Love to Sew

We each made a button-up shirt and, in this episode, we reveal them to each other for the first time! We chat about the patterns and fabrics we chose, the issues we encountered during our sewing, and how we’ll style our new shirts. We also share a bunch of our best shirtmaking tips.

The transcript for this episode is coming soon!

Show Notes: 

Helen’s Shirt:

Caroline’s Shirt:

Resources:

Tools:

Transcript: Coming Soon!

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In this episode, we interview Nerrisa Pratt, sewist and crafter extraordinaire. We ask her about all of her many crafty hobbies, her job at Liberty, her 2026 No-Spend Year, and more!

The transcript for this episode is on this page at the end of the show notes.

Show Notes: 

Find Nerrisa Online:

Nerrisa’s Posts:

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A post shared by Nerrisa Pratt (@nerrisapratt)

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Transcript:

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

Helen: Hello and welcome to Love To Sew. I’m Helen, the designer behind Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co.

Caroline: And I’m Caroline, the owner of Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns.

Helen: We’re two sewing buds who love to sew and it’s literally all we wanna talk about.

Caroline: In this episode, we interview Nerrisa Pratt, sewist and crafter extraordinaire. We ask her about all of her crafty activities, her job at Liberty, her 2026 no-spend year, and so much more.

Helen: If you love to sew, this is your show. Hello, Nerrisa. Thank you so much for coming on the show today.

Nerrisa: Thank you for having me.

Helen: We are so excited to chat with you about all the amazing crafting and sewing that you do, but can you please introduce yourself to our listeners first?

Nerrisa: Yes I can. I’m Nerrisa. Hi, longtime listener, first time caller. I have been making all of my life. So whenever anybody asks me to kind of introduce myself or kind of describe what I do, the doing that I do is just making cool stuff. And I love talking to people about it and building community around that. So I guess I’m gonna be quite vague in my introduction ’cause you’re gonna ask me lots of questions and we’re gonna get down to the nitty gritty of it. But yeah, I just bloody love making, that’s who I am.

Helen: Oh, incredible. Well, you’re definitely on the right show, and can you tell our listeners where you’re from, as well?

Nerrisa: Yes. So I am in the UK. I’m just outside of London.

Caroline: Okay, let’s get into it. ‘Cause we wanna know all about your crafting. But can we just kick it off with you telling us a little bit about how and when you learned to sew and craft?

Nerrisa: This is the most Nerrisa thing. When I was 10, I started textiles at the GCSE level and I came home one day, not at all dramatically, and went to my mum: “Mum, I’ve decided what I wanna do when I’m older.” And my mum was like, “Okay, great. Tell us.” And I was like, “I want to be a fashion designer by day and a lawyer by night.” And my mum was like, “Okay, maybe no more Ally McBeal for you.” And so she was like, “Well, I can get you a sewing machine, but the lawyer thing you’re gonna have to figure out when you’re older.” Now, plot twist, everybody: I have absolutely nothing to do with law. I follow them. That’s about it. And my mum and dad got me a sewing machine when I was 11 years old and I have been sewing ever since. So I started out with some, like, very janky, like, charity shop upcycles, which kind of has come full circle. And I shot up to the height of six foot one at about 11. And then I realized that it was quite hard to buy clothing and it’s kind of just been me ever since. So, yeah it’s always been in my life. My mum’s an artist and is very, very creative. So whenever we were quote-unquote “bored” she’d be like, well, find something creative to do, ’cause there’s absolutely no excuse to be bored. So I’m very grateful to my mother for that. So yeah, that’s kind of my, like, origin story, I guess. Sad I didn’t get to become a lawyer ’cause probably I would be earning a lot more money. But I’m happy to be creative.

Helen: And you are so creative. We love following you online because you just experiment with all of these different things and you share about it, and you share about it in a way that makes it feel very approachable and not so scary. It’s just like, let’s just give it a go and see what happens.

Caroline: Mm-hmm.

Nerrisa: That’s very kind and I’m so glad that comes across because, to be honest, I just actually have no clue what I’m doing and I’m definitely not very good at acting. So I just feel like social media is, like, a funny thing. I, I’m sure you guys have a lot of thoughts on this, but you know, it’s so fake. It really is, right? And I just feel like I am kind of human labrador-y as a personality type. And I just feel like I’m really enthusiastic about things. I want to give them a go, but sometimes I get them wrong and there’s no way to kind of connect to people better than when you talk about when things do go wrong or like that you figured something out and you can just really share that joy. And I get such a buzz off of doing that. That’s my dopamine kind of after the craft is done. So I’ve just, yeah, I feel like I’ve just really found my groove with this kind of content piece. And I really enjoy making the content to share with my internet friends as much as I do making the actual product itself. It’s kind of like this one’s for, this one’s for us, you know?

Caroline: Yeah, it’s so true, and I feel like it’s sort of driven into us, like, you have to niche down, niche down, niche down, but you have so many different types of crafts that you do. You’re not just in the sewing world. You crochet, you do leatherwork, you do beading, needlework, home reno, painting. So can you give us, like, what are your top five crafty activities?

Nerrisa: Well, firstly, hearing that list back makes me feel slightly attacked, I will say. A top five is quite tough. Because it does change. I, I would say, why don’t we do like my top five that have kind of stuck around? I think because there are definitely, like, fleeting things where I’m like, I’ll try this once, and then I do it and I love the outcome, but I’m like, I’m never doing that again.

Helen: Yeah, What are your, like, go-to, I wanna do something crafty today…

Nerrisa: Dressmaking will always have my heart. Anything that involves a sewing machine. I have a brain that really enjoys kind of piecing patterns together, both literally and physically. Like, I think there’s something about starting from “A,” following the instructions perfectly and getting to “B” that just really scratches, like, an itch in my brain. I think that’s kind of why a lot of my crafts, most of them, tend to be successful. So I would say definitely sewing is, is number one. 100%. Knitting and crochet, I think they definitely have, like, second and third spot, but I’m, I’m not gonna rank them because I definitely go through phases with them. Crochet is good for, like, a quick hit, but knitting’s really, like, satisfying if you complete it. Four and five, I don’t know. I would say I love anything with leather. I’ve got like a weird, like, leather kink. Like, I really love it as a material. I think it feels so luxury and so premium. You know, it’s a byproduct. So I feel like it leans into that kind of sustainable crafting area, but also it feels like you’ve got something, like, so premium when you finish. Number five is just like everything else, like, honourable mention, I guess.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: That’s cheating!

Nerrisa: Whatever came up on Pinterest that day, I’d say. Maybe I actually do. You know what? I’d say upcycling. I, I’ve really kind of fallen quite hard for upcycling, really only in the last kind of year or so. So they’re probably not ranked in that particular order, but those are the ones that, like, they’re always on the roster, you know?

Helen: Yeah. Oh, those, that’s a great list. And we’re definitely gonna get into your upcycling a little bit later. You did mention that you’ve tried some crafts that you’ve only tried once, and then you’re like, I’m good. What were some of those niche or unusual crafts that you’ve tried?

Nerrisa: Oh, good question. I’m trying to think now. Hmm. I have to scroll through my Instagram. Let me look. I’ve dabbled a lot. I’ve done a lot of things like candle making and, you know, things that come in kits. Kits often tend to be things that I’ll only tackle once because I’m like, I, I don’t think I wanna, like, necessarily go and buy all the materials for this and do it again, but it was nice for, like, a little tester. I think I got a little bit kitted out during the pandemic, like I’m sure lots of us did. I was like, I’ve got nothing to do. Let me try this. I tried the, like, felting thing where everyone crocheted it and then tumble dried it. That did not go well. Won’t be doing that again.

Helen: I don’t even know what you’re talking about.

Nerrisa: You saw people were like, they were like knitting or crocheting slippers so that they were massive and then you put them in the tumble dryer, and it has to be a hundred percent wool, and then they shrink down to the right size. But I did it with, like, a snood and, yeah, it, it didn’t go over my big head. So, not for me. But yeah, I kind of, I, I feel like I’ll give anything a go once. Whether I’ll give it a go twice…it might just take a bit longer to come back round. There’s some where it definitely, like, isn’t constant, but then when I do it again, I’m like, oh, I actually love this. Like, rug tufting was one, I did rug tufting maybe like five or six years ago, randomly somewhere. And then I just never thought to go back to it again. And then I got very kindly invited by, like, a small business to do it, and I was like, how do I buy a rug tufting gun now? Conveniently, I’m not allowed to spend any money this year. Otherwise, my studio right now would now be a rug tufting studio.

Caroline: You, you started a rug tufting business, and…

Nerrisa: I’ve written a rug book. I’ve got an account. Like, you know, when you set up the Instagram, it’s serious. So, yeah. But yeah, I don’t like to restrict myself on crafting because it’s our hobby, right? So if I can afford it and if I can figure out how to do it, and I genuinely enjoy doing it, why put restrictions on myself or, like, stop myself from, like, giving it a go? I might get it wrong. That’s cool. And actually, what normally happens if I do get it wrong is I either figure out something else along the way or I learn something and I just, I really love learning through my craft. So, yeah. God, That was so aspirational.

Helen: It was.

Nerrisa: I might put it on a t-shirt.

Caroline: Yeah. Okay. But I wanna know, like, as somebody with so many different crafty hobbies, how do you decide what you’re gonna tackle next? Do you have a list going? Do you ever get project paralysis where you’re, like, kind of like being pulled in a million different directions? Like how, what, how does that go for you?

Nerrisa: Yeah, no, I really do. So it’s kind of changed a little bit. I’ve got a craft room in my house, so every now and then my husband, I’ll be like, oh, I’m just gonna go, like, just potter. I’m gonna go do some bits. I dunno what, but I just, I wanna be creative. And then, like, he’ll come up the stairs and I’m, like, in my spinny chair, just, like, spinning. And he’ll be like, just do something. Just do one, like, little, small thing. ‘Cause he knows I’ve overwhelmed myself because I do live in, like, a small branch of, like, Hobbycraft. So there are a lot of options. But I do think that has kind of changed slightly because, obviously, not to show people how the sausage is made, but you know, when you’re creating content, you, you want hits, right? So I’m kind of trying to balance this thing of, make something, make something that you will use and that you will enjoy, because I don’t wanna create waste just to create a reel, but at the same time, it’s got to be entertaining and you are, you know, I’m not gonna hide it. I want to go viral, I want, like, more followers, you know, I want all of those things. So there is a bit of a balance and, but actually, for me, having that as, like, a reason to create has actually been quite motivating. So I would say, in the last year, specifically, I’ve actually really enjoyed the challenge of like, oh my God, I’ve just seen this on the runway. How quickly can I recreate this? And then I, like, lock in and now I’ve got a Doen jacket, you know, so, I guess I do, and I don’t, it depends what it is. I, I work on, like, secret projects that I’m like, I’ve got this idea and I’m just gonna not say anything and then I’m gonna do it. Or sometimes I see stuff, I’ll share it to stories and immediately be like, do you guys want me to recreate this? Like, I’m already halfway through it by this point, but…

Helen: I’ve already started.

Nerrisa: I think the paralysis is less now, I would say, but I definitely do go through it every now and then.

Helen: That’s really interesting. It feels like a bit of a double-edged sword because, like you said, it can be really motivating to want to share, and obviously you get a lot of joy from sharing with your audience, and that’s amazing. But also that feeling of like, I have to create something for social media or like, what can I make today that will get views or that, like, does that ever make you feel kind of hesitant or do you ever just wish you could keep it a secret and just craft for the joy of crafting?

Nerrisa: I actually do, like, sometimes, I think particularly like when I’m busy in my day job, because I create all this stuff, like, I’m like a little craft goblin. So like, I get home from work and I’m like, what should I make this evening? Or like on the weekends or like I do stuff on the train and to work, like, I am always making, my hands are always doing something and sometimes I think I kind of just am a bit exhausted and I want this just for me. But there is something really weird now about sewing or making, and I’m like, oh, where’s my phone? Or where’s my tripod? Which is unhealthy. ‘Cause it feels like I’ve taken something that’s probably quite sweet and cute and I’m like, where’s the money? You know? So, I dunno, like I just, I need to get a better balance, I think.

Helen: Yeah, it is about balance, for sure. And not every piece of content you’re creating is about money, obviously. It’s also just about sharing and about community, and I find that when I’m creating videos, too, it’s like the video itself becomes a creative project.

Nerrisa: Exactly. I actually genuinely love editing. Like, I find it really fun. And my husband thinks it’s funny ’cause, like, I’ll be on the sofa and I’m like, editing something and I’m like, haha, I’m so funny. And he’s like, oh, okay. If you like it, I love it. Like, you know. So, yeah, I, I genuinely enjoy the process. You know, I do my, like, Nerrisa’s Handmade Christmas. And that is, like, a lot of work. But there’s something, again, I think it’s, that goes back to that kind of problem-solving or, like, puzzle piecing where it’s like, if I do X, Y, and Z, I’ll get to this, like, final result and it will be perfect. And I am a perfectionist, so I love doing this, but I’m self-taught. And you know, I look back at videos when I first started posting on TikTok years ago, and I’m like, ooh. It’s, like, got that RuPaul’s Drag Race season one filter on it. And I’m like, oh Lord. But like, now I feel like I’m, you know, I’m getting better. So, it’s also like, you know, we’re not saving lives here. It’s actually just not that deep.

Helen: Yeah, it’s fun to look back too and see where you started.

Nerrisa: Yeah, it’s growth. It, it, it’s all growth. And as much as my skills come a long way, that’s another skill that I have that, you know, I probably take for granted. ‘Cause I think, oh, you know, everyone’s got a phone now so everyone can edit, but actually not everyone can. So, you know, I should give myself some grace in that. I’ve learned all of this myself and I’ve made a success of it. So, you know, pat on the back to me.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Totally. Okay. So as a perfectionist, since you mentioned that, how do you feel about projects when they don’t work out or when it doesn’t come together? Because you do still share those ones, which I appreciate.

Nerrisa: I think it’s kind of similar. Like, I don’t tend to get frustrated because, at the end of the day, like, that’s not what is paying my mortgage, you know? It is a hobby and I think it’s really important to remember that, at the end of the day, whilst obviously the goal would be that every single thing I make is like the most perfect thing ever, the reality is that every maker doesn’t get things right. You know, the most talented artists in the world, they go through phases where they can’t paint or, like, it’s just not working out for them and it’s just, again, it helps you to develop that creative process. And I also genuinely kind of secretly like it when things don’t work out, because then I can ask my audience and genuinely engage them in a conversation. And I think that’s how a lot of, like, positive things have come round. Because, when I shared the top that I made that ended up becoming my sewing pattern, that was purely like, oh, do you guys like it? I never in my life thought, oh, this will be a sewing pattern, but it just went crazy. And I was like, okay, we’ve gotta give the people what they want. So, someone once told me, give in to peer pressure, it’s how you make friends. And now I’ve got a few hundred friends. I’ve caught the same pattern. You know, so, but yeah, I just think it just doesn’t matter. And I think if we held ourselves back every time we couldn’t figure something out or didn’t get something right, we would get nowhere. And then we take the joy out of something that’s such a beautiful thing to be able to do, like make things with your hands.

Caroline: Wow, that’s such a great, healthy way to look at it and it speaks to…

Nerrisa: I know, my therapist is sat somewhere, like, “Nerrisa. You’ve come a long way.”

Helen: You’ve come a long way.

Caroline: It’s true. And it’s so relatable for you to share that kind of content. So I know, I know, I’m sure your audience really appreciates that.

Nerrisa: That makes me happy. I’m glad.

Caroline: We love how you get on board with, like, new ideas, crafty trends, viral things on the internet. Recently, you added beads to flip flops and a blazer. So I wonder if you ever feel nervous about trying a technique that you’ve never, ever done before? ‘Cause you really seem to have, like, that “just try it” attitude.

Nerrisa: No, I don’t have that. I don’t have that fear. Because I think, for me, like, that’s how my brain works. So I love a forensic craft. There’s something about getting my laptop out, putting it on full zoom and being like, ah, that’s how they did it. My husband says I suffer from “I can make that.” And I, it’s, it’s a true condition that I do suffer from. He actually hates going, like, we rarely go to, like, retail stores, but if we do, he’s like, don’t say it. Don’t say it. Please don’t say it. Or he’s like, please stop taking pictures of the clothes. Like…

Helen: Oh my gosh.

Nerrisa: I’m such an embarrassing wife. But yeah, I just think, what’s the worst that can happen? Either you could show up with, like, you could have a beautiful piece and you’ve given it a go, or you probably learn something. Like the beaded top that I did when I was on holiday that I actually, that wasn’t quite right, like, the way it went. ‘Cause I was like…it was quite hard to film like in a hotel room, you know, whatever. And actually, I messed that up because I didn’t have any of my, obviously, normal craft materials with me. So I actually drew the line that I was going to follow with a biro, which you can’t really see in the video, but I was like, actually, if worse comes to worst, I’ll just put more beads over it. So again, it’s like, yeah, okay, it went wrong, but the final result came out well, and then I know for next time, plus also there’s a fix for that when I get home. So I just think that’s how my brain is wired, which, you know, is kind of a superpower, really. To look at something and be like, hmm, how do you work? I quite like that. You know those people who can, like, look at a car engine and then they’re like, I think they’re called mechanics, and they can just be like, oh, it’s this, this, this, and this? I just think it’s the craft equivalent of that, maybe?

Helen: Yeah, it’s true. I mean, as humans, I think we are so curious and everyone kind of has different things that they’re drawn to with their curiosity. So I love that yours is crafting. And I feel like we’re all kindred spirits here.

Nerrisa: Yeah. Arguably not going to save my life, but, or help my car run. But it’s, it has come in handy for like, it’s cheaper than therapy. I always say so, yeah.

Helen: So, last question about all of your crafting activities. Is there anything on your list that you’ve never done that you’re really excited about trying one day?

Nerrisa: Yeah, I mean, there’s loads. I genuinely am not joking when I say I’m addicted to Pinterest. I’m gonna be so real with you when I say that I’m scrolling as we’re talking.

Helen: Stop.

Nerrisa: Because I get, like, nervous hands and I’m like, I need to do something. So like, so just having, like, beautiful things going past my eyes is, like, really therapeutic for me. But I, I would say I easily spend like two to three hours a day on Pinterest. And I have, like, loads of secret boards that only become, like, public when I’ve actually made it. But you know that film A Clockwork Orange, like where his eyes are, like, held open and he’s just, like, looking at all of that propaganda stuff? That’s me, but with ideas. Like, all day, every day. And they’re just going in, in, in, in, in. And then suddenly, like, I’ll see something in my craft room and I’ll be like, you! And then I’ll just do it. I completely forgot what your question was.

Helen: Is there a craft you wanna try that you’ve seen out there?

Nerrisa: Yes, all of, all of them. So yeah, I think it’s more, like, my crafts are in, like, a few different kind of pillars, a bit. You know, like you mentioned at the beginning, there’s, like, the home stuff. I definitely want to tackle more, like, handmade things for around my home. Now my renovation is, I’d say it’s pretty much as complete as it’s gonna be for my bank balance. I wanna, like, add a lot of handmade finishing touches and, like, you know, I wanna make a Roman blind. I’ve never done that before. And then there’s, like, clothing things, where I’m about to start a series where I, I’m gonna try and, like, re-find my personal style through upcycling, thrifting, and makes. I’m gonna call it House of Nerrisa, which I feel like is really fun. Exclusive! But yeah, I feel like I’m just always trying to become a better maker and whatever vibe I’m feeling at the time will kind of find its way into what the next craft I’m going to try is, if that makes sense.

Helen: I love that. You’re going with the flow.

Nerrisa: Yeah, exactly. TBC.

Helen: I have a lot of crafty things on my list that I’m like, one day I’m gonna get really into stained glass, and then I’ll be a famous stained glass artist and I’ll have a stained glass studio and…like, I literally have dreams like that.

Nerrisa: I always tell people I was literally born to retire because there’s not enough hours in the day, for my liking, for all of my extracurricular activities.

Helen: I know, right?

Caroline: Oh my gosh. The injustice of having to work a nine to five. Right?

Nerrisa: I know. My own habit now, pulling itself up and saying, hey, you did this.

Caroline: Okay. So we’ve talked a lot about your hobbies. I wanna learn a little bit more about your career and kind of how you went from, you know, sewing at 11 to having this presence in the online crafting world and being an entrepreneur in the online crafting world. Can we talk a little bit about how you kind of got started there?

Nerrisa: Yeah, for sure. So, after I decided I wasn’t going to be a lawyer, I studied textiles at school. I kind of always did creative stuff at school. And my, my mum always encouraged me outside of school to do creative things, as well, like, through her or with her. So I would say I’m probably self-taught in, in the truest form of that because I just kind of figured out as I went along. And then when I finished secondary school, GCSEs that I got and did well in, were like, you know, creative subjects or languages. I still can’t really speak one, so I dunno how I did that, and then textiles. So I’m based in Hampshire, Surrey. And I went to University for Creative Arts. I didn’t really know what I wanted to do, so my mom said to me, as long as you get your A-levels so that you’ve got something to fall back on, if you do decide you don’t want to be creative, I will support you in whatever you want to do. So I quickly did A-levels, I did, like, art and English, you know, again, kind of English language, so quite creative subjects, still. And then I went to UCA and I did this foundation degree. And it was a year long. It cost 300 pounds. And you got, I don’t even know what the qualification was, it was probably like a B. Tech. or something. And it was, basically, almost like a gap year, but you studied in it, so you did a few different pathways. So you did,like, photography, graphic design, fashion design, randomly 3D design, but we ended up doing millinery, and then you kind of just tried all these different pathways and then specialized in one to do, like, a final project and then a final show.

I loved the fashion bit and it was, funnily enough, it was like a lot of upcycling, which was, like, not really a thing then. ‘Cause I’m not that young, but it was not, like, a, a thing then. And, my tutor said to me, and I should have seen this as an insult, but actually I, it, it shaped who I’ve become. She said to me, you talk a lot. And she was like, I know you love fashion, but have you ever thought about fashion PR? And I was like, what’s PR? And she kind of talked me through it and what it was. And I always thought, like, PR was literally like Patsy and Eddie from Ab Fab. And I was like, oh, so I’ll just, like, drink champagne and, like, just call everyone darling a lot, which you know, fine. And she was like, they basically said to me, UCA has a few campuses, and they were like, if you internally progress your degree instead of picking any other options, if you just internally progress to one of our other campuses, you’ll have a guaranteed spot. Now I’m not one to look a guaranteed university placement in the face. And also, especially since it’s something I wanted, like, I was interested in. So, I decided to study fashion marketing. It, it was called fashion promotion then, it’s called something different now. But it was basically the course I’d just done, but it really just focused on fashion. So I, I, I basically studied fashion marketing and PR, which was super interesting.

We had a lot of people in from the industry. One of our tutors wrote for, like, Vogue India. We had, like, stylists would come in and it was just super cool. They would encourage you to go and work in the industry and you’d be, like, actively told, like, if you wanna skip a lecture ’cause you’ve got an internship, you should absolutely do that. Like, get real-life experience. And that just changed everything for me, because I thought, I’ve got three years on the university’s dime. I don’t know exactly where I want to end up. I’ve been told PR could be interesting, but I love this. I’d always loved, like, magazines and things like that. And I, I, I knew I wanted to end up somewhere in the industry and I just, any internship that would take me, I took it and I just tried everything.And by the end of the three years, I knew that marketing was where I wanted to be.

So I graduated. I actually got picked to go to graduate fashion week. I showed my work and then I didn’t get a job for like six months and I was like, oh God, what have I done? And then I went for an interview at this random little marketing agency in Maidenhead. It was pouring down with rain. I got lost. I was two hours late for my interview. And I walked in and I absolutely aced the interview and I didn’t even get back to the car. And they called me and they offered me the job. And my boss is one of my best friends now. And she actually always says to me, I decided I wanted a PR boy, and then you came in and ruined it. And now, so, she always jokes, she was like, we needed, like, some testosterone in our team, and then you ruined it because you came in and you charmed me. So yeah, so I started out and my first ever client was IKEA, which is super cool. So my fun fact for, like, icebreakers is that I once slept in an IKEA store.

Helen: To, like, get the vibe?

Nerrisa: Yeah, I was supposed to be there, to be clear. I should probably, probably say that for legal reasons. No, it was like, back in the day we did this thing called the IKEA retreat. And it was basically at five stores in the UK, five of our biggest stores. And we invited press and journalists and, like, radio people, all of that. And at, at the time, influencers weren’t really a thing, but we kind of invited, like, best customers and we literally held a retreat in the store overnight. So yeah, I slept on the shop floor of IKEA Glasgow.

Helen: Wait, they wouldn’t let you sleep in the show bed?

Nerrisa: Yeah, like, in the show bed, yeah, like, on the shop floor.

Caroline: Was everybody else also sleeping, like, in the same room?

Nerrisa: Well, my other fun fact is you can’t turn the lights off in an IKEA store.

Caroline: Oh my gosh!

Nerrisa: Ask me how I know.

Helen: That’s so funny.

Nerrisa: Yeah, so I kind of just worked on some wicked stuff at my agency. You know, I did an IKEA houseboat. It was just me, like, in a fever dream, sailing up and down the Thames when we opened IKEA Redding, with an ABBA band just playing, like, for eight hours a day. And I’ve just done some really cool stuff. And then I was headhunted by Debenhams, which is like a, used to be a department store here in the UK, but it does exist now, but it’s been bought by, like, a fast fashion brand. It was awful. Like, I hated working there. It was a really toxic work environment. Honestly not sad it went…

Caroline: Okay.

Nerrisa: You would have thought that everybody who worked there, like, worked for Gucci ’cause everybody was acting like it was, like, super amazing. And actually, my other fun fact is when I worked there, Patrick Grant had his fashion collection. So I used to work with Patrick Grant.

Caroline: Oh, we love Patrick.

Helen: That’s amazing.

Nerrisa: I’m sure he doesn’t remember me, but I was like a, I was like a PR junior and he, yeah, he used to come to all our press days, so I’d, like, bring him water. But he was very nice.

Helen: Oh my gosh. You know what? Knowing Patrick, not that I know him very well, but he does seem very nice and he might remember you. I wouldn’t be surprised.

Caroline: Yeah.

Nerrisa: He’s pretty chill. Like, yeah. And he had, like, a very like Patrick Grant collection for Debenhams. So yeah, I worked with some, like, cool designers, you know. And then they were in trouble quite quickly after I started. But I didn’t like it. And they basically said, we are gonna make some people redundant. We’re being super honest. And I was like, hey, make me redundant. I didn’t know what I was gonna do. But I knew that they would give me some money and basically me and my husband went on a holiday and I basically was like, I’m not going back. I really don’t like it there. It was really bad for my mental health. I’m just not a fashion girly. I think maybe I need the comfort of, like, an agency where it’s, like, less toxic. And my husband was like, well, unfortunately you married for love, not money, so we’re gonna have to figure this out. Because you need a job. But I will do everything in my power, you know, to help me. And that, that holiday kind of changed my life because, by the time I got home, I had enough freelance work to last me for a year. So I literally went in… it was like a movie montage. I was like, Hey, it’s me. Do you remember me? Like, calling people, just calling in favours. Like, buy, buy, buy. Sell, sell, sell. And by the time I came back, I was able to go in and be like, yep, make it happen. I’ve got work. And I went freelance and the rest was kind of history. So I always say that, when I walked out of Debenhams, like, I handed my notice in and I was like, I’m going and I’d also like to take that fee that you offered me. I walked out of the building and you know, like, in films where, like, cool guys don’t look back at explosions? Like, that’s how it felt. I felt like I was in, like, a rap video or something. Like, yeah!

So I left, went freelance immediately. And this was kind of around the time, like, I remember at Debenhams where people were like, there’s these people on the internet that are, like, of influence. Maybe we should start working with them. And actually, funnily enough, I interviewed for a job at the time and they were like, no one’s ever done this before, but your job would be to, like, basically take people from the internet to, like, festivals and parties and stuff. So I interviewed for this job. I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I’m, I’m really just, like, in my house a lot. And I dunno what I was thinking, ’cause me at a festival is hilarious. But yeah, I remember influencers becoming a thing. So when I decided what I was gonna do and go freelance, quite quickly, I, I was taking on like a lot of work and I realized my niche was crafters. Like, no one knows crafters and running a business like I do. ‘Cause I’ve, I’ve seen it from both sides. So I decided, I’m gonna start an agency. And I did, and I ran it with one of my best friends, Holly, shout out Holly, who funnily enough now acts as my manager. So we always find a way to work together. So she helps me with all my, like, content stuff. She’s my, like, human aid. Like, she just keeps me alive, basically. She’s like, did you drink water today?

So yeah, so I basically went freelance and kind of just experimented with lots of different things and, kind of similar to my crafting, I actually am just really not afraid to mess something up. I would rather give it a go and be like, hey, that didn’t work, than be like, oh, I, I should try it. Like I’d rather give it a go and go get it wrong, like, every single time. So, yeah, there’s been a few businesses. I’m proud of all of them. They all did what they needed to do and they all got me to where I am. So, you know, I’m ready to stand by my decisions. You can quiz me.

Helen: Well, this isn’t an interrogation, but we did wanna talk to you a bit about bargello, because you got really into bargello there.

Nerrisa: Yeah. That was hyperfixation of the year, for real.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: So tell us about your journey with bargello and tell us what bargello is in, case our listeners don’t know.

Nerrisa: Yeah, so it’s a vintage form of needlepoint. I always say, like with cross stitch, you do an X; with bargello, you do a line. So it’s, it’s kind of a similar vibe. It’s this kind of slow crafting. But for me, I’d kind of always done it. I did it at school and then my mom kind of encouraged us to do it during, like, summer holidays and things. And then when the pandemic hit, I was like, well, I don’t really wanna sew like 50 pairs of jogging bottoms, so what could I do that’s like a productive hobby that keeps my hands busy, but also stops me from crying because I can’t leave my house? And basically, I was looking for, like, cross stitch and stuff, but I found that they were all quite twee, which is fine. Like, I think if you love florals and things, then that’s great. It’s just not my particular style. I love a geometric, unapologetic, like, very bold print. And that’s exactly, like, I came back round to it. So yeah, I got quite locked into that one.

Helen: In the best possible way.

Nerrisa: I am realizing that now. Yeah.

Helen: And you created a beautiful book called Bargello: 17 Modern Needlepoint Projects for You and Your Home. And they really are gorgeous projects. So if anyone’s interested in learning, Nerrisa has a book for us all, which is amazing.

Nerrisa: Well, Nerrisa doesn’t have a book anymore because, actually, the publisher just put it out of print without telling me.

Caroline: Oh, no!

Nerrisa: But you know what, like, I think that the book industry is, like, not a great place for crafters.

Helen: Yeah.

Nerrisa: And that’s a whole other, maybe that’s part two.

Caroline: Yeah.

Nerrisa: You don’t have to, you don’t have to ask.

Caroline: The book tell-all.

Nerrisa: But yeah. Yeah. I’m like, “In My Words, Nerrisa.” But no, I wrote the book super quickly. I think they’d had the idea for writing a bargello book for a long time. And then when I started, you know, posting about it, they were like, this is amazing. Like, someone who, you know, I literally copyright for a living, but also craft. I think I was a safe pair of hands and I learned so much and it was, it was also amazing community building because the amount of fellow authors who gave their time or advice or knowledge and were so kind when they didn’t owe me anything. Particularly Tabara, who runs La Basketry if, you know, her beautiful brand. Like, she gave me so much insight into what, like, writing a book was. And that was just incredibly generous of her. And I’m really proud of what I did. And I think, actually, I have the rights back to the book, so one day I do think I might republish it as like a coffee table book or something. But yeah, I feel like I kind of love the idea of like, you know how like when people get out of a bad record deal and then they, like, re-release? I’m gonna be, that’s gonna be me.

Helen: You are gonna be the Taylor Swift of bargello.

Caroline: Nerrisa’s version.

Nerrisa: No comment on that. ‘Cause I dunno if I wanna be the Taylor Swift of anything, but listeners, please don’t come for me. I’ll be the Beyoncé of bargello. I’ll take that. But yeah, I’m super proud of what I did, considering, you know, while everyone was, like, hoarding toilet roll and going to the beach illegally, I’m, like, at home sweating and writing a book. I produced that book in like six months because they had a really tight deadline. I was teaching online workshops at the same time to, like, just spread the word, ’cause no one had heard of what bargello was. And yeah, I’m really, really proud of what I did for that craft because I genuinely, you know, there’s that beautiful brand, Hello Bargello, which I know is based in New York. But really, before that, I kind of hadn’t seen a lot popping up. And, you know, lots of small businesses have popped up or have included it in kits and things now, or there’s other books. And it’s really beautiful. Like, I feel like the craft got the revival that it deserved because it, it truly is gorgeous.

Helen: Yeah, it really is beautiful. I would love to give it a try. It’s one of the crafts I haven’t had a chance to dabble in yet. But I’m very inspired by all of your makes. And you also sold kits, and you were doing a lot of stuff around bargello at the time, and then you’d made the decision to close that business. So tell us a bit about that.

