going to say, this is the perfect use for, like, a scrap pouffe.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: You can just throw those abandoned projects that you don’t want to finish in there. No one will know.

Helen: Yeah. They’re in the pouffe. Gone forever.

Caroline: They’re in the pouffe. Okay, this next section is probably my favourite, even though I’ll probably say that about every section. This is letters to family and friends. Do you want to get the first one, Helen?

Helen: Yes. This one is actually NOT from me; it’s from another sewing Helen:

“Dear Mum,

You gave me the belief that I could do absolutely anything if I had a go at it. That has been the greatest gift of my life. I’ll always associate sewing with love, knowing you stayed up until the small hours on Christmas Eve, battling satin and netting to make your girls tutus which we wore until we could no longer get the straps over our shoulders. I’d love you to witness how my sewing has progressed and share my pride in my creations, sadly not to be, but I hope you knew you’d given us so much, a joy in sewing being just a tiny, but thoroughly joyful, part of everything you passed on.

Your thankful daughter,
Helen”

Caroline: Oh my gosh. I have something in my eye.

Helen: Oh, it’s so wonderful that her mom passed on her love of sewing along with that “I can do anything” spirit. I can definitely relate to that cause my mom was the same way, and it’s just the best.

Caroline: Aw, well thank you for writing in, Helen. Other Helen.

Okay, Jo wrote a letter to her husband, Patrick. “My husband supports me in my love for sewing. He is my constant sounding board, my cheerleader, and my photographer. I love him when he forgives the late dinners and the messy house. When it comes to fabric, supplies, and tools he happily encourages me to get what I need, and go for it! It makes me love him all the more.”

Yeah, it’s so nice to have someone who doesn’t sew, but who appreciates your sewing and supports you through all the ups and downs. It’s definitely nice to have an in-house Instagram photographer, too. I know Shea and Sam can definitely relate to this one. So yeah, this is definitely a sweet letter from Jo.

Helen: Yeah. I always appreciate when I hear about partners who are supportive, especially when it comes to collecting materials for this hobby because it’s endless, as we all know, and Sam is the same way. And I’m like, I’m going to get this fabric. He’s like, great. Awesome. Cool. He doesn’t need to bring up the fact that I already have hundreds of yards. It’s irrelevant.

Caroline: It helps in my case that Shea has hobbies, too.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: So every piece of fabric I bring home is a model train that he can bring home.

Helen: Exactly. Tit for tat.

Alright. Our next letter comes from Ellen.

“A few months before the first wave of the pandemic hit I had moved abroad in the hope of progressing my photography career. This dream was very short lived and I had to return, jobless and homeless, to live with my parents. During this time, my mum taught me to sew. She taught me everything she knew, and we spent hours listening to your podcast, drafting patterns, cutting out, and sewing together. I felt such shame moving back home at 30, but I will forever be grateful for this time I got with my mum. It has given me such creative joy, connected me to our ancestors who were also avid sewers, and given me a bond with my mother I never thought possible. I have since moved out but we text daily about our sewing adventures!”

Caroline: Aw, it’s amazing that so much joy and love came out of such a difficult time. Makes me feel so warm and fuzzy to think of Ellen and their mom sewing together and listening to our podcast.

Helen: Yes.

Caroline: I love this so much.

Helen: Me, too.

Caroline: Okay. Sidney wrote,

“Dear Nanna,

I want you to know that your passion for sewing lives on through me. I thought I was loving you well by allowing you to teach me your passion of sewing while you were going through cancer for the first time, but you planted a seed in my heart that grew into my own love for sewing. Since your second round of cancer ushered you into the next life, I’ve moved into your home, given birth to your great grandson, and inherited your sewing space and all of the beautiful things you left behind.

You would be so proud of what I’ve done with your machines, notions, fabric stash, and sewing table. I’ve used them to start my own upholstery business. I feel more connected to you as I sew in your space. I love you, Nanna.

Yours,
Sidney”

Caroline: Oh. Phew.

Helen: Oh, I’m just cutting onions over here.

Caroline: Yeah. This is so touching. Honestly, it’s so beautiful that you didn’t even know you would love sewing when you asked your Nanna to teach you, and I wonder if she knew you would love it. And I’m sure she would be so proud of you, your business, and your son. Thank you so much for sharing that Sidney. It really, it really touched my heart.

