We share the wonderful, heartfelt, and surprising reasons why we sew. Listeners all around the world wrote in to tell us their ‘why’ and celebrate this wonderful hobby with us!

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• The Winslow Culottes are available in the better size range now!

• Winslow Hacks on Helen’s Closet
• Check out #winslowculottes

• Need some feedback or advice? Tag your makes with #sewingsos to get help and tips on Instagram.
• Episode 87: How to Get Your SewJo Back
• York Pinafore by Helen’s Closet

• #memadeeveryday
• Episode 86: Sewn Magazine with Michelle Morris
• Betty sewing

• Workshops at Blackbird – These are no longer happening!

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Transcript:

This transcript has been made from the Love to Sew Favourite re-release version of Episode 94: Why Do We Sew, published on June 14, 2021. You can listen to this version on the player below.

Helen: We are recording today on the traditional ancestral and unceded territories of the coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples including Tsleil-Waututh Squamish, Muskingum, and Comox first nations. 

Caroline: Hello, Love to Sew listener. We’re currently in our podcast off season. So we’re taking a little break from recording right now.

Helen: This summer, we’re excited to revisit some of our favorite episodes from years past. We hope you will love these reruns as much as we do. Remember, you can still access the show notes by going to lovetosewpodcast.com and searching for the episode. If you want more Love to Sew, head over to our Patreon. We have a lot of fun over there, and we appreciate our Patreon fam so, so much.

Caroline: For $5 U.S. per month, you’ll get access to our monthly bonus episode. Our Patreon episodes really feel like a catch-up with friends. This is where we share what we’ve been up to in our personal lives, our businesses, what we’re sewing and things we’re loving like recipes, podcasts, TV shows, board games and more. Throughout the month, we also share behind the scenes photos.

I recently gave our patrons a sneak peek of some of our upcoming exclusive Blackbird releases, and Helen you’ve given sneak peaks of patterns too, right?  

Helen: Yes, it is top secret stuff just for our Patrion supporters. And if you join at $10 us per month, you will get 15% off discount codes for Blackbird fabrics. Helen’s closet. And our love to sew swag shop and this code can be reused again and again. So it’s a great deal, especially if you shop with us frequently, plus you’ll get a bonus. Mini-sode where we answer a patron question or cover a specific selling topic. So you can learn more and sign up to support us at patrion.com/loved to sell.

Caroline: And don’t worry folks, we’ll be back in September 2021 with a fabulous new season of Love to Sew. Now let’s get to this Love to Sew favorite. 

 

Welcome, I’m Caroline. 

Helen: And I’m Helen. 

Caroline: And we love to sew. This is a podcast for makers where we talk about sewing a handmade wardrobe and bring you interviews with inspiring creatives and small business owners in our community. 

Helen: Today, we are discussing why we sew. We asked you to write in with the reason why you sew, and the results are amazing.

We talk about cherishing family memories, getting into a state of flow, and making clothes that actually fit. We also talk about sewing being therapeutic and how it makes everything better. 

Caroline: I love sewing. 

Helen: But why do you love sewing? 

Caroline: It’s a really good question. We’re going to answer that today.

Oh, my gosh. So let’s talk about how much feedback we got. 

Helen: I think this is the most we’ve ever gotten for a prompt. 

Caroline: Yes, it really was. I mean, dozens and dozens of emails. Um, hundreds of comments, more voicemails than we’ve ever received on a specific topic, for sure. A lot of people sent us voice memos as well.

It was really nice to get all of those messages because I feel like this topic really resonated with a lot of people. 

Helen: It did. People wanted to share their reasons why they sew, and there were a lot of different reasons, more than I actually expected. I wasn’t sure going into it. I thought, maybe, you know, we get a few different camps happening, but when I was, sort of, breaking it down, it seemed like there’s actually sort of nine camps.

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: At least that’s how I’ve decided to divy it up. 

Caroline: No, I mean, it makes sense. Get that stuff organized, figure out where the commonalities are. 

Helen: Exactly. 

Caroline: So we, kind of, came up with nine general categories that we can fit all of your feedback into, not that we want to put you in a box, but for this episode it was easier to kind of categorize everything. 

Helen: I mean, sometimes I need a box. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: Alright, so number one: people sew for connection  with fellow sewists in the community. 

Caroline: Yes, definitely. Number two: to remember loved ones and make new family memories. 

Helen: I love that one. 

Caroline: Me too. 

Helen: Number three: because we can’t not sew. Literally have to sew. 

Caroline: No choice. Number four: for sustainability.

Helen: Number five: because it’s so satisfying. 

Caroline: You mean s-e-w satisfying? 

Helen: I mean, I put, like, 10 o’s there, but… 

Caroline: Sooo satisfying. Number six: to get that me time. 

Helen: Yes. And number seven: for health and wellness, both mental and physical. This category can include everything, you know, grief, stress, anxiety, depression, mental and physical illness, all that kind of stuff.

Caroline: Yes. Number eight: to make a dream wardrobe. 

Helen: Yeah. And number nine: because we can make clothes that actually fit us. Properly. For realsies. Never see the inside of a changing room again. 

Caroline: The dream. 

Helen: Okay. So obviously we need to start off by sharing a little bit about why we sew. 

Caroline: Absolutely. Yeah, I sew because I think I’ve always felt a pull towards sewing since a young age.

I can remember watching my mom sew our Halloween costumes and being, like, I want to know how to do that. And I’ve told this story before. I, kind of, forced my mom to teach me how to sew so that I could make bags out of old jeans for my friends. But I really can’t explain that pull really other than just really wanting to learn how to do it.

And I think knowing now, um, you know, my mom sewed our Halloween costumes, and my grandmother was also a seamstress. She worked for a tailor. My great-grandmother was also a seamstress, so it’s definitely in my blood. And there’s, for sure, an element of feeling that connection to my ancestors. I also sew because the possibilities are limitless, and it really feeds my creativity.

I think it’s where my passion lies. It’s where I’ve decided to dedicate my life’s work and just makes me really happy. 

Helen: Yeah. 

Caroline: So category is for connection with fellow sewists in the community and to remember my loved ones. 

Helen: I like it. You’re allowed more than one category. 

Caroline: Yes. 

Helen: You can have all of them if you want.

Caroline: That’s true. I think I do relate to most of them, but I think those would be my main, my main reasons for sewing. What about you? 

Helen: Well, I love this question, and I actually didn’t start thinking about it until after I read everyone else’s feedback. And then you were like, we should share our stories. And it really got me thinking about it, and it evolves over the years, for sure. But I’ve always been really obsessed with clothing. Like even when I was a kid, I wore the craziest things to school. Like all I ever wanted to do was play dress up. I didn’t care about anything fashion-related. It was just about fabrics and styles and cool things. You know, I would just see clothes, and I would love a certain style or certain something about them.

And then I grew up in a really creative household. So we were always making stuff, and, you know, my mom sewed, so obviously got to see her doing that. And when I discovered that I could do that too, and I started sewing, it was, kind of, like, marrying these two passions. Like, I love clothing, and I love dressing up, and I love having fun with fabric.

And now I can make that my passion and my hobby and actually create those things and, um, have this output that’s functional but also really artistic. So I think that’s where it really started for me: sort of an obsession with clothing. And that has obviously continued on as a pattern designer. I’m still really obsessed with fashion and clothing and things like that, in my own way.

And now when I’m just sewing for myself. I feel like it’s really a need to create something. Like, when I take the time out of my day and outside of my work hours to sew something for myself, it’s just, like, this feeling, like, oh my God, like, I need to sew something. If I go away for too long, I just miss my sewing machine so, so, so much. So I think if I had to pick a category, mine would be because I can’t not sew. 

Caroline: Love it. That makes a lot of sense. 

Helen: Yeah. It was a really fun question though. 

Caroline: Yeah, it is. It really makes you think. I mean, we just love sewing, and we talk about sewing all the time. Sewing, sewing, sewing. But we don’t often think about that motivation behind it, so… 

Helen: Yeah. 

Caroline: That’s great. 

Helen: For sure. Okay. So the one other thing we wanted to talk about before we get really going here and sharing your stories about why you sew is that we got a lot of comments from people saying that sewing is their therapy. And we have also said this phrase on the show in the past, and we’ve received some feedback from listeners that when we use that phrase, it can, kind of, devalue the real impact of therapy and, and make it seem like sewing can achieve everything that therapy can.

And therapy is really hard work, and it’s incredibly, it’s an incredibly valuable treatment. And we want to be clear that sewing can be therapeutic, but sewing is not the same thing as actual therapy. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: Yeah. And, of course, not everyone can afford therapy, and not everyone has access to therapy. So we know that people who are, you know, saying that phrase are mostly saying that sewing, sort of, gives them a sense of healing or sense of restoration.

And we thought we would put this little disclaimer out there. Maybe we can all think about a different way to phrase that. We all feel, a little bit, like sewing is our therapy, but what is it specifically about sewing that is therapeutic for you? You know, like, is it, sewing is calming for me or sewing provides space for me to be myself or sewing helps me reflect on what’s happening in my life right now, you know, instead of a blanket sort of therapy phrase. Yeah. 

Caroline: So we’re going to be reading a lot of comments, kind of, word for word in this episode where that phrase is used. Um, so that’s why we wanted to talk about this first. 

Helen: Yeah, and for a little reminder for ourselves, too. 

Caroline: Yeah, definitely. So let’s kick things off with basically the cutest voicemail ever from Eleanor.

Eleanor: Hello. My name is Eleanor. I am six and a half years old, and I live in Canada, Province of Ontario and Ottawa. This is why I love to sew. I love to sew because I guess, like, the fun is sewing. And it’s so fun when I do it with my mom, especially. What do you like to make? I love to make dolls and clothes for my dolls. Say, I love your podcast. I love your podcast. Have a great day. 