Nerrisa: Yeah, I think there’s something really important, as a person, for you to just be so honest with yourself. And I don’t necessarily think that we always give ourselves the grace to do that. And I think there was a point where I was really burnt out. I was running that business alongside my agency and freelancing and trying to create content. And I think I just ruined it for myself, actually, if I’m being totally honest. I just was so burnt out from it and I wasn’t having fun anymore. The costs of everything were rising, you know, you couldn’t ship anything internationally anymore. And I actually just sat down with myself and I was like, why am I doing this to myself? The point of running a small business is for you to have this joy and ideally to make some money. And I wasn’t even doing that anymore. And so I just thought, I don’t really owe anyone anything to kind of keep this going, but I’m also doing a disservice to myself by keeping it going, ’cause I’m not having fun anymore. And I just remember back to the beginning, you know, when I was doing it from my spare room, it genuinely filled me with joy. I joke, but it really did get me through the pandemic. It was just such a focus for me. And I put blood, sweat, and tears into it, but I just got to the point where I was like, I would rather end it now, on my terms, than run it into the ground, start getting customers complaining or having a bad experience. And I would rather be like, what an amazing five years. Look at all of the incredible things we’ve done, and we did it together. And it’s not like goodbye forever. You know, I might do a bargello project here and there. But it just needed to be done. And I’m so proud of myself for recognizing that, but also for doing it. And, and people were so, so kind and, like, so generous with their feedback on it and how much they’d enjoyed it and how much they changed it. And yeah, like, I wouldn’t change a thing. Maybe slightly; I would’ve closed it like six months earlier. But apart from that, I wouldn’t change a thing, honestly.

Helen: Yeah, I mean, it seemed like it was a huge success, even though you made a decision to close it. That doesn’t necessarily mean that that’s a bad thing, right? Our lives go in chapters. There are time periods where we do certain things, and then it’s time to move on, and that’s totally fine.

Nerrisa: Yeah, and I think I, you know, I closed Untitled Project in a similar amount of time because I was like, do you know what? I think I just want to go and get like a nine-to-five again and not be the key decision maker on everything. It’s quite exhausting. And then I got a job and I literally was like, I’m not gonna make any decisions. I’m gonna give it six months, see how this job works out, and if I hate it, plot twist, I don’t, and if in six months I don’t like it, I’ll make the decision. And I did. And it was honestly the easiest decision I’ve ever made. Once I was in it, it just happened and it was done. So, yeah.

Caroline: Wow.

Nerrisa: Bye bye bargello, for now.

Caroline: Well, good for you. And you teased a little bit about this job, so I feel like we should talk about it because…

Nerrisa: Queen of the segue.

Caroline: Incredible segue. You now work for Liberty, which is an absolute dream. I mean, I guess you could tell us if it’s a dream, but from the outside looking in, it looks incredible.

Nerrisa: It’s awful. No, I’m joking!

Caroline: Tell us about that.

Nerrisa: Yeah, I kind of, I would say I girl bossed quite close to the sun for that one. It’s actually another, like, kind of funny story, and I tell this because I think, actually, I’m really bloody good at my job. Like, I’m very, very good at what I do. And there was sort of, I, I have, I dunno about you guys, but I have this weird thing. I really hate it when people tell people they’re lucky ’cause they got somewhere, like, ‘cause for me, there was no luck involved. Like, everything I’ve done is because I’ve worked really, really hard on it. And this was one of those occasions. I was kind of putting myself out there. You know, I’ve always worked in marketing and my lovely colleague Sophie, who I still work with now, reached out to me because of the Patchwork Collective that was happening last year. So our big patchwork house that we did that I know any crafter who’s listening to this probably knows about. ‘Cause it was like, the come-to-Jesus moment where it was like, wow, this is what craft can do. And they wanted to have someone come in to Liberty and teach staff how to do patchworking by hand so that they could also be included in the patchwork house. Because the house is now in our archives, which is actually a real place, like, there’s literally a team of archive people, archivists? Archivists? I don’t know what’s the word for that.

Helen: I don’t, either. “Archivist” sounds cool, though.

Nerrisa: That’s absolutely what the word is, archivists. I’m coining that, so if that isn’t real, that’s my word now. Okay. But yes, there’s a team of those guys who, you know, document everything from our 151-year-old history and that is now in there. But yeah, they, they wanted, you know, staff to have the opportunity to be a part of that. So I went in to teach some craft workshops and I did them around, you know, people’s different shifts. So there was a bit of a gap in between. And at this point, I’d closed Untitled Project, and I actually have never shared this publicly before, but I actually had another job in the meantime, which was not the right fit for me. But I was doing it ’cause I was like, you know, I need to earn a wage and I’ve made this decision to go back. So I was kind of trying to find a way out, but that way out had to be into another job. So I was, like, teaching, then going to my laptop and, like, doing my CV. And then I just got talking to Sophie, who I didn’t really know then. And she was like, so what do you…I was like, oh, is there somewhere I can go sit? ‘Cause actually I’m just doing some CV stuff. And she was like, oh, what do you actually do? I thought you crafted for a living? And I was like, no, no, my background is in marketing. And she was like, dude, we’re literally hiring for a marketing person. Like, did you know that? And I was like, I, I did not. And she was like, tell me what you do. So I told her and she was like, no, you have to apply for this job. Like, you have to. So she said to me, send me your CV and I’ll recommend you, like, right now.

So I sent on my CV. I went off to teach the second workshop, and I came back and she was like, I’ve done it. I’ve forwarded it to HR. Like, they’re quite slow, but we’ll circle back. And, you know, you do that kind of thing and you, like you said, you know, it’s Liberty. Come on. Like I, I was thinking, I’ll never hear from this woman again. And then a week later I got an email saying like, you know, you’ve been recommended. We’d love to chat to you. Had a phone interview. I kid you not, within a week of interviewing with my now boss, I’d started. They were like, when are you available? I was like, I’ll come now. And they were like, we need three days to set up your laptop, so could you, like, chill out? And yeah, I’ve been there ever since. So we, everyone who I work with, it was actually my first day, it was so lovely, because I’d also been going to Liberty kind of as, like, a content creator. Like, when we did our Bridgerton collaboration, before I started that, I got invited, me and Lovely, my friend Lauren, who was on Sewing Bee, like, we got invited as, like, a day out and, and we went there. So I, I kind of knew, like, lots of people and I literally was walking in and, like, a team member was like, oh my God, it’s so great, like, welcome home. And they were, like, hugging me and I was thinking, this is not real. Like, this is either cult, a cult or, or this is not real. And I’m here to say, it very much is a cult, but in the best way possible. Like, everyone’s super creative. Everyone’s just great. I feel like I’ve met some of, like, what will be lifelong friends. I can’t go in-store because, obviously, I need to keep my eyes closed at all times. But yeah, it’s just, I, I honestly, like, I can’t complain. When people are like, you work at Liberty? That must be amazing. I’m like, yeah, it’s kind of more amazing than you, than you know.

Helen: You don’t even know. Oh my gosh, that’s so fun. So what kind of things do you do for them? Like, what does your job entail?

Nerrisa: So, I’m a marketing project planner, so I basically get paid to boss people around, which is completely amazing. They have to listen to me, as well. So I forward plan a lot of things, so I dunno if you guys will have seen but, like, we just doubled our fabric department for the first time in, like, maybe 50 years. And that project I’ve worked really closely on the entire time. So we, we sort of said we were gonna start this in January and, obviously, it’s only just launched in July, so that’s quite a short lead time for us. But my, also, this is very cool, but my number one project is our beauty advent calendar.

Helen: Oh!

Caroline: How fun.

Nerrisa: Yeah, yeah, so I’m sort of looking at my empty one right now because it’s on my windowsill. But yeah, I, I basically project manage the beauty advent calendar, which is pretty cool. So, yeah, it’s actually not, I think lots of people think I do loads with fabrics. The fabrics expansion is, like, kind of a bit of an anomaly, but I tend to work on all of what we call our sub-campaigns. So the Valentine’s campaign, like, where you’ll see beautiful imagery. I work with brands, you know, things like that. And, and our team is amazing. We’re, we’re a lot smaller than I think people think we are. But yeah, the team are just wicked. Everyone’s a good bunch.

Caroline: Oh my gosh, it sounds incredible. And I imagine it was a bit of an adjustment, maybe not, but going from entrepreneur, working for yourself, to working for somebody else, how has that been for you? Are there any negatives at all to it?

Nerrisa: I would say it was a lot easier to adjust than I thought it was going to be. There were some weird little things, though. Like, I think my manager gets tired of me, like, constantly telling her where I am. So she’ll be like, you don’t have to tell us everything. Like, it’s okay. Like, I’m like, I’m just gonna do this and this is how I’m managing my time. And she’s like, it’s cool. We trust you. Like you, you don’t have to tell us. And also, taking annual leave is so weird to me. I think this year, going on holiday, it’s the first time that I’ve actually completely switched off because I’m just not used to taking a break. So there’s been a few things like that. Obviously, my bank account just, like, magically tops itself up at the end of each month, which is delightful. That’s definitely a positive. But it, overall, I mean, we’re partially remote. So I do three days in the office, two days from home. And that’s, like, a really nice balance. You know, it gets me out of the house. I was starting to become a bit of a hermit before. So, yeah, I don’t really have any negatives, to be honest. It’s all worked out how it was supposed to for me, I think.

Helen: Yeah, it really sounds like it. And we’re so happy for you. It sounds like an absolute dream. Okay, we have to switch gears here, because we really need to talk about your sewing pattern that you released. We mentioned it earlier. You created this really cool top and shared it with your followers and everyone just basically lost their minds and we’re so excited about it. So you released it as a pattern. So tell us about the Rissy Tie Top.

Nerrisa: Yeah. So it was kind of crazy. I kept seeing lots of amazing makers doing this square top and I think, again, I was like, you know, I work in luxury fashion, so, you know, I see things ahead of when they’re coming out. I was like, I’ve seen, like, loads of things that look like this for, in, like, contemporary and designer fashion that are coming up. And I feel like I love this and that’s great, but it, for me, it also felt like it was kind of like I was seeing it on a lot of, like, straight-sized people and I was thinking, I don’t know if that would suit my body type. I’m quite tall, have a long body and long legs, so I’m just like, I’m proportionally tall, but I’m tall, but I’m also busty. And I was like, I, I, I don’t know if that will work for me. So. I sort of thought, how can I make this look contemporary, but also look flattering on my body type? And also, when I was making it, I wasn’t thinking about anybody else because I thought, oh, I’ll just make this because I like the idea of it. And then we’ll see what happens. But yeah, I posted it and it literally, I, sometimes, you know, when you post something, you’re like, oh, this is gonna go viral. ‘Cause the second I posted it, there were comments. It was like, release the pattern, release the pattern. And it just, I got to the point where I was like, I can’t reply to the comments. I think there’s like over a thousand comments of people being like, release the pattern. I’m like, okay, please.

Caroline: Sometimes people are intense like that.

Nerrisa: I’m just a girl! So yeah, I released the pattern. ‘Cause again, give in to peer pressure; it’s how you make friends. So yeah, I worked my ass off to release this pattern. And I have to shout out as well, because number one, I wanted to make sure that if I was going to release something, it was size inclusive. So it was really, really important. Like, I’ve always, especially in the sewing world, like, there’s a lot of pattern brands where, just by being tall, I feel like I’m not included. ‘Cause I have to add like 20 inches to the bottom of something. Shout out Helen’s Closet, ’cause that’s never been a thing for me. I’m an OG fan. But yeah, I think I’ve always had to, like, really scale patterns up a lot and I just didn’t want anyone to feel like they had to do that. So I basically drafted this system, which was like a, a load of numbers that, if you write them down correctly and then use my formulas, you draft your own pattern. So there’s no pattern pieces because, honestly, like, I don’t think you really need pattern pieces for a square. And so it’s kind of a bit more sustainable in that sense, as well. And at the point of recording, I’ve sold, like, over 300 copies of it, which, considering I was not even expecting to do this, I thought, like, oh, 20 people will buy it after all this work. So I’m just genuinely so happy. And again, it’s one of those things, like, I gave it a go. If I never release another pattern again and I can be like, hey, I tried that and I’m really, really happy with it. So yeah, I’m kind of chuffed.

Caroline: It’s so cool. We both were talking before getting on with you that we really wanna make this pattern. It’s so cute!

Nerrisa: Well, I’ll send a copy your way, ladies. It’s on me.

Caroline: No, I love that it’s drafted to the maker’s measurements. I think that just opens things up a lot. And I love the style. It’s very on-trend. It’s very cute. I have so many fabrics in mind for it.

Helen: I was gonna say, it’s, like, perfect with all of Caroline’s, like, handwoven cottons and block prints. It’s just, yeah, it would be so…

Caroline: It looks so good in a plaid or, like, a gingham, but also the brown version that you made is so cute.

Nerrisa: Yeah. Out of a duvet cover, which is, yeah, like, I just had, yeah, it’s House of IKEA. Yeah, I’ve got, like, lots of other versions planned and I’m currently without a sewing machine ’cause it’s being fixed, which is sad times. But I’m thinking I’ve got a couple of versions. I wanna make a Liberty patchwork one, which I think will be super cool. I also wanna make a denim one so I can wear it as, like, a vest. ‘Cause, obviously, I’m in the UK so we’ve got at best two more weeks of summer and then it’s gonna rain for a year. So I’m thinking about layering. And I also wanna hack it into a dress as well, so I’ve got, yeah.

Caroline: I was saying that I’ve got a dress hack in my brain that I need to make happen.

Nerrisa: I’m ready. I’m slightly nervous because I feel like if I do hack it and then it’s really successful, everyone’s gonna be like, drop the tutorial.

Helen: I’m gonna tell you right now, that’s a hundred percent what’s gonna happen. You should just prepare for that.

Nerrisa: The time has gone. So, yeah. But I think I just feel like it feels super versatile. I love, I had an incredible group of, like, friends who tested it for me, who are sewers that I, I trust implicitly and I think that was really, really useful. The amazing Sarah Ballies, I dunno if you know her, but she tested it for me and she is a gorgeous, full-figured lady and she basically helped me make sure that it looked beautiful on her, as well. And I honestly couldn’t be more grateful to her because she noticed things that I, I wouldn’t have noticed. So it feels like it was like a real, again, like, community building piece and I just love it so much.

Helen: Oh, well, congrats on the success of the pattern. I hope our listeners go and check it out and, I mean, we’d love to see more patterns from you in the future, but no pressure.

Nerrisa: Okay. So yeah, I feel like, do you know what, that’s, when you say about things I wanna try, I have been saying this for years, so I’m gonna say it publicly and then maybe this will shame me into doing it. I need to learn how to draft patterns. Like, I need to learn how to do it. I’ve been let down, like, quite a few times. Like, I’ve started a course and then the pandemic happened and then I, like, did a different course somewhere that I won’t name, but should be, should have been much better at teaching people than it was. And I literally went once and I was like, this is terrible. And then I actually, they gave me a refund ’cause they acknowledged that it was terrible, you know? So every time I try to learn it just doesn’t happen. But I’ve got access to the, is it Patterns Unpicked? It’s like a gorgeous online pattern drafting course. And it’s been super useful for base knowledge, but I’m just such an in-person learner, so I feel like I’ve got the base, but now I just need to go to, like, pattern school. But yeah, I’m working on it, but if there’s any talented pattern designers that are out there that wanna help me, then, you know, get in touch. My Craigslist ad.

Helen: I love it. Okay. We have been talking for a while. We’re almost out of time, but there is something that we have to discuss, which is your 2026 no-spend year. It’s been so fun following along with you on this. So tell our listeners all about it.

Nerrisa: So at the beginning of the year, I’m not a New Year’s resolutions person, but I am, and I’ll always do something, like, kind of flippant, I guess. And this year I was like, what do I want to, like, learn in my practice? You know, last year it was to learn to knit. The year before it was to learn to crochet. And I was like, I don’t really necessarily want to learn something, but I want to have less stuff. And I realized that I could probably get quite far without having to spend any money. So, you know, a random musing to the camera later, and I’m now quite a long way into not having spent any money on crafts in 2026. Which kind of feels crazy to say, but I did it. So I set rules because I think it’s always really handy, and so many people related, like, when I posted, and followed along, or are doing their own versions of it, or have tweaked it and created their own rules for themselves based on what they needed to do.

But I needed structure in order to make sure that I had something to measure it against, but also, you know, to have something to look back at. And it just came from, I sort of walk in this room and I’m like, there’s just so many things in here. And, you know, going back to your overwhelm question, I think that was probably the only thing that was overwhelming me, was just how much stuff there was that, I, I don’t want children, but if I had them, like, my children’s children’s children would have like 50 craft projects a day to do for the rest of their lives. So I just thought, how do I get around this? And yeah, the no-spend craft year has kind of done it. And I feel like I’ve really learned a lot about myself, that I definitely have some very bad habits that I’ve squashed. I definitely look at things quite differently and I have a new appreciation for the things that I have curated.

So it’s been really eye-opening and also people have responded to it a lot more than I thought they were going to. Like, you know, sometimes you post something on social media and you’re like, everyone will hear about this, and then no one hears about it. I feel like this is something that people are like, even at work, we’ll be talking about a new fabric collection that’s coming out and someone’s like, Nerrisa, you’re on a spending ban. And I’m like, how do you know about that? So yeah, it’s like, it’s kind of spread like wildfire. Even brands that I’ve been working with have been like, hey, can we talk about your no-spend craft year and how we can, like, factor that into content? And I’m like, wow. So yeah, it’s been kind of a game-changer. Would I do it again? I don’t know. But I also don’t know whether I would need to do it again because of the habits that I’ve built, if that makes sense.

Caroline: That’s so great.

Helen: Yeah, so are you talking about, like, shopping habits, what your habits are around purchasing craft items?

Nerrisa: 100%. I, unfortunately, but not for them, live, I would say, no less than a five minute drive from, like, a huge craft shop, shout out Hobbycraft. And I would just go in there for fun. To the point where the people at the till would be like, whatcha making now? And I’m like, you should not know me. So yeah, I, I think I was just buying things and then also I was getting annoyed with myself. ‘Cause I’d make things, I’d be like, what am I gonna do with this now? Where I am investing less money, but more time and creativity into solving, like, you know, what are you gonna be, you know, looking at this like, roll of leather. And I’m like, actually I’ve had this roll of, I’ve, I’ve actually, I’m literally looking at it now. I’ve got this actual Versace printed leather hide that I bought probably about five years ago, and it’s just been, it’s on the roll. And I’m like, that’s such a special piece of craft material that I’m not getting to because I’ve put so many other things in front of it. Like, why am I, what am I saving these special materials for? If I bought them, I should be making them. So I think this no-spend is just, it’s unlocked a lot of things. I actually need to sit down, you know, and just sit with it for a bit and kind of figure out all the things I have learned and, and maybe document it somewhere. Because yeah, it’s kind of been life-changing. I think my husband’s happy.

Helen: Well, one of our questions literally is: are you a changed woman?

Nerrisa: Spiritually? Yes. Yeah. I, I genuinely think I am. I think I have a lot more appreciation. I actually do feel guilt now when I’m like, I don’t need that. Which I didn’t before. I think I was, like, looking for the dopamine hit of purchasing, you know, that old adage of like, you know, shopping for fabrics and, like, crafting with them are two different things. And I actually think, because my skills have changed, my style has changed. You know, my fabric stash is down to, like, I probably have like 15 pieces of fabric, and this is like compared to, I think, at my peak, I maybe had close to a hundred pieces of fabric. And I reckon I could probably go through it again and sell half of that and, and, and not, like, even think about it. The only things I’ve kept are, like, things I know that are, like, ex-designer or deadstock that are really special to me. So I feel like I am putting less of my personality into, like, what I’ve spent all my money on and actually being more focused.

And when I had a, because I had a big vintage clear-out of all my materials just before I went to Copenhagen, actually. ‘Cause I, I have, one of my plot holes is, if I make money, I’m allowed to invest that into, like, pieces to fill in the gaps. Because you know what it’s like with spending. You buy a piece of fabric and then you’re like, cool, now what am I actually gonna make with this? I need buttons. I need other notions. I mean, so I was allowed to go and do that in Copenhagen. And even that, I made just over a thousand pounds on the amount of craft stuff I had in here, which is insane. And when I went to Copenhagen, I think I spent less than 300 because I couldn’t bring myself to fill that space back up again. And me last year, I would’ve doubled that. I would’ve put, I would’ve matched my own vintage fund, you know? Even now, like, it’s my birthday in a few weeks’ time and me and my friend are thinking about just going to Paris for the day on the Eurostar. I was like, I’m actually just gonna say to my, ’cause my mom’s always like, what do you want for your birthday? And I’m just gonna say to her, give me some birthday money. And I will, if I don’t spend it that day, then I don’t spend it. And that’s that. So it’s a really different attitude for me. It’s, it’s kind of weird. But yeah, I, I, I really recommend it. It’s unlocked a lot for me. And, you know, I think the content that people will, by the time this comes out, be seeing, but also that I’m planning on posting for the rest of the year at least will show that person that I think even just cutting out spending for six months has helped.

Caroline: It is so cool. I did a no-buy year in 2025. And I mean, I’m a bit of an exception ’cause I own a fabric store, so like I, you know, I have access to fabrics, but it was more for life, just in general, of trying to spend less. And it really did change my outlook on spending and on just, like, using what I have as much as possible and realizing that, like, not spending money, it’s not necessarily limiting. Like, it forces you to be creative with the things that are available to you. And I thought that that was really liberating and really, like, fun, too, and fun to be able to just, like, kind of pull from my stash, from my wardrobe and not think so much about what’s the next new thing that I need and more so how can I use what I already have? Like, it was really life-changing for me, too, and I found it really inspiring following along this year with you because it doesn’t feel like you’re limited. Like, you have this great stash that you’re pulling from and you’re able to say like, oh, I wanna dupe this Miu Miu bag. Hey, I have literally everything I need to do that. I don’t need to buy anything.

Nerrisa: Yeah, I dunno if that’s actually a good thing, but…

Caroline: But it’s really great that you are able to use what you have to do those things, you know? And I think a lot of people who’ve been crafting for years can relate to this feeling of, like, feeling maybe a little weighed down by all of your craft supplies. So taking a beat to just really dive into your stash, I think that’s really healthy and, and really good for, like, your creative kind of practice, you know?

Nerrisa: I mean, speaking of the Miu Miu bag, you know, that was a funny one because I had everything but I didn’t have a handle. So actually, what I ended up doing was making a handle. So it’s even teaching me new skills. ‘Cause I don’t know how to make a bag handle, like, but I made, arguably, a fantastic bag handle because…

Caroline: Yeah, you fooled me. I was like, what? How does she know how to make this beautiful bag handle?

Nerrisa: I mean, shout out to Amanda from I Can Make Shoes/I Can Make Bags because, obviously, I have access to her online courses, of course. And she has like a lesson in, like, those kind of basics in there and then I was able to kind of adapt it and tweak it. But I think last year I would’ve just bought the handle for like 30 pounds. But actually, I literally had everything I needed and now I’ve used a little bit of stash and, at work, people are like, I can’t believe you made that. And they, like, stroke it and stuff. They’re like, but where did you get the handle from? And I’m like, yeah, I made that too.

Caroline: No biggie.

[00:58:33] Helen: Oh my gosh.

Nerrisa: Yeah. Just, you know, what am I like, you know? So yeah, it’s, it’s been really rewarding. It’s made my brain work in a different way that I am really enjoying. It’s unlocked, like, a level of creativity that it’s like a higher plane, you know? And yeah, I’ve got some really cool projects coming up, like, to see me out of 2026 using my craft stash. Like, I do Nerrisa’s Handmade Christmas every year. And it’s back for, like, its third year this year. And actually, this year it’s going to be how to make Christmas gifts for free, wink, because it’s going to be how to make Christmas gifts that are things that I reckon most crafters already have out of their stash. So I think what I’m gonna do is, like, total up how much my Christmas gifts in, like, full cost me, because I think, obviously, if we’ve already spent it, we’re gonna write that off because we spent it years ago. But the girl maths says that it’s free. So yeah, I, and I wouldn’t have thought of that before. So yeah, it’s, it’s just really fun and I, like I said, I genuinely would recommend doing it. I think I’ve got some thoughts on how I’m going to take this. I’m not gonna do no-spend next year. I’ve already decided that, but I am going to do, like, low- to no-buy with these new kind of boundaries in place.

Caroline: Amazing. Yeah, we um, hope our listeners are inspired by this and they should definitely follow along and see how you wrap this year up.

Nerrisa: Or they’re looking at their fabrics like, yeah, right.

Helen: You don’t have to…you know, it’s one of those things where you’ll know if it’s the right time to do something like that.

Nerrisa: They’re like, I’m gonna buy something out of spite now. Don’t tell me what to do.

Helen: All right. I have to ask about your amazing outfits that you made for Beyoncé concerts that you went to. Can you tell our listeners a bit about these outfits that you made?

Nerrisa: Yes. So I’m a huge Beyoncé fan, to be clear. No Beyoncé slander will be heard here. So I got tickets for the original Renaissance tour a week before, because they sold out. And then I was like, I’m just gonna keep an eye on like StubHub and then I’ll, I’ll get them. And I got them. And I just, I don’t know why, I think it was, like, peak, it was that summer where Taylor Swift was touring, Beyoncé was touring, and, like, Harry Styles, I think, as well. And everyone was, like, making stuff. And I was like, hell yeah. Like, I can make stuff. But obviously, I’m me. So I was like, like, I’m not gonna make like a cute t-shirt. I was like, I think I could make an outfit, like, that she’s worn. But what I didn’t realize when I first started is that she was, like, changing her outfits every tour night. So she wore this beautiful, like, custom Loewe cross hands bodysuit. And I, again, did some forensic crafting and I basically recreated it, but it blew up. It actually blew up to the, I don’t think I’ve ever talked about this, like, on anything, but it blew up to the point where, I kid you not, girls, at the concert, people were coming up to me and asking for photos because they’d been watching me make it.

Caroline: That’s so cool.

Helen: Oh my gosh. Wow.

Nerrisa: I have never felt more like Beyoncé in my life. When Beyoncé came out in the outfit, there was a gorgeous French woman next to me who had traveled over from Paris and she looked at Beyoncé, looked at me, and smiled, then did a double take. And then was like, how? And then spent the whole of that song like asking me questions about the outfit. And I was like, hey girl, I’d love to talk to you about this, but I’d really love to watch this. Yeah, it was, it was huge. Like, it was probably one of the biggest things. Like, in fact, I went to Somerset House to look at an exhibition and a girl was following me around and I thought she was, like, following me around ’cause she thought I’d stolen something. And what she was actually trying to do was see my face to see if it was me, the girl who had made the Beyoncé outfit. And she was like, I just wanted to check it was you before. I said, I can’t believe it. It’s still, to this day, people come up to me. It’s crazy. It’s like that and painting my stairs black. Those are the two most famous things I’ve ever done. So yeah, when I got tickets for Cowboy Carter, I was like, well, you know, the bar has been set. I’ve got to, I’ve got to do this. So I basically took it to the next level and I was like, how do I make every single thing? So yeah, in the post, I did everything, bar my underwear, that I am wearing. I made myself, like, the hat, the shoes, the jacket out of an old leather sofa. It was quite the undertaking. But I did get the tickets a few months before, this time, so it was a little bit easier. But actually, funnily enough, I’m going to see Jay-Z in a couple of weeks’ time on Beyoncé’s birthday. ‘Cause I’m convinced Beyoncé’s coming out and I actually might wear my Cowboy Carter mini dress, but with, like, a Yankees baseball cap that I might customize. So yeah, I was like, I’m gonna wear my Beyoncé outfit to the Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z tour.

Helen: Oh my gosh.

Nerrisa: So yeah, I just need Act III now, ’cause obviously I’ve got to finish it up.

Helen: So excited for Act III. I don’t even have words. I cannot. wait.

Nerrisa: For my outfit or for the Act III itself? Because I just wanna clarify.

Helen: I’m excited for both, Nerrisa, but…

Nerrisa: I am gonna need you to say which you are more excited about, and I’m gonna need you to say it on public record. Okay?

Helen: I am also a huge Beyoncé fan, so I loved following along with you making these outfits. And the Cowboy Carter one’s my favourite. It’s just incredible.

Nerrisa: I think Renaissance walked so Cowboy Carter could run.

Helen: Yes, yes.

Nerrisa: But yeah, it’s kind of become my thing now. ‘Cause me and my sister went to see My Chemical Romance, because I’m definitely a woman of many halves. Me and my sister went to see My Chemical Romance last month and I was like, well, again, like, I feel like a traitor if I don’t make my outfit. So even that I made and I feel like it’s, like, kind of become my thing now. So concerts are quite expensive for me now because I have to, like, spend a lot of time and money on, like, outfits. But yeah, it’s so worth it and it’s, so, yeah. I mean the, the first one was literally featured in Vogue, so yeah.

Helen: Oh my gosh. Congratulations. That is amazing.

Nerrisa: Thank you. Yeah, there was a long time where I was, like, considering just wearing a t-shirt all the time that said “As Seen in Vogue.” I’d be, like, getting a coffee and someone would be like, can I take your name? I’d be like, it’s As Seen in Vogue. They’re like, yeah, no, I didn’t, I didn’t ask you, actually, and, like, what’s your order?

Helen: It truly doesn’t get better than that. That’s absolutely amazing. Thank you for sharing.

Nerrisa: In my mind, Beyoncé knows who I am and that’s all that matters, so yeah.

Helen: Yes. You know what? She probably has seen it, right?

Nerrisa: I mean, she has a burner account. Like she, she knows, she knows who I am.

Helen: I wonder if she does any crafting.

Nerrisa: Beyoncé, she paints, she’s, she paints, that’s, like, what her hobby…yeah. She does really beautiful paintings, actually. She’s neurodiverse, I suspect, because Beyoncé is amazing at everything. She would be like a craft perfectionist. So if she started it, if she started sewing, I’d have to retire because I’d know I could never get as good as that. She’s lucky I’m not a great singer, honestly, is what I would say. So we’ll just stay in our lanes, Beyoncé, if you’re listening.

Helen: Stay in our lanes.

Nerrisa: Yeah, let me have this and I’ll let you have the multi-Grammy-award-winning career. Okay? Seem fair?

Helen: Seems fair to me. Oh my gosh. It’s been so fun chatting with you, Nerrisa. Thank you so much for coming on the show today. Can you tell our listeners where they can find you online?

Nerrisa: You can find me on Instagram. I am @nerrisapratt. Funnily enough, not a lot of Nerrisas. So I definitely always get the username I want. And you can find me on TikTok as @nerrisaexplainsitall, ’cause I am a true nineties child, so I had to do that little pun. Those two are probably the best places. Anything I’m doing, I’ll kind of share there and on stories. So yeah.

Caroline: Amazing. Thank you so much. It was so fun chatting with you.

Nerrisa: Absolute pleasure to speak to some fellow Beyoncé and craft lovers. If you tell me that you are also crazy cat ladies, then I’m never leaving.

Helen: Oh my gosh. We’re dog people. Oh no!

Nerrisa: Oh. Got to go now. Bye.

Helen: That’s it for today’s episode of Love to Sew. You can find me, Helen, at Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co. and Caroline at Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns. We’re recording in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

Caroline: You can support Love to Sew and get access to bonus content by subscribing on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. You even get access to the back catalog of bonus episodes. That’s over 100 hours of Love to Sew. Go to patreon.com/lovetosew or check out our podcast page on Apple Podcasts for more info.

Helen: Head to lovetosewpodcast.com to find our show notes. They’re filled with links and pictures from this episode. And if you’d like to get in touch with us, you can leave us a message at 1-844-SEW-WHAT. That’s 1-844-739-9428. Or send us an email at [email protected].

Caroline: Thanks to our amazing podcast team. Lisa Ruiz is our creative assistant and Jordan Moore of The Pod Cabin is our editor. And thank you for listening. We’ll talk to you next week.

Helen: Bye-bye!

Caroline: Bye!

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We thrifted some amazing pieces and made them into new garments! And in this episode, we reveal them to each other for the first time. We talk about where we thrifted our materials, what we transformed them into, and the sewing techniques that made it all possible.

The transcript for this episode is coming soon.

Show Notes: 

From the Listener Questions Section: 

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Caroline’s Lace Blouse

Caroline’s Jeans Bag

Helen’s Double Jeans

Helen’s Refashioners Projects

Transcript: Coming Soon!

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In this long-awaited episode, we talk about HELEN’S WEDDING! We go into detail about the wedding dress she made – designing it, making wearable and non-wearable muslins, and sewing delicate embroidered tulle. We also chat about the other DIY elements of the day, like the favours, flowers, dance party outfits, invitations, giant mushrooms, and floating jellyfish!

The transcript for this episode is on this page at the end of the show notes.

Show Notes:

Photographer: Karley Bracey of Bracey Photography, aka @braceyphoto

Helen and Sam at the Wedding:

Helen’s dad made this wooden wedding arch and Helen made the faux flower decorations for it.

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

Helen’s Dress: Helen based her bodice on the Lockhart Dress and self-drafted the rest. The bodice layer is made up of the embroidered net overlayer, cotton voile underlining, and cotton poplin lining. The skirt is made up of the embroidered net overlayer, cotton voile underlining, and woven rayon lining.

Helen’s Wedding Dress Making Process:

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

Helen and Sam in their wedding outfits: Sam wore a Cameron Button-Up in Bloom Block Printed Batiste from Blackbird Fabrics. He paired it with grey suit pants and leather suspenders.

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

Helen and Caroline: Caroline wears an Elbe Textiles Gibbons Slip Dress in deadstock fruit print cotton sateen fabric from Blackbird Fabrics (no longer available). She made this dress for Episode 296: We Sew the Good Fabric!