Helen: Yes, really good. Alright, our next message is in the form of a voicemail so we can take a little cry break.

Caroline: Yeah, let’s take a break.

Erin: Hi, this is Erin from Boise, Idaho in the United States. I wanted to express my love for my sewing friend, Jessica in Portland, Oregon. Um, our shared love of sewing has been one of the threads that has supported our friendship over the last 10 years, keeping us connected through all kinds of big life changes. And I love that whenever we get together, we seek out the nearest fabric shop and even plan sew-cations, where we meet halfway between our two cities to spend the weekend sewing together. Um, Jess, we have seen each others through some very happy and some very rough times. I am so grateful and lucky that I have you to share this special hobby with. There is truly no one I would rather haul 20 pounds of fabric to a bus stop in Berkeley with. Love you.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. This is so sweet. I want to go on a sewing vacay. Can we do that? Huh? Can we make that happen?

Helen: Oh my gosh. I love sewing friends stories. This is so sweet. I really hope that Erin’s friend is listening.

Caroline: Yeah, me too.

Helen: Okay. Haley wrote, “To Bevan at Bawn textiles – you make the world a better happier place by prioritising eco friendly fabrics. You are such a welcoming face on the high street and Glasgow loves you!”

Caroline: Oh my gosh. You hear that, Bevan. Glasgow loves you. What a high compliment.

Helen: Yes. Okay. Our creative assistant, Lisa, who we love. Love you, Lisa.

Caroline: Love you, Lisa.

Helen: I could write a whole love letter just for Lisa and all the work she does on this show, but…

Caroline: Why didn’t we do that?

Helen: She has left us her love letter via voicemail.

Lisa: Dear Mom, Growing up, you showed me how magical sewing could be. When I was seven, you made me and my stuffed velveteen bunny matching Easter dresses – it felt like something that could only happen in a storybook. When I was ten, you made me a gown just like Rose’s from Titanic for Halloween. I was the most elegant tween alive. When I was twelve, you made me an outfit for the Renaissance Faire worthy of Shakespeare’s Juliet. You always supported my sartorial dreams – and taught me that we could make them happen with discount fabrics! Thank you for the hours you spent making my life magical, and thank you for the love of sewing that you passed on to me. I love you!

Caroline: Oh, okay. Lisa’s mom. You’re so talented. Rose from Titanic, Juliet. My gosh. These are, like, next level costumes. No wonder Lisa fell in love with sewing. And I just want to say, thanks Lisa’s mom for bringing Lisa into the world because we love Lisa.

Helen: And thank you all the moms out there, all the parents out there who have worked so hard for the Halloweens.

Caroline: Yeah. Oh.

Helen: For the Renaissance fairs. For those schools plays. I mean, my mom definitely pulled some all nighters sewing me some stuff growing up too, and yeah, that’s true love.

Caroline: It sure is. Okay.

Next up we have Sarah who wrote, “Dear Nan, It was Christmas in my 14th year. I thought and hoped the big box was a TV. It was a sewing machine. I’m sorry to say I was inwardly disappointed. Now in my 40th year I have 5 sewing machines, an overlocker, a beautiful sewing shed, and share my sewing hobby with my Dad. Thank you Nan for not buying me a TV. Miss you.”

Helen: Aw, Nan knew what your heart really wanted. She knew what you needed.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Okay. Our next batch of love letters are to sewing tools and machines. And I just loved the idea of writing a love letter to an inanimate object. Here we go.

Anne wrote, “I met you at a sewing class, and the attraction was immediate. You were strong, quiet and capable and made me feel that, with you, I could do anything. I went home and couldn’t face the old machine I’d used for a decade and knew I had to have you. Two months later and we’re so happy and have already made some amazing things together. I love you, my fancy sewing machine.”

Caroline: Congratulations, Anne. We’re so happy for you and your fancy sewing machine. May you have many blissful years together.

Helen: Yes.

Caroline: OThis next letter is from Barbara to her needle driver! For those not in the know, a needle driver is like a cross between scissors and a clamp. Surgeons use it to hold onto surgical needles when they tie sutures! Okay, onto the letter:

“Dear Miss Driver,

May I call you Needle? After all, we’ve known each other for a long time, since the day I rescued you from the scrap heap at the medical clinic where you had served faithfully, and with great care and precision, helping humans suture up the torn fabric of other humans. Now you honour me with your presence at my sewing machine and every single day you cheerfully embrace all the new tasks I ask of you. Don’t tell the others, but of all the tools in my workshop you are my favourite.