Helen: I love you, Eleanor. 

Caroline: We love you, Eleanor. 

Helen: That, I die every time I listen. 

Caroline: I know that just warms my heart. I love your podcast. Thank you so much, Eleanor. And we’re going to hear from Eleanor’s mom a little bit later. All right. So our first message is from Stephanie. 

“I’ve been a short, plus size girl for the majority of my life. My mom had signed me up for sewing lessons so I could hem pants. But my love for sewing grew into so much more. During those lessons, I learned how to alter patterns, how to alter clothing, which styles and colors I liked and didn’t like. I became more and more picky about what I wanted to wear because I knew that I could make my own clothes that fit me and my style better. Wearing something I’ve made out is such a rewarding experience to me. I love being able to show off my knowledge, talent, hard work, and style while also knowing that I’m making things I wouldn’t be able to find or buy elsewhere. There’s something about taking a 2-D piece of fabric and turning it into something 3-D that gives me such a rush and feeling of accomplishment.

“I sew for the 12 year old version of me, who was forced to wear boring old lady clothes. I sew for my plus size preteen slash teen figure skating self, who could never find pretty skating dresses in her size. I sew for my high school self, who were boring clothes in sizes too small or too big because she couldn’t find the right clothes off the rack.

“I sew for my high school self, who made most of her homecoming and prom dresses because she knew what she wanted and wouldn’t settle for less. I sew for all of my theater kids, so that they feel the comfort and confidence in their costumes that I never did. I sew for my clients and friends who come to me, not feeling any confidence in their bodies because their clothes don’t fit them correctly.

“I sew for my clients, so I can educate them how sizing is so different from off the rack clothing and explain to them how number sizes don’t matter. I sew for my mom who got me started and who not only encouraged me to start garment sewing, but trusted me enough to ask me to make my first custom garment ever for her.

“I sew for my sister who I can make custom dresses and clothes for so she doesn’t have to feel as trapped as I did, so she can have that perfect prom dress that doesn’t come in her size. I sew for myself so that I can feel that I’m slowly making a difference, however, small that is. Thank you so much for allowing me to share this with you. And I hope I didn’t bore you too much. Thank you for all you do for this community.”

Helen: Thank you, Stephanie. I really love the way you worded your message to us. 

Caroline: Yeah, me too.

Helen:  And our next message is from Gudrun. “Two weeks ago, I sat down and started a reply to this question while listening to the SewJo episode. The question has been plaguing me because I’m not sure anymore.

“When I started sewing, it was my lifeline through postpartum depression. It gave me something I could always look forward to. I’m a dress making student, and I’m getting my license as a dressmaker this summer. Hopefully. I’ve been in a real rut. My SewJo ashes on the wind and my self-esteem, null. Sewing has been my biggest aspiration for almost a decade.

“I’m making it my career. It is my hobby and whatever I was doing, I would always rather be sewing. So, all eggs in one basket, sewing is everything to me, and I want it to stay that way. I was trying to answer the questions mostly for myself, but I don’t have an answer. I have practical reasons. I want clothes that fit, that suit my tastes.

“I like making things. I don’t want to buy from companies that don’t pay their employees a living wage. Practical things, nothing that would fuel this all-consuming drive to sew that doesn’t ever leave you alone. I know why I stopped wanting to sew. It has to do with self-esteem issues and unfair comparison, but why do I still want to sew? So after sitting down and taking a hard look at why I’m not sewing, I went and finished a shirt I’d cut out last year. It felt amazing, and it gave me such a burst of energy. I, kind of, feel like I’m waking up and coming back to sewing after a long break which isn’t the case. I’ve been sewing constantly but, kind of, hating it for a year or so.

“And funnily, I think I got better when I was away because I’m noticing differences. So thank you for asking the hard questions. I have no idea what it is about sewing that I like so much. I’m not a patient person. I usually can’t be bothered to be very precise. Sewing doesn’t even relax me. It’s just like chocolate.

“I couldn’t explain what it is that makes it so delicious, but it’s the bomb. Cheerio from a listener that’s just happy you asked why we sew.”

Caroline: Thank you, Gudrun. I feel like we need a category for, like, 

Helen: Conflicted people. 

Caroline: Not sure, but sewing just has a certain je ne sais quoi that we can’t… 

Helen: A certain grasp. 

Caroline: That we can’t quit. 

Helen: An addictive quality, perhaps?

Caroline: Yeah. We also got a lot of great comments on Instagram, so we thought we would read some highlights before we jump into all the categories. I sew because it’s my passion; it makes my heart happy. I use it as therapy for when everything else is chaos in my life. It’s a constant, the way I can make things come to life, all the potential variables, the one-of-a-kind, the satisfaction and gratitude that I have with this amazing gift is actually beyond words.”

Helen: “I sew because it’s the first time in my life I felt okay making mistakes and learning from them. It’s helped me develop my identity and come into my own as a person.” 

Caroline: “I feel so happy and beautiful when I’m creating.” 

Helen: “I love to sew because it reminds me that I am capable.” 

Caroline: Yes, you are. “The instinctive, meditative flow that oozes from my soul travels through my bodily core, circles around my head, and comes out of my hands into the thread and into my artwork.” Woof. 

Helen: Woo. “Sewing has a life independent of me. Sometimes I feel I have nothing to do with it. I am merely the conductor.” 

Caroline: “It is the way I bring my inner voice into this world. It heals me. It nourishes me. It brings me joy. It brings me peace. It soothes me. It brings me fulfillment. It allows me to help others. It satisfies me, and it is my omnipresent, eternally reliable, best friend.”

Helen: “I just love to make and turning fabric into something beautiful to wear makes me indescribably happy. From tracing the pattern, cutting out matching stripes, hand basting, winding a bobbin to snipping threads, I adore every single aspect of it. The same way knitting sets my heart aglow, sewing transports me to my happy place.” Oh, these are giving me so many warm and fuzzies. 

Caroline: I know, I got a little chills. 

Helen: Yeah. 

Caroline: Okay. So let’s jump into all the people who sew for connection with fellow sewists in the community. 

Helen: Yeah. 

Caroline: Susan says, “A year ago, I was invited to volunteer teaching sewing to women who have come to the U.S. As refugees. There’s ,laughter comradery, pride in making time for themselves at the sewing circle. The sharing of life challenges and support in that room full of sewing machines enriches us all.

“I’m almost six feet tall, and I’ve made clothing for 40 years. Sewing Guild has enriched my friendships, but nothing can compare to the fun of sharing sewing with these resilient and creative women.” 

Helen: Fantastic. Donna says, “I’ve made good friends through sewing. I love the problem solving together and discussing love of fabric and fitting issues. Sewing friends are generous souls.” 

Caroline: This next one’s from Erica. “I love making gifts for others, especially when they are in times of transition: new baby, off to college, moving to a new place. Because throughout the process, I get time to meditate on that person, our relationship, fondest memories, my hopes and dreams for their future. It’s also the one activity where I get to shut off my perfectionist brain and truly experience the joy that comes from experimentation.” 

Helen: And a related comment from Lisa, “I sew to connect. When I sew for others, each moment I spend making that gift or garment, I think about the intended recipient, and it helps me feel connected to them and show my love for them. When I sew for myself, I’m connecting with the real me, away from my role as a wife and mom and worker. I connect with my body, my creativity and my style. It keeps me centered when life is hectic. I also sew to connect with the sewing community. Well, it led me to you guys, as well as finding some new friends who also love to sew.”

Awesome. 

Caroline: Okay. The next comment is from @the.trendy.homesteader. “I sew because it’s partly my communication. I’m an introvert, and when I sew my swimwear and other articles, it sparks conversation.” 

Helen: I love that one. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: So true. 

Caroline: It’s their communication. Awesome. 

Helen: Do you remember when we were wearing our swimsuits on the beach and that woman came up and was like, where’d you get your swimsuit? And we got to tell her all about sewing. 

Caroline: Yeah, it’s true. I guess when you’re taking photos of something that you’re wearing it, it attracts even more attention. 

Helen: It does. It’s true. And Hazel, hi Hazel, says, “I can escape from the hard things that are happening in my life, and the sewing community is so supportive and connected. I finally met a fellow sewist here in San Diego. Sewing brings together people with the same passion and drive. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that and want to sew?” 

Caroline: Really who wouldn’t? 

Helen: Who wouldn’t? We’re really preaching to the choir here because everyone who’s listening is a sewist. 

Caroline: I know. 

Helen: We need to spread this message, message further.

Caroline: I know. I just thought of something, like, being the month of May, we’re all, like, out taking photos of our makes and stuff. And I feel like we’re all probably gonna get a lot of curious eyes. 

Helen: True. 

Caroline: Maybe we can, like, spin it. And you know, obviously it’s a little bit embarrassing sometimes when people are staring at you taking pictures, but you can take that opportunity to share the fact that you sew your own clothes and get people interested in sewing.

Helen: Yeah. Tell them about our podcast. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: Shameless plug, but also, I mean, could be good for them. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: Alright.. Our next category is to remember loved ones and to make new family memories. And we are kicking things off with a voicemail from Karen. 

Karen: Hi, ladies. This is Karen. I am calling from, uh, just outside of Denver, Colorado. And I’m calling because I just saw your prompt on Instagram about why I love to sew, why anyone loves to sew. And I just had to call in. I’ve never commented before, but I wanted to tell you guys that I love to sew. I am just about to be 37 years old, and I have been sewing since I was, maybe 11 ,and I sew because I come from a super long line of sewists. Proud lady sewists. Um, I learned from my mom, and I grew up watching her sew. All the houses we lived in growing up, she carved out an area for her sewing space. And so I grew up watching her make time and make space for what was important to her and what she loved. And I also love the tactile way that sewing allowed her to cover us and care for us and, kind of, hug us.