Helen, Sam, Caroline, and Shea:

Dancing Outfits: Helen wears a Reynolds Dress and Sam wears a Tofino Top and Ukee Shorts, both in Bubble Blooms Linen Viscose Blend Fabrics from Blackbird Fabrics.

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

The Tent:

Table Settings: Flowers, Place Cards, Papier Mache Mushrooms, and Menus

Hanging Jellyfish:

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

Handmade Favours: Hot Sauce, 3D Printed Mushroom Magnets, and Block Prints

The Barn Mural:

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

Guests Having Fun:

The Temporary Tattoo Station:

Guest Book:

Invitations:

A post shared by Helen’s Closet (@helens__closet)

Transcript: 

Caroline: We are recording today on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, including Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Musqueam, and K’ómoks first nations. Hello and welcome to Love To Sew. I’m Caroline, the owner of Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns.

Helen: And I’m Helen, the designer behind Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co. And the bride.

Caroline: We’re two sewing buds who love to sew and it’s basically all we ever talk about.

Helen: In this long-awaited episode, we’re talking about my wedding. We’re gonna go into detail about the wedding dress that I made, the design process, making wearable and non-wearable muslins, and sewing delicate embroidered tulle. We’re also going to chat about the other DIY elements of the day, like the food, flowers, dance party outfits, invitations, giant mushrooms, and floating jellyfish.

Caroline: It’s Helen’s handmade wedding!

Helen: Yay.

Caroline: If you love to sew, this is your show. Hi, Helen.

Helen: How are you?

Caroline: I’m so good. How are you?

Helen: I’m good. I’m married. It’s official.

Caroline: You’re married. How does it feel to be married?

Helen: Oh my gosh. It feels really good. Like, you know, lifestyle-wise, it’s exactly the same.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: But I do feel like we’re in a post-wedding glow, like a lovey glow. You know, we’re like just smiling at each other a lot and we’re just enjoying the post-wedding vibes and it just feels good to have achieved such an incredible event, milestone, you know? We went for it, did it, it was amazing. And so we’re both feeling really happy and really good and really glad that we did it.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. You truly did so much for this day. It was such an incredible day. I can’t wait to ask you a million questions about it, especially about your wedding dress, which turned out so, so beautifully. Yeah, I’ve been really looking forward to this episode. But before we get into it, we wanna remind our listeners that the best way to support Love to Sew is by joining us over on Patreon or Apple Podcast subscriptions, where we talk about things like wedding prep, our personal lives…

Helen: Not anymore, but…

Caroline: No.

Helen: if you want the backstory of the wedding…

Caroline: Yeah. If you wanna go back and hear all about the process, yeah. We talk about what we’re cooking, what we’re sewing, what we’re crafting.

Helen: Yeah. All the horror movies we’re watching this season. I’m so excited for spooky movie season.

Caroline: I know. Me too, me too. I love that. But yes, you’ll get access to all of the bonus content every month if you join us over there. And it really means a lot if you’re able to support us, even if it’s just for a month or two. But of course, if that’s not in the cards for you right now, we totally get it.

Helen: Yeah, we just appreciate that you’re here and you’re listening. And if you want to support us for free, you can always rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. It really helps us out. It helps other sewists discover us, helps people click on the show and give it a listen. So we’d really love some reviews over there, if you can. And above all, just thanks to you all for listening and cheering us on.

Caroline: Yeah. Thank you. And cheers for Helen getting married and organizing an incredible wedding.

Helen: Cheers.

Helen: Thank you. I’m really excited to talk about it. And thank you for giving me this platform to talk about it. I feel like anyone who’s had a wedding remembers that feeling afterwards where you just wanna, like, talk about everything about it in excruciating detail. And for the first few days everyone’s really on board for that. And then it’s, like, diminishing over time. People are like, yeah, your wedding was really nice, but we don’t really wanna talk about it anymore.

Caroline: No, I’m not there yet. I feel like we haven’t really had a full debrief yet, and we’re gonna go through it in excruciating detail today.

Helen: Yes. Can’t wait.

Caroline: Exciting, wonderful detail.

Helen: Yeah, it, honestly, it was really special and it felt really personal and people kept telling us that they felt that personal touch. And I think a lot of that had to do with all of the handmade elements that we put into it. And not just us, but lots of other people as well. So we’re gonna talk about that. But I really wanted to start things off by talking a little bit about me and Sam and our relationship. Just a little bit of context about the wedding, and then we’ll get into the kind of DIY elements, some of which were sewn and some were cooked and painted and 3D printed and paper mached and all that stuff. And then we’re gonna talk all about the dress. So yeah, that’s kind of our roadmap for today.

Caroline: Yes. Okay. Let’s get into it. I just have to say, one of the most lovely things about the day is, or was, like, seeing how in love you and Sam are. Because we already knew that you guys loved each other, but it was just gushing out of you, obviously, on your wedding day and everybody around you talking about your relationship and how it was so meant to be and “they just knew” and, you know, we met you when your relationship was pretty established, but your love for each other is so obvious and clear and beautiful. So can you please tell us a little bit more about you and Sam?

Helen: With pleasure. Okay. Sam and I met 16 years ago, so I was 22 and he was 21. So we were very young. Even though, at the time, you know, when you’re 21, you feel quite mature, very ready for a long-term relationship.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: But in hindsight, we were so young and so it’s so cute that we, we met so young and fell in love and just were like, yeah, this is it. Let’s be together forever. But yeah, we met on a porch one day, randomly, when I was going over to my friend’s house to play a board game. And he was there ’cause he had just moved into one of the spare bedrooms and we met on the porch ’cause we were, ahem, smoking cigarettes. I know, I know. I’m sorry, okay? I was young. I was young. And yeah, we just hit it off right away. It was like this instant connection, that kind of feeling like you already know the person, like you’ve been friends forever. We just had that common ground and instant connection. So that is how we met and we’ve pretty much spent every day together since then. We hung out literally the next day and the next day and the next day and just, like, kept hanging out and we were instantly at each other’s side. And I love that about us. We’re one of those annoying couples that likes to spend all their time together. And I know that’s not for everyone. I’m not saying that it is, but that’s just kind of been our vibe. And we work together and we work from home together. So we are together all the time. And we really do just love each other so much. We’re kind of obsessed with each other even after 16 years. So, yeah, it’s been really special.

And we did get engaged. I should know the year, but it was like nine or 10 years ago we got properly engaged. There was a proposal, it was very cute. Sam got down on one knee at one of my favorite places, Hornby Island, on Phipps Point, if anyone’s familiar with Hornby. At sunset, there was no one around, we had it to ourselves. It was so beautiful. And after that, it was not immediately like, okay, now let’s plan a wedding. It was more like the engagement was the commitment. I wanna spend my life with you. Yes. I wanna spend my life with you, too. And we weren’t like, you know…obviously we talked about it, like, should we have a wedding? We were like, uh, I don’t know, maybe later. Like, neither of us were that keen on spending the money and going through…like, it’s a lot of work and effort to plan a wedding and it’s a lot of pressure and it can be stressful. And I think we were both just like, I don’t know if that’s, like, the vibe that we’re looking for, you know? So we just never did. And I wasn’t sure if we ever were going to, ’cause I was perfectly happy just to have that commitment to each other and never necessarily have the big wedding day.

But more recently we were thinking about how nice it would be to get everyone together and how special it would be to have our parents there for that day and to, like, celebrate our love and life together. And we feel really settled in our lives now that we moved to the island and we’ve been here for six years now and we have lots of amazing friends. And we got a venue because my friend was like, if you ever do wanna get married, you know, you could have your wedding here. And that also kind of got us thinking like, oh, that would be really cute. Like a garden, yard wedding is exactly the kind of vibe that we would do. And so, yeah, we kind of started thinking about maybe doing it and then we decided, why not? Let’s go for it.

Caroline: When did you make that decision to have the wedding?

Helen: I think it was about last summer, like summer 2025, maybe earlier in the summer, was when, yeah, my friend was like, you could, you know, you could have it here if you ever did wanna have one. And then we started thinking about it and we said yes. We said yes to the wedding. Yeah.

Caroline: I remember when, like, soon after we met, we had had a conversation about whether or not you were gonna have a wedding and you guys had floated the idea of doing it, like, at a restaurant in Gastown. Do you remember that? You were like, maybe we’ll do it at, I think it was at L’abattoir or something?

Helen: Yeah. We were like, we’d like, if we do do it, we’ll have a little, a small one, you know, like 15 people in a special event room at a restaurant kind of thing.

Caroline: Yeah. And I feel like the wedding that you ended up having is so different from that.

Helen: I know.

Caroline: So I want you to tell our listeners, like, describe, like, what kind of wedding did you end up having? We already know it was at a farm.

Helen: Yeah, so my friend’s property is about two acres, so there’s lots of room on it. And she used to have a hobby farm, but she doesn’t have the animals anymore. So there’s lots of room and there’s, like, a big field that we could put a tent in. So we had an outdoor wedding and there was lots of beautiful flowers around, so it was kind of like a little garden party. And we rented a big tent and we put lights and bunting on it. So that was really fun and festive feeling, to have that big tent. Yeah, we had, I would say, a relatively casual wedding. I didn’t want it to be super formal. But the more we started planning it, the more I was like, well, I do kind of want the structure of a wedding with a ceremony and speeches and a first dance and a dinner. You know, I wanted those things, but I didn’t want them to feel really formal, I guess. I wanted them to feel a little bit more casual, but then I also wanted to wear the wedding dress, you know? So it’s kind of torn in two directions where it’s like, do we just have, like, a backyard barbecue where we’re like, come over and celebrate our love? Or do we have a wedding-wedding? And I kind of wanted something in between those things, but I think it ended up being more of a wedding-wedding than I maybe anticipated at the beginning of the planning.

Caroline: I think that’s really normal and relatable for a wedding, however you wanna look at it, to evolve as you’re planning it and dealing with your own expectations of the day, other people’s expectations of the day, kind of, you know, things take shape, uh, sometimes a different shape than you originally intended.

Helen: Yeah. Yeah. And it did get a little bit bigger, just guest-list-wise, too. Like, once you start thinking about who you’re gonna invite, that can also snowball. And so we ended up with 90 guests, which was more than we thought. We thought maybe we’d be around 60, but we decided to just go for it and we just invited everybody and that was really fun. And everybody came, too. I wasn’t expecting everyone to come, like, you know, traveling to come to the wedding, but everybody did, which was, like, just the nicest feeling that people were like, of course I’ll be there. Of course I’ll take the ferry, I’ll get on the plane. You know, like, that feels so good when your friends and family are like, no, I’m, obviously, I’m coming.

Caroline: Mm-hmm.

Helen: So sweet. So yeah, we ended up with 90 people, but there were 17 kids, which is a lot. And that was really fun to have at the outdoor wedding. The kids were living their best life. They were running around, they were having such a good time. That was so cute. I loved seeing all the kids just, like, having the best time.

Caroline: Yeah. The kids were so cute and they did seem like they were having a great time. And they all really enjoyed your little temporary tattoo tent.

Helen: Yes. The temporary tattoo tent was a real highlight.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Yeah. We had this little station where you could put on a temporary tattoo, as you may have surmised. And it was really cute ’cause throughout the night I kept running into people and being, like, confused by being like, you have a tattoo? I’m like, my aunt has a neck tattoo? Oh, no, no, no. That’s a fake tattoo. But everyone was getting them and it was so fun just seeing all the random places people were putting these tattoos. Some of the kids were putting them on their faces. Oh my gosh.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. On the forehead! There was one little girl with a tattoo on her forehead. I was like, oh man.

Helen: I should have seen that one coming. Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah. Well, we’ll get to all the little tent installations that you did throughout. But I wanna take it back to wedding planning and kind of some of the wedding DIY projects that you did. And you started your DIY wedding right from the jump with the invitations. They were so, so beautiful. So can you describe what they looked like for our listeners?

Helen: Yes. Okay. I have to go back even one step further because I made our save-the-date image that we emailed out to everybody. But I painted it and it was like a big sunflower that I did using watercolours. And then I wrote in the middle of the sunflower, “Save the Date, Helen and Sam” and the date of the wedding. And then we, like, attached that to the email that we sent out to everybody. ‘Cause I wanted to have this, like, garden vibe and we knew we were gonna grow these giant sunflowers, which we did. They’re like 14 feet tall. They’re crazy.

Caroline: Yeah, yeah. And they were kind of right next to the tent area, so everyone could enjoy them.

Helen: They were so fun. I couldn’t believe how big they got. Sunflowers are so fun to grow. The stalks are, like, huge.

Caroline: Oh, I know. They’re like bamboo sticks, basically. Yeah.

Helen: Amazing. So anyways, I had done that, and so when I did the invitation, I wanted to, like, tie it in and kind of have, like, a similar design element on the invitation. So I went with a sun that had a similar kind of shape to it. And I did block printing, ’cause that’s something that I’m really into right now, is carving and printing with like, you know, those Speedy Carve rubber blocks. So I carved a sun block and then I carved a separate heart block that had some flowers on it. And the heart block took a few tries ’cause I was trying to, like, figure out how I could have some kind of design element on the heart that looked like me and Sam. But then I just ended up doing flowers, but I did two flowers and then a flower in the middle. So it kind of looks like the two of us and then our officiant. This is all, like, in my head. I don’t think anyone noticed these details.

Caroline: Oh, that’s so cute. No, I think I need to go and look at it again.

Helen: Now you’ll be like, okay, I see it. The little flower in the middle is our friend Brett, the officiant.

Caroline: Oh, cute.

Helen: Anyway, so what I did was I did a gold ink for the sun and then I layered with a red ink for the heart on top for the invitations. And then on the inside we did, like, a little printout, like a little digital printed card that I glued inside that had all the information on it and, like, a little QR code and stuff for our wedding website. And then we still had space to write, like, a little handwritten message. And then we mailed those out. So that was a bigger project than I anticipated it being. And that’s something that’s, like, a recurring theme for the wedding…

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Where I’m like, oh, how hard could it be to do X? And then I do it and I’m like, wow, that was a lot of work. And then I just immediately do it again. But it all paid off in the end, you know?

Caroline: Yeah. It really did. There were so many beautiful details on your wedding day and so much of it was handmade. But I loved the invitations and I still have mine and I’m, I really do wanna frame it and put it somewhere ’cause it’s such a beautiful piece of art. Did you keep one for yourself, as well?

Helen: Yes, I did. I kept the best one of the lot.

Caroline: Perfect.

Helen: I think I printed 50 in total, to have the few extras, and then, yeah, I, I picked the best one, I thought, and kept it for myself.

Caroline: Amazing.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: Okay, so we’ve already just touched on the fact that this was at kind of, like, a two acre property, outside. Can you describe how you set up the yard and the ceremony and everything?

Helen: Yeah, sure. So we rented a 40 by 40 tent, so that was kind of the main element of the yard. And I wanted that so that we wouldn’t have to stress too much about rain, first of all. But it was a big investment. Like, obviously, it’s cheaper than renting a whole venue. But I was surprised by how much renting a giant tent costs.

Caroline: It’s huge, though. It was a big tent.

Helen: Yeah. And I was like, I didn’t quite, like…40 by 40. You’re like, okay, sure. But then when they came to set it up, I was like, oh my gosh, it’s huge. Like, it was humongous. It took them like five hours to set it up, like…

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Four guys. I was like, okay, no wonder this tent costs so much to rent. This is wild. And they let us have it for, like, five days, too, which was great. They set it up really early and then they didn’t tear it down until a while after the wedding, so that was really nice. We had a little bit of time to, like, decorate and stuff. But yeah, that was great. And, and then we had some separate little tents for various things. We had a tent for our wedding favours and guest book signing. And then we had a tent for our temporary tattoos. Very important.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: And we had a tent for our drinks and a tent for our buffet. And the reason we had so many tents is, in part, because it was supposed to rain on the wedding day, and I was very stressed about that. As you may imagine. My vision of a garden wedding was always in the sun, obviously.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: I was expecting beautiful sunny weather. And then, as we approached the wedding, it was just, like, saying it was gonna rain on the wedding day for so long, for like two weeks leading up. It was like, every day’s gonna be sunny, except this day. On your wedding it’s definitely gonna rain. And so I was panicking and, like, borrowing tents from everyone I knew, like camping tents, and I ordered a couple more tents, so we just ended up putting everything under a tent, which was really cute because it kind of made it feel like you were in like a, a movie set or like a farmer’s market or something.

Caroline: Yeah. It had such a farmer’s market vibe, and I thought that was so fitting for your wedding, too, because you love, like, farmer’s market, craft markets, like, outdoor markets, so it just felt like your own personal market. It was so cute.

Helen: Yeah, it was so cute. We still had lots of space, too. Like, the yard was so big that it didn’t feel, like, crowded or anything. We just had, like, all these little tents all over the place that all had different stuff happening underneath them, which was really fun for everybody.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Yeah. And then we ended up doing our ceremony outside of the tent in, like, another grassy area of the yard. And my dad handmade this beautiful arbor for us out of cedar. And he had made one for my sister when my sister got married about 10 years ago. And so when I was like, I’m planning the wedding, I’m like, Dad, I need the arbor. It’s time.

Caroline: Yeah, you’re like, I get one, right?

Helen: Yeah. And of course he was more than happy to make me one, too. And yeah, so that was gorgeous. That was kind of the backdrop for the ceremony. And I made some flower arrangements to put on it, too. And I had so much fun making these flower arrangements. And they’re one of my favourite things I made for the wedding. They’re just, like, plastic flowers from the dollar store mixed with dried straw flowers and statice that we had dried last year. And I just mixed them together and, like, arranged them on some cardboard, like L-shaped cardboard, to go in the corners of the arbor. And then just hot glued. I went to town with that hot glue and it was so fun. I burned my fingers so much. But they, yeah, it worked so well. They look so cute and, like, I still have them and they’re, ’cause it’s all, like, dried and plastic, it’s totally not gonna fall apart or die or anything. So, I don’t know. I feel like I gotta put them up in my house somewhere.

Caroline: Yeah. You should. Or, like, use them for decoration if you ever have, like, a party or something.

Helen: Yeah, it’s true. Just put, I could just put them around my door every spring or something.

Caroline: Yeah. What are you gonna do with the arbor? Is it at your house now?

Helen: Yes, it is, it is. My dad made it so that it could come apart, ’cause he had to bring it from Vancouver on top of the car. So we took it down and brought it home and it’s still apart in our garage ’cause we haven’t had a moment to put it up. But the plan is to put it in the garden. And then I’d like to use it to grow raspberries, ’cause my dad grows like a ton of raspberries. And raspberries don’t really climb. So I’d have to add some kind of, like, wiring or something to, like, help the raspberries stick in. But I think that they could be under it in some way. So that’s my vision right now.

Caroline: It’s really lovely. I like the raspberries as, like, a nod to your dad. Also, it’s so beautiful. Like, your dad is such an excellent craftsman.

Helen: Right. Tie it in.

Caroline: Like, his work is so perfectly polished and lovely and it turned out so nice. So I love that you’re keeping it at your house.

Helen: Absolutely. Imagine it. Well, actually, my friends who hosted the wedding, the, my friend’s husband Andy was, like, really gunning to keep that arbor.

Caroline: Oh yeah? Yeah. He was like…

Helen: I think he was joking, but he mentioned it so many times that I was like, is he joking? Like, I can’t give you this arbor, man. This is my wedding arbor my dad made me. But it is really beautiful. I think he just liked, liked it a lot ’cause it was so pretty. But yeah, the ceremony was really nice and I’m so glad we got to have it out in the open ’cause it was looking, as I said, like it was gonna pour rain. And so I was, I had a contingency plan where we were doing the ceremony under the tent, but it was gonna be, like, really tight and awkward ’cause all the tables are all set up for dinner and, like, it was just not ideal. So I’m really glad that we got to have the ceremony outside in the spot that I envisioned it in.

Caroline: Yeah. And it did rain a couple hours before, because when I arrived, there were people cleaning off all the chairs.

Helen: Toweling off the chairs. Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah, toweling off the chairs. But yeah, it really did not rain during your actual wedding.

Helen: No, as soon as it was time to, like, no, as soon as it was time to start it cleared and it was actually nice, ’cause it was cloudy, so it was cool. We weren’t super sweaty and hot. And then there was all this, like, dramatic thunder off in the distance throughout it.

Caroline: During the speeches!

Helen: Yeah, which was really cool. And it didn’t start raining again until, like, midnight, right when everyone was leaving. We were packing up. It started raining. So I was like, wow, that, really? Thank you, universe.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Yeah, that’s great.

Caroline: Okay. So one of my favourite little details was the painted barn…

Helen: Yes.

Caroline: On the property. It wasn’t even really, like, featured. It was kind of off in the distance. But you did this with your friends. I want you to tell our listeners about this beautiful barn.

Helen: Okay, so it was the goat barn when my friend Melinda had her goats. And so it has nothing in it now, just kind of storage, and you couldn’t really see the inside of it. What you see is really only just, like, the exterior of it. It doesn’t necessarily look like a barn ’cause it’s not shaped like a barn. It looks more like a shed or, like, several people were asking me if it was like a concession stand.

Caroline: Yeah. Shea mentioned that it looked like a concession stand…

Helen: Yeah, I know.

Caroline: Some sort of little like booth, stand thing.

Helen: Yeah, I think because it had a window on the side that they boarded up with plywood. So it looked like when concession stands are closed.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: And they, like, closed the window, you know? And then we painted it this blue colour, which I also think is kind of evocative of a concession stand. But anyway, imagine a concession stand and it was all, like, worn down, just like old wood and there was a bunch of holes. So we, like, covered all the holes in all the windows with plywood and then we painted it blue. We went and got mistints from the paint store, which is something you can do if you go to, like, any kind of house paint store. You can ask for their mistint shelf. And they have all of these paint buckets that are, like, super discounted ’cause they’re just, like, colours that they mixed wrong, basically. So we got some mistints and we painted it this basic blue colour. And then we went over it and painted it and covered it in flowers and leaves. And there’s a reel about this on my Instagram if you wanna check it out, but it was so fun. We did it over like four nights, with me and a bunch of our friends from our craft night group. We get together every Tuesday. And we had so much fun painting this barn. It was definitely one of the most fun craft projects we’ve done.

Caroline: Yeah. And, okay, you designed it yourself. You designed the florals and the leaves and everything.

Helen: Yeah, I used a lot of just inspo from Pinterest, looking at other murals and, like, simple flower shapes and stuff. I didn’t go too crazy ’cause we wanted it to be achievable. And then when it came time to actually put it onto the barn, we just used sidewalk chalk to kind of mock it up where we were gonna paint. And then we painted in those spots. And yeah, it was pretty straightforward. We definitely had to fill in areas with flowers. Like, it didn’t translate perfectly from the mockup that I did onto the shed. But that was easy enough to just, like, oh, well there’s an empty space here. It was just, add another flower. Like, we weren’t trying to be too precious with it. We were just having fun, you know?

Caroline: Yeah. Yeah. It was so beautiful. I loved it.

Helen: Thanks. It turned out great. It was fun to have it in the background of the wedding. I think some people went over and took pictures in front of it. We took some wedding photos in front of it, so I’m really excited to see those pictures.

Caroline: Yeah, no, it definitely added just to the, like, overall vibes of the location. Yeah. Okay. Well, speaking of flowers, what did you do for your wedding flowers, Helen?

Helen: Okay. So we grew all of the flowers for the wedding ourselves.

Caroline: Mind blowing. I love it.

Helen: Well, yeah. My, so my friend’s place has a lot of garden space and sometimes she grows vegetables, sometimes she doesn’t. She was just kind of like, oh, if you just wanna, like, throw some flowers in the ground here, like, I’m happy to water them and we’ll grow all the flowers for the wedding. And then my other friend Jess was like, I can start them all. ‘Cause she does, like, a big seed starting run every winter. And so she was like, I’m happy to start all of the flowers. So we did cosmos and zinnias and dahlias, primarily. And those all worked out really well. The dahlias, especially, like, I don’t know what’s in the soil at my friend’s place. Compost, I imagine. But they were so happy. They were just, like, loving life, so many blooms. And it was wild. And the zinnias, too, just absolutely gorgeous. We grew these, like, apricot-coloured zinnias that kind of look like little papery, like, tissue paper. I don’t know. There was something really delicate and crafty- kind-of-looking about them, like they almost looked dried even though they were fresh, which I really loved. And then, obviously, the cosmos. Cosmos are so pretty and delicate and fun. Yeah. And then we had a lot of, like, queen anne’s lace that was just randomly growing in the meadow. So we picked a bunch of that, too. So that added a nice, like, feathery touch. And we also went to another friend’s place and just, like, picked all of her dahlias. And then we went to, there’s this place in town called Lush Valley, and they do a lot of work getting food to people who need food that kind of, like, they have a food bank and they go and, like, they pick people’s orchards and then donate that food. And they do a lot of work throughout the valley, charity work. And one of my friends’ moms helps out with them. And she was like, you can go to the Lush Valley garden and pick all of their dahlias. So that was amazing. So we just ended up with so many flowers. Like, we were absolutely drowning in flowers, which is a great problem to have. We had way too many in the end, but then we got to leave a lot of them just blooming in the garden ’cause we didn’t need them all. So that was really nice. And then I already mentioned that we grew those giant sunflowers, which was so cool ’cause we just literally put the seeds in the ground and giant sunflowers popped up.

Caroline: Yeah. And those didn’t really end up in the arrangements. Those were just kinda for vibes.

Helen: No.

Caroline: They were, yeah, they were huge. They were so tall. I know. And you also had dried flowers. You had straw flowers and some other spiky things that I don’t know the name of.

Helen: We had thistles that I had, I, we spray painted some thistles at one point. ‘Cause I thought it’d be fun to have like a purple element in them. So I, I spray painted some thistles purple, dried thistles. Yeah, that was really fun. And then we had, yeah, Russian statice and just some other random dried things, which adds a nice element. I really like mixing dried and fresh flowers together. I think it looks really cool. And yeah, you really helped with the flower arranging on the day. You came early and you and my mom and my friend Jess did the flowers and they looked so beautiful. It was so fun. I was doing other things around you guys. It was fun listening to you guys do the flower arranging and, like, it was so involved and, like, we underestimated how long it was gonna take to do the flowers. Give yourself so much time to do the flowers.

Caroline: Oh my gosh, yes. Yeah.

Helen: We didn’t have enough time. And at one point you were like, maybe we should race. Let’s see who can make a flower arrangement the fastest. And my mom was like, I’m not doing that.

Caroline: Yeah. I was just trying to get the, get the energy up.

Helen: Get the pace going. Yeah, I appreciated it.

Caroline: There was a lot of overthinking happening with the flower arrangements.

Helen: I know. I was like, we don’t have time for this. And then I looked over and my, and like, my mom’s like taking flowers out of an arrangement, being like, I don’t know about this one. Like, no. Commit! Commit!

Caroline: Oh, it was funny. And we all had our own, like, distinct style, and your mom loved to be like, oh, I could tell that one’s Caroline’s. That one’s Jess’s.

Helen: Oh my gosh. It was, I wish I could have been doing it with you guys, but there’s so much to do on the day, it was like…

Caroline: Oh, gosh. You were zipping around doing all kinds of other stuff, but you were, you were in the vicinity, so it was fun to have you there, as well. But no, I had so much fun doing the flower arrangements, and there were so many beautiful flowers to pick from. I mean, we had way more than we needed, so we were able to just pick all of the, you know, the good ones, the, the most beautiful ones. And you had so many vases. You thrifted like 100 vases.

Helen: Oh my gosh. Yeah. Literally, I think there was 80.

Caroline: In all different colours and shapes. There’s so many beautiful ones. What are you gonna do with all these vases, Helen?

Helen: I’ve already called them. I got rid of all of the, like, super cheap ones that were already, like, chipping, like the colour’s chipping off and stuff. So I called all of those immediately and was like, just take these back to the thrift store. So I’m left with a bunch. I wanna keep some of them and then I really wanna do some kind of, like, craft project with a bunch of them. You can, like, epoxy glass vases together and make, like, glass vase sculptures.

Caroline: Wow.

Helen: So I’m, like, considering that right now. But I don’t know. I’m not, I’m not entirely sure and I’ve, I’ve given some away to friends and, yeah, we have a lot of vases. I’m still not entirely sure what I’m gonna do with them all.

Caroline: Yeah, no, that was quite the feat. I remember when you were like, I’m gonna thrift all the chairs for the wedding.

Helen: Yeah. That we didn’t. And, and we did end up picking up about 12 chairs before I was like, this is a terrible idea. Like, we’re gonna thrift 90 chairs? No. Like, these are the kind of ideas I have, and sometimes they’re not good ones.

Caroline: But you know what? You recognize that, and you just did the vases, which I think was the right call.

Helen: It definitely was. Yes. Yeah. I’m so relieved we didn’t end up going down that road.

Caroline: Oh my gosh.

Helen: But yeah, the flowers turned out beautifully. It was so sad to throw them away. When we cleaned up the next day I was, like, devastated. Everyone took one home, you know? It was just like, we were trying to give ’em away and everyone was like, no, I have lots. And there was still tons blooming in the garden. Like, you could pick a whole new bouquet. So yeah, it was like, okay, we just have to, we have to clean this up. We have to just, like, put them in the compost.

Caroline: Yeah. And dahlias don’t, like, last that long, either, so. I remember that, too, with my wedding. I went around and gave bouquets to all of my neighbours. It’s like, please take this.

Helen: This is so meaningful to me. And they’re like, okay, sure.

Caroline: No, they were so, so beautiful. Such a lovely touch to the tablescape, as well. And you had the arrangements all over different areas of the wedding, all the little vignettes that you did.

Helen: Yeah. We got to put flowers everywhere. And I wanted the coloured glass vases ’cause I just wanted, people kept asking me what the colour theme for the wedding was, and I was like, all, yes, all of them.

Caroline: It was, like, rainbow. It was, like, every colour. It was so you, too. It just, it was bright and fun and colourful. There was no one colour. It was great.

Helen: No, there wasn’t. I mean, I guess our napkins were, like, a sage green, which was a really hard choice. I wanted just to have, like, a bunch of random coloured napkins, too, but it was easier just to do one. I was like, okay, fine. I’ll let this one go. We can have rainbow everywhere else.

Caroline: Yeah. Oh my gosh. Okay, so should we talk about the food?

Helen: Yes. Ah, the food, it was so good.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. It was so, so delicious and it should come as no surprise that you guys also, you did the food yourselves.

Helen: We catered our own wedding.

Caroline: You catered your own wedding.

Helen: Sam really wanted to. And I was on the fence about it just because I didn’t want him to be running a buffet at the wedding, you know? Like, I wanted him to be next to me and having the wedding moment and not having to worry about it. But he and our friend planned it all and made sure that that wasn’t the case, that wasn’t gonna happen. And lots of our friends helped out with the buffet, with running it and getting the food out and everything. So it all worked out in the end and he didn’t have to do anything on the day. And it turned out perfectly. So what he did is, it was a taco buffet, so we had taco shells and taco fillings and toppings and sides, like salads and slaws and stuff like that. So he made all of the taco fillings ahead of time. We had pork pibil and, oh, I wish, we should have had, like, a guest spot where he came on and told you about them.

Caroline: Yeah, it’s true. Like at the wedding, at one point he took the mic and he described the menu.

Helen: Yeah, I know, which was really fun. Yeah. And I printed out little menus for everyone’s station. Everyone’s station. Their spot, their seating. Yeah. So it was, like, tucked in with their place setting and so you could, like, read the menu and know what food you were gonna get. And, like, he had envisioned specific taco builds, I guess, like what goes on each taco if you wanna make it as designed. So that’s kind of how we did the menu, where it was like, here’s how you make this one. There’s two meat ones and two veggie ones. And we had it all laid out in the menu, which I thought was so fun because then I saw people taking their menu to the buffet and, like, making the tacos.

Caroline: And they were great. I did that and Sam’s suggested combinations were excellent. So, so yummy.

Helen: Yeah. So good. But yeah, there was a really yummy pork one. There was a really yummy chicken one. He’s gonna hate when he listens to this.

Caroline: Yeah. The pork one. The chicken one.

Helen: The chicken one. There was a yam taco and then there was refried beans.

Caroline: And, like, the peppers…

Helen: Oh, and the peppers and onions. There was kind of like a fajita-style one. Thank you. I was like, there was another vegetarian one. Yeah. And then we had, uh, red rice and beans and there was mac and cheese for the kids, and then there was just, like, a ton of toppings and there was slaw and salad.

Caroline: Every kind of topping you could possibly want on a taco: guacamole, salsa, every kind of hot sauce, queso fresco, cilantro, pickled onions.

Helen: Cotija cheese. Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah. Oh yeah. Cotija cheese. Yeah.

Helen: Yeah. Oh my gosh, it was so good. It was so fun seeing everyone eating. Everyone was so excited to eat, too. But, of course, at weddings you have to do that thing where you, like, send people up a little bit at a time so, like, the food doesn’t get overwhelmed. So we did some fun games for that. We had, like, dice at everyone’s spot and so we did some dice rolling games where you had to all, all roll the same number. We did some trivia questions. We did some movie quotes, which was really fun. Like, name that movie quote.

Caroline: Which was so funny. Everyone was so competitive.

Helen: Yeah, everyone was really into it. They wanted that food so bad. And also I think we just have a lot of gaming friends, ’cause we love games. So everyone was really into that element of it.

Caroline: Yeah. And Sam’s brother was MC-ing and he took the job very seriously and he did such a great job.