Love always,
Barbara”

Helen: Oh, this is fascinating. I’m wondering what you use a needle driver for in your sewing. I’m guessing that it’s probably, like, pulling through thick fabric, like, or holding the fabric together while you’re sewing. David Page Coffin used a hemostat to turn his collar points, which is also like a medical tool. So maybe stuff like that? Barbara, if you’re listening, we need more details.

Caroline: I know. We can’t just continue to speculate. You must give us more details. No, I feel like it might be, like, similar to tweezers in a sewing room, like, helping you to, like, thread your machine potentially.

Helen: Oh, yeah.

Caroline: I don’t know. We must know. Please follow up with us, Barbara. I love learning about new tools.

Helen: Gemma wrote, “Dear quilting rulers, you’re not designed for dressmaking and I’m not a quilter (yet), but you’re so useful. I’ve reached for you in every sewing project since I’ve owned you. My father-in-law (himself a sewist) said I’d find all kinds of uses for you – and he was right!”

Caroline: I love an unexpected sewing tool, and quilting rulers are great pattern weights. You can use them for pattern drafting, too. And it’s nice that they’re clear and they have the measurements marked. I know I have one in my sewing room and I use it all the time.

Helen: I mean, I have recently taken up quilting as you guys probably know. But prior to that, I did have a few quilting rulers, and now, I have about 20 of them. I mean, they come in every shape and size. It’s like magic.

Caroline: Oh my gosh, I love it.

Alright, Addy wrote,

“My dearest Singer Touch and Sew,

I may not be able to hear you speak, but your actions have always given me comfort in the dark. It’s the easiest of all conversations I have throughout the day and it’s like you just get me. Your tactile whispers run through my fingers and straight to my heart. You are the true definition of ‘Touch and Sew,’ because you have truly touched my heart in unmeasurable ways.

With all my love, thank you,
Addy”

Helen: Oh, sometimes dealing with a sewing machine is preferable to dealing with people, especially a sewing machine that makes things so easy. Thank you for this letter, Addy.

Caroline: Yeah. Loved it.

Helen: Aviva wrote us a POEM! Ahem. Try to do it justice.

“Ode to my iron:
You steam my seams and creases
So my collars can look neat
Your value never ceases
When you’re turning up that heat
Just one complaint my warm friend
(Though my love for you runs deep!)
How I fret I’ve left you plugged in
When I’m about to fall asleep!”

Caroline: That is art. Oh my gosh.

Helen: So good. I can’t believe how great this poem is. You should be a poet.

Caroline: Yeah. Let’s give Aviva a round of applause for that poem. Also, hands up if you’ve woken up in the middle of the night and ran to check your iron. I mean.

Helen: Yes. Even though it has that auto shut off, I still, like, am always worried I left it plugged in. If it’s plugged in, then something can happen, right?

Caroline: Absolutely. Okay.

Next up, Emily wrote,

“Dear Seam Ripper,

Thank you for always being near at hand. I literally could not do any of this without you. You are my best friend.

Xoxo,
Emily”

Helen: Oh, it always sucks so much to have to rip something out, but isn’t it great that mistakes are reversible in sewing and seam rippers do need more credit than they get. They’re a cherished tool.

Caroline: Yeah, I definitely think seamer rippers deserve a love letter.

This next group of letters is a hodgepodge. Or, as they call it on Jeopardy, “potpourri.” Basically, a bunch of letters that didn’t fit in a category!

Debbie from the North Oregon Coast wrote, “My love letter is to a stitch… the underrated understitch. This stitch makes my collars lie flat, my facing stay in place, my waistbands appear smaller, and makes me happy every single time I use it. Stitch love like this is, again, underrated!”

Caroline: Debbie, we love understitching, too. We never skip it. It makes too big of a difference in the finished garment. So hell yeah to that.

Helen: Yes. Love me some understitching.