And now I having eight year old twins. And I also love doing that with my twins. I love being able to send them out into the world covered in something that I have made especially for them. So I just wanted to call and let you guys know my story of why I love to sew. I like being connected to all the ladies and all the women of my family who also loved to sew.

And, um, on top of that, I love wearing things that I’ve made myself because nothing makes you feel prouder or prettier than when you’re wearing something that you’ve made just for you. So, anyway, I love your podcast, and I love listening to it every week. And I thank you all for what you’re doing. Have a great day. Bye. 

Caroline: I want a t-shirt that says proud lady sewist on it. 

Helen: Or a pin. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: Somebody make that happen. Thank you, Karen, for your thoughts, and our next message is from Michelle. “I love to sew because it has always been a part of my life. I grew up watching my mom sew, and I have very fond memories of her making clothes for my dolls and tagging along to the fabric stores with her.

“She would make my sister and I various items out of Disney fabric. To this day, this is my fabric weakness; I cannot resist a good Disney fabric. She taught me the basics, and I honed my skills in a sewing class in high school. We worked on making my senior prom dress together, purple and black tulle strapless ballgown, the only handmade gown at my high school, and various other projects together.

“My mom passed away a few years ago, and crafting and sewing is the reason I was able to get through the grief. And it brings me so much happiness. Not only do I love to create, I love the feeling that it brings me closer to her and reminds me of very fond memories. I have made several fabric, flower bunches to put up for her.

“And yes, of course, out of various Disney fabrics. I have since branched out to other mediums of crafting, but sewing truly has my heart. Thank you, ladies for an awesome podcast and for sparking joy and inspiration in my life.” 

Caroline: Oh, thanks for your message, Michelle. 

Helen: Yeah, that grad dress that you got to wear sounds amazing. 

Caroline: It does. Melanie says, “I started sewing as a child with my grandma. As an adult, I sew because it gives me an opportunity to quietly create for myself and others, as well as connect to a very special memory of time spent with my grandma.” 

Helen: And Elyse says, “I love creating, but mostly it just reminds me of my mom. She taught me how to sew, and I wish she could see all of the things I’ve made lately. I talked to her when I sew. I’m in my happy place. I love that. Talking to your loved one while you sew.”

Caroline: Yeah, me too. 

Helen: Probably be mostly like, sorry, grandma. Like, don’t watch this part, mom. 

Caroline: Yes. Jules says, “I sew because it makes me happy. I like putting the pieces together. It’s like a puzzle. I like feeling connected to my mom and my grandma and my great-grandma who were slash are all better at sewing than me. I like creating something that feels a little like an art project but also has a wearable and functional finish.” 

Helen: I’m sure you’re just as good as them.

@charitysoul says, “I was an art major in college, and now I’m on parental leave from my position as an art teacher with a toddler and a baby at home. So much of what I do never stays done. Sewing is a way to work in a little creative time, making something that stays finished. I love sewing knits for my kids, and I’m now sewing undies for everyone.

“My mom is also artistic, and she says she regrets only creating while we slept. I keep my sewing visible. Even though having my toddler hanging over my machine saying, “I’m so excited,” breaks my concentration, I’m hoping it will plant the seed for her own future endeavors.” 

Caroline: I think it will. I can just imagine your daughter, in the future, talking about how she remembers watching you sew. 

Helen: Exactly. Yeah, just like you remember watching your mom sew. 

Caroline: Yeah. Full circle. 

Helen: Full circle. 

Caroline: Something like that. Awilda says, “My name is  Awilda Rivera. My friends and family call me Taty. I’m from Puerto Rico, a small island in the Caribbean. Let me start telling you that sewing is in my blood. My grandmother sewed, and her specialty was bridal dresses. My mom and her three sisters all sew, too.

“One of my aunties made bridal dresses and sewed like a master pro. She’s my number one sewing teacher. When my mind is blocked or I need a little extra inspiration, she’s my guru, my inspiration. When I was little, she used to make all of my clothes, shorts, blouses, dresses, big dresses, like frosting with a big bow.

“She made some pieces for my daughter, too. She’s turning 90 in June, and it’s my turn to sew a little something special for her big party day. I love to sew because it’s in my blood. It’s not just my hobby. This is my life, my daily living. I work from home sewing, and it’s everything. It’s my dream job because I can express myself creating and I don’t want to do anything else.”

Helen: It’s a good thing you don’t have to. 

Caroline: Yeah. I love this that you’re from, like, a long line of sewists, and you’ve all made a living out of sewing. It’s just super inspiring. 

Helen: It is, and you get to sew something special for your aunt’s 90th birthday. That’s so amazing. 

Caroline: Yeah, that’s really great. 

Helen: Okay, our next category is my home base. I can’t not sew. I can’t not sew. You can’t make me stop. I won’t. 

Caroline: And we’re going to kick it off this time with a voicemail from little Eleanor’s mom, Julie. 

Julie: Hi, my name is Julie. I’m from Ottawa, Ontario, and I love to sew because I must sew. I, if I’m not being creative, it’s a sad day. And so if I’m not knitting, I want to be sewing.

Whether by me made wardrobe, going on a ready to wear fast and seeing where I can make clothes and what I can do. Um, I love learning a new skill. Uh, love the feeling of knowing that I’ve learned a new skill and that I can do something. I love to sew for my daughter. I love sharing sewing with my daughter, just as my mother, uh, taught me to sew, bringing the passion and the joy that comes with it. Thank you. 

Helen: Thank you, Julie. I love that. I must sew. 

Caroline: I must. 

Helen: I must. Alright, Alexa says, “I sew and love doing it since January this year. It started with needing to shorten everything. And I always wanted a sewing machine to help to do that. Little did I know, it would spark such a passion in me. Whenever I think of a project I really want to make it almost hurts inside that I can’t start right then and there. So I sew because it hurts my soul if I don’t. I can relate to that feeling. I want to make it so bad. I want to start right now.” 

Caroline: So dramatic, right? It hurts my soul. 

Helen: We’ve got room for drama here. 

Caroline: Oh yeah, totally. Sheila says, “I love to sew because it’s in my DNA. I just always wanted to sew since I was 10 years old. All my life I’ve been sewing clothes, quilts, things for the home, et cetera. There’s something so rewarding when you cut up fabric and put it back together and you have something to wear or a beautiful quilt. It’s magic. I’m 66, and I plan on sewing as long as I can.” 

Helen: Me too. Our next message is from Nikki. “For the first time in my life, at 35 and counting, I have a hobby, and I freaking love it. It took me some time to discover it, but now I can’t imagine ever not sewing. It gives me peace of mind, a challenging and interesting thing to do, and it makes me clear my mind.” 

Caroline: Yes. 

Helen: Yes. 

Caroline: I can relate to that. 

Helen: I love that you have a hobby, too. Hobbies are pretty important, I think. 

Caroline: I think so, too. Laura says, “I honestly don’t know what I did before I sewed. I realized that I have to create things. This is what was really missing from my life before.”

Helen:  Chuck says, “When I started to make things I did so because I want to use a certain material or design that I can’t find or can’t afford already made. I found making to be extremely therapeutic. Now I can’t not make. I’m into everything. I started with pottery moved onto leatherwork, taught myself to knit and then learned to sew.”

Caroline: Sounds dreamy. Pottery, leatherwork, knitting, and sewing. 

Helen: Dream life. 

Caroline: Dream life. Carol says, “I sew because I’ve always loved being able to wear clothes that I made. It’s a source of pride. I began sewing at around 10 years old and now sew for myself, my 94 year old mom, my sister, my daughter, granddaughters, and grandson, and I quilt and make bags, backpacks, et cetera. In the seven years that I’ve been retired, there’s not a moment of boredom. Oh, and I also have a hubby that does all the cooking, shopping, and dishes.” Sounds kind of like you, Helen. 

Helen: Yeah, sounds just like me. Awfully familiar. 

Caroline: Amazing. 

Helen: I love that. Not a moment of boredom. 

Caroline: Yeah. Lucky family members. 

Helen: Alright, we have another conflicted sewist, Mylene. 

Mylene: Hi, my name is Mylene. I’m from Cape Cod and why I sew. So sewing for me is super stressful. I don’t know why I do it. It does not relax me at all. I have to work up to absolutely every project. It makes me crazy anxious, but I think about sewing all the time, all my sweet time. So someone might call me obsessed. I think I’m just passionate. Um, at this point I have all the machines I need, all the notions I need, so it is cheaper than buying clothes. And I really like nice clothes, but I am skinny with a big chest and rounded back and I’m 66 and I’m too old to wear clothes that don’t fit. So I have very simple needs: t-shirts and Blackwood cardigans, jeans. And I guess I am, like, the antithesis of people that experiment all the time.

I’m like the exact opposite. Like Anita by Design. That is not me. I am like the exact opposite. So anyhow, it is cheaper, and I like clothes that fit, and I love doing things with my hands. I love it. And so I don’t need any more clothes. So I only sew when I need to, but I think about it all the time. And now I just teach kids because what do I need? You only need so many clothes. Okay. Take care. Bye bye. 

Caroline: Mylene, we love you. 

Helen: Yes, I loved your voicemail. I love your attitude. I can totally relate to thinking about sewing all the time. And yeah, you don’t need more clothes, but you’re allowed. You don’t always have to do what you need. Alright. Elizabeth says, “I was living in a foreign country, facing down yet another months-long separation from my spouse, getting ready to start taking yoga classes when I realized I needed a bag for my mat. Amazon wouldn’t deliver in time, and I wasn’t sure how to ask for it in the local shops. So I said, screw it I’ll make my own. My love for the beautiful geometry that turns a rectangle of fabric into something totally new came rushing back. I spent hours discovering sewing Instagram, purchased my first clothing pattern that week, a Helen’s Closet York Pinafore. And that was nine months ago, and I just sewed up my 51st item today. Creating helped me feel capable, powerful, creative, and well, not so darn lonely anymore.” 