Helen: He did such a good job. He’s such a ham. He’s so funny and charismatic and so he’s the perfect person to have MC. And he was having so much fun with the games. Yeah, it was, it was really fun to watch. I was really enjoying, like, eating my taco. ‘Cause I went first, obviously.

Caroline: Of course.

Helen: I was just, like, eating and watching everybody play these games. Although I have to say, I was so, like, keyed up on the day and, like, not nervous, but just like when you’re overwhelmed and you can’t eat, like I could barely eat the food. And everyone kept telling me how delicious it was and I was like, okay, I’m gonna eat so much of this tomorrow.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Like, right now, I’m just like, eat one taco so you don’t, like, pass out. And I just couldn’t do it.

Caroline: Yeah. Honestly, I think that was the right call because I ate too much and then we went straight into dancing and then I felt really ill.

Helen: Yeah, I heard that from a few people. And I saw some wild taco plates, like, mounded, like mountains of food on this plate.

Caroline: Yeah. There was no shortage of food. It was so good.

Helen: We had so much left over. We just didn’t wanna not have enough, you know? Like, you, it’s really hard to know how much to prepare for that many people. We did run out of beans and mac and cheese, but I think that was after, like, everyone was getting seconds and stuff, so.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: That’s okay. But yeah, the beans were a real hit.

Caroline: Yeah. It was all so good. And a lot of this was prepared in advance and frozen. And then I did get a kick out of, the day of, like, the amount of crockpots that were in Melinda’s kitchen heating this food up. And I, I remember hearing, like, just in the peripheral, like, them checking in about it and being like, it’s still frozen. Still frozen. But like, somehow it all came together. Everything was hot and delicious, so it all worked out. But I’m sure that was a little bit stressful. There was a lot going on in that kitchen. I steered clear.

Helen: There was so much going on. And I had my blinders on, too, because I was like, I cannot think about this buffet today at all. I’m just gonna trust that they’re gonna make it happen. And obviously my friend was like, don’t worry about it, I’m gonna make it happen. And they did and it was all perfect in the end. But yeah, there was like, I don’t know, 20 slow cookers, like, plugged in all over her house, too. So you wouldn’t, like, blow a fuse. Just, like, taco meat heating up in the bedroom. Like…

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: It was so funny. Yeah, it was great. And yeah, I can’t believe they pulled it off and, like, they had to walk all the food from the house to the buffet tent, too, down, like, stairs and, yeah, it was, it was a lot. It was a feat, for sure. It was amazing. Yeah. Would I recommend catering your own wedding? Um. The food was so good and everyone told us how delicious, like, best taco I’ve ever had. Like, people were loving it and that was really nice. And so I think it was worth it for that. And it was nice, too, like in my mom’s speech, she was talking about Sam always cooking for everybody and, like, showing his love through preparing food for everyone and taking care of everyone with his food. And then he got to stand up and be like, tonight I have prepared a feast for you all and, like, made food for 90 people. And uh, that was really amazing and, like, such a nice tie-in to our lives together. So I think it was worth it, but it was so much work and it was a lot of work for the people on the day of, doing it. So just be prepared.

Caroline: Do you think Sam would do it again? Like, have you debriefed about it?

Helen: I think he would, yeah, I think he’s happy that he did. But there’s something to be said for, like, outsourcing things sometimes, you know?

Caroline: Yeah, yeah.

Helen: I think he would do it again, but also, like, he would be happy to eat delicious food made by somebody else, too, you know? So maybe 50-50.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: If we ever do, like, an anniversary party, maybe we won’t cater that one.

Caroline: Yeah, it was just so fitting that Sam made the food for the wedding and it was so delicious and yeah. And your dessert, I don’t know if this is in the notes, but we have to touch on the dessert buffet, dessert potluck.

Helen: Yes. That was the best idea ever.

Caroline: Yeah, that was genius.

Helen: And if you’re having a wedding in the future, dessert potluck. Two words: dessert potluck.

Caroline: Dessert potluck. Yeah.

Helen: Yeah. And we only asked people to bring desserts who were local because we had a lot of people coming from out of town. So we didn’t ask any of those people to do it. We only asked our local friends, um, to do it. And we asked them, we asked about 10 to 12 people to bring a dessert that served 10 to 15 people. And to make some, like, I was like, please somebody make some gluten-free and somebody make some dairy-free stuff. And people really took that on. And so there was tons of gluten-free and dairy-free options, which was really great. And then there was some, like, glutenous and dairy options, too, which was great. But this just the, the sheer variety was so fun. And to be able to just go up to a dessert buffet and just pick whatever entices you was really nice. ‘Cause everybody likes different dessert, you know? Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah. No, I agree. It was so fun to see what everyone brought and it catered to all the dietary needs and I’m pretty sure there were way more than, like, 10 to 12 desserts on this table. Like, people must have brought multiple, you know, some of it was made by the people. I think some people bought delicious things and brought them. Like, it was such a great variety and so fun to see everyone enjoying all the desserts. They were so good.

Helen: They were so good. And yeah, it was so nice to have options. And I think people really enjoyed providing something, too, like being able to bring something to the event. So that was really nice. So yeah, if you’re planning a wedding, definitely try that. It was so fun.

Caroline: Yeah, it was great. I loved it. Such a good idea.

Helen: Yeah. Oh my gosh, Caroline, we have so much to talk about, still.

Caroline: I know. Okay. But we have to touch on everything ’cause everything was so incredible. So this is just gonna be a long episode. Sorry. Sorry, not sorry. Helen, tell us about your handmade wedding favours. ‘Cause this was, I keep saying, my favourite part. It was one of my favourite things. I loved everything, but the wedding favour table that you set up, it had just touches from each of you, which I loved. It was so Helen and Sam. So tell the listeners about it.

Helen: Okay. So I really wanted to have cute wedding favours and I wanted them to be personal and I wanted them to be, like, this is not the right thing, but like, high value. Like, I wanted them to be, like, something people would actually want, like something they’d really be excited about, you know? And so we wanted to have a variety of options, too, so people could pick something they were excited about or take all of them or whatever. And I was really inspired by you guys at your wedding. You had handmade mugs. You made everyone a handmade mug, which is so amazing. And I was like, this is the best wedding favour I’ve ever gotten. It’s so good. Like, to be able to go up to a mug table and just pick a mug, like, that was, like, a dream come true.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: I was like, I want my wedding favour table to be as good as that, if I can. I don’t know if it was, honestly, ’cause handmade mugs is pretty good, but.

Caroline: No, it was so fun. It was so you guys.

Helen: Yeah, we had a variety of things. So Sam made his hot sauce, which is, if you’re a Portlander, you probably know Secret Aardvark. And they do sell it in lots of other stores, too. You can even get it in a grocery store here, but it’s a very popular hot sauce, and it’s like a, I think it’s a habanero pineapple mix. Anyway, Sam makes his own kind of take on this sauce, and he calls it Badger Mango. And it is a habanero mango hot sauce that also has carrots and onions and it’s more of a, like, Caribbean-style hot sauce. So he made a bunch of that and canned it and then he put, like, a little sticker on it. So he had a bunch of his hot sauce for people who like it spicy. So you could take one of those. And then he also 3D printed these cute little mushroom magnets that you can put on your fridge and they like look like they’re growing out of your fridge.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: So cute. He printed them in a ton of different colours, so people had the colour options for that and the kids could all take one of those. So that was really fun. And then I made more block prints for the wedding. I did, like, a full size, like, art print, like a 11 by 14 page with a print in the middle so that people could frame it if they wanted to. And I carved this cute little, like, seal print where it’s two seals playing in a kelp forest and they kind of look like they’re chasing each other. And I, I wrote on the little, like, favours sign, like, which one is Helen and which one is Sam?

Caroline: Aw.

Helen: And it says, like, Helen, I signed it like, “Helen and Sam 2026” on the bottom. So it’s, like, very tied in with the wedding. And I made those the week of the wedding. ‘Cause I really wanted to do it, but it was, like, one of the lower-priority things I had to do. But I was like, I really wanna make this happen. So, like, three days before the wedding I was, like, printing 50 art prints and, like, packing them into, like, cardboard sleeves. ‘Cause I didn’t want people who were traveling to, like, wreck the print, you know? So I, like, got the little cardboard and the little plastic sleeve and, like, properly sealed them so that they were more like what you buy at a craft fair.

Caroline: So professional. When we went to your place a couple days after the wedding and you showed us your, like, art room, and Shea afterwards was like, I didn’t know Helen printed every single one. ‘Cause you had this whole setup. He thought you made one and then, like…

Helen: Oh, got it printed? Yeah. Oh, that would’ve been good.

Caroline: But honestly, it, it’s so personal that you hand printed every single one and they’re so beautiful. I definitely brought one of those home and I can’t wait to put it up. It’s so beautiful. And you had this whole setup of, like, a drying rack with, like, all the different tiers so you could have them all drying and, like…really profesh, really profesh.

Helen: Yeah, I love my drying rack.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Thank you. I’m really enjoying it. That was my first time doing a print run and printing, like, a whole bunch of something other than, I guess, the invitations that I did. But like, a print run of, like, art prints with, and putting them on my drawing rack and, like, signing them and dating them on the bottom. It felt very professional. I was like, am I an artist?

Caroline: You are. Oh my gosh. You are.

Helen: I wanna do more. I’m really excited about it. And those ones turned out great and everybody took one, I think, ’cause there was only two left at the end of the night. And I had printed a few extra, but not that many extra, ’cause I didn’t have a lot of time. Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah, I loved them.

Helen: Thank you. I loved our favours, too. It was really nice to have so many nice things to give back to people. ‘Cause we were just so, like I said, grateful that people traveled and made the trip and took the time off work and all the things, you know, when you’re having a wedding, you have to just accept all of the love and support from everyone. And it can feel a bit overwhelming at times. You’re like, I don’t wanna put people out or make people go out of their way or make people travel or all that stuff. But like, they want to and they wanna show up for you. And I was really grateful. So I wanted to give back, so I’m glad we went for it with the favour table.

Caroline: Yeah. I loved it so much. And there were a few other, like, handmade decor elements in the day that I feel like we have to touch on. I love that you have this weekly craft night with your friends, and it sounds like a lot of the last year has been spent making crafts for your wedding, which is so fun. At the wedding, everyone kept telling me, like, you have to come to craft night! And I’m like, I think I have to come coordinate one of my future visits so that I can come to this famous craft night.

Helen: Yes, that would be amazing.

Caroline: But tell everyone about the last few decor elements that you made with your craft friends.

Helen: Okay, so my, maybe my favourite decor element we made was these giant jellyfish that we hung in the tent over the dance floor. And they’re so fun and cool. I’ll definitely take some pictures and videos so we can share more about them. ‘Cause I haven’t really shared anything about them yet, I don’t think. But basically, they are the size of, like, a large salad bowl for the head of the jellyfish, the dome.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: So I got, like, a bunch of plastic bowls at the dollar store and, like, plastic hanging pots and stuff like that. And then we covered that in tissue paper and cellophane. So it had this iridescent quality to it, and the tissue paper was all kind of, like, scrunched, and the cellophane was all scrunched. So it had this, like, very, you know, when you look at a jellyfish, you see it’s all, like, you see all the interior structure and, yeah, lots of cool patterning. So that looked really cool. And then we just kind of covered the exterior of the bowl in that, and then glued a bunch of ribbons to the inside of the bowl. Like, this is literally it.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: A bunch of ribbons and, like, some iridescent organza. I got, like, a bunch of fun craft supplies for this one. It was so fun to shop for just, like, all the different colours of iridescent everything, ribbon, organza, cellophane, tissue paper. And we just went to town and then we added, like, a little organza trim frill around the exterior of the bowl. So they all had, like, a little bit of a, like, floofy frill around the outside. And some people did their ribbons really long and some people did their ribbons shorter and some people different colours and so they all looked a little different, but they all looked like they were part of the jellyfish family. So, they looked so good and they were blowing in the breeze above the dance floor and …

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: They were so beautiful.

Caroline: They were hanging in the tent. Yeah, above all, you know, when you’re sitting at the table, you could look up and see these beautiful jellyfish just hanging from the ceiling and, yeah, they were so striking and so beautiful and, again, just added to these, like, kooky, handmade, like, whimsical vibes of your wedding. There was so much whimsy. I loved them.

Helen: Yeah, me too. I love them too. They really turned out and I, we weren’t sure where we were gonna hang them and I’m really glad that it ended up working out that we could hang them in the tent. ‘Cause they looked perfect up there. And prior to that, ’cause we made these, I think back in like February or March. It was pretty early. And they’ve been hanging in my friend’s living room ever since. So for like six months, almost, they were hanging in the middle of their living room and you had to, like, walk through them to get, like, through their house and part them like a curtain.

Caroline: So funny. Oh my gosh.

Helen: And I kept being like, we can move these. And they were like, no, we like them. You can leave them here.

Caroline: Oh, so funny.

Helen: Yeah. So that was a big element. And then, of course, I’ve mentioned on Patreon and on my Instagram about making the bunting. We made, uh, I think like 50 or 60 yards of bunting. I think it was about 250 triangles that we sewed. And that was also a craft night endeavour. We made all the triangles at craft night and then I just sat and sewed them all onto a piece of bias tape, which didn’t take as long as I thought it was going to. But it was like, you know, once you tie, like, put everything onto a string, then you’ve got this long string that you have to, like, not get all tangled up and messed up. And it was a little bit, it was a lot to wrangle. I just have this, like, giant pile of bunting. It’s still sitting on my work table now. ‘Cause we just took it down and it’s just sitting in a pile and I need to, like, put it away and press it and, like, flatten it out. They’re all like scrunched up now. But it was worth it, ’cause we went all the way around the exterior of the 40 foot tent and then all of the supplemental tents got bunting, too, ’cause we had more than enough. And we hung it with a little bit of a droop. So it was, like, very cartoony, almost. I loved how it looked. I thought it was so cute.

Caroline: Yeah. It really did add to that, like, market vibe. Yeah, and I have to just point out that you didn’t just, like, cut triangles and string them up. You sewed triangles so that there was fabric on both sides and they were finished beautifully. Like, you could have just taken some pinking shears to that fabric. But no, you sewed every single triangle, so kudos.

Helen: I know. I thought if I was gonna go for it and make that much bunting, I might as well make it good so that I can just, I’m gonna use this bunting for the rest of my life. You know, like every time I have a party, I’m putting up bunting.

Caroline: You gotta put up bunting. Yeah, a hundred percent. And it’s beautiful Fableism fabric that you ended up using the scraps for, for our We Sew Scraps episode.

Helen: I did. Yeah. I used every bit of that fat quarter bundle. Thank you, Fableism.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: It was so beautiful and it was the perfect earthy rainbow that I was going for for my wedding. So, yeah, they sent me that bundle for free and I was like, oh, this is perfect. ‘Cause now I can make my bunting for free. So huge thanks to them.

Caroline: Thanks, Fableism.

Helen: Yeah, you’re the best.

Caroline: Yeah, I loved the bunting and I also loved the papier mache mushrooms that you had on all the tables. Again, adding to that whimsical feeling.

Helen: Yeah, the whimsy was out the wazoo. Whimsy out the wazoo.

Caroline: Yeah. So yeah, tell us about the mushrooms.

Helen: We made those at craft night, too. We had three big ones, like, maybe about like a foot in diameter for the cap of the mushroom. And those were really fun. We made, like, a structure out of cardboard and, again, like, a plastic bowl, covered it in papier mache and then we painted it like a mushroom. And then Sam and I did a bunch of, like, greenery arranging around the bottom, ’cause he does modeling. And so he has a bunch of, like, flocking and little greenery elements. And we got some plastic green stuff from the dollar store and, like, made the base of the mushroom also really cute, like a forest-y base. So that was really fun. And those ones we just kind of had around at various tables. And we put lights underneath so they were lit up underneath with these tiny little lights shining down. So that was really cute. And then we also made tiny mushrooms for each of the tables, ’cause we were grouping people by colour. So each colour group had a matching coloured mushroom. Did you guys notice that?

Caroline: I did notice the colour. Yeah. ‘Cause it also coordinated with the dye, right?

Helen: And then everyone had a matching color dye to their coloured mushroom in their colour group.

Caroline: Yeah. Yes. I think we were green at my table.

Helen: Yeah. You guys were light green. Yeah. It was so fun. So we had a bunch of those tiny mushrooms and the, that was just a, like a fun little last minute craft that I thought would be cute because I had all these spice jars that Sam’s mom had given me, like little glass spice jars. And she was like, you could use these for a craft. And I was like, oh, they’d be the perfect base for a mushroom. So we paper mache’d the caps and just glued them onto the glass spice jars. And then we were like, oh, we should fill the jars with something. And so we filled them with coloured beads.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: So each mushroom had like a, if it had a green top, it was filled with green beads and if it had a pink top it was filled with pink beads. and they were really cute. And we had those all over the table. So that added to the whimsy, for sure.

Caroline: So fun.

Helen: We just used, like, flour papier mache. So I don’t know how long they’re gonna last. ‘Cause I know sometimes those can mold.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: We weren’t being precious about it. We were like, these are for the wedding. They’re not for, like, forever, you know?

Caroline: Yeah, yeah. I mean, really, what are you gonna do with all those mushrooms?

Helen: I know. They’re in my garage. What do I do with them? Great question.

Caroline: Yeah. Oh, I feel like they would be fun for, like, I don’t know, a birthday party. You should, like, put them out on Marketplace for free or something. Like, someone might be able to enjoy them before they start expiring.

Helen: And then they can rot in someone else’s garage. Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: But yeah, those were the main elements that we made for the day. And we had little, um, place cards, as well, for everyone’s names. It was like a Jaws playing card, ’cause Jaws is Sam’s favourite movie. And I mean, it’s an amazing movie. And he loves sharks. And so we were like, oh, it’d be so cute to have a playing card be the place card. And then I was like, oh, I found these Jaws cards online. And then I basically, like, printed, in the same font as the Jaws font, everyone’s name and cut it out and glued it onto the card. So instead of saying Jaws on the poster, it said Caroline. And then it was like you were getting eaten by the shark.

Caroline: Yeah. I, I still have mine. I love it.

Helen: Yay. Okay. I found some of them around at the end of the night and I was like, people are not taking their Jaws cards home. I’m offended.

Caroline: No, I can see them right over here.

Helen: Oh my gosh. I really liked that element, too. That was really a fun one. We kind of tucked them into the napkin so you couldn’t see the shark until you, like, pulled out your name.

Caroline: Mm-hmm.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: It was really cute.

Helen: Oh, thank you. Okay. That’s all of the decor, I think. But it looked beautiful. It was so fun.

Caroline: It all just came together. I mean, yeah, separately, all of these things maybe feel a little bit random but, like, when you pulled them all together, it just gave the day such a beautiful, fun, whimsical, colourful feel that just felt so much like you guys. So yeah, that was really fun to recap. But this is not Love to Craft, Helen. This is Love to Sew. So we have to move on and talk about the dress, because you sewed your own wedding dress through all of this other DIY that you did for the wedding.

Helen: I sure did.

Caroline: So we have to talk about it. Let’s get into the sewing part of the episode.

Helen: Yes. Let’s, let’s. I really enjoyed sewing for the wedding. I enjoyed making my own wedding dress, and I’m really glad I did. So that’s your little recap of it. To start off, it turned out great. I loved it and it was fun.

Caroline: No, no. Oh, okay. Can we talk about, like, the design process for the dress, and also even just taking it back to, like, did you always know you were gonna make your wedding dress? Did you have any indecision there? Like, how did you decide that you were going to do this?

Helen: I did always know I was gonna make my own dress. I just didn’t know if I was gonna get married. So it was like, if I ever have a wedding, then I’ll make my own dress. But I wasn’t sure about the having the wedding part, if that makes sense. So once we decided to have the wedding, I was like, I’m making my own dress. I did not go dress shopping, in part because I knew I wasn’t gonna enjoy it that much. Like I, we talked at length about that when we did your wedding dress recap episode and how frustrating it is to try on dresses when you’re not small. And so I just didn’t. There’s nowhere in town, first of all, to do that here. So I’d have to travel to try on dresses. And I just wasn’t that interested in that whole thing. And I kind of had my vision for what I wanted for the dress and I knew I was gonna make it anyway, so I skipped that whole part. And I did not go dress shopping.

Caroline: Yeah, yeah.

Helen: And no regrets there. I mean, it would be fun. I would love to go dress shopping in a store that carried every dress in my size and I could try them all and that would be great. But I knew it wasn’t gonna be that, so I didn’t go.

Caroline: It’s not the reality. Yeah.

Helen: So I did decide to do my own dress and I decided to go with the white dress, the princess dress. I went pretty classic, big skirt type, bodice, lace, and white. And I did consider making a different coloured dress or doing something a little more out there. I thought about making a quilted dress. I thought about making, you know, like a bright yellow dress or something. I wanted to stand out and look different than all the other beautiful guests at the wedding. And I knew I wanted to wear a dress, but I wasn’t sure about the white thing to begin with. But after a while, looking at inspiration pictures, I was like, you know, if I’m gonna do it, if I’m gonna go for it and have the wedding, I just wanna look like the bride. I just wanna look like a bride in the white dress and just, like, have the moment. So I decided to go for it.

Caroline: Yeah, I think it was the right call.

Helen: Yeah. And I felt beautiful, so yeah, I feel really good about the decision.

Caroline: Yeah. Okay, so tell me how, like, fancy was your dress? How much work went into it?

Helen: A lot of work went into it, but I don’t personally feel like it was that fancy of a dress. And I think, when you’re a sewist trying to decide if you wanna make your own dress, that is something you have to sort of figure out at the beginning is, like, what are we doing here? Are we doing fitted corset, bodice, you know, multiple layers of fabric, structure? You know, like, there’s just, how involved are we talking here? Or are we just doing, like, let’s make a nice dress in white fabric and wear that? And I, I think I landed somewhere in the middle. It’s not super fancy. It doesn’t have the bodice boning and all that kind of stuff in the top or anything. But it is very fancy looking, fancy presenting, but maybe not fancy in the actual, like, construction of the dress is fairly simple. And then the lace obviously elevates it to that fancy look. But again, I didn’t use a lot of couture sewing techniques and I didn’t go above and beyond, kind of making it really well, I guess. I kinda just sewed it.

Caroline: Yeah. But you, you are a very precise sewer, sewist, and I think the fabric that you chose and the fit of the dress in the end really elevated and it made it feel like expensive and so custom. And maybe not couture, but it was fancy. It did feel, like, very special.

Helen: It did. And it felt special wearing it. And it was quite heavy by the time I finished it, which made it feel fancy. Like, when I was holding it in my arms, I was like, there’s a weight to this. And you put it on and you’re like, oh wow. It feels like I’m putting on something momentous, which I suppose it really is, ’cause it’s your wedding dress, so that makes sense. But yeah, I didn’t wanna embark on a project where I had to do a bunch of techniques I’d never done before or work with a fabric I wasn’t comfortable working with. I was struggling with the idea of making my own dress and kind of the pressure around It being, like, the best thing I’ve ever made. You know, like, like this is sort of the pinnacle of all of my sewing experience and all of my sewing projects, and like, it’s all been leading up to this moment and now I’m gonna make this dress and it has to be like the most awesome thing I’ve ever made. And like, that was weighing me down, you know? Like, I was like, it’s too much pressure. I am not actually a couture sewist. I don’t work with these kinds of fabrics very much. This isn’t actually my wheelhouse, you know? So to put a lot of pressure to make something absolutely incredible when you, like, you don’t actually necessarily have all the skills you need and, like, the expectation that people are gonna be, like, watching it and seeing what I made, like, there was a lot of feelings around that that I was struggling with and trying to figure out, like, am I going this direction ’cause I feel like I should? Or is it what I want to do? So I had to work through a lot of that when I was, like, in the process of it. But I did and that was all a part of my process and in the end I’m really happy with what I ended up with.

Caroline: Yeah. It is kind of wild that we put so much pressure on ourselves about what we’re gonna wear on our wedding day and what it’s gonna look like when it’s just one day.

Helen: It’s one day. And ideally, yeah, you don’t wanna be thinking about it, too. Like, you don’t necessarily wanna be so focused on how you look on your wedding day. Like, it is a big part of it. And I was struggling with that, too. Like, I have to look my most beautiful I’ve ever looked and I have to make the most awesome dress I’ve ever made. And like, I had to let a lot of those things go as I was working on it and it helped to let those things go because it’s just, that’s not the reality of the situation. It’s about your love and your relationship, and you’re gonna look beautiful no matter what because you’re gonna be absolutely glowing. And also, it doesn’t matter if you look the best you’ve ever looked on your wedding day.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: It’s just, that’s not important.

Caroline: Well, you did look amazing and you looked like yourself, and I think that’s exactly how you should have looked.

Helen: Yeah, that was my goal, for sure. Yeah, I wanted to be comfortable. And it helped me a little bit when I was working on it to think of the dress, in general, as more of a costume than, like, a fancy dress. Like, it was like getting dressed for, like, Halloween or something. Like, I don’t know why that really helped me, and that might not be helpful for everybody, but it is like you are dressing up in a way that you don’t normally dress up. And so thinking of it as a costume made me realize that I didn’t necessarily have to make it super fancy. I didn’t necessarily have to sew it super well in some cases, some areas, you know? It’s, like, one day, and you’re just dressing up for the day.

Caroline: Yeah, and costumes are, like, less precious, so I think that’s a really healthy way to look at it.

Helen: Yeah, exactly.

Caroline: So did you go into this kind of having a vision for the dress, or did you go with, like, an inspiration picture in your mind? Like, how did you decide what direction to go in the end?

Helen: I had a vision for how I’ve always kind of thought my wedding dress would be like if I ever got married…

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Which is like a tight fitting spaghetti strap bodice and big skirt. That was kind of, like, the vision going in. And so I did start a Pinterest board and I pinned a bunch of versions of that. But I didn’t have, like, one dress that I was like, this is the one I’m trying to recreate. It was just more the general vibe a bit. So I had a pretty clear vision from the jump of what I wanted it to be like. And then it was just a matter of, like, finding the right fabric and then experimenting with the fit of the bodice and then deciding how long I wanted it to be. That was kind of a big part of the decision, as well, because it was an outdoor wedding. And ideally I would have, like, a full length dress all the way to the ground, but I also knew that I didn’t want that on the day. Like, I didn’t wanna be holding it up as I walked around this yard or worrying about getting it dirty. So I ended up going with a little bit of a shorter hem, like a, an ankle length, kind of similar to what you did for yours. Like, it’s just above the ground so that you don’t have to worry about it. And it was really great. I love not worrying about it.

Caroline: Yes. Okay. So, obviously, we’re gonna be posting tons of pictures in the show notes and on our social media. So listener, please go over there and see what the dress looks like. You gotta see it. But your initial vision is pretty much what you ended up doing.

Helen: Yeah. I ended up using our Lockhart sewing pattern as the base for the bodice. And I modified it a little bit ’cause it has kind of a straight across neckline. And so I modified it to have more of a scoop neckline. And I lowered the neckline a little bit ’cause I wanted to have a little bit more chest showing. And I took out one of the seams in the back ’cause I wanted to have the lace uninterrupted in the back. So I removed one of the seams, but I didn’t change it all that much. I just kind of took that bodice and I started muslining it and tweaking it. And it’s nice because it’s a pretty small bodice, so it was pretty quick to whip up muslins of it and, like, I could cut the neck line with scissors and experiment with different necklines with that. And for a while I was considering doing those little princessy drapey shoulder things that, like, come from the bodice and go around the shoulder and like they just kind of hang there like a little beautiful…

Caroline: Like a swoop.

Helen: A little swoopy thing. Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: I had those pinned on for a little while and I was like, oh, this is kind of cute. But ultimately I decided they would just annoy me on the day.

Caroline: Yeah. Not, it, it makes it harder to dance, right?

Helen: Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And then for a while I was experimenting with a dropped waist, as well. ‘Cause I thought it’d be kind of cool to have the the tight-fitting bodice extend onto my lower torso and then have the skirt come up from there.

Caroline: Which looked amazing, too.

Helen: It looked really good. Yeah. I ended up doing a wearable muslin of that and I was torn, for sure, but I decided I would be more comfortable on the day with the, just the high-waisted skirt because then it hits right at the natural waist and underneath that it’s, like, I don’t know, it’s just comfy.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: So much volume. You can’t see anything.

Caroline: Yeah, okay, so tell me about the fabric that you used and where you sourced it from and all that.

Helen: I got my fabric on Etsy. Initially, I was just poking around looking for different laces. Ended up on Etsy, was like, oh, there’s so many different options on here. I found a reputable shop and was browsing through their stuff and I saw this fabric and it’s, like, an embroidered tulle, so it’s like a tulle base, and then there’s embroidery on top. So it kind of looks like a lace, but it’s not a lace, it’s an embroidered tulle, which I now understand are different things. And it’s on an apricot base, so it kind of has this, like, really warm tone to it. The lace or the embroidery itself is white, but then the base makes it really feel, like, almost orangey, like champagne or cream or something, when you layer it over white.

Caroline: And it wasn’t, like, a bright white, right? It was kind of like a off-white, ivory, or was it bright white? I can’t remember.

Helen: It’s pretty bright, honestly. Yeah, I think it’s just the apricot that really gives it that less bright tone.

Caroline: It sort of, like, softens it.

Helen: I look really terrible in bright white, so I knew I didn’t want that. I wanted something a little bit off or creamy, ivory, in that realm. You’d probably be able to tell better. Maybe it is an ivory embroidery. But when it arrived, when, after I ordered it, it was all folded up and it looked, like, so brown. Like, when the apricot tulle was, like, folded in on itself, it was, like, so dark. And I was like, oh no, this is not good. And then I unfurled it and put it on top of my white and I was like, oh, it’s perfect. So that worked out well. But yeah, I just, I randomly found them on Etsy and randomly bought, impulse purchased the lace from them. I did get a yard first just to, like, see if I liked it. And then I ordered the, like, I think six yards that I ended up getting. ‘Cause I wanted to have plenty for the, all the gathering and also just in case I made a mistake.

Caroline: Yeah. Nice.

Helen: Yeah. So sourcing the fabric was not too challenging. I kind of just went with my first idea, best idea.

Caroline: Yeah, I love that. And what did you use for your, like, underlay fabric? ‘Cause there were a lot of layers in this dress, right?

Helen: Yeah, I used cotton poplin and cotton voile, or voil, as I like to say. I, I ended up layering the cotton voile under the embroidered tulle to kind of hide the seam shadows. ‘Cause when I initially had just the embroidered tulle and the cotton poplin, and then the lining, I could still see a little bit of the seams through it. So I ended up adding a third layer. It’s kind of hard to describe in audio format, but anyway, the bodice ended up being four layers plus the interfacing. So I interfaced the lining and the underlining for the tulle. So there was a lot of interfacing, which is what I wanted to do because I didn’t wanna wear a bra. So that was kind of giving the bodice the structure that it needed to feel like it was holding me in and giving me support on the day, without having to add any boning and stuff. And I definitely could have, because it was collapsing into my sides a little bit, like I could have added structure. And some people were saying that when I was posting my progress videos and stuff, which is totally fine. I appreciate the feedback, but I was like, I just don’t want hard bits.

Caroline: Yeah, you don’t want hard boning digging into your side.

Helen: Yeah, I just wanted to be, like, easy, breezy, squishy on the day. So I went no boning.

Caroline: I think it ended up having enough structure. Like, it was structured. But like, as long as it was still comfortable for you, I think you had just enough structure in there. I’m curious, like, was it difficult to keep all of those layers looking flat and smooth? Because it did look so beautiful. Beautifully finished and, like, I really didn’t notice anything askew at all. So how did you manage so many different layers of fabric on your bodice?

Helen: Oh my gosh. Okay. Well, I underlined the tulle with the poplin and the voile, so it was, like, two layers underneath. And then I, basically I sewed that on each piece individually before I constructed it. I, like, underlined it.

Caroline: Did you hand sew it?

Helen: I just machined sewed it, which I was regretting because, after I machine sewed it, there was a lot of, like, puckering and it wasn’t looking, like, it wasn’t lying very flat. And I was like, this is the moment where I should have just taken my time and hand sewed it. In the end, it didn’t really impact the bodice fit because I managed to get all of that puckering out, like just kind of smoothing it out. But I feel like it was just more stressful than it needed to be in that moment. I should have just gone in with my hand sewing needle and just did running stitches around the outside. But it was one of those things where I was like, it would be so much quicker if I do it on the machine. Hahahaha.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: So yeah, it all worked out, but I would recommend using hand stitching for that, to avoid getting any puckering. And I’m glad it looked like there wasn’t any issues. I felt like there was a little bit of rippling right along the princess seam that went over the bust that I just, like, could not get rid of. Even, like, pressing and, like, clipping into that seam and, like, trying to like get it to smooth out. And I think maybe I should have added a little bit more room there for the boobs, and that might’ve helped with that issue. But anyway, that was the only spot on the bodice where I was like, oh, I just want this to not be wrinkly. But of course nobody notices that but you.

Caroline: Yeah. A sewist is their own worst critic.

Helen: Mm-hmm.

Caroline: I, I did not notice that. I think it was so beautifully finished. And I loved the placement of the embroidered tulle. You experimented with all different placement for the, kind of, motif and the way that you ended up placing it gave it sort of this, like, sweetheart, almost, outline.