Caroline: Alright, Phoenicks wrote a love letter to prewashing: “I used to ignore the hieroglyphic laundry labels on store-bought clothing and opt to throw it into the washing machine on the default setting instead. My carelessness was facilitated by a culture of fast fashion, which encourages discarding and replacing clothing, rather than caring for it. Caring for something necessitates that you learn about it, first of all. Recently, I learnt that fabric softener shouldn’t be used on 100% cotton; nor should microfibre be washed with cotton (because it picks up the lint). Prewashing fabric, especially by hand, has allowed me to connect with every fibre, and feel the sunlight on the fabric surface when I sew it.”

What a lovely way to look at prewashing. It’s, like, loving your me made before you even start sewing it.

Helen: Yes, it’s true. I don’t know if I’ll ever become a full hand washer, but I do love this idea of sunlight on your clothes. I’m into that.

Caroline: Yeah, me too.

Helen: Emily wrote a letter to grading between sizes. “I didn’t know until I started sewing that one of the most amazing parts was getting clothes that fit to a T. I didn’t know how important it was, or how common a problem it is. Now I can sew a garment in multiple sizes and feel so fabulous, and it makes me wish everyone could feel that joy.”

Caroline: Yeah, it’s so true. Grading between sizes is such a game changer. And most of us don’t fit into one size for bust, waist, and hips. That’s totally normal. Um, and if you’re looking for resources, Cashmerette has a great set of tutorials on their blog for grading between sizes for different types of garments. Definitely worth checking out. We’ll link it up in the show notes.

Helen: Yes. Love, love me some grading. I just keep saying that after everything. Love me a seam ripper. Love me some understitching.

Caroline: Okay. Carly wrote a letter to her past self:

“Dear Carly from 2013,

One day you will have a great job and own a sewing machine that seems to be from the future. It costs more money than you’d ever think to pay for any one thing in your life. And you will LOVE it and deserve it. Just be patient. (It’s a Viking brilliance 75Q).

Love, Carly”

Helen: Oh, Past Carly would be astonished at what Current Carly has achieved. Don’t you just love imagining what your past self would think of your makes or, like, things, like, your fancy sewing machine that you’ve managed to purchase or your house that you live in? Like, I think about that sometimes.

Caroline: Yeah. Oh, my past self that used to sew at the dining room table is very proud of my current self’s sewing room.

Helen: Yes. Okay. This one really belongs in the hodgepodge potpourri section; it isn’t exactly a love letter, but we think it still counts! One of our listeners turned us on to this song by the band Bait Bag. It’s pretty much a love letter to pockets! Here’s a clip:

Bait Bag: I just want pockets for my wallet and keys / I just want pockets to put my hands if I please / I just want pockets, come on I’m down on my knees / I just want pockets, give me pockets / I just want pockets, that’s not too much to ask / I need a place to put a knife and a flask / To keep my goggles and an oxygen mask / I just want pockets…

Caroline: Okay. This is such an amazing song. It’s like an anthem. I want pockets. Check out Bait Bag at BaitBagTheBand.com to listen to more of their music. This song is called “Pockets,” obviously. And they have their first full length album coming out in July. So check out the link in our show notes.

Helen: Yes. Thank you to them for letting us play their song.

Alright, we’re in the homestretch. Our last set of love letters are addressed to sewing itself.

Shem wrote, “When we met I was young and naive. It started off as something silly and fun. Then we drifted apart. Little did we know we’d meet again when I was older, more mature, and ready for something serious. It hasn’t always been easy but it’s always been love, even from the beginning all those years ago. I love you sewing…”

Caroline: Aw.

Helen: Sewing really does feel like a long-term relationship.

Caroline: Yeah, it definitely does.

Helen: Sometimes you fight. Sometimes you lose the passion. You work on it. You get back together. And it’s harder and more rewarding than you ever thought it would be.

Caroline: Yup, but worth sticking it out.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: Most of the time.

Okay. Tabitha from sunny England wrote,

“Dearest sewing,

I want to send you my sincere apologies. I danced around you, played with you, taunted you with the infatuation of material bought and never used. A suitcase full of vintage patterns collected for years from charity shops – a glimmer of what our relationship could be. I swept in with hack attempts at a cushion or two then left you, cold…. for some other ‘thing’…. Left you wondering if I would ever come back to you. Thank you, Thank you so much for staying, waiting, having faith in me. I’m here to stay this time. I’m sewing my first dress and yes, you were right all along… I should have appreciated what I had all those years ago… You are the one for me, you are my soulmate.

You were so patient waiting for me all that time…you have my undivided attention; it’s my husband’s turn now to wait!!”