Caroline: Oh my gosh. 

Helen: 51. 

Caroline: 51 in nine months. And also her first sewing pattern was yours.

Helen: It’s such a good first sewing pattern, the York. I love it. I know that makes me so happy. 

Caroline: Elizabeth, you are a rockstar. 

Helen: 50, 51. She’s probably up to, like, 200 by now. 

Caroline: Seriously. Wow. Congrats. Connie says, “For me, sewing is breathing. I’ve sewn since I was 12. That’s five daughters and 10 grandchildren ago. I’ve sewn everything from work aprons to wedding dresses, dog coats to fancy little girl dresses, and I’m still inspired every day to create. I really love that my grandchildren have grown up around my sewing machine, and it has impacted the way they look at the world. They don’t ask, can you buy me that or where can we buy that? But rather, I wonder how they made that, or how can we make that?” 

Helen: That’s such a cool shift in mindset to grow up with.

Caroline: It really, really is. 

Helen: Angie says, “Making is in my blood. I’m not my full self when I don’t have a project in progress. There are just things inside of me that need a creative vehicle to get out. Sewing has always been in my life. My mother sews and taught me when I was young. I’ve explored a lot of mediums through my making journey, but I always come back to sewing because it felt like home. Sewing is my home, and I’m here to stay.”

Caroline: Oh. This is your home. Welcome home. Oh, I love it. Okay. So our next category is all about people who sew for sustainability reasons. Kate says, “I started to become more eco-conscious and aware of how the clothing industry was impacting this beautiful world of ours. So I began buying more ethically made and planet friendly clothing, but the expense was starting to get to me. Those clothes were beautifully made but so expensive. I realized that I had the skills and knowledge to be able to create my own clothing at a fraction of the price as I had learned to sew as a child. I bought myself a sewing machine late last year and haven’t looked back.” 

Helen: I love that. It is a little bit shocking when you move into buying more ethical clothing, and the price on some of those items. Because they’re priced realistically to the amount of time and effort and materials that go into it. And not that you shouldn’t support those stores, but realizing that you can make those beautiful boxy linen dresses yourself is a revelation. 

Caroline: Yeah, it really is. 

Helen: Alright, Kelsey says, “I started sewing for utilitarian purposes. I want to wear ethical and sustainable clothing, but the options out there are extremely limited and are mostly pretty casual. So I set out with the intention of a sustainable and ethical me made office wardrobe. Along the way, I’ve discovered the meditative qualities of it, how amazing it is to have clothes that actually fit, and the great community. So I’m sticking around, but my original motivator is still a huge part of why I sew though I do wish it was easier to find a variety of weights in sustainable fabrics.” Well, that’s true. It’s a challenge. 

Caroline: It is a challenge, but there are more and more sustainable fabrics popping up all the time. 

Helen: I’ve noticed some in the Blackbird Fabric shop. 

Caroline: It’s very exciting when we see our suppliers come out with new sustainable fabrics, and we’ve been seeing a lot of that lately. So it’s really, really encouraging. Emilia says, “I first started sewing once I discovered the human and environmental cost of fashion, but my grad student budget did not allow me to shop ethical fashion. This discovery also came at a very pivotal moment for me, as I moved to the other side of the world and needed a new creative hobby. I find making my clothes very liberating for a variety of reasons. I don’t have to buy into the trends. I respect the environment by shopping deadstock and recycled fabrics. But most of all, because I can channel my inner tomboy and adapt men’s wear patterns to suit my body. I really believe that we should be free to wear whatever we want without distinctions of gender, ethnicity, or country. Sewing also enables me to help others by doing alterations and teaching basic sewing skills to prolong the life of our garments.”

Helen: Amazing. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: @colour_shape_cloth says, “It’s enabling me to make clothes with higher quality fabrics that I couldn’t afford to buy ready made. These days I’m less worried about quantity. I want something well-made that will last. Something about slowing down means you think more carefully about what you want and need.” 

Caroline: It’s so true. 

Helen: Very true. And that’s part of what Me Made May is all about, to. Slowing down, thinking about what you need in your wardrobe, where your priorities lie. Yeah. 

Caroline: Yeah. I agree. Okay. Our next category… I want to say it like RuPaul. Category is: because it’s so satisfying. Alright, our first voicemail is from Carla. 

Carla: Hi there. My name is Carla Gover. I am from Pill City, Alabama. And as a child, I had no desire to sew or to watch my mom sew, but as I have grown older now, it is a passion. I love seeing a project and seeing it come to fruition. And I started out with just straight lines, but I have grown to do some more challenging items and just enjoying it. I love sewing. Sewing is my therapy. Thanks. And I love you, too. Buh-bye. 

Helen: Oh, we love you, too, Carla. And Becky says, “It’s so satisfying. It’s like putting together a puzzle and then magically you have a finished object.”

Caroline: Sewing is magic. 

Helen: Okay. We got a few comments that were kind of work-related, you know, like, sewing is different than my day job, or maybe the same as my day job. All sorts of stuff. 

Caroline: First one’s from @rachey_o on Instagram. “I work in maths research and often feel like I’ve achieved nothing all day. Maybe I’ve thought about something lots or realized that what I thought of yesterday was wrong. Often tasks are abstract and unachievable or unmeasurable. With sewing, everything is doable and tangible, and I have something to show for it at the end that is usually what I intended to make. It’s pure escapism, and it gives me something to talk about that isn’t math.” 

Helen: I love that. And it also involves quite a lot of math. So it’s related. 

Caroline: It’s related. 

Helen: But different. Sara says, “I work in a creative profession; I am an opera singer. So you’d think that I get plenty of self-expression in my day. However, I found it’s important for me to have a creative outlet that isn’t my job. Sewing gives me a way to be creative that is low pressure. The fact that my paycheck doesn’t rely on my output is very freeing. And I think the creative decision-making I practice with sewing teaches me to give myself the same freedom to make decisions about my singing. Bonus, I can make beautiful performance and audition attire for myself. It is very empowering to walk into an audition knowing I made my outfit.”

Caroline: Oh girl, I bet it is. 

Helen: I can only imagine. An opera singer. Ooo! 

Caroline: Wow. Good job, Helen. 

Helen: I mean, I mean, I don’t know if Sara would agree, but… 

Caroline: I love it. You were channeling Sara. Anna says, “I have a very stressful and intense job which I love but that involves talking to people all day, and it’s so nice to come home and sew and just use a completely different part of my brain. It’s very relaxing, and it’s also nice not to have to talk to anyone.” 

Helen: That’s true. Isolating can be good sometimes. April says, “I decided to write in after I heard your assurance that my response did not need to be mushy gushy.” 

Caroline: See?! 

Helen: See?! “I am 38 years old, and I have put aside creative pursuits all my life in favor of practical jobs that pay the bills. I earn a decent living and realize my privilege in the world, and yet my work does not provide me with any real satisfaction. Honing my skills on the machine and wearing a mostly handmade wardrobe every day at my desk job provides me with a real sense of worth and feeds me creatively. Along with Love to Sew Podcast episodes and trips to blackbirdfabrics.com, each day of the grind is a little more bearable.”

Caroline: I love that. 

Helen: We’ve all been there. Lunchbreak fabric shopping. 

Caroline: I definitely sense a theme there where people are, kind of, ticking boxes with sewing that they don’t get from their day jobs. 

Helen: Yeah, totally. I liked the previous comment from the mom, too, saying that things just don’t stay done at home. You do the dishes, then they’re undone. You sweep, then it’s undone. You do the laundry, it’s undone. It’s just never ending. Whereas sewing something from start to finish, it’s, it’s done. 

Caroline: Yes. Alright, we have a voicemail from Erika. 

Erica: Hey, I had an Aunt Caroline. It’s Erika calling from the Netherlands. I wanted to tell you about why I sew. I started to sew because I was 16 and I got a very low clothing allowance. And I was super Gothic, and those dresses are quite expensive.

Uh, and I’ve, I could have kept a budget and showed that I needed more allowance. My parents were very much into debt, but instead, uh, I decided I’d better sew the dresses. And even though that was really just a phase, I kept on sewing through university, and I really enjoy that I can make the clothes that I want that fit my body and that I don’t have to compromise because of what the trends are.

But it was only recently after I started my PhD one and a half years ago that I realized also how happy sewing makes me as a practical thing to do on the side while I’m doing this really intellectually straining job that I very much love, but if I don’t do something with my hands or something practical, then I get really, really unhappy.

So sewing helps me with that as well. Thank you so much for doing this lovely show. I love listening to it every week. 

Helen: I love that. Do you ever think to yourself, like, I’m in a really bad mood. Maybe I should just sew something. It will make me  happy again. 

Caroline: Sewing really does, like, actually make me happy. 

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: Like, when I’m in the zone and sewing and then I’m just, like, oh my God, this is amazing. It really does boost my spirits. 

Helen: Yes, for sure. 

Caroline: So our next message is from Lucinda. “Why do I sew? For a few reasons. I’ve always been good at drawing. It’s my super power. And in my early years of high school, I wanted more than anything to be a fashion designer, but it turned out that sewing, you know, the thing that you need to understand to be a maker of clothes was something my younger self completely lacked the patience for. My sewing teacher at school told me I was terrible at sewing, failed me, and well, that was it. I went on to study art at uni. I have a degree in drawing and printmaking, and art was the thing that I loved more than anything. It’s the thing I still do best, but for various very boring reasons, I left art school with a whole lot less love for the very thing that had defined me for so long and sadly, no longer did. Cue a decade of wandering. I felt conflicted. In my mid-thirties, my husband bought me a sewing machine. I instantly loved it. It was art, but not art capital A. It was practical. It was helping me to come back to a creative life, but with no pressure. I didn’t make any clothes, but I did make. It felt good.