Helen: Yeah, it had, like, a scoop neck, but then there was, like, a sweetheart design element ’cause of the placement of the tulle. And I used Instagram for that, too. Or I posted a video asking people which lace placement I should do, which was really fun. ‘Cause there were so many different elements on this lace. It was like selvage to selvage different, all the way down, like a border lace almost, or border embroidery. So It kind of had a direction and it seemed like it was flowing down from one selvage to the other. So I used, basically, from selvage to selvage, the whole design on the dress with, like, the top edge being the bodice and then the bottom edge being the hem. So it really worked out, like, the way that it ended up placing it. I was able to use all the design elements in the lace and it was super fun.

Caroline: And beautifully pattern matched.

Helen: Thank you. I had so much fun pattern matching the bodice and it all just worked out. Like, it felt like it was meant to be. ‘Cause I was cutting all my pieces and they were all lining up and it was just, like, so satisfying. And then I knew that I didn’t have to worry about the skirt as much, ’cause it was just a big gathered skirt. So I was putting a lot of my effort into sewing and fitting into the bodice and then I was like, I’ll just slap the skirt on at the end.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: which is basically what I did.

Caroline: Yeah. And what did you use for your lining in your skirt?

Helen: So I used, for the lining of the bodice, I also used the cotton voile. And then for the skirt lining, I underlined the tulle with the cotton voile and then I used this, like, random bolt of fabric that you gave me when I came to Blackbird. Do you remember that? We were, like, running around the warehouse looking for white fabric and you were like, you can have this bolt. And it was just, like, rayon or something. Like, it’s not even, like, a super high-quality fabric, but it was really nice and light and swishy. And so that’s what I ended up lining the skirt with. And it was great because it was really soft against my skin and it didn’t weigh very much. So it was kind of the perfect final layer for the inside of the skirt.

Caroline: Yeah. And all the fabrics you chose were quite breathable, so I imagine you were feeling pretty breezy.

Helen: I did. Yeah. And it was a tank top style, so I had pits out. So I was pretty breezy.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Pretty breezy on the day, but it was still quite heavy and there was a lot of layers on the bodice and I was still, and it was, you know, like, it’s Vancouver Island and it was raining that day, so it was like a hundred percent humidity. And like, I was like, I was definitely still sweating. Both Sam and I were. But more comfortable than we would’ve been if it had been really sunny. So I’m really grateful for that and I’m glad I went with the design I did. ‘Cause it did feel breezy and it was nice to just have, like, a big skirt to kind of stomp around in. I loved the feel of it flowing around me as I walked around the wedding. Yeah, I really enjoyed that.

Caroline: Yeah. It looked so good. And you would think that you save money on a dress when you make it yourself. So I wanna know how much your total spend was on this dress and do you think you saved money?

Helen: I mean, it really depends, right? If you’re buying a dress new from a dress shop, yes, I think I saved money. But if I were to buy, like, you know, a thrifted dress and have it altered, then I don’t know, maybe? I spent about $400 on the fabric, the lace and the underlining and, you know, and there was an invisible zipper, but that was pretty much it. And that does include some other lace I purchased from the same store that I didn’t end up using. So I have that in my stash now. Who knows what I’ll do with it. But I was like, you know, trying to, I was waffling between options, so I ended up buying some stuff I didn’t end up using. So if you were more careful, you could save a little bit. But yeah, it was definitely an expensive make, but you would expect that much from a wedding dress. So I feel pretty good about where I ended up budget-wise. And it’s definitely cheaper than it would’ve been to buy a new dress.

Caroline: And I mean, we are not factoring in your time, so…

Helen: No, of course not. If it was my time, it would have cost, like, $50,000.

Caroline: Yeah. Okay. So how many muslins did you make? Like, how much time do you think this dress took you?

Helen: I think I took maybe, like, about six muslins of the bodice. And then I made a couple of wearable muslins, too. I made two, like, full wearable muslin dresses. I was not keeping track of my time, I’ll be honest. I should have been, for this moment, and I could have anticipated this, but I have no idea. Like, at least 40 hours, probably. All in, at least? I don’t know.

Caroline: Yeah. I was, I have to say, surprised by how long it took you to actually start making the final dress. Because when I…

Helen: Excuse me?

Caroline: No, but when you, because I…remember, you bugged me so much when I was making my dress of, like, when are you gonna start? When are you gonna start? And you know I’m a last minute gal. So when you said you were gonna make your dress, I was like, oh, Helen’s gonna finish her dress like six months in advance. Like, ’cause you’re usually very good at that. You’re very good at doing things in advance, on schedule. So when you hadn’t, like, started your actual dress in July, I was like, you gotta do it, girl.

Helen: I know. I was surprised by myself, too, that I kept leaving it. And people kept being like, how are you feeling about making your dress? I was like, I haven’t started yet, so don’t ask me about it. I did start early. Like in March, I was making muslins and I was planning it and I bought the fabric and, like, I had this vision and I think, after the initial few muslins I made, I was like, okay, I know what I’m gonna do. And that knowing what I was gonna do made it just, like, no big deal to wait, I guess.

Caroline: Yeah, you were like, I know I can get this done, so I don’t have to rush it.

Helen: I do think it would’ve been good to do it a little bit earlier. But it’s hard to sew something so important that far in advance, too, ’cause you wanna make sure that it’s gonna fit you on the day, as well. So I didn’t make my wearable muslins until June ‘cause I was feeling inspired to make summer dresses. So that timing worked out well. And then I didn’t actually start the dress until, like, July 11th. I looked through my phone and found my first video that I took of actually working on the dress. So my wedding was on August 22nd. So that’s not, like, a lot of time at all that I was cutting my actual dress out. Like, what if I had made a mistake or ended up hating it or something, you know?

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: But I didn’t feel that worried. I wasn’t, like, freaking out that I was running out of time. I was just kind of like, once I started it, I was like, then I’ll sew it. And I felt like I could sew it in a few days of dedicated sewing time. It did take a bit longer than I thought it would, just, especially the skirt part. ‘Cause there was multiple layers and gathering. And then I decided to add pockets ’cause I wanted to have pockets, which I was so glad I had. It was so nice to have a place, like, I could put my whole phone in there and I had tissues and I had sunglasses, lip gloss. Like, I had all the things in the giant pockets and you couldn’t even tell ’cause the dress was so full. So that was really nice. I was able to carry all that stuff around with me. So yeah, the skirt took a little longer than I thought it was going to, so I probably should have started sooner. But I’m also happy that it worked out, you know? Like, I guess it all worked out, so I did the right thing.

Caroline: And you pretty much finished, like, a couple weeks before the wedding, right?

Helen: I did. Yeah. I wasn’t sewing the night before, which I got, throughout the process of doing this and sharing it online, lots of other people’s stories about making their own dress, and a lot of people working on their dress the night before the wedding.

Caroline: Yeah. Oh my gosh. I can’t imagine. Yeah. Even myself, as a very last minute person, I finished at least a couple weeks before my wedding, which is, it’s really nice to check that off the list, especially when you’re also sewing other things for the wedding,

Helen: Yeah. I know. It wasn’t the only thing that I made. But yeah, I was glad I finished ahead of time, ’cause I had so many other things to work on. So it was nice to have it done. But I do love how it turned out. I love how pretty it is. It made me feel like a princess. I love the shape of the bodice. Love the hem. I think the hem might be my favourite part. There was a scallop detail to the embroidered tulle that I kind of just cut around and then made it longer than the lining. So it was sticking down from the dress and you could see through it. And it just looked, like, really pretty and dainty. And I was really waffling on what to do there because I wasn’t sure if I just, like, take scissors to the edge of this tulle and cut around it, if that’s gonna look really cheap. Like, should I have done some more couture finish? But in the end, it looked absolutely gorgeous and it didn’t need to be that fancy to be beautiful, you know? So that really worked out.

Caroline: Yeah. No, the, the hem was really, really beautiful. How was it working with this tulle? Do you have any tips for anyone if they’re thinking about working with a fabric like this?

Helen: It was okay. It was very snaggy.

Caroline: Okay, like, if you had dry hands or if you had a hangnail or something?

Helen: Exactly. Or like, or like the sharp edge of my work table sometimes catches fabrics or like stuck on a pin or something. Like, tulle is just a bunch of holes, right? So there’s so many opportunities for it to get snagged. And I was really worried about accidentally brushing up against a corner and ripping a hole in it. Like, it just didn’t feel like it was super strong. I don’t know, it was really beautiful. I don’t know if it felt like it was the highest quality of fabric, but I don’t work with these kind of fabrics, so I feel like I’m not a good judge, too, you know? Like, it was absolutely gorgeous. It looked so good, but the feel of it, I was like, is this a high quality? It kind of felt like it could just rip, you know?

Caroline: Mm-hmm.

Helen: But I’m like, that, maybe that’s just tulle.

Caroline: Yeah. And I mean, you reinforced it so much with all those layers and underlining, so it doesn’t really matter. It’s just one day.

Helen: Yeah, exactly. It made it through. I definitely would say, don’t put a seam ripper anywhere near it, ’cause you will rip a hole in it. That happened to me.

Caroline: Oh no, did that happen to you?

Helen: I was trying to rip a seam on the bodice that I had messed up and I did what I usually do, which is just to, like, stick the seam ripper in the middle, like, kind of pull the seam apart and stick the seam ripper in the middle of it.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Which, in hindsight, is so stupid. I wasn’t thinking and it was late and, like, I tried to rip up the seam and of course it just ripped a hole right into the tulle. So I had to recut that piece which is fine. I had lots of fabric, so it was okay. But in the moment, I was, like, very upset about it. Obviously, I’m like, I just ripped a hole in this dress. So I think, like, I should have flipped it over to the backside and done, like, the individual stitch, pick out on the side of the seam, on the top of the poplin, which is more stable. But you just can’t put your seam ripper up against the tulle, ever. It just, well, you’ll rip it, for sure.

Caroline: Yeah. That makes sense.

Helen: Yeah. And then the other kind of PSA I have is that, when you gather tulle, it becomes a different colour. Like, I was talking about how, when I got the fabric, it was very dark when it was all bundled up together. Like, it looked almost brown in colour. And so the bodice is super flat and then I’m connecting it to a gathered skirt. And so, that moment where the two meet, there’s a colour shift, like, the gathered tulle, because it’s kind of all bunched up together and it has all these folds in it, it reads darker than the flat tulle, if that makes sense. So the bodice and the skirt look like slightly different colours. It didn’t affect me too much. Some people were warning me about that when I was working on the dress, and I noticed it, for sure, but I was like, I don’t think it’s that bad with this particular tulle. But it could be, depending. You can kind of see it in the pictures and videos if you’re, like, aware of it. You’re like, oh yeah, it is a slightly different colour. But also that can be kind of nice, you know? It, like, breaks it up a little. But something to be aware of, you know?

Caroline: No, that makes a lot of sense. That’s a good tip for someone working with a fabric like this. Okay. Anything else? I feel like we’ve covered a lot.

Helen: I know. so many things. Okay. I have a few more things.

Caroline: Tell me.

Helen: I made the straps by layering just, like, a piece of the non-embroidered portion of the tulle over top of the white fabric to make the strap, just so that it would, like, match the colour of the dress, but didn’t have any, like, lace on it. And I did my usual, sew lengthwise down the thing and flip the tube inside out.

Caroline: Oh my God. Was that impossible?

Helen: It was really hard to do. And, like, I did snag the tulle on one of them. I had to redo it. And then also, after I had flipped it inside out successfully, it was, like, because the tulle’s kind of slippery, the poplin was all, like, kind of bunchy inside the tulle. Like I couldn’t get it to lie perfectly flat inside the tulle casing, if that makes sense. Like it was all, like, kind of, there was some wrinkles and, like, I just, you know, it wasn’t perfect. Anyway, I decided I didn’t care and I just sewed them on the dress and I never thought about it again.

Caroline: You know what? It just goes to show.

Helen: Yeah, exactly. I was like, does this matter? No.

Caroline: Some things are really stressful in the moment and then it literally doesn’t matter.

Helen: It doesn’t matter. I was like, I’m gonna have my hair down. No one’s looking at these straps. It’s totally fine. So the straps are not perfect. And the other thing I wanted to say about it not being perfect is that I never fully finished the dress.

Caroline: What do you mean?

Helen: I finished it like two weeks early, as we said, and then I had this intention of sewing a waist stay into it. And I also never closed the waist of the dress. So like if you go in between the lining and the outer fabric, like, you can go all the way to the strap. Like, there’s no connection.

Caroline: Oh, you didn’t close it up. Okay.

Helen: I never closed it up. And I had the [01:23:00] intention of doing that. I was gonna hand sew it closed and I was gonna add a waist stay to take some pressure off the zipper, and I just had so much going on that I just, like, never did. And then a few days before the wedding I was like, okay, I, I probably should do this final step. I tried the dress on again and I was like, you know what? I don’t care anymore. It’s done. It’s done. I don’t need the waist stay. Like, it’s gonna last the day. It’ll be fine. It’s not so tight that I was, like, super worried about it. I was just kind of like, oh, it would be nice to add this nice, like, fancy thing and it would be cute. And I was like, oh, I should finish-finish the dress.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: And I never did. And it was totally fine.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. You know what? Good for you. You didn’t need to do that and you didn’t.

Helen: And I didn’t. And yeah, it was, it was, it all worked out in the end. It was completely fine. And it wasn’t that I didn’t care, at the end, it was just that I had come to the realization that it just, like, wasn’t the most important thing about the day. And it was already great. Like, the dress was great and I was gonna wear it and it was gonna be great. And I was super happy with that. So I was ready to move on.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: Aw. So how did it feel to wear your handmade dress on your wedding day?

Helen: So good. It felt so good to put it on. Sam and I got ready together. We didn’t, like, hide our outfits from each other. ‘Cause, obviously, I made his shirt and he saw me making my dress. So it was impossible to have, like, a reveal moment. And we didn’t want to go with that. So we got ready together, which was really cute. And it just felt really good to put the dress on and we both looked so good in our outfits. And it was amazing. It felt really comfortable. I was super happy to be braless, really happy to have a tank top style dress, swishy skirt. As I mentioned, the short hem was really nice. Like, I didn’t think about getting the dress dirty at all as I was walking around, which I think was the right call. So yeah, it felt so good to wear it on the day and I was really proud of myself. Like, I really loved the dress and it made sense that I made my dress. And it was fun to show it off to all my friends and family. And everybody thought it looked great. So yeah.

Caroline: Yeah. You looked incredible.

Helen: Thanks.

Caroline: It was so fun to see you in a handmade dress. Obviously, you were always gonna make your dress, but it was just lovely that you made your dress, Sam made the food. It felt so fitting.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: Okay. Do you have any advice that you would give to any listeners out there who are maybe wanting to make their own wedding dress?

Helen: I would say to go with your gut. Like, it’s really hard to start, I found. It was really hard to decide what to start with and just to, like, get in there and start messing around. So I think, like, go with your first gut instinct and give yourself a chance to play. Let yourself just jump in and try something and realize you don’t like it and fail fast. You know, all that kind of stuff. Like, just get in there and mess around and give yourself the chance and the permission to play around with ideas and, like, you will get there eventually. You just kind of have to, like, start.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: And then I would say don’t make any more of a big deal of it than you want to. I got really caught up in all these thoughts about how it had to be this special, amazing thing and it was really special, but it doesn’t have to be the best thing you ever made. It doesn’t have to be absolutely fricking incredible. You know, it can just be a beautiful dress. Like, make it what you want it to be and don’t, don’t feel like you have to make a bigger deal of it than you need to, you know?

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: And then I would also say plan to wear a dress that lets you focus on your partner, your loved ones, having the best time ever at your wedding, not a dress or an outfit that makes you think about the outfit all day, or like something restrictive or uncomfortable. It was so nice to be in something comfortable that I was not thinking about at all. I was just wearing the dress, but I wasn’t aware of wearing the dress, you know?

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: I loved that.

Caroline: That’s really good advice.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: Do you have, like, a big win that you wanna acknowledge in the wedding dress making process?

Helen: I think the matching up of the lace on the bodice is my favourite thing about the dress. And definitely the biggest win of that project. So that would be the one, for sure.

Caroline: Aw, it did look so good. Oh, okay. Listeners, you have to go and look at pictures of this dress. Maybe we’ll even have a video up.

Helen: I hope so. I’m still waiting on my photographer photos, but I’m gonna see if I can get them before this episode comes out so we can share those. But if not, I definitely have a few other pictures. And there’s a video on the Helen’s Closet Instagram of the dress. You can check that out. And there’s process pictures on the Helen’s Closet blog if you wanna see some of the behind-the-scenes of the making of the bodice and of the skirt. I have posted about both of that. Yeah, this was so fun. It was so fun to recap the wedding with you. Thank you.

Caroline: I know. It was so fun. It was so fun. I loved hearing more of the behind the scenes, even though I was privy to a lot of it along the way. It’s fun to, like, recap and just acknowledge all the work that you put into this. Should we, is there anything else that you wanna talk about, about the day of the wedding?

Helen: Oh my gosh. I mean, special moments for me: the flower children walking down the aisle before I walked down the aisle. They were so cute. And we’d done like a little rehearsal when we were on our family vacation this summer, where we were using just, like, dried leaves and they were practicing. ‘Cause a lot of them were like, what’s a flower person do? What do they..? They weren’t aware of the whole wedding procession and all that. And we weren’t having, like, a super formal one. So I was like, it’s just gonna be you walking down the aisle in front of me and then I’m gonna walk down after you. That was it. We didn’t have a wedding party or anything like that. And so we did a little rehearsal and they were so cute walking down the aisle and the dogs were…like, there was three dogs on the property, including Emma, and they were all over, like two of them were in the aisle when we were walking down the aisle, like, in the way.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: It was so funny. The kids had to, like, step around them.

Caroline: Yeah. Very friendly dogs. I feel like there were more than three dogs. There were like five dogs. No?

Helen: Oh, there was four. It’s true. ‘Cause Koola was there, too. Yeah, you’re right.

Caroline: Yeah. It was so cute.

Helen: They were so cute. Yeah, so that was really fun. And yeah, I walked, we had just, like, one song. I used the music from The Holiday for our aisle music, which I thought was hilarious. And so the kids walked down and then I walked down right after them. And I think, like, ’cause there was no break in the music, people didn’t know whether or not they should stand. You know, usually you stand for the bride.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: But everyone was sitting watching the flower children. Then I just, like, went for it. So I was like, okay, my turn, I’m walking down the aisle. I’m like halfway down the aisle. People started standing up and I was like, “All rise for the bride!”

Caroline: Oh yeah. It was funny.

Helen: It was so funny.

Caroline: Sam’s brother probably should have said that, or Brett, but…

Helen: We didn’t do a rehearsal. That’s something I would definitely recommend. It just, like, we kept intending to and then we ran out of time and we were like, we just went for it. And . honestly, it was fine ‘cause I didn’t, again, the ceremony, I just wanted to be, like, about our vows and not about anything else, you know?

Caroline: Yeah. The vows were so good. And it was funny! Like, your ceremony was funny. There were, people were laughing. The kids were so cute. You guys were so beautiful and in love, and it was just, like, the most touching ceremony. We loved your vows. There wasn’t a dry eye.

Helen: Oh, everyone kept coming up to me and being like, you made me cry so hard. Like, how dare you.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Yeah, no, people seemed to really love the, and they were beautiful vows and I was a little nervous about that part of it, like, just being at the center of attention and everyone watching you and saying all these very meaningful things out loud and crying and like all that stuff. I was feeling a little nervous about it. But then, once I got up there and I was in the moment with him, I was really in the moment and I was so glad that that was the case. ‘Cause I was worried I was gonna be, like, thinking about other things and not present in that moment. But everything just kind of fell away. And I read the vows and we did kind of make them funny. We both had jokes in our vows. And our vows were really similar, too, which is really cute. We had similar things to say about our relationship. Obviously, we’re both in it, so that makes sense.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: But it was just really sweet. It felt really special and I loved that moment. The ceremony was really nice. Yeah, so that was really great. And I think my other favourite moment was after we did our first dance. We kind of had it just, like, run right into the next song, which is the first song of our, like, dance playlist. And everyone got up and started dancing and the dance floor was just, like, packed. Like, it was so full and everyone was dancing. That was, like, another one of my favourite moments. It was just so fun that everyone came and joined us and we were all busting a move and we had a really great dance party for the whole evening…

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: And that was so fun. And Sam and I changed into different outfits for the dance. After a few songs, we went and changed into our little matching floral outfits, which I shared on our…

Caroline: Yes, which you also made.

Helen: They’re so cute. Little matching…yeah. Uh, had a little dress and he had a little short and shirt set. And we were so relieved to change. Oh my gosh. We were so hot and tired of wearing our full-length garments. So it was really nice to change and just be able to dance and be comfortable and be cute.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Yeah. So that was great.

Caroline: And you made aprons.

Helen: Oh yeah, yeah. When Sam had that moment where he was, like, talking about the food, ’cause we stood up at the end of the speeches and I gave a little thank you speech, or I thanked everybody for coming and all that jazz, and thanked my craft night crew and stuff for helping and, and then Sam had his speech, which was about, like, what he prepared for dinner and the food that we were about to eat. And then at the end of that we were like, okay, let’s get ready to eat. And I, we took out our aprons that I had made for us. And they’re matching pink and red striped Sam Aprons. And we put them on in front of everyone. And it was cute because I could hear everyone go “Ohh!” Everyone thought it was so cute. And then we were wearing those for the duration of the dinner and dessert, which was nice, ’cause I did not wanna spill anything on my dress. So I felt very protected by my apron. It was very appropriate.

Caroline: Yeah. Yeah. Oh, and what was your first dance song?

Helen: Oh, we did “Somewhere Beyond the Sea.” (singing) Somewhere beyond the sea, somewhere waiting for me.

Caroline: It was great.

Helen: Yeah. Another thing that we had picked out for like a decade, like, we were like, if we ever get married, if we ever have a wedding, that’s the first dance song. We’d already chosen.

Caroline: Aw.

Helen: So that was easy.

Caroline: Yeah. One, one of the decisions were taken care of. But you also made the playlist, which was so good. Your dance party playlist was impeccable.

Helen: Thank you.

Caroline: Every single song was an absolute banger.

Helen: Yes, yes. I had so much fun making it. And yeah, I used all the, like, transition capabilities that Spotify has to, like, blend the songs together. And, like, it’s really cool. You can, like, cut off like whole sections of songs and, like, because sometimes songs go on forever and when you’re having a dance you really don’t need that. So I was, like, cutting off whole chunks and, like, blending them together and finding perfect little transitions. It was so fun making the playlist. I had a great time.

Caroline: Yeah, yeah. You did such a good job with that.

Helen: Thanks. But yeah, I could go on and on and on, Caroline. It was so perfect. It really did feel like the perfect day and we’re just so happy. We’re so happy we did it. After waiting for so long, it’s like, was it worth the effort? Was it worth it? Uh, absolutely. A hundred percent. I’m so glad we finally decided to go for it and have the big party and it feels like it was at the right time in our lives and we had the wedding that really felt like us and I’m glad we waited and I’m really glad we did it.

Caroline: Oh, I’m so glad that you are happy. Congratulations. You pulled off the most beautiful event…

Helen: Thank you.

Caroline: And now you guys are married.

Helen: I know. We can do married stuff.

Caroline: Yeah. You can call Sam your husband.

Helen: I have been doing that and it is really fun. I’m enjoying it. I also am really enjoying seeing his ring on his finger.

Caroline: Aw.

Helen: ‘Cause I’m, you know, after 16 years you’re just so used to seeing people a certain way. And he has never been a jewelry person and now he has this ring on and so I keep noticing it and it makes me really happy.

Caroline: Aw, I love it. Okay, well, thank you for sharing with our listeners.

Helen: Oh my gosh, my pleasure. That was so fun. Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Caroline: It was so fun. Well, that’s it for today’s episode of Love To Sew. You can find me, Caroline, at Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns, and Helen at Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co. And we’re recording in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

Helen: You can support Love to Sew and get access to bonus content by subscribing on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. You even get access to the back catalog of bonus episodes and that’s over a hundred hours of Love to Sew. Go to patreon.com/lovetosew or check out our podcast page on Apple Podcasts for more info.

Caroline: You can head to lovetosewpodcast.com to find our show notes. They’re filled with links and pictures from this episode. And if you’d like to get in touch with us, leave us a message at 1-844-SEW-WHAT. That’s 1-844-739-9428. Or send us an email at [email protected].

Helen: Thanks to our amazing podcast team. Lisa Ruiz is our creative assistant and Jordan Moore of The Pod Cabin is our editor. And thank you for listening. We’ll talk to you next week.

Caroline: Bye-bye.

Helen: Bye.

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In this episode, we chat with Candice from Sew Bake Make! She tells us about switching from a career in law to a career in content creation, teaching, and sewing pattern design. Plus: Projector sewing, personal style, and organizing in-person sewing events.

The transcript for this episode is on this page at the end of the show notes.

Show Notes: 

Find Candice Online: 

Candice’s Patterns:

Candice’s Learn to Sew YouTube Series

Other Mentions:

A post shared by Candice Alviz (@sewbakemake)

Transcript:

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

Hello and welcome to Love To Sew. I am Helen, the designer behind Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co.

Caroline: And I’m Caroline, the owner of Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns.

Helen: We’re two sewing buds who love to sew and it’s essentially all we wanna talk about.

Caroline: In this episode, we chat with Candice from Sew Bake Make. She tells us about switching from a career in law to a career in content creation, teaching, and sewing pattern design. Plus: projector sewing, personal style and organizing in-person sewing events.

Helen: If you love to sew, this is your show. Hello, Candice. Thank you so much for coming on the show today.

Candice: Thanks so much for having me.

Helen: We’re so excited to chat with you today. Can you please introduce yourself to our listeners?

Candice: Yeah. My name is Candice and my social media handles are @sewbakemake, and I’m a sewing pattern designer and content creator. And I live in Burlington, Ontario with my husband and two boys and our rescue dog, Maya.

Helen: Aw, love that. And you used to live in Vancouver, right?

Candice: I did, I lived there for about seven years. We moved back to Ontario when I had my second son.

Helen: I see. Well, it’s always nice to chat with a fellow Canadian pattern designer. Let’s take it back to the beginning. How and when did you learn to sew?

Candice: So the first time that I touched a sewing machine, I think I was about 15 and my mom got me, like, a private lesson with an older lady in town. We made a stuffed animal. I think it was a bunny, and I think it was also made out of denim, which is kind of odd. But I did not enjoy that class at all. I didn’t have any fun. And I basically had zero interest in sewing after that. And it wasn’t until I was on my first maternity leave that I picked it up again. So my son was about six months old and it was also COVID at that time and I was feeling a little antsy and wanted to pick up a new hobby. And a friend of mine that I had met in my prenatal class sewed and I was super impressed by the things that she was sewing. She sewed her own clothes. So I got a sewing machine and my first projects were baby items. My mom showed me how to thread the machine and sew some baby bibs, and then I quickly moved on to sewing garments. And that friend that had introduced me to sewing, she also introduced me to the Instagram sewing community, which I had no idea about. And that’s how I heard about all the indie designers, like you, Helen. I actually remember the first time I went fabric shopping. She took me to Spool of Thread in East Van and I overheard some people talking about your Yanta Overalls.

Helen: Oh my gosh.

Candice: I was like oh my God, this is so cool. But yeah, ever since I started, I just pretty much became obsessed with sewing and have not looked back.

Helen: So the bunny experience didn’t repeat itself.

Candice: No.

Helen: The second time around, you were like, I love this.

Candice: Yeah, and you know what? I actually, I’ve only sewn one other stuffed animal, and that was, I think, last year for my son’s birthday. And it was not a pleasant experience. And also, I’m never sewing any more stuffies again.

Caroline: That’s so funny. Helen and I actually met in person for the first time at Spool of Thread, so.

Candice: That’s awesome.

Helen: Our very first sewing date. Yeah.

Candice: I love that store. It’s so beautiful.

Caroline: I know it is. It’s great. It’s a great spot, too. Great location. Yeah. I love that you had help from a friend and from a family member. It was your mom, right, who helped you kind of thread the machine and stuff? And now you teach others to sew, both online and in-person. And I wonder, like, how the way that you learned to sew impacts how you teach sewing now?

Candice: Yeah, so I think, like, since I actually haven’t been sewing for, like, all that long, I think it’s been maybe, like, seven years. Like, I feel like I still remember what it’s like to be a beginner and I try to pull from that a lot when I teach workshops because I feel like sewing is one of those things, like, it’s a little bit scary and it’s not that approachable. Like, there’s a lot of terms you need to know and you have to have special equipment and a sewing machine and all that. So yeah, I mean, I think that I just try to remember what it was like to learn a specific thing and try to break it down to very basic and easy-to-understand terms because it can feel overwhelming to start sewing, I think.

Caroline: Yeah. It really can. What do you think were some of your, like, biggest challenges early on as a self-taught sewist?

Candice: I’m trying to remember, like, what it was like sewing the first things. Like, the first pattern I actually sewed was the, I don’t know if you guys know the Marett Pants by Seamwork. It was probably not the best pattern to start with ’cause it’s like, they are a pair of wide leg trousers with, like, pleats and a waistband and, like, an invisible zipper. Not the best beginner pattern. But I remember it was just, it was a lot of stopping and googling things because, you know, when you start, you don’t know what all the terms mean and that sort of thing. And I think a lot of the time I was very excited about making something, but I just, like, didn’t have the skills to get there. And that was a little bit frustrating. But I think the great thing about sewing is that it’s a skill that you build on. So, like, the more you do it, the more patterns you sew, the better you get at it. And I think that’s my favourite thing about it, is that you keep practicing, you keep getting better, and eventually you can make incredible things.

Helen: And you do, you have some incredible makes on all of your channels and social media where you share. And I’m picturing you making those wide leg trousers. I mean, that sounds very you, wide leg trousers with a high waist and pleats.

Candice: Yes, it’s very my style, that’s for sure.

Helen: I think your content is really wonderful because you do make such exciting things and people can see what’s possible with sewing, and then you’re also explaining it in a really approachable way. So it’s the perfect place for people to fall in love with sewing.

Candice: Oh, thank you.

Helen: Let’s take a step back and talk about your career prior to becoming a content creator, because you said on some place that you “accidentally and sort of on purpose” quit your job in law and became a sewing content creator in 2023. So tell us that story.

Candice: Yeah, so I became a lawyer in, I think 2012 it was, so quite a long time ago. It makes me feel old saying that. But yeah, I graduated law school, I think, in 2012, and I worked as a lawyer for 10 years. And throughout those 10 years, I feel like I was basically always looking for some kind of escape route because law was one of those things where I just, I didn’t know what else to do. I actually had an undergraduate degree in music. And when it came time for, like, graduation, I was like, I don’t know what to do with this. So then I ended up going to law school.

Helen: That classic journey.

Candice: Yeah, and I feel like, I was 17, I think, when I graduated from university. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I didn’t even know what lawyers really did. Like, all I knew was, like, you know, what I see, I saw on TV, kind of thing. But it was, you know, it was, like, a stable career choice. And you know, my parents are immigrants, they’re from Hong Kong and, like, everything is about getting an education and a professional degree and, like, a stable job. So it seemed like a good thing to do at the time, but I never felt like it was the right fit for me and I, as I got older and as I had kids, especially, I just felt more and more that the time that I was trading for the money, right, it, it just didn’t feel worth it to me anymore and I just wasn’t enjoying my time there. And you just spend so much time at work, too, that I just felt like if there was another option for me to do something else, that I wanted to give that a chance.

Helen: Yeah. So did you go back to your job after your first maternity leave and then you decided that you wanted to switch gears and do something completely different?

Candice: Yeah, so I did go back. I had, I think, 15 months off, so I went back to work for, I guess it was about three years, and then I got pregnant with my second son, and then after my maternity leave the second time, we ended up having to move back to Ontario, just life circumstances and my husband’s job, so I had to quit my job in BC anyway. So I was like, this is kind of the perfect time to explore this, because at that time I had started a pattern company and I had one pattern on my own, I think, at that time. So, yeah, it was kind of just very new and, like, growing at that point. Like, it wasn’t one of those career switches where I, you know, had a stable thing going on the side and I could just, like, jump to that. It wasn’t there yet, but I just wanted to give it a chance.

Caroline: Yeah, it’s so amazing and such a leap of faith that you took that chance to try to pursue this. And, obviously, it has worked out. You have this very successful YouTube channel, Instagram, pattern company, so yeah. When did Sew Bake Make come into the picture? Can you tell us more about that?

Candice: So I think that my first pattern was the Nora Tank, and I believe that came out in 2021. But before that, or like just before that, I had been chatting with a friend that I met on Instagram, Lindsey, who is @thestitchfitz on social media, and we became friends really quickly and we were always kind of, like, messaging each other about what we were making and helping each other troubleshoot. And we were getting into drafting on our own. And we were just chatting one day and we were like, wouldn’t it be so fun if we, like, made a pattern? And it was kind of very casual, but we just decided to do it and we made ourselves a little pattern company. We called it Staystitch Pattern Co. We made, like, a very poor logo. And we drafted the pattern. We sent it to a grader, who was actually Sanna from Paradise Patterns. She graded our first pattern for us, which was the Lola Tank, and we learned how to use Illustrator. We both had no experience with that. We took, like, a little course on how to do that and, yeah, we just went for it.