Helen: Oh, I love the ending. Congratulations on your first dress, Tabitha. You’re going to have so much fun sewing garments. I’m so excited for you. I definitely need a bumper sticker or a t-shirt that says, “Sewing is my soulmate,” though.

Caroline: Oh, yeah. That’s a great idea. Put that in our back pocket.

Helen: Okay. This next letter is anonymous.

“Dear sewing,

During lockdown, you stumbled unpretentiously into my life via a 1980’s children’s pattern I fortuitously found in the long-abandoned sewing stash of my mother. I did not expect much when embarking upon that first project but you have slowly crept into my creative heart and flourished.

Because of you I have a go-to talking point which maintains a much-needed line of connection with my mother, a maternal relationship which has been put under major strain because of fierce differences of opinion arising from the pandemic.

Because of you I feel a connection to my grandmother long-since past, each time I reach for her bias-binding or buttons that she purchased in Woolworth’s for 38p in the 1970’s.

Because of you I can connect with loved-ones past and present, something I would have never thought possible when I laid my hands on and considered that first children’s pinafore pattern.

Thank you.”

Caroline: Aw. I’m so glad that you can connect to your mom and grandmother through sewing. It’s amazing that this hobby can enhance the love we already have for our family and friends. Thank you for writing in Anonymous.

Helen: Yeah, it’s so nice to have those connections with people. Like, whether it’s strangers that you meet at sewing studios, you have something in common you can talk about, or family members that you know really well. It’s really nice to have that common thread that can get you through some of these tougher times. And I’m sure a lot of our listeners can relate to that.

Caroline: Definitely. Okay. We’re onto our last letter, and this one’s from Suzy.

“There was a point where I asked myself ‘what do you like to do?’ And I just didn’t know the answer anymore. New motherhood absorbed me and when I finally had some ‘me’ time, I was lost on what to do with it.

‘I guess I used to like to make clothes and sew?’, I heard in the back of my mind. So I tried that. I started a quick project and that didn’t stick, and then I did another and that didn’t stick either. And then I slowly found myself reading patterns whilst holding my sleeping baby at 3 in the morning — something I didn’t like before but it felt right. Then I cut a pattern and that felt like fun again, then some fabric….

Slowly but surely I found the pieces of my old self come in and join at the seams to form a new me, like a small hack that definitely improved the original design.

So thank you, for helping me find my way back.”

Helen: Aw, Suzy. In the face of overwhelming change, you found yourself again, and we always talk about how we can express ourselves through sewing. And this is what we mean in the deepest possible way. Just love that you found your way back to sewing and found yourself through that.

Caroline: Yeah. And our mailbag is empty now, everyone. Thank you to all of the listeners who sent in love letters and thank you to our sewing friends and our old sewing teachers and our moms and our partners, our machines, our tools, our fabric, and our patterns. We love you. Everyone say it together. We love you.

Helen: We love you.

Caroline: And that’s it for today’s episode of Love to Sew. You can find me, Caroline, at BlackbirdFabrics.com and Helen at HelensClosetPatterns.com! And we’re recording today in beautiful, British Columbia, Canada.

Helen: Head to LoveToSewPodcast.com to find our show notes. They’re filled with links and pictures from the episode. And if you’d like to get in touch with us, send us an email at hello@LoveToSewPodcast.com.

Caroline: And if you love Love to Sew and want more, we would be so grateful if you sign up for our Patreon! Remember this is how you can follow along with us in the off-season. For just $5 a month, you get a full-length bonus episode and weekly behind-the-scenes pictures.

And for $10 a month, you get all that PLUS a mini-episode focused on sewing techniques and 15% off codes for Helen’s Closet and Blackbird Fabrics which basically pays for itself if you shop from our stores! Patreon is the best way to support us so that we can keep making quality sewing content next season. And go to patreon.com/LoveToSew for more info.

Helen: And thank you to our amazing podcast team. Lisa Ruiz is our creative assistant. Jordan Moore is our editor. And Margaret Wakelee is our transcriber. And thank you so much for listening. We love you so, so much, and we will see you in September. Have a great summer.

Caroline: We’ll miss you. Bye.

Helen: Bye.

And thank you so much for nis-, for nisteling.

Caroline: For nisteling.

Helen: Thank you so much for nisteling.

Caroline: That sounds gross.

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