“By the time I reached my early forties, I was sewing clothes because it meant I could choose the fabrics I liked. I couldn’t afford the beautiful clothes I saw in some shops. They didn’t fit me either. And while standing in a huge shopping center in Melbourne, one day, I realized that what that meant was that I would need to make my own.

“It felt amazing. Sewing for me in my late forties is about reconnection to the creativity. It’s about engaging the part of my brain that needs to think about the world in creative ways. It occupies both my hands and my evenings. I’m careful about choosing which project, make full use of my scraps, and while I do lots of other things, sewing is the thing I come back to. Sewing makes me feel useful and capable of making beautiful, practical things.

“It takes me out of the fashion loop and means my wardrobe is full of clothing I genuinely love to wear. Phew, sorry for the essay. Thanks both for your tireless energy on the show.” 

Helen: Aw, thank you, Lucinda. I love this story, and I’m really glad that you got your creative energy back. It sounds like it was a bit of a journey, but we’re glad to have you. Alright, Rachel says, “I love to spend the time on small details, and I love the fact that nobody else in the world will have what I wear and the little details I can include that nobody sees: contrast bias binding, colored pockets, et cetera.” I love those details, too. Super special secret. 

Caroline: Stephanie says, “I sew because it’s fun to create something out of cloth. I always love to think this was cloth on a bolt before I made it into… blank. It’s just exciting. I don’t think I save any money by making things for myself, but I do take more pride in them and probably take better care of them. So perhaps in the long run that saves money.” 

Helen: Kat says, “There is an intrinsic joy from creating something beautiful and useful like functional art. I love the textures and colors. I love to build with a flexible and pliable medium. I love to touch fabric, all of it, which sparks my imagination. The end result, quilts, clothing, bags, is so easily shared by wearing, gifting, or selling. The best thing is spreading the love by teaching others to sew.” 

Caroline: Oh yeah. We’re experiencing that lately. 

Helen: Oh yeah. It’s amazing. 

Caroline: Katie says, “It started out as a hobby to keep myself busy, but it’s turned into this very necessary thing that allows me to express my creativity, sew proper fitting clothes for myself and my family, and it helps me feel like I’ve truly accomplished something at the end of the day because dishes get dirty again and so do the house and laundry. But once I’ve sewn something, it tends to stay that way.” 

Helen: Ah, yeah. It’s a recurring theme. This is from @chocomoholic. “I sew because there’s something incredibly satisfying about making something with your hands. Not only that, but you start with an idea or a plan and at the end you’ve got a garment you can wear and love for years to come. I get to feel accomplished every time I finish something, even if it isn’t perfect. I’m only sad that I didn’t learn how to sew until about four years ago, despite having the desire to learn since I was 12. Now I can’t imagine my life without it. It brings me joy every time I put something on that I’ve made for myself and even every new project I plan.” That’s so sweet. I wonder how many other people feel like they wish they’d learned to sew sooner? 

Caroline: Probably a lot of people. 

Helen: Probably anyone who learned to sew as an adult. It’s like, why didn’t I learn this when I was a kid? 

Caroline: But I think a lot of it is right place, right time. True. Romy says, “I do it because I’ve always been crafty and love the satisfaction of taking a flat piece of fabric and constructing it in such a way that you can make a garment. I’m also a fan of flat pack furniture which gives me the same satisfaction. The fabrics are also part of it. There aren’t many shops where you can buy flamingo print dresses for adults.” 

Helen: So true. I also love flat pack furniture. 

Caroline: Oh yeah. 

Helen: @mountie.mama says, “For me, sewing is the ability to complete projects, taking something and seeing it through from start to finish. Working in law enforcement, so many things are up in the air and are left without endings and little control. Sewing fills that need for completion, control, and creativity.” 

Caroline: Thank you for your service, @mountie.mama. 

Helen: Yeah. 

Caroline: Okay. Our next category is to get me time and we’re kicking it off with a voicemail from Meg. 

Meg: Hi, my name is Meg and I’m calling from Brisbane, Australia.

I’m a huge fan of your podcast and have been listening since day one. I just wanted to respond to your call out: why do you sew? I sew for my mind, body, and soul. I sew to be in the state of flow, and I can spend hours in my sewing room without even realizing it. It really is a form of mindfulness, meditation, and therapy for me. It helps me focus my mind, nourish my soul, and ultimately, increase the happiness in my life. I also love the magic of being able to pair the right  fabric and pattern together and turning something flat and shapeless into a garment that ultimately fits me. I’m constantly learning new things and challenging myself along the way.

It teaches me to be patient as well. My seam ripper and I have a love/hate relationship. In recent years, sewing has opened my eyes up to a whole new world of thinking about fashion. I try to avoid fast fashion wherever possible and rarely set foot in the big fabric shop chains here in Australia. It’s not only important nowadays to ask who made my clothes but who made my fabric. A large portion of my fabric stash is made up of secondhand fabrics, vintage bedsheets, deadstock, or natural fibers.

I try my best to make ethical and sustainable choices wherever I can. Sewing is by no means a cheap hobby, but the benefits far outweigh the monetary costs. Thanks for listening and keep up the episodes. We love them down under. Bye.. 

Caroline: Nancy wrote to us. “Hey guys, I love, love, love sewing. I love knitting and weaving, too, but for me, sewing brings me flow.

“According to Wikipedia in positive psychology, a flow state, also known as being in the zone, is the mental state of operation in which a person performing an activity is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the process of the activity. That was a mouthful. I lose track of time when sewing. I embrace the challenges.

“I love both the process and the outcome, except when it’s a fail, then it’s a bummer, but still, I come back for more. I’m very prolific and therefore, tend to only buy discounted fabrics because Lord knows I don’t need more clothes, but for now, it’s just too much fun. I don’t care that I don’t know where I’ll wear the garment or that I made something similar, but I just want to try this particular pattern. I’m just game for more. Thanks for asking and for the podcast. It’s the best.” 

Helen: Thank you, Nancy. I love it. It’s just too much fun. 

Caroline: It is. 

Helen: @a.makers.saga says, “Sewing is my safe haven. Sewing has brought so much inspiration and excitement. I’m a mom and wife who has lost my sense of self and the zest for something new as I devote myself to raising and caring for my two littles. Being a new wife 2015, new mom, first in 2016, and then in 2017, moving to a new city, left me in a state of adapting and rolling with the punches. I forgotten about self care and doing what makes me happy. Sewing truly allows me to express myself in a way that brings my soul ease and peace.

“I can’t quite explain all the levels in which I am fulfilled. I have purpose, excitement, and have even learned to get my kids to sit down with toys at their small desk next to mine.” Aw, I love that. Coaxing your kids to hang out near you so you can sew. 

Caroline: Oh. Kristin says, “I started sewing in earnest when I was about 14 because I had a really difficult time at that age feeling like I fit in with my peers.

“We had just moved to a new state with a very different culture and values than what I was used to. And I tried so hard to be like the other kids. At that age, it’s so discouraging to feel like an outsider, but once I realized I could sew for myself whatever I wanted, I discovered I didn’t really want to fit in.

“And I didn’t have to change myself to fit anyone else’s mold. And it was okay if I wanted to be different. I felt free from a lot of the pressure and expectations that I had heaped on myself. Even though that’s been 20 years ago, I think a little of that sensibility has remained with my sewing practice. It’s how I stay connected with myself even when lots of things in life are changing.” 

Helen: Aw, that’s great. I love it. I can be different. 

Caroline: Yeah. It makes me want to, like, make sure that all schools are teaching sewing, you know? 

Helen: Yeah. It’s definitely going the other way right now. Natalie says, “I love to sew to escape into the zone. You know, the one, I mean? The one where you aren’t thinking about anything else and it feels like you’re in your own little creative bubble where nothing else can get in. You look at the clock and realize it’s been hours without you even realizing. Kind of the same zone you get into when you’re reading a really good book.”

Caroline: Oh, we know the one. I was there last night. 

Helen: You were there last night. Making your Zadie? 

Caroline: I started sewing my Zadie jumpsuit and I was like, I was like, I’ll just thread my machine. And then I threaded my machine. I was like, I’ll just do the first step. And then I did the first step and then I was almost better. I like blinked. And I was like, oh, I just had the binding left to do. Four hours later. It was amazing. Yeah. I love getting into the zone like that. 

Helen: Oh, so fun. 

Caroline: Okay, Joyce says, ” Sewing is my me time. Focusing on a project means I’m less focused on the stresses in my life because I need to concentrate. The feeling of accomplishment is also such a reward and gives me a bit of self-confidence. It gives me an identity.” 

Helen: Rebecca says, “It’s about the only time I’m fully 100% focused on the task at hand. I’m not thinking about work or kids or the state of my house or relationships. I find it completely immersive while I’m doing it, but I also love the creative aspect.” 

Caroline: And Denise says, “I sew as a stress reliever. When I’m sewing, I forget about everything else. I even forget to eat. I love the challenge of a new pattern, fabric, or technique. Lastly, I sew to have clothes that fit correctly.” 

Helen: I always forget to eat, too. Allie says, “I love making something from nothing. I see something I like, and I need to dissect it and figure out how it’s made. It helps me to appreciate things more. It’s not-so-instant gratification. It’s meditation. I have a deep desire to create and work with my hands, and I’m really proud of myself that I’ve finally taken a class and learned. I now have my own machine, and I’ve started a little side business, making things from garments to scrunchies to rope baskets. I love trying new things, and it brings me joy and puts me at peace to let my creativity flow. The possibilities are endless.” 

Caroline: They really are. You go for it, Allie. Good luck with your business. 

Helen: Our next category is all about health and wellness, both mental and physical. 

Caroline: We’re going to kick it off with a voicemail from Teresa.