Helen: That’s amazing. Oh, it reminds me so much of the beginning of my sewing journey, as well, and taking that leap of faith, quitting my job, trying to learn how to pattern draft and put out a pattern. And there is something to be said for that phrase “ignorance is bliss.” You know, where you’re just like, how hard could it be? I’m just gonna try. And you never know what might come of that, but sometimes it’s nice not to know how hard it actually is.

Candice: Yeah, I think that is very true and I definitely was born with the “how hard could it be” gene, because I’ll try anything and I feel like, you know, it’s so much better to be like that and to try it than sit back and like regret that you never did. So.

Helen: That’s amazing. Okay, so Staystitch Pattern Co. And now you have Sew Bake Make. So was there, like, a blog element to the Sew Bake Make? Because, clearly, the word “bake” is in there. So were you baking?

Caroline: Yeah.

Candice: So, it’s funny, I never gave my handle much thought at all, and I’m terrible at coming up with names for things, and it was literally just, I do a lot of baking, I did a lot of baking back then, and I, I don’t know exactly how that came up, but I was just like, oh, those words sound good together. I’m sewing, I’m baking, I’m making stuff. So yeah, it’s not a very interesting story. But yeah, I just needed a handle and that’s what I came up with.

Helen: Well, and several of your patterns do have baking-themed names as well, so I don’t think you’re that bad at naming things. I, I’m sensing a theme.

Candice: Well, actually, that, that just, I forgot when that started, but I had been doing testing for a pattern and I ask, I always ask my testers for suggestions for names, and somebody suggested using baked goods and I was like, that is so smart because I can, like, tie it in with my handle. And then it also kind of differentiates it from other designers, because I feel like most other designers kind of just use names or different things. And mine already had “bake” in it, so I was like, oh, this works well.

Helen: It does. It really does. Yeah. The Sourdough Set, the Strawberry Shortcake Dress. Oh my gosh, so cute.

Caroline: Yes. Even the Baker Pants, are the newest…

Candice: I’m trying to keep it going. It’s hard though. I find naming very hard.

Helen: There’s a lot of, like, pastries with very fancy names that are hard to spell that maybe wouldn’t work super well.

Caroline: So can you tell us a little bit more about your patterns at Sew Bake Make? What kind of patterns do you like to make, what the aesthetic is?

Candice: Yeah, so I’d love to say that I have a clear vision for the style or the types of patterns that I make, but I think it’s more honestly just what garments I’m into or, like, trends at the time. But I do think that they reflect my personal style pretty closely. There is one thing though that I do try and put into my garments, and that is that they will work for as many bodies as possible. And I love having an element of adjustability. So my Sourdough Pants and the Strawberry Shortcake Dress, they both have drawstring elements or elastic, and I like when a garment has that because, as a person who’s gone through, like, huge weight fluctuations just in life and then being pregnant and doing IVF and all that. I appreciate when a garment can, like, see you through different seasons of life. So that’s something that I kind of try to incorporate if I can. Like, it depends on the style, obviously, but that’s something that I think about with every pattern.

Helen: I love that. It makes it easier for people to sew, too, because one of the biggest challenges people have when they start is fitting and making the garment actually fit your body. And that can be challenging on so many levels. So if there’s some elastic or drawstring elements, that just makes that process so much easier.

Candice: Yeah, for sure.

Caroline: Do you have a favourite pattern in your collection?

Candice: I think my favorite pattern might be the Baker Barrel Legs that I just released. I just really like all of the details and there’s lots of top stitching and, like, fun, kind of more intermediate skills. So they’re, like, a very fun-to-sew pattern, I think.

Helen: Yeah, they’re so cute. I’m lowkey obsessed with these pants.

Caroline: I love them. Yeah, they’re so cute. I love the pockets. And you even adapted this pattern for your husband so that you guys could match, which is so cute. I wonder, like, what changes you made to the pattern to make that work?

Candice: So when I designed them, I didn’t have plans for them to be a gender-neutral pattern, but during testing we kind of found out that it worked for different body types and different genders. I had a couple trans testers and they kind of mentioned that as well, so I was like, oh, I’ll make a pair for my husband and maybe if my testers can have their partners try on their pants and, like, see if it works. And it actually worked pretty well. So what I did was, it is technically released as a gender-neutral pattern. And in the instructions I have steps on how to adjust it if you have a straighter body type than what is in the size chart. Because my size chart is based on, like, a female body, like there’s smaller waist-to-hip proportions. So I do include instructions on what to do, how to choose your size. So basically, for, like, a man’s body, you could just omit the darts and add a little bit to the waistband just to adjust for the dart not being there. But that’s basically it. Like, you don’t really have to make other changes for it to fit most other bodies.

Helen: Yeah. It’s nice when pants are more voluminous like that and then they can work for lots of different people. I would love to make these for Sam. I think he would really enjoy wearing this style.

Caroline: Yeah. These would look awesome on Sam.

Helen: So do you have any advice for our listeners out there who are thinking that they might like to try making a pattern or starting a pattern company?

Candice: Yeah, I think that, first of all, I hear a lot that people feel like they can’t start making patterns or they can’t break into the market ’cause it’s oversaturated. And I think that it is oversaturated in the sense that there are a lot of designers out there, but I don’t think that that means that you shouldn’t put your design out there, because I think that everybody has something unique to share and, like, a different point of view or a different fit or just different style. Everybody has something unique to offer, and whether that’s the way that their block is drafted, the way that their patterns fit, or different style details, I think that there’s room for everyone. And I think that if you wanna do it, you definitely should. I think what I would tell myself, my past self, starting patterns is that it is a good idea to take some kind of course or do some type of learning to use the software that you need. So I don’t think you have to use Illustrator, but that’s what I use to do my instructions. And then I know other people use different drafting software, like CAD programs or CLO 3D. I don’t think that’s entirely necessary, but I do think it’s necessary to know how to use some type of software to write the instructions. ‘Cause that’s such a huge part of it. Like, that is what the pattern is, basically. But yeah, I feel like anyone who wants to, should.

Helen: Yeah, I totally agree. And I mean, in your case, when you were working as a partnership, initially, having somebody else who maybe has the skills that you don’t have, and then you can kind of pool your knowledge, resources, in a sense, and have even more information before you start the pattern company. But I do think that there’s room out there, and like you said, everybody has different perspectives and you just never know where it’s gonna take you. Like, obviously we can’t guarantee that people will start successful businesses that they’ll be able to live off of, but you’ll learn a lot, for sure, and you’ll probably have fun along the way and you’ll end up with a pattern that you probably love making. So I think that’s a win in and of itself.

Candice: Yeah, definitely. I feel like the cons of it and, like, the risk is pretty small. So if you wanna do it, I feel like, yeah, you should. But yeah, as you said, though, I feel like I’ve seen on social media the kind of… it’s being sold to you that, like, you can make six figures doing pattern design and it’s, it’s super easy, but it definitely isn’t. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t, you know, release a pattern if you want to.

Caroline: Yeah. yeah. And also, like, just speaking to the, like, saturation of the market, like, sewing is on the rise. Like, interest in sewing is growing. It’s a huge, huge industry. And sewing patterns are this, like, really accessible thing that you can buy online and it’s, you know, fairly affordable in the, in the scheme of, like, the things that you’re buying for sewing. So I just feel like there’s so much room for pattern designers out there and for different perspectives. Just like you said, getting a little bit of training and giving it a go, there’s really no harm in it. ‘Cause, yeah, there’s cool new pattern companies popping up all the time.

Helen: Totally. Yeah. With amazing, cool patterns. I’m like, wow, I wish I’d thought of that.

Caroline: We also wanted to ask you about being a lawyer, and I know I’m jumping back a little bit, but I didn’t wanna skip this question of, like, your lawyer skills transferring to your job now. Like, is there anything that you feel like was transferable?

Candice: Yeah so, actually, it’s funny, I feel like I think about this fairly often and it’s because I have this, like, one memory. I met a judge when I was working on cruise ships, so I took a gap year between undergrad and law school when I was 21 and I worked as a youth staff in the fun factory of celebrity cruises. Yeah, it’s like a whole other thing. But he was dropping his kid off for programming and we just started chatting and I think I mentioned that I was going to law school after my contract. And he said to me, he’s like, there’s only one thing you need to know and, like, the most important skill that you need to develop as a lawyer is being able to take a lot of information and boil it down to a single sentence. And I dunno, that really, like, stuck with me. And I think that actually has become a skill that I’ve really honed over the years, through law and then also through doing sewing pattern design. And I think the ability to distill a lot of information into something very concise is really important in sewing because a sewing pattern could involve 50 steps and multiple views and all kinds of different techniques. And as a sewing pattern designer, you need to be able to convey only the information that’s important to the user at the moment because it can easily get very confusing and overwhelming if you aren’t able to do that.

Helen: Oh, totally. That’s really cool. I love that answer.

Caroline: Okay, let’s switch gears and talk a little bit about the content creation side of your work, because we love seeing your videos and pictures on social media, and we’re kind of always wondering how you do all of this, both pattern design and content creation. So how do you balance that? And do you do everything yourself? Do you have help? Tell us more about that.

Candice: So I, I actually feel like I don’t balance anything well. I just feel like, when you’re a mom, especially, you just feel like you’re lacking in all areas at all times. But for content, I don’t have any help with that. I do all the editing and filming myself. I feel like I’ve kind of gotten a rhythm in how I do things over the years. So it doesn’t take me super long to make a piece of content, but it does take quite a while. ‘Cause, as you know, sewing a garment takes a long time and then when you try to film it, it takes twice as long. But I feel like I’ve kind of gotten it down to a science where I can do it as fast as possible. But it is, it’s tough. It’s definitely tough.

Helen: And how do you decide what kind of content you’re gonna work on and create each week for your channels?

Candice: I feel like I should plan more, but I’m very type B and I don’t plan much, and I kind of just go with the flow and work on what I feel needs to be worked on. But generally, I’m usually working on one pattern, at least. So these days I mostly do content based on that, like, whatever patterns I’m working on. And then I think the other things would be like if I take some time to make clothes for, like, a vacation or something, or I make a gift, then I’ll do content on that. But I’m really not very strategic about my content. I just do what I feel is right.

Helen: Yeah, I mean, honestly, that’s what’s making your content feel so authentic and real. It’s not, you’re not forcing it. And I think that that comes across with your content. Like, you just look like you’re having fun making stuff in your sewing room, and that’s why it’s so fun to watch.

Candice: Thank you. I am, I am having a lot of fun.

Caroline: You’ve also mentioned that a good portion of your income actually comes from content creation, and I was curious how you monetize your content.

Candice: So I actually, things have kind of shifted. So I think the first year that I started most of my income was content creation. I had some really big collabs with big brands. But collabs and brand deals are very up and down. Like, you never know what you’re gonna get, kind of thing, and how much you’re gonna be paid on a certain month or if you’ll get any inbounds at all. So the first year, the majority of my income was brand deals, but the second year it was not much. And then, now, this year, I’m actually hoping to do less brand deals because I actually don’t love using my platform to sell things. And what I really wanna do with my platform is teach people how to sew. I’m happy to do a brand deal if it’s something that aligns with my content and also, like, my life and who I am. But I do find brand deals a bit tricky because, depending on the brand you’re working with, they can have different requirements on, like, what they want you to say and that sort of thing. And I would prefer if I could just do my patterns instead, which, I think that that’s kind of where it’s headed, which I’m very grateful for. So I’m, I’m hoping one day I won’t have to do any or, you know, I can just do a few if I would like to, sort of thing.

Helen: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. It’s also challenging when you have the pressure of having to make content for a specific thing or having to post in a certain timeline. I know I struggle with that. I like to just have creative control and do it when I wanna do it.

Candice: Yeah, for sure. Deadlines are hard.

Helen: Yeah. And you’ve mentioned a few times that you’re, like, wanting to share more of your life on social media or sometimes, you know, you go through phases of sharing more of your travels or more of your baking. How do you kind of balance sewing versus all your other interests and sharing your life on social media?

Candice: So I actually did want to share more and I made a video about it and how I wanted to share different things, that I didn’t wanna share just sewing. But I actually didn’t end up doing that at all. I think I did, like, one video on, like, a recipe, and I think it’s just, I would love to share more. And I am interested in other things, baking and DIY stuff, but I have come to realize that I just don’t have enough hours in the day to do that because, doing what I do, the amount that I do for sewing already takes up the majority of my time. So I haven’t figured out a way to do that yet. But it’s hard with little kids. My youngest just turned four, so I feel like it’s getting easier, but it’s still busy.

Helen: Yeah, I can only imagine. That’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself, to be sharing your whole life.

Candice: Yeah, think sometimes with social media, and if you’re in, like, a very niche area, like, I feel like sewing is very niche. I was always kind of wondering if people wanted to see it or if it would be well received if I shared anything else. But that’s also something I feel like, over the last year or so, I’ve just come to realize it’s, it’s not that important. And like, if I wanna share something else, I can share it. It’s not a big deal. Like, I’ve come to be a lot more chill about it, I think.

Helen: Yeah, exactly. I mean, all that stuff is always welcome when you share outside of just the sewing, I’m sure people are interested, but they’re not expecting anything from you.

Caroline: Yeah. I find, too, with like, hobbies, like, when you take sewing and it was a hobby, it becomes your career. I’ve become kind of, like, protective of my other hobbies almost, of like, you know, these are just for me. I don’t have to share everything, you know? So it’s, it’s always that battle of like, well, I’m more than just sewing and I want people to know that I’m more than just sewing. But at the same time, like, I don’t always wanna share everything.

Candice: Yeah, that’s true. That’s, that’s a good point.

Caroline: Yeah. Yeah. What would you, what advice would you give to listeners who want to share their sewing online?

Candice: I would say you should just go for it. Kind of similar to what I would say about making a pattern. And I feel like social media can feel a little scary when you start and posting yourself on the internet feels cringey a lot of the time. And I, honestly, I feel cringe a lot of the time, still, and I’m a very awkward person. So it’s hilarious, I guess, that this is what I do now. But I think that the things that you can gain from sharing on social media are just amazing because that’s how I found a lot of my close friends, now, are like, I made through Instagram or social media. And the sewing community is like one of the nicest communities online. And I think that it’s really cool to be able to share what you make and share it with other people and have, you know, other people to ask questions to, and get advice from. And it’s a really cool community to be part of.

Helen: Yeah, definitely. And you don’t have to use the major social media platforms. There’s also places like Threadloop where you can share more, kind of, of your project process and get feedback from people over there. So you just have to find the right place for you.

Candice: Yeah, for sure. I love Threadloop, actually. I don’t use it enough. I should.

Helen: It’s so cool. You have such amazing content. We’ve mentioned already that people seem to really resonate with your content and your teaching, and we are wondering what you love about getting people hooked on sewing.

Candice: So I feel like it’s just so cool to be able to help someone at the beginning of their sewing journey, and I feel like the feeling of sewing a garment, it never gets old, really. But it’s, it’s especially cool when you first start because you can take just, like, pieces of fabric and make them into something wearable. And I, I just love seeing how proud people are of themselves and, you know, how excited they are about sewing. And I, I just love being part of someone’s journey, getting into it.

Helen: Yeah, that must feel so gratifying. Have you ever heard back from people who have learned how to sew from your videos or where you’re their kind of first point of contact with the sewing community?

Candice: I do sometimes get, like, emails or DMs from people telling me that they, you know, learned to sew watching my YouTube series or they used my tote pattern as their first project. And I think that’s really cool because it’s kind of a funny thing, being a content creator, like, you’re by yourself filming videos and, like, posting them into what can feel like a void, sometimes. So, like, getting feedback is really cool and, like, it just makes my day if somebody emails me to tell me stuff like that. So it’s awesome.

Caroline: Oh yeah. It’s so nice to hear from people. Let’s talk about the flip side of that, like, isolation in sewing, because you also teach workshops in real life and you host cool events. So, yeah. One of the events that you host is called Sew Club. Can you tell us what that is?

Candice: So that’s basically just a very informal gathering of, like, people local to me. And we all just get together and sew. And I’d wanted to start some kind of club like that for a while, but my biggest roadblock or hurdle was trying to find a space, but I was able to find I, I think it’s called a community hub in Burlington. So they have a bunch of different locations in the city and you can rent them for free if you are not charging anything for your event, which is incredible. And the one that I have been booking is a really beautiful, large space with lots of tables and chairs. There’s, like, a little kitchenette and, like, a projector. So yeah, we just meet there. It hasn’t happened recently just because I’ve been pretty busy, but we come, we all help set up the tables and chairs and some people bring extension cords and we just play music and sew and hang out and it’s, it’s a super lovely, like, chill time.

Helen: Oh, I can imagine. I want to go. It sounds so nice.

Candice: We’d love to have you if you’re over here.

Caroline: Tell us about the Toronto Fabric Swap. How did you organize that and how, how does that work?

Candice: So, for a couple years, my friend Abby, whose handle is @_abbymakes on Instagram, she’s a friend that I met through Instagram, as well. So I’ve known her for a few years and we decided to just do, like, a very informal kind of fabric swap. I think three years ago was the first one, and that one was pretty small. I think there was maybe 15 to 20 people. And we just met up at a park in Toronto and set out picnic blankets and brought our fabric and just chatted. And it was really like a small, like, lovely little get together. And then the next year we did another one, and that one was a bit bigger, like we had started to grow, like, a bigger email list. So we decided to host it at her husband’s gym in Toronto. So that was really nice ’cause it was a big space and we had tables and chairs and that sort of thing, and I think there was probably 40 or so people there. And then we wanted to do another one. And yeah, I had met Charlotte on TikTok. I think, actually, her handle is @oh.charlotte.rose on social media. She’s another Toronto sewist and pattern designer. We had just been chatting a little bit and we were starting to become friends, so I suggested that we kind of all band together and plan another one. And then this one we thought was gonna be a little bit bigger, so we started looking for venues, and Abby found, like, a neighborhood center, kind of like a community center, to rent. So we rented that space out and then that one we actually decided to do tickets for, ’cause we had to pay for the venue space. But we got a bakery to sponsor treats for it. And it was actually a really big turnout. I think we had over 80 people show up. Yeah. So It was really fun and it was cool to see that many sewists in one room and there was lots of cool fabric and it was just a really, a really cool event.

Helen: Did you have, like, strategies or rules, I guess, for how the fabric swap works? I’m always curious about how people approach that. Like is it a take one, leave one, or are there limits or is it just a free-for-all?

Candice: Well, the only rule that we set for all of them actually was that you had to bring at least one meter of fabric. And from the prior two that we had done, we always had fabric left over. So we didn’t wanna impose any kind of rule on how much you could take. Like, it wasn’t one for one. So basically, we just asked that you bring the minimum and then you can take whatever you want, and it worked out well.

Helen: Yeah, I bet. I mean, people are always kind of looking to de-stash and so I’m sure most people bring more than one meter.

Candice: And they don’t wanna take more.

Helen: Yeah, they’re trying to leave with less, which is never what happens to me, but.

Caroline: But it’s so great for beginner sewists, too, because sewing can be so expensive, especially early on, when you’re buying all the tools and supplies. So to be able to go to a fabric swap and get cool fabrics for free, like, that’s awesome. That’s a great place to…and also socialize with people? Like, yeah. Really cool. Yeah. Have you learned anything from hosting in-person events that you would like to share?

Candice: I feel like I’m very casual about it. It hasn’t really been anything, like, too involved. I think the biggest hurdle, for me, has always been trying to find the venue. But other than that, I run them very casually, so I just collect emails and put them into a google form and email details and, yeah, it’s pretty easy and casual, I would say.

Helen: Ah, that’s awesome. I’m really impressed that you’re organizing in-person events and making patterns and parenting.

Caroline: Yeah.

Candice: Thank you. I feel like it seems like I’m doing much more than I actually am, but…

Helen: Okay, we definitely need to talk about your personal sewing practice, because you are a projector sewist, and Caroline and I have both outed ourselves as not projector sewists on the podcast. And we tried.

Caroline: We’re not anti-projector.

Helen: No, no, we’re not anti, we just haven’t done it. We haven’t experienced it. We did an episode about it. We tried our best, but we’ve got you here now. So tell us how you got into projector sewing and what you love about it.

Candice: So I started hearing about it just on Instagram and that sort of thing. I feel like I’ve had my projector, I think, for three years now. But the first time I actually ever used a projector was with the Ditto projector, and that was also my first, like, real brand deal or collab. But it’s interesting, because that whole collab, I really had no idea what it was, going into it. And we signed contracts and stuff before even seeing the product, which maybe wasn’t the smartest thing. But the actual product, like, when I worked with it, it, it was pretty cool. And the software that they used for, like, calibration and that sort of thing, like, it was very easy to use. And I really liked the idea of it from working with that. But their software and, like, the patterns that they had, they didn’t work the best. So after I was done working with them, I bought my own projector. I got one off of eBay, because I was in that Facebook Projectors for Sewing group. It’s like, I’m, I’m sure you guys have heard of it. It’s really big. So yeah, I brought myself an ultra-short throw projector from the same eBay seller that I think everybody in that group buys from. And yeah, I, I really like projector sewing, and maybe that’s because I’m just like, I like to do things very quickly and I’m very limited on time, also. Especially, like, a couple years ago when I, my kids were still really small, it just saved me so much time. But yeah, I really like it, but I know that there are definitely, like, pros and cons to it.

Helen: Mm-hmm. I mean, it seems really cool for, like you said, getting things done really quickly and just, like, once you have it set up, like of course you’re gonna wanna use your projector. It’s right there, it’s so easy.

Candice: Mm-hmm. Yeah. I, like, really hate cutting and tiling paper, like, printed patterns. It just takes so long. So it’s nice to be able to just, like, turn on my computer and, like, project it and cut it right away.

Caroline: And you have some skills in Illustrator, obviously. You’re drafting patterns in there. So do you ever use those to make adjustments to patterns before projecting them?

Candice: Yeah, I do. So it depends on, like, if I’m using another sewing pattern, designer’s pattern, like, if their pattern is open, like if I can import the pattern lines into Illustrator, I’ll do it. Sometimes it’s a little bit more tricky, if it’s like password protected or something like that. But if I do need to make adjustments, I do do them digitally because I find that, once you are projecting, you can’t really do much. Like, you can sort of lengthen and shorten fairly easily, but you kind of have to have the changes made first.

Caroline: Right. And are you exclusively a projector sewist, or do you ever use paper anymore?

Candice: Lately I have not, like, I don’t think I’ve used a paper pattern for at least a year or maybe two.

Helen: Wow. Okay. Humble brag.

Candice: I, I, do, I do miss paper though, because I like being able to pin it on the fabric and I feel like it’s more accurate. Like, it’s definitely more accurate.

Helen: Wait. Tell us more about that.

Candice: So I feel like, with the projector sewing, like, first, if you don’t have a level floor or a level table, you won’t be able to get the calibration, like, a hundred percent perfect. So that means that the projection will be, like, skewed just slightly depending on what kind of differences you have in the levels. And then, also, if you’re using a fabric that is thicker, for example, my quilted jacket, I pretty much can’t cut it with a projector because I know that it’s not quite the right size because of the height of the fabric. It makes the lines not exactly where they’re supposed to be.

Helen: Right. Okay. That makes sense. And I’m sure for some projects it’s less of a big deal, like if it’s oversized or stretchy, you can just kind of, like, pray for the best.

Candice: Yeah. I mean, that’s kind of the way that I sew in general, like I’m not too fussed if like I’m a 16th of an inch or an eighth of an inch off. Like, bodies are soft and fabric moves and drapes. Like, it’s not like it has to be exactly on the lines. Maybe that’s gonna make some people mad, but.

Caroline: Okay. Well, this actually leads us perfectly into our next question, which is that you’ve described yourself as a type B sewist. So can we talk about that? Like, what does that mean to you, exactly?

Candice: So, yeah, I think mostly that means that I’m not a perfectionist, and if my seam allowance, like, wobbles in and out like a tiny bit, like, I’m not gonna be that upset about it. There are certain things that I do care about. Like if it’s topstitching, I have to make sure it’s perfect because it’s very visible. But I feel like, for the majority of the types of garments I’m making, they’re not super fitted, firstly. So it’s not, I don’t think it’s as important that your seam allowances are exactly what they’re supposed to be. And yeah, in general as a person, I’m just more type B, more, like, easygoing with things. And I go with the flow for most things in life. And that’s kind of how I sew, too.

Helen: I can relate. I think I’m a type B sewist, also.

Candice: You know what, Helen, I feel like I remember a podcast interview you did, like, way back. Like, I feel like I listened to it when I was, like, driving to work. ‘Cause I used to listen to your podcast on my commute. But you said something about gathers and it was like, I think you said “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.”

Caroline: Yeah. That’s something that Helen would say.

Candice: And yeah, that’s exactly how I feel about gathers and, like a lot of things in sewing, you know, I don’t think it’s super important to be so, so accurate with it.

Helen: Yeah. Unless it pleases you. A lot of people get a lot of satisfaction from being very accurate, which is amazing. I just know, for me, it does nothing for me and I’m never gonna think about it again.

Candice: Yeah. I feel like you should just sew the way that you want to, and that’s, like, the beauty of sewing, especially sewing your own clothes. Like, you’re making it for yourself, so you can do it however you like.

Helen: Exactly.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. It’s so true. And so many different approaches can get beautiful results. Like, you don’t have to be a perfectionist to have an amazing finished garment that you’re gonna wanna wear. You know? It’s so, It’s so subjective. I love it. You have really amazing personal style. We’ve mentioned this already. We love your style. We’ve done this before with other guests, but if you could describe your style in one phrase, what would that phrase be?

Candice: Okay. So, I feel like I had a little bit of difficulty trying to think about this because I feel like I like a lot of different styles and I, you know, I, I like boho things, but I also like, you know, sort of edgier styles. But I think the thing that sticks out to me is like, I love big pants, bold shoes. And yeah, my, I feel like the phrase would be like, “big pants, bold shoes, cool mom.” Like, that’s what I’m going for.

Caroline: Okay. I love this.

Helen: It’s very descriptive.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: That’s great. Oh my gosh. It, when we were prepping for your episode with our assistant Lisa, the three of us were just, like, oohing and ahhing over everything you’ve made. It’s a fun process.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: And we were all commenting on how elegant your style is. Like, there’s something very elevated about your pieces, especially sometimes you like working with some fancier fabrics. You’ve made some evening wear and gowns and stuff, which I know you’re not wearing in your everyday life, but there is something very elevated about a lot of your pieces, and it just takes it away from the casual space, but still looks very comfortable.

Caroline: Yeah.

Candice: Oh, thank you so much.

Caroline: What are some of your favourite fabrics to work with right now?

Candice: I really have been enjoying working with cotton twill, just, I made a lot of Baker Barrel Leg pants and it’s just such a nice fabric to work with ’cause it presses well and it’s easy to sew. I also really like denim. The other fabric that I love, but I kind of, like, love to hate, is satin, because I love how it looks, but I hate sewing it because it’s so slippery. But I feel like you can make really beautiful garments with it.

Caroline: Yeah. Satin is so lovely, but man.

Helen: Not fun to sew.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Fun to wear, not fun to sew. I’m also loving cotton twill right now. I love how it comes in so many colours and, like, slightly different variations in weight and finish, like brushed or flat, like, they’re all so beautiful.

Candice: Mm-hmm.

Helen: Do you have any fashion trends that you have your eye on right now? Because you seem to have a very fashion-forward sense of style. So is there anything that you’re looking to right now for fall/winter 2026/2027 that you wanna try for yourself?

Candice: I saw recently, like, I like to browse just ready to wear stores and, you know, look at the Vogue articles and stuff, and I saw something that was saying the utilitarian kind of style is coming back and I really like that. Like the Baker Barrel, like the cargo-esque type garments. I would love to do some kind of utilitarian jacket this fall. I haven’t sewn too many jackets, so I’d love to do that.

Helen: I could see that, like, almost like a jacket version of the Baker Pants.

Candice: Kind of. Yeah, I was thinking like a stand collar and like some similar pockets and oversized…

Helen: Ooh. Mm-hmm. Love it, love it, love it. Well, that leads us to our next question, which is: what’s on your sewing table right now? We’re recording mid-July, for our listeners, for context. So what are you working on?

Candice: Well, right now I am working on a tube top pattern. So, I have been wanting to do a free pattern for a while, and I can say this, ’cause this will come out later. But it’s gonna be my first free pattern. It’s just a very simple tube top with a built-in bralette. It’s designed for, like, really stretchy jerseys or rib knits. So yeah, I’m hoping to put that into testing, like, this week.

Helen: Ooh!

Caroline: I love all the knit tops you make. I feel like they pair so well with your big pants energy.

Candice: I love the tiny top…

Caroline: Tiny top, big pants.

Candice: Yeah, definitely, like, one of the go-to outfits for me.

Helen: I’m wearing that outfit right now.

Caroline: Yeah. It’s such a good formula. Tiny top, big pants. What was it? Bold shoes. Yeah.

Candice: Yeah. I just bought myself a pair of Merrell sandals. I haven’t bought anything from that brand forever. I feel like I thought of them as like, you know, kids’ boots for a long time. But I just bought a pair of, like, super bright orange platform sandals from there, and I love them so much.

Helen: Amazing. And aside from your tube top and your jacket, what’s next on the horizon for Sew Bake Make? Is there anything else you’ve got cookin’?

Candice: I actually do have a couple dress patterns that I wanna work on, because I really love sewing summer dresses. I love summer sewing, like, the best out of all the seasons, but I’m not sure if I’m gonna be able to release them in time. ‘Cause that’s, like, a lot to take on. But I might save them for, like, one or maybe both, we’ll see, for next summer.

Helen: That’s the problem with being a pattern designer. You’re always like, I have such a good idea. Can I get it out now? No, I have to wait a year.

Candice: I know. ‘Cause if the timing isn’t right, then, like, you have to wait a whole year. But I, yeah, it takes a long time to release a pattern.

Helen: It does.

Caroline: Yeah. It’s hard, working out of season, for sure. Oh, well this is so fun. Candice, thank you so much for chatting with us today. Can you tell our listeners where they can find you online?

Candice: You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, all with the same handle: @sewbakemake.

Helen: Yeah, definitely go give Candice a follow. Your content is so fun. As I’ve already said. I love the YouTube stuff, too. Longer-form kind of lifestyle stuff is so fun and just chatting about fabrics and patterns and it really does feel like you’re just someone’s sewing bestie. You’re all of our sewing besties.

Candice: Thank you. I would love to do more YouTube at some point. I’m not the greatest with uploading there, but I do love YouTube.

Caroline: Awesome. Well, thank you so much again. This was such a good chat.

Candice: Thank you. It was so fun to chat with you both.

Caroline: Okay, bye.

Helen: Bye.

Candice: Bye.

Helen: That’s it for today’s episode of Love to Sew. You can find me, Helen, at Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co. and Caroline at Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns. We’re recording in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

Caroline: You can support Love to Sew and get access to bonus content by subscribing on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. You even get access to the back catalog of bonus episodes. That’s over 100 hours of Love to Sew. Go to patreon.com/lovetosew or check out our podcast page on Apple Podcasts for more info.

Helen: Head to lovetosewpodcast.com to find our show notes. They’re filled with links and pictures from this episode. And if you’d like to get in touch with us, leave us a message at 1-844-SEW-WHAT. That’s 1-844-739-9428. Or send us an email at [email protected].

Caroline: Thanks to our amazing podcast team. Lisa Ruiz is our creative assistant and Jordan Moore of The Pod Cabin is our editor. And thank you for listening. We’ll talk to you next week.

Helen: Bye.

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In this episode, we’re taking an emotional journey through the highs and lows of sewing. Do you ever feel guilty for buying ready-to-wear clothes? Do you do a happy dance whenever you make a perfect buttonhole? Do you have complicated feelings about the fitting process? You’re not alone!

The transcript for this episode is on this page at the end of the show notes.

Show Notes: 

Transcript:

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

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

Helen: and I’m Helen, the designer behind Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co.

Caroline: We’re two sewing buds who love to sew and it’s all we ever talk about.

Helen: In this episode, we’re taking an emotional journey through the highs and lows of sewing. Do you ever feel guilty for buying ready-to-wear clothes? Do you do a happy dance whenever you make a perfect buttonhole? Do you have complicated feelings about the fitting process? You are not alone.

Caroline: If you love to sew, this is your show. Hi, Helen.

Helen: Hi, Caroline.

Caroline: Boy, do I have some big feelings to talk about today.

Helen: Big sewing feelings. I am so excited for this episode. It’s gonna be a bit more chatty. We haven’t prepped a ton. We have a list of some feelings we’re gonna talk about, and we’re just gonna see what happens.

Caroline: Yeah. We’re gonna let the conversation flow, and I’m sure it will, ’cause we both have a lot of thoughts on the topic.

Helen: I know it’s a, it’s a bit of a can of worms. We were like, let’s talk about sewing feelings, and then before we knew it, we had a very long list of options.

Caroline: All the different feelings. Yeah, absolutely. Okay. But before we dive into the show, we wanted to remind you all the best way to support Love to Sew is by joining us over on Patreon or Apple Podcast subscriptions. We do talk a lot about our feelings over there, too.

Helen: We sure do.

Caroline: You’ll get access to bonus content every month, and we have so much fun catching up with you all on those more casual bonus episodes. And it means so much to us if you’re able to support us, even if it’s just for a month or two. And of course, if that’s not in the cards for you right now, we totally get it.

Helen: Yeah, and there’s also a secret bonus way you can support us for free, which is to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts. We love reading your reviews and it would mean so much if you could take some time to do that.