Teresa: Hello, Helen and Caroline. My name is Teresa. I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois in USA. And I now live in London, England. So sorry if my accent is a little bit between places. First of all, I love your podcast. I only found it pretty recently, and I’m kind of glad that I only found it recently cause then I get to listen through to tons of podcasts.

I don’t have to wait for loads of them to come out. So I am a little bit worried about when I get to the end. I’m going to have to wait a whole week for another one, and that’s going to be really sad. Um, I just wanted to give a response to the question you’d asked about why we love to sew. So, for me, I think it’s interesting that if you asked me this question five years ago, I would have given you a very different response to now. So, previously, I always felt that I just really loved to sew because I was able to make things that fit me. I was able to make things that were unique and different from what anybody else was wearing.

And it was just a lot of fun. And really, I felt really proud wearing the things that I made. I have had some problems with my shoulder over the last six years or so. And I spent about two years not being able to sew, and I didn’t think a whole lot about it cause I wasn’t able to do a whole lot of anything just because there was a lot of pain when I was trying to move my arms in most directions. I ended up having surgery at the end of last year.

And as I’ve been recovering, one of the things that I was most excited about was getting to sew again. It was a pretty huge thing to be able to do. And I hadn’t really considered what a huge thing that it was until I was doing it again. And I think some of the biggest things that I’ve realized now that I take away from sewing is, I mean, obviously express my creativity, which I kind of knew about, but almost didn’t realize I wasn’t doing it as much.

And it really made me feel more grounded in myself and just enthusiastic about life to be able to do that again. And then the other element that really has made a big difference for me is the meditative aspect of sewing, just completely blocking out my cares and lows in the world because I’m completely focused on my project and nothing matters other than what I’m sewing.

And I do feel like since I’ve been able to sew again, I’ve been so much more calm. I’ve been so much more peaceful and happy in myself. I’ve had more energy just in my life. And my husband has said, he feels like he’s got his old wife again, like I’m how I used to be. And honestly, I just didn’t realize how much sewing was a part of that. So I just want to share that with you guys, and I’m sure you’re getting lots of responses. Um, but yeah, I just wanted to send you a message cause I know you like to get some voices, and thanks again for your show, and yeah, keep, keep doing the good work that you’re doing. Bye.

Caroline: Thanks for your message, Teresa. 

Helen: Yeah. We’re glad you got your SewJo back. 

Caroline: Back in the game. 

Helen: Alright, Lucinda says, “I sew because a head injury means I had to give up a job that I loved. I sew because I can listen to podcasts, music, and audio books, at the same time, I can no longer read. I sew because I love it, and it has saved me.” 

Caroline: Alison says, “To keep the depression side of my bipolar at bay and give me goals to keep going when I’m down. I tend to sew bright things, even though I’d love a black wardrobe. And I use sewing to express my artistic side, not just to make things to wear.” 

Helen: Marianne says, “I’ve always loved sewing from a young age, inspired by and taught by my grandma. I do it for me. I love the clothes, love the challenge. And if I make a little bit from it, that’s an added bonus, but it’s like a therapy for me. When I had bowel cancer at age 27, I pretty much had to give up my career as a musician, as I couldn’t use my body like I needed to, but I desperately needed a creative outlet. And since I couldn’t do much physically, I started to sew more. I’ve continued this form of therapy for the last five years. And it’s the ultimate way to clear my head, focus myself on the project I’m working on, and stay creative.” 

Caroline: Yes. And Suzi wrote in, “I’ve been sewing clothing for a little over a year now, and it’s been a total game changer for how I think about clothing. I have fibromyalgia which is a chronic pain condition, and it makes it so that I don’t like any of my clothing squeezing me because that increases my pain patterns. I can’t even wear a bra because even the loosest bra band increases my back pain. And finally, I decided that life was better for me without them.

“It’s very difficult to find clothing that’s stylish but isn’t tight or clothing that’s comfortable but isn’t baggy. Sewing for myself has allowed me to create clothes that have shape but aren’t tight. I’ve gotten very into pattern adjustment and pattern drafting, making my own moulage and slopers, I recently finished drafting a t-shirt pattern that I’ve been working on for months. At version 4.0, I’m finally happy with how it combines the perfect fit with the perfect amount of ease.

“And since I don’t wear bras, I have to adjust the bust of any pattern I buy. Since I sew a lot of basics, many of my makes look deceptively simple, but a lot goes in behind the scenes to give them a custom fit. Wearing clothes that are working with me instead of against me feels so empowering. And it doesn’t hurt that it making them is so much fun. When I’m not sewing, I’m an artist, and it has been fun working sewing into my studio time. Love listening to your show while I sew.” 

Helen: Ooh, I love hearing that. We have another voicemail from Rochelle. 

Rochelle: Hey guys, it’s Rochelle, and I’m from Sydney, Australia. And I wanted to ring in to talk about why I sew. Now I couldn’t sew about two years ago. And unfortunately, my husband and I have been going through a really hard time trying to conceive, and I’ve had multiple miscarriages. And the reason I survived is because it keeps me sane. It’s what got me through those really hard days where I didn’t, I didn’t know which way was up. Um, I started sewing after my first miscarriage, and basically, I have become leaps and bounds since then.

I have got all the gear now, and I basically make everything. I make all my clothes. I quilt. It’s really my happy place. And it’s really what’s kept me, it’s really what kept me going. Um, And sewing has just, yeah, sewing is just what makes me happy now. So I’m so glad I found  sewing. I’m so glad I found your podcast and keep doing what you’re doing. Love hearing it, um, all the way from Australia. So thanks guys. Bye. 

Helen: Thank you, Rochelle. 

Caroline: It does make things easier when you have all the gear. 

Helen: It’s true. Alright, Lynn says, “I started sewing when I was eight years old. Self-taught with lots of trial and error and sneaking on my mother’s sewing machine. Sewing was something that I could do and do while isolated. I struggled for years in school; it profoundly affected my self-esteem. And so sewing was something that made me feel good about myself and gave me self-confidence. Fast forward. I got married young, 20 years old, and had my first child by 21. She passed away of sudden infant death syndrome.

“And I began to fake it till I made it doing custom apparel in Atlanta, Georgia to cover the debt of my daughter’s passing. I went on to have three more children, a boy and two girls. We moved to Utah, and out of a Halloween costume I made worn by a prominent ad executive, I ended up designing costumes for Intel’s print and TV ad campaigns, having a one-person LLC for several years as a costume designer.

“This costume,the Intel Bunnyman, is a permanent archive in the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Go figure, at 35 during a painful divorce with a custody dispute, I ended up having a full psychological testing done. We both had too, and I was diagnosed severely dyslexic. I promptly went back to school, having my disability accommodated in fashion design and interior design.

“From there, I became a full time costume designer for film and television. I’ve worked on Dancing with the Stars, seasons three through 27, and I’ve done several movies and commercials. I love creating and sewing more than anything else. And finding out that there is a sewing community on social media has been very exciting.

“I’m married again just two years ago. Mine and his children are all grown, and I have two wonderful granddaughters and the sweetest step grandson. Sewing has given me so much, professionally and privately. As a young girl with an undiagnosed learning disability, it helped me cope. As a woman, it has given me my highest sense of confidence and allowed me to thrive.”

Caroline: Wow. Thank you so much, Lynn, for sharing your journey with us, this is such an inspiring story. Um, it seems like you had a lot of highs and lows, but sewing took you through, so… 

Helen: Yeah, we’ll have to try and find the Intel Bunnyman costume… 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: Put it in the show notes. 

Caroline: Good idea. That’s awesome. Alright. Rosy says, “My memories of sewing go right back to my childhood with my grandma and my mom making me clothes and teaching me some of the skills. However, as a young teenager, I hated having to wear handmade clothes and turned against sewing. When my grandma died suddenly at just 68, I inherited her sewing machine. I began to sew small things like cushions and bunting as a way to connect with my memories of her.

“My enjoyment increased as I got better at it. I started making clothes, and that really lit a spark inside me. After my daughter was born, I became very ill with depression and was eventually diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Sewing became my way of control. It was the one thing I could keep a handle on when nothing else seemed to make sense.

“I would use sewing as a way to distract myself when the suicidal urges became too strong for me to ignore. And then I would sew to celebrate my good days. I still have borderline personality disorder, but after undergoing intensive therapy, it’s under much better control. So now I can enjoy making clothes for myself, and sometimes my daughter if she thinks it’s cool enough, just simply for the satisfaction of making something pretty in an unusual style or print that fits me well and costs half the price of buying it in a shop.”

Helen: Dang straight. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: Sara says, “I discovered sewing when I was unemployed and lost in life. I did a professional course as a seamstress that gave me back the confidence and courage to try new things and go back into the working world. Sewing gave me this great community that feels like a family and gave me friendly podcasts to listen to, gave me a sense of belonging. Right now, I sew at work occasionally as a textile conservation assistant, and I sew at home for self care and mental health. I also have scoliosis, so fitting is always an adventure, but I’m slowly learning. The sewing community helped me see that all body shapes are beautiful and that my condition doesn’t define me nor stop me from wearing things that fit well. Sewing is love, for yourself and for others.”

Caroline:  Sewing is love.

Helen:  Sewing is love. 

Caroline: I’m into that. Holly says, “I sew for the joy of it, but lately, I’ve been sewing a lot more because my partner is a wonderful man who struggles with addiction. Sewing helps me to focus on me, on my happiness, and my health. Is it too corny to joke that sewing reminds me to take things one seam at a time?”