Caroline: Yes. And above all, thank you all for listening and cheering us on.

Helen: Yeah. I have big feelings about our listeners.

Caroline: Yeah, me too. You guys are the best.

Helen: You are the best. We love you so much.

Caroline: Alright, let’s start this episode by answering a listener question. Megan wrote, “Hello from Michigan! I have a few 1 inch ribbons I’ve collected from estate sales or travels – fancy embroidered ones or jacquard. Is there another name for these? If so, let me know. I want to use them in a sewing project, but not just as an afterthought, like on the hem of a dress – are there any patterns that feature ribbons? Or would look intentional as part of the pattern? Trying to use my pretty notions!”

Helen: Ooh. Hi, Megan. This is a really fun sewing challenge and I can relate. I have a collection of trims and ribbons and things that I’ve collected over the years and it is hard to find places to use them. Or I just forget to use them entirely. And those kinds of ribbons are so pretty. I’ve seen them called jacquard ribbons, like you said, or sometimes tapestry ribbons. There are so many beautiful trims out there and I feel like most of us are underusing them, and it’s just ’cause the vast majority of patterns are designed as a base to build off of. So they don’t necessarily tell you when and where you could incorporate things like trims. So you have to do a little bit of design work on your own to figure out how to incorporate them into the garment. But we do have some ideas today for what you could do with your ribbons.

Caroline: Yes. Okay. So ribbons can make really cute dress straps. You can applique them over the top of a self fabric strap, or use them to completely replace the strap. Ribbon straps that tie in bows at the shoulder could be super cute.

Helen: Yes, I love a little shoulder tie. You could create new fabric with your trims, especially if you have a lot. Applique ribbons onto the backing fabric in stripes or diamond patterns. And then use that fabric to make yokes for shirts, dresses, or skirts. Even an entire top, like the Ashton Top, would be a good choice for this. Something that can hold a little bit of a stiffer fabric.

Caroline: That would be so cute. You could even sew your ribbons side by side to a backing fabric or sew-in interfacing. The backing fabric is not gonna be visible. And then you could just use your new sturdy fabric to make something that needs structure, like a bag.

Helen: Ooh, I could see a really cute little makeup bag or something. A small little dopp kit with a bunch of ribbons appliqued on the outside. That would be so cute.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Nordic sweaters often have a button placket that is finished on the inside with jacquard ribbon. It would be cool to reference that on a sewn cardigan, or maybe upcycle something to add this detail.

Caroline: Yeah. And there are a lot of European folk costumes that are decorated with jacquard ribbons. So you can do some Googling to see how they place the ribbons. And if you like the style, you can sketch out some ideas for incorporating it into a modern pattern.

Helen: And of course, you can add them to the hem of a dress. I know you said you didn’t want to, but hear me out. What if you added more than one to the hem and make some stripes at the hem of the dress with your ribbons? Or you could do stripes down the side of a garment like pants or a top for a sportier look. It might look more intentional than just putting one trim on the bottom.

Caroline: Yeah, definitely. I’m really excited for you to use your beautiful trims. we should all be using our trims and notions that are just in a drawer gathering dust.

Helen: Do you FEEL guilty about that, Caroline?

Caroline: Oh yeah.

Helen: Yeah. We’re gonna get into it. Today’s episode is all about the emotional journey of sewing. We’re gonna delve into these great and terrible moments that we all feel and might not always talk about. Because sewing is an emotional journey.

Caroline: It really is. I mean, we’ve had emotional chats on the show before about sewing, but it’s been a little while since we’ve had a heart-to-heart about all the different feelings that come up. So I’m ready.

Helen: Yes. Okay. Let’s start off with some really good feelings. Creative autonomy and agency. And honestly, this might be my favourite thing about sewing, is the ability to create whatever I want. That creative energy I feel when I’m looking at my fabric and I’m thinking what I could make with it and I’m dreaming up possible projects. I find that part of sewing so exciting.

Caroline: I know, me too. I often get inspiration from, like, Pinterest or even, like, coworkers, ’cause I am surrounded by amazing sewists all day long. But some of my favourite projects have come from just, like, ideas in my head. You know, like just all of a sudden you’re dreaming, or I don’t know, like on public transit and you’re like, wait, I have to make this. It just came to me all of a sudden.

Helen: Yeah, and the feeling of having the power to take that idea and make it a reality, and it doesn’t even feel like that big a jump a lot of the time, because I do sew a lot. And so I’m used to that feeling of being like, oh, I would really love to have a jacket that has that particular yoke, and then maybe I could add some like corduroy details and make it just a little bit longer than that one that I saw on Pinterest…and I’m like, I can do that. I feel so confident in my ability to do that, which is pretty amazing.

Caroline: I know. That really feels like a superpower with sewing, to be able to say like, oh, I’m seeing something in my head and I know that I can execute this. Like, I have the skills. I know where to get the materials. I have the tools that I need. Like, all I need is my hands and my brain and, like, I can do it. You know? It’s so empowering. It’s one of the best things about sewing and it also gives you a lot of freedom to experiment. Like, we’re limited in ready-to-wear with, like, what is available to us in our size or in our budget, or in the stores that are near us. But, like, with sewing, there are very few limitations and it gives you a lot of space to try different things that you maybe wouldn’t be able to access if you were only buying ready-to-wear clothes.

Helen: Yeah, it has encouraged me to experiment with my style a lot, too. I really like trying new trends, trying new ideas, new fabrics, and it’s just inspiring me to explore my wardrobe more and explore my personal style and my self-expression, which is really fun.

Caroline: Yeah. I feel like you are such a creative sewist, like I’ve always looked up to you for that because you do a lot of experimentation and you’re not always making things that you’re like, I know I’m gonna wear this every single day. Like, you’re not afraid to try a completely out-there style just for the fun of it and, like, the joy of the process.

Helen: Oh, thank you.

Caroline: Yeah. I can even think back to, like, refashioning projects that you’ve done in the past and then, like, cool, like, quilted garments that you’ve made, like your patchwork pants and even the dress that you made recently with all the Fableism scraps. Like, they’re like heirloom pieces that are really special and they’re not necessarily things you’re gonna wear every day, but it seems like you got a lot out of them just from the process.

Helen: Those are definitely my favourite projects to make. I have so much fun making them and the, just, swell of creative excitement that I get when I am in the throes of making something like that. It’s pretty euphoric. Like, it is why I love to sew. But I will say, there’s a flip side to that. Like, you talking about that made me think to myself, like, oh, but I do feel kind of bad that I don’t wear those things. Like there is a, like, a low point, you know. Like, now it’s in my closet. I’ve worn it maybe once, sometimes not at all. And like, I had so much fun making it, I don’t regret making it, but it’s sort of like that, is it art or is it sewing? You know, like, I made it for the purpose of creating art and feeling that creative euphoria, and then now it’s not necessarily getting worn all the time. And I feel kind of guilty about that.

Caroline: I know, it can be challenging to shift your mindset as a sewist to focus more on the process than the product and not always be chasing that, like, finished thing that you’re gonna get to use. We’ve used the analogy many times as, like, a painter, like, not all paintings are put on display. You know, like some paintings are just there for practice and you are sort of, like, exercising those creative muscles. And also I wanna mention, just like, with the guilt piece, because I, I feel like you have to remember, Helen, that you’re sharing your process. That’s such a gift. Like, you making content around all of these garments and sharing it with the sewing community, like, so many people get joy from that, too. And I think that that holds value, as well. Like, there’s value in those connections and the inspiration to other people, and even if you don’t end up wearing that garment all the time, like, it does have value, you know?

Helen: Yeah. It’s so true. And I love the analogy of the painting, because of course we have to practice and if I’m enjoying the process, isn’t that the most important thing? Like, I’m in the moment in those projects. I am, like, in the zone sewing all those tiny pieces of fabric together, and I’m having the best time ever. Like, that’s number one.

Caroline: I think I am really guilty of kind of the opposite, of like, I’m chasing that final product and I’m not always immersing myself in the process. And like, I think we talk about that with slow sewing, too, where it’s like, slow down and just, like, appreciate every step. And as sewists, it can be hard to do that, right? Because you’re like, what, I’m supposed to appreciate, like, inserting this invisible zipper five times? You know?

Helen: Interfacing all those pieces.

Caroline: Yeah. Like burning my hand on this iron? Like, no, I don’t appreciate that.

Helen: I should clarify. I am not going slow in this process. I’m enjoying the process, but I’m going as fast as I possibly can.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: It’s half the fun of it. I do think that, like I was saying, the creativity and the agency is one of my favourite things about sewing. And I also really like that it’s, like, start and finish. You know, I think it’s satisfying to start a project and it’s satisfying to finish a project and then you have this physical representation of what you did, of your work. And a lot of the work that we do in our lives is never really finished, like housework or parenting or even our jobs, you know, it’s like, every day you go and there’s always more stuff to do. Sewing is like, I can start the top and I can finish the top and then it’s done.

Caroline: Yeah. Until you have to mend it. But…

Helen: Yeah. And then you can put it in the closet and you don’t even have to wear it. It’s perfect.

Caroline: I’m saying that as someone with a huge pile of mending that I need to deal with, but no, it’s so true. Having that physical representation is so cool, and then we get to wear it. It’s not just, you know, often not just on display. We get to wear it all the time and enjoy it.

Helen: Yeah, and I do make a lot of things that I wear all the time. I wanna put that out there, also.

Caroline: You have a lot of clothes.

Helen: I have a lot of clothes. I can’t, they can’t all be in regular rotation, but some of them make it to the top and get worn, like, every other day. So you just never know.

Caroline: I would love to see. Not to like, give you more ideas for content or…but I would love to see some content around, like, what your most-worn pieces have been. Like, what has made it to the top, what’s on regular rotation.

Helen: That’s a good idea. Yeah. I love that idea. Okay. Putting it on the list.

Caroline: Do you ever hit creative blocks or low points? ‘Cause I feel like I get into that space sometimes where I just, like, am not feeling super inspired or I can’t decide what to make. Like, nothing is really that appealing to me. Like, what do you do when that happens?

Helen: I experience a lot of project paralysis where there’s too many ideas, but I don’t think that’s quite the same thing. So what happens to you when you have that creative block? Do you give yourself permission to just not sew for a while?

Caroline: Yeah. I think that what happens is, like, sometimes I’ll just be inspired by something else, like a different hobby, and then I’ll take a break from sewing and, like, I think we’re gonna bring it back to guilt a lot in this episode, ’cause guilt is, like, a really prevalent emotion for me with sewing.

Helen: It is. Guilt and shame are always lurking there in the background.

Caroline: Yeah. So like, I think there’s definitely guilt in spending time on other hobbies when I’ve built my whole business and this podcast around sewing. But yeah, I still haven’t figured out how to, when I hit that inspiration block or, like, that creative block, kind of like push through it, you know. Usually the thing that works for me is stepping away and then coming back when I’m feeling inspired again. And usually that inspiration, for me, comes from, like, a goal, like, oh, I’m going on this trip, or I have this event, or I have this, like, very specific idea in my mind of an outfit that I wanna make, so, like, I have to make this outfit. And usually that execution happens really quickly, or not at all.

Helen: Yeah, it is good to have a deadline. And I have lots of deadlines for my sewing ’cause I’m always planning content around what I’m making. So I think that is what kind of keeps me going, is thinking of things that I could share on our website and on our social media. And I get really excited about sharing those things and that motivates me to wanna, to wanna make them. But some days you just don’t wanna do anything. And it’s like, I’m standing at my sewing table and I’m like, ah, just cut out the project. Just cut out the project. Just cut out the project. And I have to, like, force my hands to move and force myself to lay out the pattern and I’m like, ugh, the whole time. And then often by the end I’m like, oh, I’m so excited to sew this shirt.

Caroline: I think that this, there’s something to this idea of, like, going into your sewing room for like 20 minutes a day or 30 minutes a day, and just, like, forcing yourself…even five minutes. I feel like I’ve seen folks do like a five minute challenge where it’s like, it usually doesn’t end up just being five minutes, but that five minutes just gets you in the door, and then as soon as you start, like, moving your hands and, like, doing the thing, then you get hooked. You know?

Helen: Yeah. And then you spend half an hour or an hour instead. Yeah. And you can also get a lot done in five minutes.

Caroline: Totally. And like, how rare is it that you would go into your sewing room and start working on something and then, like, regret it? Like, I don’t regret it once I get going, right?

Helen: No. I have had experiences where I’ve started working on something, I’m like, okay, I am just gonna, I have lots of things I need to sew. I’m just gonna pick something. I’m just gonna work on it. And I start cutting out a project or something and, like, partway through, I’m like, yeah, I really just, this is not the one. I picked the wrong one. I don’t wanna do this one. And I just put it aside and I try a different one.

Caroline: Yeah. I actually very recently had that experience, where I decided I was gonna make something. I started cutting out and I was like, wait, I don’t even wanna make this. Why am I cutting this out? Like, what? Let me work on something that I’m more excited about, you know? Life’s too short.

Helen: Yeah, you have to follow your sewing heart.

Caroline: I do think, making clothes, like, the process of making clothes has so many highs and lows, and a lot of those come from fitting, as well. I feel like we need to talk about that.

Helen: Mm-hmm. Yeah. When the body’s involved…

Caroline: Mm-hmm.

Helen: You just never know where the emotions are gonna take you.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. And like, you’re making your wedding dress right now. By the time this episode comes out, you will be married, so.

Helen: Officially.

Caroline: Yeah. But has that come up for you?

Helen: I mean, the fitting has not been so bad ’cause I’m using a pattern that I know fits me really well, and I kind of have a strong vision. But I have been having a lot of feelings about how much I should care about the dress.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Like, I kept waiting for that moment where I was like, I’m gonna make a ballgown and I’m gonna do couture techniques. And this is, like, the pinnacle of my sewing and it’s all brought me to this moment. And I’m gonna make this beautiful gown and it’s gonna be the most beautiful thing I’ve ever made. And it’s gonna be stunning and, and it is gonna be stunning. It’s, it’s a beautiful dress, but it just, that feeling of, like, wanting to make the ultimate dress just never came. And I just kept feeling like, I just kind of wanna make a pretty dress and wear it for six hours and never wear it again, and not make it this, like, big, monumental moment in my sewing journey.

Caroline: Yeah. That’s a lot of pressure. You’re putting, you’re putting a lot of pressure on yourself, so I’m glad that you’re letting that go a little bit. ‘Cause I don’t think it has to be that.

Helen: No, it doesn’t. Did you feel that way when you were making your wedding dress, that you wanted it to be, like, sort of the best thing you’ve ever made?

Caroline: Yeah, I put a similar pressure on myself and, like, I didn’t even wanna make my wedding dress to begin with, for that reason. Like, you know, years before I had been like, I’m never making my wedding dress. That’s too much pressure. And then I was like, okay, I guess I will. But yeah, no, for sure. Yeah, I’m trying to think back, like, in the moment I think I was just, I had a really clear vision of what I wanted, and I just wanted to execute that vision. And it wasn’t couture, it wasn’t, like, super fancy, but I kind of just, like, I did have that feeling of like, that’s the dress I want.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: But I don’t think everybody has that feeling. Even with dress shopping, I’m sure not everyone has that feeling,

Helen: Yeah. I think if my sewing experience and journey had been more focused on making gowns or couture sewing techniques or then it would maybe feel like more of a culmination of all of my skills and I could make something really extravagant, but I actually don’t have a lot of experience. So I was like, I guess I’d have to learn all of these skills and then apply them to my dress, which felt like a lot of pressure. And then I was talking to Sam about it, and he made a really good point where he was like, for a lot of people, a wedding dress is, like, maybe their first ever custom fitted garment. And it feels really special because it’s, like, for them, and it, you’re getting it, like, properly tailored and fitted to your body and you go through this, like, journey of picking and choosing, you get that creative autonomy and agency we were just talking about in a way you don’t necessarily get when you’re just shopping for ready-to-wear. But as a sewist, like, I’ve made, I don’t know, a hundred custom fitted dresses and, and I’ve enjoyed all of those, as well. And so I’m just kind of used to having nice custom-fitted clothes and so it just doesn’t feel that big a deal.

Caroline: Excuse you.

Helen: Humble brag.

Caroline: I, it’s so true. Sam is so right with that. And like, also, it’s just one day. And also, like you mentioned, like, you are doing so much for your wedding. You have all of these other things that you’re doing. It’s a very DIY wedding. So this is just, like, one piece of the puzzle that’s gonna make the day feel like you. And I’m realizing we shouldn’t talk too much about your wedding ’cause we’re gonna do a whole episode on it.

Helen: It’s true. Okay. And I’ll try not to repeat myself too much over there, but I, I have had some big sewing feelings about the wedding dress, for sure. But overall, I will say I’m feeling very positive about it, happy with where I’m at, with just feeling like, yeah, it’s just a nice dress for a nice, special day, you know?

Caroline: Awesome. Well, this will be a fun juxtaposition because I think when we record the episode about your wedding, you will have been married, so we’ll have a postmortem.

Helen: Exactly. We can talk about it in post and I’ll be like, oh, and then I spilled red wine on it, and then I ripped it, and who knows what’s gonna happen.

Caroline: Who knows? It’s gonna be a crazy day.

Helen: But anyways, back to fitting, because I do wanna talk about feelings around fitting and just feelings around bodies in general. It’s hard. From the moment you take those measurements to the moment you’re looking in the mirror at the final make, it can be hard, it can be messy, it can be emotional, positive and negative. So that’s just the truth.

Caroline: Yeah. It, it really is. Fitting is tough. You know, it’s funny, ’cause when I do fitting, like, I’m often doing it, like, in the mirror, like, privately at home. You know, you can take your time with it. The part that I struggle with sometimes is like, when I’ll take a picture of, like, let’s say I’ll be like, Shea, take a picture of my butt.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: You know, because I can’t see it properly. And then I’m looking at the picture and I’m like, wait, what? I’ve never seen my body from this angle. Like, you are analyzing fit from so many different angles, so close up. You’re so intimately aware of your body when you’re sewing and even shopping for clothes. I don’t feel like I’m that intimately aware of my body, you know?

Helen: No. Yeah. You’re thinking about all the different parts and how you can improve upon the fitting in those areas, or how you want it to fit to look a certain way, and I think intimacy is the perfect word. It is a very intimate experience. And that can be positive, too, because I feel like I’m so familiar with myself, my measurements, which you don’t need to be familiar with, but I happen to be familiar with. As sewists, we are, right? And we’re constantly measuring ourselves. So that’s like, sizing is just like, no big deal for me anymore. I’m like, it doesn’t, I don’t, what size am I? Who cares? I just need to know the numbers so I can make it fit.

Caroline: Yeah. Do you find that your relationship with size has changed since you started sewing? Because it’s almost like we’re desensitized to it. It’s like we’re constantly taking our measurements. We tell people, take your measurements every time you pick a size for a new pattern. ‘Cause weight fluctuates, you know? So I have a similar experience where I’m always taking my measurements.

Helen: Yeah, exactly. And you do, I think you do get desensitized and, like, obviously it’s different for different people. Some people are gonna be more sensitive about that than others. But for me, it’s like really just a nothing burger now. It’s like, they are truly just numbers and they don’t really hold, like, emotional weight. And it does fluctuate and you get used to seeing those fluctuations. So it’s just not, like, shocking or strange to witness yourself changing size.

Caroline: Mm-hmm. And like, isn’t it empowering that we can then make clothes for whatever size we are in that moment, you know?

Helen: Yeah, exactly. And that really does feel amazing. And I get frustrated when I go to ready-to-wear stores, as I know you do, too. Being at the, I’m at the upper end of a lot of ready-to-wear size ranges or out of the size range in most stores. So things don’t fit and I, I feel really frustrated and sad and bad when I’m in fitting rooms and things aren’t fitting. And I would so much rather be in my sewing room with my measuring tape, having control.

Caroline: It’s so true. Yeah. it’s always tricky to see something that doesn’t fit well on your body, but I’d 1,000,000% rather have that experience as a sewist when I’m sewing something and I know I have the power to fix it, than in a fitting room where you’re like, well, this is the best I can do, you know?

Helen: Yeah. And I try to practice more of a body neutrality approach. And you know, your body is your body. It just is. It’s not good or bad. And when I’m sewing, I try to take that approach as just, this is just sort of the physical form that I am working with.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: And I’m trying to avoid feeling emotions about that. But of course, we’re looking in the mirror, we’re trying to look good. So it’s really hard to balance those feelings. And when you’re looking at a badly fitting muslin, it just looks bad. It looks bad, you look bad.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: It’s so hard to not feel bad when you look bad.

Caroline: Yeah. No, for sure. And, like, bad is subjective. Like we’ve, you know what I mean? I think, like, we have the power to decide what looks good or bad to us. It can be difficult sometimes in the sewing community when there’s other people’s opinions involved, or when you’re thinking about what other people might think when you’re sharing something online or comments. And we’ve had conversations on the podcast in the past about, like, the word “flattering,” and I still feel pretty similarly. Like, I’m not trying to make clothes that look flattering on me. I don’t really care. Like, what even is flattering? Who am I flattering, you know? But I wanna look good. I wanna feel like I look good, I wanna feel confident, you know, whatever that looks like for me. And whatever that looks like for you. I think we should all decide that for ourselves. But it can be a journey. I don’t really know where I was going with that, but…

Helen: No, it’s fair. ‘Cause I was saying that it sucks when you look in the mirror and you look bad, but I was like, I was mostly picturing myself, like, especially with muslin, I think because the shade of cotton muslin, that, like, creamy white looks so bad on me.

Caroline: Yeah, yeah.

Helen: And then it’s, like, stiff and, like, it can just feel like, this garment is not gonna work. And then you make it in actual fabric and you’re like, oh, it’s actually really cute.

Caroline: Yeah. Muslin is the least flattering fabric that has ever been made.

Helen: Now that’s a good use of the word flattering, Caroline.

Caroline: But actually, that’s kind of an argument for using real fabric for wearable muslins, you know. Like, instead of using muslin, use a printed cotton, you know? Like, something…

Helen: Yeah. Yeah. If you have something like a bedsheet or something…

Caroline: Yeah, maybe a colour that you like, that maybe if you end up wearing the thing, you know, it’ll work out for you. Or even, yeah, I guess bedsheets could work, too.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Yeah. I think the fitting process is frustrating when it’s not fitting properly and also frustrating just when you feel like patterns aren’t made for you and you have to make so many adjustments to get to the finished product. And I know that’s the experience for a lot of sewists, where it’s just, like, the starting point feels so far from the finish line and there’s so many things you have to do to get from point A to point B. And more than average, maybe you’re looking at sewists in the community and it’s like, oh, everyone’s just whipping up this thing and it’s so easy. But for my body, I have to make all these adjustments. And that can be really frustrating and feel like a low. I’ve definitely seen people out there talking about taking lots of breaks.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Not overanalyzing, you know? Letting yourself sit with things, just doing one fitting session at a time so you don’t get in the kind of a downward spiral feeling.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: But yeah, it can be really, really hard.

Caroline: Yeah. And it does get easier with time, though, like, as you fit more garments or, like, learn your body, then you know what adjustments need to be made. Sometimes you can even make them before your first muslin by comparing pattern to pattern, and that can help you to get there quicker. But yeah, it’s tough when trying a new pattern company and maybe the, the fit is like really, really far off from what you were hoping for.

Helen: Yeah, exactly. But if you can persevere, getting a good fit feels incredible.

Caroline: Yes, totally. I feel like making a garment that fits you well is like a way of loving your body.

Helen: Yeah, it’s so true. And it fits like a glove and you made it for you. It’s like a little gift to yourself.

Caroline: Yeah. You’re taking care of yourself.

Helen: Yeah. Yeah. That feels so good. And then having the knowledge and the ability to just, like, duplicate it, too, and you’re like, well now I can make eight pairs of jeans that fit perfectly and I never have to go shopping for jeans again!

Caroline: Yeah. And that’s the power of a TNT, right? You find that tried and true pattern and you just run with it because why make anything else when you have the perfect pair of jeans?

Helen: I fall into that a lot. I really like making patterns over and over again. It’s also just fun to get in the zone with sewing and be able to just bang out a project without having to look too closely at the instructions. I love doing that.

Caroline: Yeah. Okay. Bodies, bodies, bodies.

Helen: That’s the name of a movie.

Caroline: Yeah, it is. Maybe that’s what we should call this episode. No, we have way more to talk about, obviously.

Helen: We did mention guilt at the beginning. And one of the things I feel is consumer guilt. It comes in many forms. ‘Cause I feel guilty when I buy and wear ready-to-wear things that I haven’t made. And I think that’s extra just because I share all my sewing and when I’m going to, like, a social event or something, I think I have to wear something I made. Otherwise people are gonna be like, you’re wearing pants from the Gap? Like, what? You’re such a fraud. I cannot believe that.

Caroline: Obviously that’s what someone would say to your face, Helen.

Helen: Obviously, yeah. No, I know it sounds a little crazy, but I do feel guilt about that. And I feel guilt about buying ready-to-wear sometimes. But also, as a fashion designer, I like going shopping and I like seeing what’s out there and I like trying new styles and that’s kind of a part of my process. So I do let myself purchase ready-to-wear sometimes.

Caroline: Yeah, and there’s some things that I could argue are just so much easier to buy ready-to-wear, you know? Or like, you might choose not to make a thing because it’s like, you’re like, I don’t have time to make myself a tank top, or whatever. You know? I can get that for a decent price in my size, and I don’t have to worry about it.

Helen: Yeah. I think my awareness of the fashion industry has grown so much since I started sewing. I’m so much more aware of fast fashion and I think about the impact that that has on the environment. And I much prefer to shop at thrift stores. Still love to thrift. Thrifting feels like green pastures. Go forth and thrift.

Caroline: Totally.

Helen: I don’t feel guilty about that, but I do feel guilty sometimes about the ready-to-wear. But I do think just having that awareness of it has shifted my shopping habits a lot. Like, I’ve always loved clothes, loved clothes, so I used to shop a lot. And since I started making my own clothes, I shop very little. So that’s a positive change.

Caroline: Yeah. Yeah. And I think going back to your original point of, like, being a sewist, going to a social event, having someone, the first thing they say is, did you make that? And then having to say, no, actually, I didn’t make it. Like, there is a feeling of guilt there. And I think, as much as possible, we need to try to let that go. ‘Cause, you know, I think that friend who’s asking that question isn’t then gonna judge you for not having made the thing. They’re just wanting to encourage you in your sewing practice and celebrate you if you did make the thing, right?

Helen: Yeah, totally.

Caroline: Yeah, Yeah. I realize the irony of being a fabric shop owner talking about buying too much fabric. So I feel like you need to lead this one, Helen.

Helen: Well, yeah, ’cause you’re taking fabric home and you’re not even buying it. So are you free from stash guilt, or do you still have some stash guilt?

Caroline: I have some stash guilt, but I’m never throwing away fabrics from my stash. Like, the fabrics from my stash that I don’t end up using, often I’ll bring them back into the office and they’ll get re-homed, you know? Either I’ll offer them to the team or we’ll sell them as remnants if they haven’t been washed or, you know, like I have this sort of, like, circular sort of situation that I can lean on. So I think that’s a bit of a unique situation. But there are things like fabric swaps or fabric resale, like maker resale sort of little marketplaces and things on Instagram where you could rehome your fabrics. But yeah, I think having a big stash is a very relatable thing. Like, a lot of people feel guilt about having too much fabric. And some people don’t feel guilt about having too much fabric, and that is great.

Helen: Which is fine, too. I mean, of all the things you could collect and, as humans, I think it’s just in our nature, a lot of us, anyway, to collect things. Love to collect stuff, love to amass a bunch of the thing that we love. And for sewists, it’s fabric. I love fabric. I love shopping for it. I love feeling it, handling it, playing with it. I like to play with my stash all the time. I love taking the fabrics out, draping them on my body. Like, actually, I probably do it, like, once every couple of days. Not the whole stash, but I’m always, like, in the mirror, like, pretending I’m making things out of my fabric. That’s a hobby in and of itself.

Caroline: Do you have any guilt around the size of your stash?

Helen: No, but I think that’s in part because I’m a business owner, so in my mind it’s like, it’s all, it’s all gravy.

Caroline: It’s your library.

Helen: Yeah. I feel like once they’re in the studio, I don’t really feel bad. Sometimes I feel bad when I’m, like, shopping for fabrics online and I know I’m buying stuff that I don’t need, or I know I’m, like, overdoing it a little bit. I’m like, I don’t actually need to be getting so many of this type of fabric. I already have a bunch of this in the stash. Like, I don’t necessarily need more. Or I’m not even sure what I’m gonna make with this, it’s just so pretty, I have to have it. I definitely encounter feelings of guilt in those situations. But often, once it’s, like, in my hands, I’m like, Ooh, mine.

Caroline: Yeah, and I feel like you pull a lot from your stash. Like, when you make samples for photo shoots, often I’ll see a fabric that’s, like, from a few seasons ago at Blackbird and I’ll be like, oh, there she is. Like, she found her place.

Helen: I know, I do love trying to pair fabrics with new patterns and stuff and pull stuff from the stash, but I have a lot of things that have been lingering. I’ve been thinking about doing a bit of a destash, actually, because I have quite a few things that have just been sitting for a while now and I’m not sure if they’re ever gonna find their place in my sewing journey. So I know there’s a local place that does, I think it’s called Granny’s Quilting Group Fabric Swap or something like that. And they do a big fabric swap every year. And so I think I’m gonna donate a bunch to them this year ’cause that will feel good. I just need to make some space, too.

Caroline: Yeah. Yeah. I’ve heard many sewists say, like, fabric shopping and collecting fabric is, it’s like its own hobby. It’s, like, kind of separate from sewing. I think that there is a lot of joy that comes from the process of planning projects and dreaming about what you’re gonna make with the fabrics that you have or the fabrics that you may or may not buy. And there’s different ways that you can do that, you know, sketchbooks or different digital products or, you know, platforms that you could use for that. But I do kind of think that that’s great. Like I support this, like, extra hobby of like…

Helen: Of course you do. J’accuse!

Caroline: Yeah, but like, I am guilty of that, too. Like, I love thinking about what I wanna sew and, like, there is almost guilt of, like, all the things that I’ve thought about sewing that haven’t come to fruition. You know, like, it’s not just the coming from the fabrics, it’s, like, the forgotten projects.

Helen: Yeah. Oh, we probably shouldn’t anthropomorphize the forgotten projects.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: (small voice) Please, Caroline, make me, please.

Caroline: I know, let’s have some sort of, like, funeral for all the garments that we didn’t make.

Helen: Sometimes they fully leave the potential queue, too. Like you, you might be thinking for years you’re gonna use this fabric to make this thing, and then after a while you’re just like, I actually don’t want that thing anymore.

Caroline: Yeah, and then maybe you have a new fun idea for that fabric.

Helen: Yeah, but also, maybe you feel really bad about that. I do think that, like, there can be a lot of feelings of guilt around those potential projects and this idea that I was gonna make that top and I just, like, never prioritized going in my sewing room. I never had the time. I got super busy. I’m so frustrated, I really wanted to make that gift for my mom and I never did it, or whatever it is. You know, like that can really weigh on people and make them feel like they’re, like, not allowed to sew, ’cause they never did the thing they said they were gonna do. So they, like, don’t have permission anymore to do a different thing. Yeah. That can be really hard.

Caroline: How do you keep your project queue organized? I’m curious.

Helen: I don’t.

Caroline: You just go where the wind takes you?

Helen: I do. Yeah, I don’t have, I, I’m trying to think. I mean, I have a lot of lists. I have lists everywhere in every digital place where it’s possible to make lists. I have lists of things and in my notebook, sometimes in the morning I’ll have my coffee and I’ll write down a list of things I wanna sew for summer, and I’ll write them all down. But I don’t hold myself to that. It’s more just like fun to think, you know, fun to brainstorm. Yeah.

Caroline: An idea dump. Yeah.

Helen: Exactly. And when I do have a moment to just sew something for my personal sewing practice, I just kind of pick the thing that I’m most excited about.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Which I think is a good strategy. Like I was saying, if you’re feeling, like, guilty that you’re like not allowed to make something ’cause you didn’t make that thing you said you were gonna make, just no.

Caroline: Yeah. Just no.

Helen: Just no. Make the thing you’re excited to make. Just go in your sewing space or set up your sewing machine and just start a project you’re excited about, even if you haven’t finished your last project. It’s about enjoying sewing.

Caroline: Yeah. Don’t feel guilty about not finishing a project. That’s a whole other thing.

Helen: I know, it’s true. And that can really prevent you from continuing. And like, project paralysis is so real. I have that when I have a lot of different projects on the go and I’m just like, which one should I do? And it’s easier said than done sometimes to just, like, get right to it and make something. I do a lot of forcing myself, which is maybe not a strategy that will work for most people, but it works for me.

Caroline: Yeah. You just muscle your way into the sewing room and…

Helen: I do.

Caroline: Yeah. Oh, this kind of sounds like a great horror movie concept where there’s, like, some invisible monster that’s, like, forcing you to sew.

Helen: You’ve been watching too many horror movies. Just in time for Halloween…

Caroline: Yeah, I do feel project paralysis, for sure. Or, like, procrastinating. Actually, doing a project, like, I’ll sometimes go into my sewing room and, instead of starting a project, I’ll be like, no, I’m gonna clean instead. I’m gonna clean this. I’m gonna reorganize my whole closet, refold my whole stash. You know?