Helen: One stitch at a time. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: Yeah. Not too corny at all. Charlotte says, “I sew for my wellbeing and because it makes me genuinely happy. I started sewing at 14. Then it became a part of my education and income rather than a hobby, so I stopped for years. I started again last year as a way to cope with what felt like inescapable and never-ending grief after my dad died suddenly in 2017. After observing from the sidelines for months, it was actually the Love to Sew Podcast that got me physically sewing again because your infectious enthusiasm reminded me how wonderful sewing is and most importantly, how joy can be found again in creativity. After I made my first top last year, I remember feeling like I recognized myself again for the first time in 18 months. Since then I’ve been sewing several more garments which I love to wear, taken up knitting, crochet, weaving, natural dyeing, and embroidery. And next up is shoemaking and printing. Thank you, Love to Sew.” Aw, so sweet. I’m all teary. People get back into sewing because they hear our podcast. 

Caroline: It’s so moving to, that everyone here was willing to share these like deep stories that are just, I don’t know… 

Helen: Personal. 

Caroline: Really personal. Okay, Rebecca says, “Sewing has been there for me at many difficult times in my life. It has cured boredom, loneliness, self doubt, and my unhealthy relationship with my body. It gives me an outlet to reawaken creative energy when my job leaves me feeling tapped out. And it pushes me to try new things that, before, I would have believed were not possible for me.” 

Helen: Oh, my gosh. I love that. @distractedbygold says, “I started sewing my own clothes because I wanted to wear things that no one else had, but I’ve discovered the added benefit of feeling beautiful in whatever I wear which I never felt before. Now I think of sewing as self-care; it’s time I dedicate to my wellbeing. People say it’s therapeutic, but I like to think of it as self-love. Who else deserves this much effort from me? No one.” 

Caroline: It’s true. 

Helen: Yeah. 

Caroline: Alright. So, our next category is… 

Helen: …to make a dream wardrobe. 

Caroline: Eleganza extravaganza. 

Helen: Alright. Melanie says, “I sew because I love the challenge. I started sewing back in middle school, and I picked it up here and there throughout my life since, mostly just adjusting my ready to wear clothes. Lately though, ready to wear clothes, just don’t do it for me. I don’t like the current trends, the quality isn’t the greatest, and don’t even get me started on the pain of trying to find something that fits well.

“I have a dream wardrobe in mind, and it does not exist in stores right now. So I’ve decided I should make it myself. I got back into sewing almost a year ago, and it has been so difficult but also so rewarding. I mess up a lot, and I mess up big. I swear a lot, and I throw things sometimes, only soft things ,I promise, and wonder if I will ever be good at this. But then I look at the work I did in the beginning of my sewing journey and compare it to my current work, and the improvement is tangible. And that is very exciting. I love working to conquer something that seems impossible. And as a bonus, I get to wear those awesome clothes that were tailor-made for me, by me. It’s like magic. I make a wish for a roomy soft sweater with pockets, and before I know it, I have exactly that. It’s a limitlessness that cannot be bought, and I freaking love that.” 

Caroline: It is true. It’s so powerful that we’re not at the mercy of what is in ready to wear stores. We can literally say, I want this color of this garment and we can just make that happen. 

Helen: Yeah. Magic. 

Caroline: It is magic. @leslie_gail_handmade says, “As a young girl of 13 years growing up poor in a Louisiana small town, a girl at school pointed out that I wear the same dress to school every day. I realized she was right and went home to tell my mom. She pointed to the sewing machine and a stack of fabric and said, there’s this sewing machine, and there’s fabric. With that direction, I started what has become a lifetime of sewing, designing, dressmaking, costume design, and alterations. I now can finally sew mostly for me and my daughters but will always find my happy place at my machines.” 

Helen: I love that. There’s the fabric and the sewing machine. Sarah says, “It started because I was making poor choices when shopping, buying a bunch of low quality mismatch clearance clothes that didn’t fit and didn’t go together. So I stopped buying, and I started sewing. It gives me a sense of accomplishment, a tangible output. When my work is all emails and meetings, it gives me a creative outlet where I can play with colors and shapes and express myself more truly. I can make floral overalls and a dinosaur t-shirt and a confetti cake dress and they all reflect different parts of me.” Yes, you can. 

Caroline: Can you wear them all at once though, because that would be amazing? Anneke says, “Hi, I saw your call for people to tell you why they sew, and I have a few different answers. The first reason is that I love the act of making something. I’ve always been drawing and crafting and later, I got interested in using textiles. My parents gave me a sewing machine for my 20th birthday and after messing around with scraps of fabric and doing some strange upcycling projects, I dove into dressmaking. I was never really that interested in clothes or fashion and rarely satisfied with the things I could find in stores.

“Sewing my own clothes allows me to dress entirely the way I want to and to have the final say about shape, fabric, and fit. I also like to combine sewing with my drawing by creating my own fabric prints, embroidery, or t-shirt graphics. The final and most boring reason is that I’m quite picky and sensitive about fabrics and textures, especially when it comes to things that are worn next to my skin. Sewing gives me more control over that. For example, if I make a dress with a fitted bodice, I can line it in cotton instead of a synthetic lining. So that’s why I sew.” 

Helen: I love it. It’s not boring. 

Caroline: No. 

Helen: Marie-Claire says, “I thought I would drop you a line and let you know why I sew. When I started working, teaching at college, I looked really young, and I needed to wear clothes that made me look less like a student myself.

“I tried to buy button shirts with a collar but couldn’t find any that fit me. I started sewing shirts for work but took a long time before I understood which fabrics I should use, chambray, cotton shirting, light linen, and which ones I shouldn’t. I’m looking at you quilting cotton. And even longer to realize how to fit shirts properly.

“It’s not until I used a Palmer-Pletsch shirt pattern a few years ago that I realized the true reason why I sew: one inch broad back adjustment, shortening two inches at the waist, grading from a size 16 in the chest to an 18 at the hips. I realized all of my frustrated attempts to buy tops at the store were because I didn’t fit their mold.

“I started sewing out of necessity, but the reasons I continue to sew and find joy in the process are because I found some truly inspirational people in the sewing community. I first saw the tag #memadeveryday on Roisin Muldoon’s blog and realized that it was okay to wear handmades every day and that these handmades can be colorful and joyful. I started listening to your podcast as soon as you girls launched, and I’ve been pushing myself to sew things other than shirts to create a whole wardrobe of things that fit. I ventured beyond the Big Four and bought some PDF patterns from indie companies.

“I now ask myself, ‘What would Heather Lou do when making a pattern?’ I conquered my fear of knits. I embraced the initial janky t-shirts made on my sewing machine, bought a serger, and then made beautiful t-shirts. I jumped in and made a coat, then a sweatshirt. I think perhaps most importantly, because of your openness on the show, I’ve come to appreciate that sizing on patterns are just numbers, and I’ve come to accept my body for what it is. So in the end, I came to sewing out of necessity, but now I sew because it brings me joy. I can now make clothes for myself that fit, and I make me feel comfortable in my skin. Thank you so much for your podcast. I can’t express how much it has meant to me, how I think of sewing as a practice how I view my body, and the feeling that I have sewing friends visit on Tuesday every week.” 

Caroline: Thanks, Marie-Claire. 

Helen: Just dropping in on sewing rooms all over the world every week. 

Caroline: Yeah. We’re like sewing Santa Clauses. 

Helen: Sewing fairy godmothers. 

Caroline: Yeah, there we go. 

Helen: I don’t want to be Santa Claus. Santa Claus is creepy.

Caroline: Adam says, “I sew because it’s a way for me to express my creativity. As a person of the transgender experience, it means that I can adjust and tweak and make the clothes I want to wear. Sewing is the power to make anything I dream of and also the power to decorate my apartment to my eclectic tastes without breaking the bank.”

Helen: It’s true. You can find a lot of cool decor fabrics out there. 

Caroline: You really can. 

Helen: Rikki says, “Sewing is my creative outlet. Michelle Morris had discussed how sewing is like an art for her, and I can totally relate for sure. I had family members who sewed, mother, father, and paternal grandmother, but Betty Cooper from the Archie comic books really sparked a fascination with garment sewing, especially when she copied Veronica’s Paris originals. I love that I can sew whatever I dream up or copy from someone else, including designer fashions.” 

Caroline: I love that. I love the Betty and Veronica reference. 

Helen: I had forgotten that she used to sew and reading this comment reminded me of that. I used to love the Archie comics. 

Caroline: Oh, me too. I used to read them on family vacations at the beach. We would just bring a stack of them and all share them. 

Helen: It’s only like the same 20 stories over and over again, but any new one, you were like, yes! 

Caroline: Debra says, “Mostly I sew because I hate most of the ready to wear that is available for someone my age. I’m an older seamstress, and most of the fashions are either too young or just straight out, too boring. Most of the items that I would call age appropriate are so granny. I don’t want to try to dress like a 20 year old, but I don’t want to look like I’m ready for dentures in a rocking chair either. So I guess it’s so I can make my own style.” 

Helen: Yes. I love that. 

Caroline: Alright. 

Helen: Our final category. 

Caroline: It’s a big one. 

Helen: Yes. Making clothes that actually fit. I feel like all of us probably fall into this category a little bit because it is so satisfying to make clothes that really fit your body. 

Caroline: Oh yeah. 

Helen: Shannon says, “I sew because as a fat, gender queer person, it’s hard to find ready to wear that fits both my body and my gender. With sewing I can burst pass the restrictions of sizeism and the gender binary.” 

Caroline: Our next comment is from @napoleanne. “I sew because I’m a fat, femme, gender queer person who doesn’t see themselves reflected in the sizing or marketing of ready-made clothing. I’ve also learned just enough about fit to hate almost everything that comes pre-made off a hanger. I also have serious ethical issues with the garment industry, especially fast fashion. I also sew out of a sense of pride and accomplishment when I do complete something,irregardless of how wearable it is. Every mistake is valuable in sewing, and that sense of patience with my own learning curve of a complicated set of skills has helped me to process other life failures and mistakes with more grace.”

Helen: Yes, I do feel like sewing has influenced so much of the rest of my life. 

Caroline: Yeah, and I love the sentiment that every mistake is valuable in sewing, like, you can pull a lesson out of all of your mistakes. 

Helen: Yeah, and it’s not just about not seeing size representation in ready to wear. It’s all about gender. It’s about style. It’s about personal preference. It’s about what other people think that we’re supposed to look like. All wrapped up in this really complicated situation, and it’s nice to be able to take ourselves out of that and just make things that we want to wear. 

Yeah. Eva from Germany says, “You recently asked about why we sew. I love the idea to make a podcast out of it. I was thinking about exactly that question a few weeks back and about the different types of sewing people out there. I started knitting clothes about six years ago, not only because I very much enjoy the process, but also because I’m tall with long arms and a long torso. The idea of creating jumpers and cardigans for myself with sleeves and bodices of the right length, for me, was mind blowing. I started sewing one and a half years ago for exactly the same reason. Creating clothes that fit my body, my arms, my overall length is pretty great. And I’ve been filling holes in my wardrobe ever since, partly out of necessity, partly just because I can. I enjoy sewing clothes for work that next to a good fit, have small gimmicks that make work easier. I’m an art conservator and work on a lot of scaffoldings on building sites and in churches. I wear a me-made apron almost every day with pockets just the right size for the stuff I carry around and elastic loops on the inside for the cable of my headphones. I’m already planning a next apron with even more specialized functionalities. And the third reason I sew is the reason for which probably most sewists sew. I just love the process and slowing down the stress reduction and the calmness.” 

Caroline: I love this idea of making like a utilitarian apron that fits exactly the things that you need.

Helen: Yeah, like, your little sewing apron. 

Caroline: Yeah, exactly. Alright, Anna says, “I’m a feminine presenting, non-binary person slash trans woman, and I use they/them pronouns. I started sewing a little over a year ago because I couldn’t find clothes that fit me. Being that most women’s clothing is designed for cis-gendered women, things rarely fit. I was getting very frustrated with finding clothes when I realized that I could just make my own. I’ve always been a creative person and have an engineering-oriented mind. So I borrowed a friend’s sewing machine and started sewing. I did some sewing in home-ec class in grade seven and again for theater credits in college. This is the first time I started sewing for myself. It took a little practice to remember how to do it, but it came back quickly. My first project was a circle skirt with a zipper. I’ve moved on to making my own leggings, sleeveless tops, and I’m currently working on a raincoat.

“I also love using atypical fabrics like PVC vinyl and stretch pleather. So far, I’ve either copied other clothes or drafted my own patterns. And I still have a hard time finding patterns in my size that I like. That’s okay though. I’ve always been someone who can’t do things the typical way. I found a site that will create patterns based off my measurements, mjtrends.com.

“The patterns are for specific clothes, but they have a basic body suit that I can modify for many things. What keeps me doing this is that I love to create things. There’s nothing like the excitement of a project working out and being able to wear it. Getting compliments when I say I made it is nice, too.

“I also enjoy the challenge of trying something new and learning a new skill. Some days it’s a mess, but that’s part of the journey and the joy. Thanks for all you two do.” 

Helen: Thank you, Anna, for writing in with your story and your thoughts. And that sounds like a cool website. We’ll put that in the show notes for anyone who’s interested.

Caroline: Yeah. Thanks, Anna. 

Helen: @i.am.ervhan says, “I sew because of a breast anomaly that did not allow me to buy fitted bras. I started sewing in need for supportive and tailored bras. Then I kept sewing and sewing, and now most of my wardrobe are handmade. It makes me feel like I have no anomaly at all.” 

Caroline: Our next comment is from @jessosaurus.meh. 

Helen: @jessosaurusmeh. 

Caroline: @jessosaurusmeh. 

Helen: Love it.

Caroline: “Because I really hate clothes shopping. But seriously, because it’s pretty much the only way to get clothes that fit properly that I like and I’m comfortable in. Also, I hate clothes shopping.” 

Helen: I hate clothes shopping. Jessica says, “I sew because I love making clothes that fit me. Before I started sewing clothes, I never really wore t-shirts because I couldn’t find a reasonably priced t-shirt that fit nicely. The Old Navy and Gap shirts are made with a fabric that seemed to cling to everything I didn’t want. Then I made my first shirt out of bamboo knit. I was floored by the difference. It felt nice, skimmed over my body, and it looked so good. I recently made my first pair of Ginger Jeans, and I made the low rise which was too low. They’re totally wearable, but I’d like a higher rise to keep everything contained. If I tried these pants on in a store, I’d totally feel like crap about my body, but making them myself, I’m like, well, just got to make a higher rise next time. The way my mindset has changed is amazing. Same with shorts. I’d try and buy them, but my waist is two sizes bigger than my hips, and so I’d never get a good fit. I just muslined up the Grainline Maritime Shorts, graded up at the waist. And bam, they fit! Sewing has basically eliminated my obsession with my body weight because no matter what size am, I can make something that fits and makes me feel good.

“Also, I make all my nephew’s clothes out of my leftover knit scraps and adorable baby fabrics. He’s 15 months old and lives in Langley, and I live on Vancouver island. It kills me that I can’t see him as often as I’d like to, but making his clothes makes me feel like if I can’t be with him in person, I’m there in spirit.” 

Caroline: By the way, hi, Jessica. Jessica came to our jeans workshop. 

Helen: Oh cool. 

Caroline: And she actually brought some of her nephew’s clothes to mend on our sergesr when she was there. Cause she was like, I made this for him. I need to just, like, mend a little hole. I was like, you’re a rockstar. 

Helen: Amazing. 

Caroline: Oh, alright. Next, we have a voicemail from Kristen.

Kristen: Hi, Helen and Caroline. This is Kristen calling from Chilliwack. I was just calling to answer the question that you put out to the community, wondering why do we sew? Um, I sew because it’s a superpower. I get behind my machine, and there’s truly nothing I can’t create with the supplies and just the courage to give it a shot. In my life, I walk around in my handmade wardrobe, and I hold my head high because even if I’ve had a bad day at the very least, I’ve made my own clothes. And that’s pretty amazing. Uh, thanks so much guys. Love the show. Can’t wait to hear the episode on why everybody sews. Take care. Bye. 

Helen: Thanks Kristen. You know how they say that you should make your bed in the morning so you feel that sense of accomplishment, like, you’ve already accomplished something? We don’t need to do that. We just put on our handmade clothes and screw making the bed. 

Caroline: I was just gonna say I like, would love to do that every day. My perfect self does that every day, but I definitely don’t achieve it. 

Helen: No, but you know, putting on jeans that you made yourself accomplishes, kind of, the same thing. 

Caroline: I love that. I’m going to tell myself that every time I feel guilty about not making the bed. 

Helen: How often do you make your bed? 

Caroline: Um, fifty percent of the time. 

Helen: Whoa. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: Oh god. Mine’s probably like 2% of the time. 

Caroline: Oh really? But, like, my definition of, like, making the bed is, like, not the same definition as a hotel, as, like, my mom making the bed there. No, it’s just, it’s like putting the blankets onto the thing. Cover all of the mess underneath and look presentable. 

Helen: Yeah. That’s how I roll too. It was a good segue. We have a couple of final thoughts here to wrap up the show. Thank you for sticking with us through all of these. It’s been really fun to share.

Um, and this first one is from Michele. “My sewing is all about giving. It’s giving to myself: time to be alone and create; time to research, learn, and try skills, often surprising myself; time to be organized or chaotic as my emotions dictate; time to discover and perfect my own personal style; time to create heirloom items to help my heirs to know me; and it’s also about giving to others, clothing for our beautiful grandchildren, household decor for our adult children and their growing families, donations of pillowcases, toys, and clothing for those in need locally, nationally, and internationally; and handmade gifts to family and friends. Sewing is the best of gifts given to myself and to others.”

Caroline: I love that. 

Helen: Beautifully written. Thank you, Michele. 

Caroline: Thank you. Alright, so our final thoughts are from Gail, and she made a special request that we have some beatbox to go along with this, so we’re going to do our very best. I can beatbox, and I cannot sing, but I don’t think it’s really singing. It’s just, it’s like spoken word.

Helen: Yeah. 

Caroline: Yeah. 

Helen: You got this. 

Caroline: I got this. 

Helen: Okay. 

Caroline: Okay. 

Helen: Ready? [beatboxes]

Caroline: “I get time to myself. It’s therapy. Like solving problems creatively. There are ways to be cheap like upcycling or using my stash to limit buying. It’s fashionable. It’s challenging, but mostly, it is satisfying. An added bonus, I must confess, I like getting those compliments.” 

Helen: Yeah, girl. You nailed it. I’m, like, running out of breath. I have to hold my breath while I beatbox. I don’t know how to breathe at the same time. 

Caroline: That was a rush. Thank you, Gail. We’re now going to give up podcasting and start touring beatbox troupe, right? 

Helen: I know who’s not getting compliments. 

Caroline: Yeah, definitely not me. 

Helen: Oh my gosh. Thank you everyone so much for sharing. We’ve really loved prepping for this episode. 

Caroline: We really did. It was so great. That’s it for this love to so favorite, we’ll be back in September with our new season. And in the meantime, you can find me caroline@blackbirdfabrics.com and Helen at Helen’s closet patterns.com and our love to sew swag shop at love to sew. shop.com.

Helen:  We’re recording in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, and you can get in touch with us and get links for everything we talked about in this episode at lovetosewpodcast.com. Just search for the episode title. 

Caroline: And of course, if you want to join our Patreon fam now is a great time to start for just $5 us per month. You’ll get access to our monthly bonus episode and $10 us per month. We’ll get you a 15% off discount code for Blackbird fabrics, Helen’s closet and our love to sew swag shop plus up bonus mini-sode. Go to patrion.com/love to so for more info, 

Helen: Thanks to our amazing podcast team. And thank you all so much for listening and we’ll talk to you soon. .

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