Helen: Tidying and organizing is a lot of people’s procrastination step and it’s good in a sewing space. There’s often lots of things to tidy and organize and it’s usually quite welcome. Yeah. Sometimes I’ll do little things, like I’m just gonna do my future self a favour and I’m gonna set up the sewing machine and the serger for the project. I’m gonna thread, I’m gonna, like, load the bobbin, thread the machine, put the right serger thread in, put the pins in the right place. I’m gonna, like, kind of just organize everything so that it’s ready for me when I am ready to sew. And that’s often immediately after I do the organizing.

Caroline: Yeah. It’s like you’re tricking yourself.

Helen: Yeah. A little bit.

Caroline: Yeah. Oh my gosh. Yeah. And I think, again, like, thinking about getting stuck on a project or, like, forcing, feeling like you’re forcing yourself to sew something that you actually don’t want to sew. I try to look at it as like books, where it’s like, if I’m not into a book, I’ve gotten pretty good at just ditching it and starting a different book. You know? Like, it’s not worth it. ‘Cause years past, like, I’ve been reading the same book for six months and I tell myself I am not allowed to read another book until I finish this book. But then I just never read, you know?

Helen: Yeah, I’ve fallen into that trap, for sure. I was just thinking about another thing that I feel guilt about, which isn’t on this list, but I have such a hard time getting rid of handmade clothes. I have storage bins full of clothes that I made that don’t fit anymore, and they should go to the thrift store or the consignment store and get a new life and be loved and appreciated. And instead they’re in a dank bin and it’s so sad. But I just, like, cannot let them go. I’m so bad at that.

Caroline: Okay. Let’s, let’s dive a little deeper. What is holding you back? Like, what is making you feel so attached to these, these things?

Helen: I wish I had an answer.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: I’m really trying to think. In my mind, I think I can save them. In my mind, these are, like, refashioning bins and I’m gonna take these pieces and I’m gonna add more fabric to the sides, or I’m gonna turn this dress into a skirt or whatever, and I’m gonna, like, fix it.

Caroline: Mm-hmm.

Helen: So maybe I just wanna, like, fix everything.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Maybe I need a real therapist.

Caroline: I’m just like, mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah.

Helen: Yeah. I also have a really hard time getting rid of plants in my garden that are, like, not doing well or like…

Caroline: Oh yeah.

Helen: You know, I always wanna rescue every single plant in my garden. Yeah. I think those things might be related.

Caroline: It’s so interesting. Yeah. ‘Cause I think we feel this attachment to clothes that we made ’cause they’re like a moment in time and sometimes, like, the fabric is really special to us or you remember a time when this garment fit you and you loved it and you don’t wanna let that go. But you have a lot of clothes and you’re always making new things.

Helen: I know and, and like, you’re describing this beautiful relationship with this garment. Most of them, that’s not the case. It’s, like, something I didn’t even like that much, that I hardly ever wore.

Caroline: Well, girl. You gotta let it go, then.

Helen: I know. Let it go. Let it go. I know, it’s, I struggle. It’s one of my biggest things with…the closet is a mess and I can’t, I can’t let go of anything.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Yeah, you’re good at that. You’re always clearing out your closet and just, like, making room for new things.

Caroline: I’m pretty good at that. Yeah. Yeah. And it’s very out of sight, out of mind for me. I’m like, once it’s gone, it’s so rare that I think about it again.

Helen: And, honestly, same. I don’t think I would, I don’t even know what’s in the bins, but every time I open them, I’m like, oh, this is cute.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: I could, I could fix this.

Caroline: What if you didn’t open them? What if you just took the bins to the consignment store and said, don’t make me look.

Helen: Okay, so the next feeling we’re talking about is…

Caroline: Okay, we’re moving on. Moving on.

Helen: No, that’s a strategy. I’m sure there are people out there who can relate to both of us. People who love to get rid of things and people who hate to get rid of things. I also save a lot of fabric scraps. Huge fabric scrap hoarder over here.

Caroline: Yeah. You have a lot of space, too, I feel like. Like you have a big sewing space. You have a big closet.

Helen: Yeah, there’s space to keep it, which does make it easier to keep, for sure. Yeah. And I do have all these plans for my sewing scraps, as well, that I’m gonna like, I’m gonna help them live their best little sewing scrap life.

Caroline: Are there any therapists listening? Can we get some advice for Helen over here? I’m unqualified.

Helen: I was watching a reel where this woman was like, does anyone else feel bad when they, like, don’t use all of their plates and like the plate on the bottom of the plate stack never gets to get eaten off of and, like, you feel bad for that plate? And I’m like, yeah, that’s me.

Caroline: I do not relate to that. Wow. I have my favourite plates that I always use, and the other ones can die.

Helen: See? Whereas I am like, they’re all beautiful and they should all get equal opportunity to have dinner on them. Or like, I’m always picking a different mug for my coffee ’cause I’m like, they all should have the chance to be used.

Caroline: Well, you do have a really great mug collection, so yeah.

Helen: Yeah, maybe the mugs are more of a better, a better example than the plates.

Caroline: But when all the mugs and plates are beautiful…

Helen: This is just a little glimpse into my psyche here, anyways. We don’t have a solution for getting rid of things. Other than: it’s okay to get rid of your sewing even though you worked hard on it, even though you spent money on it.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: I’m gonna practice what I preach. I’m gonna try,

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: I’m gonna try harder.

Caroline: Well, also give yourself permission to just, like, let yourself keep a box of the things, you know?

Helen:Yeah. It’s not hurting anybody.

Caroline: It’s not hurting anybody.

Helen: Yeah, maybe what I need to do is let go of the guilt.

Caroline: Yeah. Yeah. You’re allowed to keep it. Exactly. Like I, that’s the thing is, like, we are talking so much about guilt today and, like, obviously I’m working through this in therapy, so, and I am not a therapist, but, like, there are so many things that we make ourselves feel guilty for and, like, what if we just let some of that go, you know?

Helen: Yeah. The guilt doesn’t actually need to be so strong in those situations. Truly, they are just bins in the closet. I don’t need that closet space. I don’t need those bins.

Caroline: Yeah. Put a quilt on ‘em and…

Helen: I, the other, like, month, we hung curtains up so we couldn’t see the bins anymore. So now it’s, like, truly, totally fine.

Caroline: Out of sight. Love it. Perfect. Those curtains, they’re doing the heavy lifting.

Helen: Yeah. Okay. What about feeling frustrated when you don’t get something or the instructions are confusing and you think, I should understand this, but I don’t. What’s wrong with me?

Caroline: Yeah. I’ve certainly been there, usually in more advanced projects. Or like when you’re trying a new technique to do something that you’ve already done, but it’s like a different way. Like, I’m thinking about a time when I had to do welt pockets on a coat, but the process for the welt pocket construction was completely different than what I’d done in the past. And I was like, I’m just gonna go for it and follow this designer’s instructions. And then I was, like, so confused and so upset the whole time. I was like, I should have done it my way. You know?

Helen: Yeah. I’ve definitely experienced that, too.

Caroline: Yeah. It’s frustrating and, I’m sure, beginners out there who are, everything is new, everything is unknown, you know? That can be really hard and really frustrating and really difficult to persevere and, like, push through that challenge of feeling like a beginner.

Helen: Learning new things is hard and being a beginner at things is an uncomfortable feeling a lot of the time. And, like, logically, we know that we don’t know everything, and that’s okay, but it can feel like there’s a lot of implied knowledge in sewing patterns, especially if you’re using older sewing patterns. There’s just sort of this assumption that you know a lot of things that you don’t and that can really, like, bog you down sometimes and start to make you feel kind of dumb where you’re like, what? Am I supposed to understand how to do that? No, absolutely not. It’s a hundred percent okay to just google stuff. Sewing patterns never have all the information in them that you’re gonna need and sometimes you just need to see somebody do it or you just need to have it explained a different way or you’re just missing the translation of one word and then it will all make more sense. So yeah, I do think, like, learning and practicing perseverance and just, like, pushing through…

Caroline: Yeah. It’s rewarding, right?

Helen: Yeah. And it’s a huge part of the sewing experience and learning anything, really. Not just sewing. But it is really rewarding and it’s good practice for life, too.

Caroline: Yeah. It, exactly, it’s, like, humbling, but great experience to have failures in your sewing practice and have challenges in your sewing practice. I would encourage, listener, if you’re ever in a situation where you’re feeling really frustrated and confused, ask yourself, how long have I been in this sewing room? Have I taken a break? Do I need to go to bed? You know, because often in those moments, if you just take a step back, you just take a breather, you watch a video, you do some self care, you come back the next day with fresh eyes, you might have a bit of a new take and you’ll be able to push through.

Helen: You can really get into, like, a negative mindset or just kind of a, a bit of a spiral sometimes in the sewing room. And that can go for, like, looking at finished projects, too. Sometimes you finish something and it’s been a bit of a battle and a struggle and you’re kind of, like, over it and you look in the mirror and you hate it and you’re like, this was such a waste of time. It didn’t work out. Oh, I’m so over it. Again, take a step back, take a day, try it on tomorrow. Different light. I mean, you might just find out that it’s super cute.

Caroline: Yeah, it’s so true. There have been times when I’ve finished a project, hated it. Came back in a couple days and loved it.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Right? Different styling, different lighting. Totally different outlook. Yeah.

Caroline: Oh yeah. It’s…the styling. Oh my gosh. You just made me think of, like, often when I finish a sewing project, I am haggard, you know? Like, bags under the eyes, hair greasy, I’m wearing pajamas, you know, like…

Helen: Mm-hmm. No bra on.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. No bra. Like, I’m not my cutest self. And then I put it on and I’m like, ew, like I don’t like how this looks on me. But come back to it when you’re feeling cute again and…

Helen: Yeah, exactly. Put it aside. Yeah. And I do have a, like, no hard things at night policy. I don’t do, like, zippers and buttonholes after 10:00 PM. No. No.

Caroline: Yeah. I sometimes break that rule, but it is a good rule, for sure.

Helen: It just never goes well. Yeah. But failure is a big part of sewing. You’re gonna have failed steps. When I sew with my friends in person, family members, they’re often surprised when I make mistakes in my projects. And they’re like, oh, it’s so good to know that even YOU make sewing…. Yeah, I make sewing mistakes every time I sew a project, every time. I’m always sewing things together with the wrong sides together, or like backwards, or I’m ripping holes in stuff with my seam ripper. I’m, like, messing stuff up constantly.

Caroline: Yeah. Same.

Helen: Yeah. And I’m just used to it. And you fix it and, like, yeah, I get annoyed, but I’m also just accustomed to it. This is part of the sewing process.

Caroline: Yeah, a hundred percent. I don’t think I’ve ever had a project where I haven’t needed a seam ripper. It’s just part of, part of life, part of sewing life.

Helen: Number one tool.

Caroline: You gotta get comfortable with it.

Helen: Okay, Caroline, I think we should end on a high note and talk about some of the best feelings in sewing, like the rush you feel when you achieve a perfect finish on something.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. I think, for me, topstitching, like a perfectly topstitched, like, patch pocket or like a jeans fly where you get the curve perfect. Or like a really, really beautiful set of buttonholes where, like, not one of them messed up.

Helen: Even just like a bar tack that, like, you perfectly placed and it, like none of the stitches went out of where you wanted them. Like they all just go perfect.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Mm.

Caroline: Or like a really good hem. Even gathers, like when you get some good, well placed, even gathers, you know?

Helen: Even gathers can be satisfying. No, it’s so true, when you gather them up and they all just kind of, like, fold really perfectly like a little accordion and, like, oh, I love that feeling.

Caroline: Yeah, I know. It is, it’s definitely a rush and I don’t know, it’s like, it, it makes me feel like, oh, I’m, I’m actually good at this. Like, I’m, you know, like, oh, I, this is why I do this. Like, this is really fun and I can make something look incredible. Like, it’s such a rush.

Helen: Yeah. It is such a rush. Every once in a while, too, like, I mean, I try stuff on mid-project a lot. I’m one of those people that’s like, after every step I’m in the mirror, like, holding it up like, oh, cute. And like, sometimes it just looks so good. Like, you just realize, that moment when you realize that it’s gonna be so cute and, like, that it’s going so well and it’s everything you envisioned and it’s looking so amazing. It just feels so good. You’re like, ah, yes, okay. This is gonna be awesome.

Caroline: Yeah, a hundred percent. I don’t think I try things on as much as you do or, like, hold things up to my body as much as you do. But when I finish a project and I get to put it on and, like, there’s that moment where you’re like, oh yeah.

Helen: Yeah!

Caroline: Oh yeah! Like, this is it. This is what I wanted. And like, often that is followed by me, like, running out to Shea and being like, look what I just finished! You know? And you get to show it off and, like, celebrate it with someone. Or even when we’re doing our, like, sewing sessions over FaceTime and we finish something and we get to all, like, ooh and ahh over each other’s finished garments. Like, there’s something about that. It’s really special.

Helen: It is really special. It’s so fun. It is like another kind of euphoric feeling and it’s really fun to, like, wear it out for the first time, too, or to receive a compliment on it. When you make something, wear it out for the first time, and within, like, whatever, 30 minutes of being out in public, someone says, cute shirt. Oh my gosh. Is there a better feeling?

Caroline: Honestly, no. I had an experience recently, ’cause we take Sally to daycare a few times a week, dog daycare. And the gals that work there are so nice and they love Sally so much but, like, I don’t really get to know them. Very often we don’t small talk; it’s usually just, like, a drop off and pick up. And I recently dropped off Sally and one of the girls was like, you have really great style. Like I, you are always coming in really cool outfits. And I was like, oh, I made, I make most of my clothes. Like I, I’ve been trying really hard to, like, tell people that I sew. Yeah, to answer with, I made it. And it’s such a point of connection. ‘Cause often you’ll get like, oh my gosh, I wanna learn how to sew. Or like, oh, you’re, so, you get that validation. But also you can have a fun conversation with someone where you’re like, oh, well, you should check out this pattern company, I think you’d love them. Or, I sell fabric, or, I have this podcast that you can listen to that’s gonna help you. You know?

Helen: I love that. You could be changing someone’s life.

Caroline: I know, I know. And it’s so fun. And also, anytime someone tells you you look good is, like, such a confidence boost. Right? But when it’s because you sewed the thing or, like, you’re wearing something that you sewed, it’s like an extra level of fun and celebration and excitement, for me, at least.

Helen: Yeah, because it’s like, not only are they complimenting how you look or how the garment or whatever looks. They’re complimenting, like, your creative decision making and your design choices and your hard work. Like, there’s so many layers to that compliment that they don’t even realize. I try to compliment people on their outfits because I love how it feels when people do it to me.

Caroline: Yeah. Me too.

Helen: So when I’m like, out at like, you know, a craft fair or something…it’s obviously situational. Sometimes it can be inappropriate to comment on people’s looks. So I try to only do it when it feels appropriate, but like, it’s so nice to just give people compliments and say, wow, you’re, I love this shirt. It looks so good on you.

Caroline: Yeah. And when you’re with sewists, I feel like it’s, like, it’s always appropriate, right? If you’re a sew… like at in-person shopping at Blackbird, like it’s just constant. People are like, oh my God, what pattern is that? Oh my God, this looks amazing. Oh, the fabric looks so good. Oh my God, you wear the thing. And like, everyone comes in in their handmade clothes and, like, it’s just this, like, everyone has permission to compliment…

Helen: It’s a free-for-all.

Caroline: Each other on what they’re wearing, and we’re all gassing each other up and it’s so fun.

Helen: It’s such a fun event to wear something you’ve made to, as well, like, in-person sewing events like that. Oh, it’s so fun to choose what you’re gonna wear and show off.

Caroline: Yeah, yeah. And just, like, being a part of the sewing community and whether that’s, you know, purely on social media, online through blogs, or whether that’s in-person events, like, it’s just so special to have this, like, niche community that you can relate to that you feel like you belong to. Like, I feel really lucky that the sewing community exists and that we get to all hang out and gush about sewing.

Helen: I know, I know. I love the sewing community so much and it really is amazing to, like, discover that somebody you meet is also a sewist and it’s like you have this instant connection and you can be insta-friends and have something to talk about. I always love when that happens randomly. I’m like, oh, you sew? Oh my gosh.Thank goodness. We have so much to talk about.

Caroline: Yeah, yeah. Oh, it is. It’s so great. We’re so lucky.

Helen: Yeah, and also the sense of community is not just, like, in real time. Like, I also love the fact that sewing extends back generations and is gonna continue for generations. It feels like this connection over time, as well, that we have with, like, our own family members who maybe taught us to sew or they sewed or just people in the past in general be sewing.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: It just, like, makes me feel connected to the broader community over time and to women, especially. I really like that feeling of connection and participating in this hobby together and, like, just gassing each other up.

Caroline: Yeah. Totally. I hope that someday one of my nieces or my nephew will show interest in sewing so that I can be the person that teaches them and encourages them and shows them, you know, what you can do with this hobby. And yeah. I think it’s such a fun thing that we get to pass that on, as well.

Helen: Yeah. Oh my gosh, totally.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Okay. Well that was nice and warm and fuzzy.

Caroline: It was. We probably have to wrap up this therapy session, but that’s all the time we have for today.

Helen: I do, I really did enjoy talking about sewing feelings, though. Maybe we’ll do a part two. We’d love to hear our listeners’ perspectives on these topics. Or if there’s sewing feelings that you’re like, I can’t believe they didn’t cover this.

Caroline: Yeah, we didn’t cover it all.

Helen: We’d love to hear about that.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: So comment on our posts on social media this week, or email us, or however you wanna get in touch.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: We wanna hear you and validate you and your feelings.

Caroline: We really do. Thanks so much for listening, y’all. That’s it for today’s episode of Love to Sew. You can find me, Caroline, at Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns, and Helen at Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co. We’re recording in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

Helen: You can support Love to Sew and get access to bonus content by subscribing on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. You even get access to the back catalog of bonus episodes and that’s over a hundred hours of Love to Sew. Go to patreon.com/lovetosew or check out our podcast page on Apple Podcasts for more info.

Caroline: You can head to lovetosewpodcast.com to find our show notes. They’re filled with links and pictures from this episode. If you’d like to get in touch with us, leave us a message at 1-844-SEW-WHAT. That’s 1-844-739-9428. Or send us an email at [email protected].

Helen: Thanks to our amazing podcast team. Lisa Ruiz is our creative assistant and Jordan Moore of The Pod Cabin is our editor. And thank you for listening. We will talk to you next week.

Caroline: Bye-bye.

Helen: Bye.

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We’re back with the first episode of our Fall 2026 season! In this one, we answer listener questions about fitting small and large busts, pattern matching, how to get jeans to cup your butt, our current TNT patterns, and more. Plus, we recap our summer break and share some fun listener feedback!

The transcript for this episode is coming soon!

Show Notes: 

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Resources:

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We announce the We Sew topics for our fall season and discuss how YOU can join the fun!

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We share our listeners’ stories and suggestions for sewing with others in real life! We chat about guilds, clubs, classes, Zoom sewcials, friend meet-ups, and even sewing birthday parties. And we share our own stories, too.

The transcript for this episode is on this page at the end of the show notes.

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From the Listener Questions Section:

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Resources:

Other Mentions:

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Caroline: We are recording today on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, including Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Musqueam, and K’ómoks first nations. ​Hello and welcome to Love To Sew. I’m Caroline, the owner of Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns.

Helen: And I’m Helen, the designer behind Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co.

Caroline: We’re two sewing buds who love to sew, and it’s all we know how to talk about.

Helen: In this episode, we share our listeners’ stories and suggestions for sewing with others. We chat about guilds, clubs, classes, zoom sewcials, friend meetups, and even sewing birthday parties. And we share our own stories, too.

Caroline: If you love to sew, this is your show. Hi, Helen.

Helen: Hi, Caroline.

Caroline: How are you?

Helen: I’m doing well, thanks. How are you?

Caroline: I’m good, I’m good. This is our last episode of the season.

Helen: I know! that went by fast, as always.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: It was a good one, though. I had so much fun doing all of our We Sew projects and I loved all of our guests this season. It’s been a blast.

Caroline: It’s been such a blast. I have to say, highlight for me: We Sew Scraps.

Helen: It’s true. That was just last week and I, I re-listened to that one because I remember having such a good time recording it and so I wanted to listen back. And I had a great time listening.

Caroline: Oh, okay. I gotta go back and listen. I’ve just been enjoying sharing about the process over on socials this week. And yeah, I had so much fun and I’ve been actually getting a lot of wear out of my jacket ’cause it’s been chilly in Vancouver.

Helen: There you go. It happened. It got cold again.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: That’s awesome. I think a highlight for me, and only me, probably, was our 300th episode. No, I’m joking. It was so special. It was such a good episode.

Caroline: I know.

Helen: Amazing to celebrate.

Caroline: I can’t believe we’re past 300 now. It’s just wild. We’ve been doing this for a long time.

Helen: Yeah, just gonna keep on going. We gotta plan the next season.

Caroline: Yeah, I know, clock’s ticking. Well, listeners, if you wanna catch up with us in the off-season, you can join us over on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. That is the best way to support Love to Sew. You can join us over there. There’s a subscription on Apple Podcasts and Patreon. And we’d love to see you.

Helen: Yes, you get access to bonus content every month. We do episodes where we catch up and talk about our lives. I’m actually having my wedding this summer. Sam and I are finally tying the knot. And so there’s a lot of behind-the-scenes planning, dress making, all that fun stuff happening. So if you want to hear about that, join us over on Patreon. It really means so much to us if you’re able to support us, even if it’s just for a month or two. And if that’s not in the cards for you right now, we totally understand. Um, we just love that you’re here listening.

Caroline: Yeah, we love it. Thank you so much. And if you wanna support us for free, you can actually go rate us or review us, rate us and review us, over on Apple Podcasts. And we haven’t asked for this in a little while. And it would really, really help us. We’d love to get some more recent reviews up on there, so please go do that. We’d be so thankful.

Helen: Yes. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Okay, Caroline, before we get into this in-person sewing meetups chat, we’re gonna start off this episode with some listener feedback. We’ve got a voicemail here from Amanda.

Caroline: Let’s do it.

Amanda: Hi, Love to Sew Podcast. It’s Amanda from Los Angeles, California. I was listening to a recent podcast episode and wanted to share about the names of my sewing machines. I crowdsourced for the name of my most recent sewing machine. And, uh, the winner was: Hemingway. Even though I hate hemming. It’s one of my least favourite sewing tasks. I decided to adopt the name ’cause I love a good pun. And for my two vintage machines, I asked my boyfriend for name suggestions. And for my 401A, he decided that it was appropriate to name her Ella Fitzgerald because she’s a powerful Singer. And for the second one, he decided that it would be a good idea to call it Ariana Grande because it’s a Featherweight Singer. So I guess punny names are where I go for my sewing machines. Bye.

Caroline: This is so punny, Amanda. I think everyone who has a Singer machine should be naming it after a real-life singer. We have some ideas for folks.

Helen: Yes! I love this concept so much.

Caroline: Yes. Okay. So you could name your machine Adele, after a beautiful singer.

Helen: That’s true. A beloved singer: maybe Whitney Houston.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. Whitney Houston! Love her. A fussy singer: Mariah Carey. No offense to Mariah.

Helen: She knows.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: A loud singer: maybe Sia.

Caroline: Yeah. You could do an old singer: Barbara Streisand. Oh, I love it.

Helen: Babs. “This is my machine, Babs.”

Caroline: Oh!

Helen: Oh, it’s such a great concept. I wish I had a Singer in my collection right now to name Beyonce. I would just name her Beyonce, obviously.

Caroline: Yeah, 100%. I know, I don’t have a Singer, either, so we’ll have to rectify that so I can name her.

Helen: I like the Featherweight Ariana Grande Singer. That’s what my mom has. So maybe I’ll inherit an Ariana Grande one day.

Caroline: Amazing. Oh, well thank you so much for calling in, Amanda.

Helen: Yes.

Caroline: Next up, we have a question from Dana. Dana wrote, “I have been sewing clothes for a couple of years now. I started by sewing dresses for my little girl and then I got brave enough to start sewing for myself. I’m hooked! I would love to sew some things for my husband but it’s tricky because he’s on the larger side and it’s hard to find patterns. Do you know a source for ‘plus size’ men’s patterns, especially more complicated things like a blazer or suits? Thank you. I really enjoy your podcast!”

Helen: Hi, Dana. Okay. You are definitely right. Men’s sewing patterns are harder to find than women’s patterns, but they are out there. Many of them are more casual. We even have some casual men’s sewing patterns in the Helen’s Closet pattern collection. But it’s challenging to find those nicer pieces like fitted blazers and suits. And those are also challenging to make without some experience in tailoring. So we do have some places to start looking for patterns and resources. Simplicity has a couple of blazer patterns that go up to a 52 inch chest. One of them was designed by a former guest on the pod, Mimi G. Bootstrap Fashion has a couple of options for blazers. If you’re not familiar, this company makes custom patterns based on a bunch of measurements. So you could measure your husband to get those numbers, enter them, and they’ll make the pattern for you. And that’s a really good starting place for your project.

Caroline: Ooh. Yeah, that’s a great one. Free Sewing also has the Jaeger Jacket, and this site also makes custom patterns, but they’re actually free. As for pants, you can use any dress pants pattern that you can find. I would just use the same fabric as the blazer and that will make a suit for you. There are a lot more options for pants patterns for men out there, I think, than other types of patterns.

Helen: True. And we found a couple of resources for indie pattern companies that make plus size men’s patterns. So we’ll link them up for you in the show notes, a couple of lists out there. And you also might wanna look up some tailoring techniques before you make a suit jacket. So we have a few episodes that might help with that. Episode 188: Tailoring for Them with Emilia Bergoglio and Episode 266: Jackets.

Caroline: And Closet Core’s Jasika Blazer resources are really helpful, too. So we’ll link that up for you. And have so much fun sewing for your husband, Dana. He is one lucky guy.

Helen: Yeah, he is. I really enjoy sewing for Sam, when I do get around to it. And he wears the pieces that I make him a lot, and that is, honestly, the best feeling. It’s so satisfying.

Caroline: I need to sew more for Shea. Poor guy.

Helen: He is fine. He’s got you.

Caroline: Alright, let’s get onto the show. So, sewing is a solitary activity for a lot of us, and there are nice things about sewing alone: listening to a podcast, wink, wink, getting totally absorbed in your work, having the time to think about life. I personally love watching a little Netflix documentary, murder show…

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: But sewing with others is also amazing. And it can be so energizing to be around other creative people. You can bounce ideas off them, get inspired by their projects, learn tips and techniques from them, and you can nurture a friendship while you get sewing done. That feels so, so good. I know Helen and I both have experience with this, so we’re gonna share a bunch of stories from our listeners today about how they sew with other people. But before we get into that, I feel like we should share some of our own stories of sewing IRL, which means “in real life,” by the way.

Helen: Yes. I really love sewing in person, with other people. I also enjoy sewing by myself, and I do that a lot. But I will say that my sewing with other people time is precious to me. It is so special and so fun. And I have a weekly sewing date with a couple of friends, and we get together on Tuesday nights for two hours, 7:00 to 9:00 PM, and we sew together. And we don’t always make a ton of progress. Some nights we’re, like, on fire and we get so much done. And some nights it’s, like, a lot of chitchat, a lot of, like, you know, not necessarily your head’s in the zone of the sewing part of it. And so you may not make that much progress, but just being together in person and bouncing ideas off each other and trying things on and showing it off when you finish, it’s so much fun. And that time is really special to me, in part, too, because I set it aside as my personal sewing time and I separate that from my work sewing. So I don’t work on work stuff. I just think, what do I want to sew? What am I interested in making? And that Tuesday night time is, like, the time that I am guaranteed to get that sewing time that’s not related to work, so that’s been really nice.

Caroline: That’s so great. And kudos to you for doing this weekly. I feel like carving out time weekly can be challenging when you’re busy and you have work and life and other social commitments.

Helen: It’s so true. Yeah, it can be really challenging. I think the three of us have made it a high priority, and that helps a lot. And also, because there’s three of us, if one of us can’t make it, that’s okay. We do it anyways, you know? So we have like, there’s a contingency plan, almost.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: If you have three people, then at least you’ll have two people. And often we have all three. And even when I’m away, ’cause I host it at my studio, ’cause I have the large space and the big table and that’s all, it’s all set up and ready to go. So they come to my house. And even when I am away, they do it without me.

Caroline: Oh yeah, at your house?

Helen: At my house. Yeah.

Caroline: I love that.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: They’re like, “I’ll just let myself in. Thank you.”

Helen: They have the door code and they just come over and they sew without me and I love that.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. I love that, too. That’s so funny. Adrianna comes over and sews when I’m not here as well, sometimes, which I think is awesome. And I love that she uses the space. But yes, I also love sewing with other people. I don’t do it as much as you do, but having my sister-in-law, Adrianna, learn how to sew has been so wonderful. She truly has the sewing bug right now. She was over at my house sewing all day yesterday while I was at work.

Helen: Amazing. Didn’t she just have a baby, like, two seconds ago?

Caroline: Yes, she had a baby a couple months ago. She’s on mat leave right now. And now that the baby’s, you know, sleeping a little bit more, I think she’s just, like, really thinking about what she wants to sew.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: So yeah, it’s really nice that she comes over and uses my space and once in a while I join her. But my space at home is, like, kind of small to have two people sewing in, so often it’s just me sort of, like, supporting her if she needs help. She’s even brought a friend over here to sew together, work on a project together in the space here, which is so sweet. And she comes over to the warehouse to cut out projects, as well. But yeah, I mean, we’ve done sewing days on Zoom with our friend who lives in Calgary.

Helen: Yeah, and I love those, too. That has been so special, as well, getting together, especially with somebody who lives out of town, ‘cause you wouldn’t normally get to see them. But it feels like old times, like we’re just hanging out sewing. We used to do it in person and doing it on Zoom is a little different, but honestly, it’s mostly the same. You know, there’s the whir of the machine. Oftentimes we’re just quietly working away and then somebody will kind of wander over to their, to their computer and be like, “Hey, what do you guys think about this?”

Caroline: Yeah, I know. It’s so great. There’s always the, like, you know, 30 to 45 minutes of catch up at the beginning. And then we, we get into our projects. It’s fun to talk about what we’re working on and, yeah, it’s just, it’s such a good vibe. I love it. And like you said, often that’s the only time that I really get to work on a project that’s just for me, you know, that’s not really work-related, which I love. I also love, like, low-stakes sewing get-togethers. At work, oftentimes we’ll just, like, stay after work to cut out a project. And it’s just, like, an hour, a bunch of us are cutting. There’s no machines. We get to use the big tables. We get to talk about what we’re working on and, you know, support each other.

Helen: Yeah. Yeah, totally. Yeah, and you can do, like, more themed get-togethers like that. It doesn’t always have to be bringing the machines and setting up the irons and everything. Like, cutting out projects or even just cutting out patterns, paper and scissors, is, that’s time-consuming and it’s quite nice to do it with friends and chat at the same time, so.

Caroline: Totally, yeah. And we’ve both been on sewing retreats, which has been really lovely. And that’s a really great way to kind of fit in a lot of sewing into a short amount of time. Get a lot done.

Helen: Yeah. That’s true. I always leave sewing and quilting retreats feeling on top of the world, honestly, like my cup is so full. My heart is so full. I love getting away. I love big things, like we’ve done Camp Workroom Social with tons of people and meeting all people from all over the world and doing all sorts of fun activities in a big group. But I also love more intimate retreats with just a few people. I’ve done some quilting retreats with just, like, four or five people, and that has been really, really lovely. You spend, like, all this nice quality time together and it’s just peaceful and pleasant.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: That sounds so nice. Yeah, and classes are great, too. This is a great way to meet other sewing people in real life. It doesn’t have to be a whole weekend retreat. You can just take a class maybe once a week for a few weeks, or maybe it’s just one night or one intensive day. Personally, I don’t think I would’ve learned how to do bra-making if I hadn’t taken a class. That was sort of the, like, motivation I needed to get into, like, a new little niche in sewing. So if there’s a particular technique or type of garment that you really wanna learn how to sew, but it feels intimidating, taking a class is a great way to do that. And also you get to meet sewing people IRL.

Helen: Yeah, it’s so true, and you never know who you might meet. You might meet your new sewing best friend.

Caroline: Totally. And also teaching family members and friends how to sew. We kind of touched on this already, but I cannot wait to teach my nieces and nephew how to sew if they want to. I really, really look forward to that because it’s just so fun to see somebody get into sewing in those early stages of excitement where they’re discovering new patterns and learning how to pick the right fabric. And I’m like, I can be your support for that. I love it.

Helen: Yeah. I can be your guide. Exactly. No, it is really satisfying. I haven’t taught, like, one-on-one, somebody how to sew in a while, but I have gotten people into it. I’ve been the catalyst for them wanting to learn more and I definitely enjoy being the guide and teaching them about what fabric to choose and going to the fabric store with them and helping them pick things out and give them sizing advice and stuff. It’s so nice to have somebody to lean on for those kinds of things when you’re starting out.

Caroline: Yeah, totally. Well, we have some really great listener stories today that we wanna share. Should we get into it, Helen?

Helen: Yes. First up, we have a voicemail from Amber.

Amber: Hi, Helen and Caroline. This is Amber from Bellingham, Washington. I’m just south of you in the US. Aspiring Canadian, but that’s a different topic. I use she/her pronouns. I’m I’m calling because I saw on socials that you’re asking about group sewing or sewing with other people and this is something I’m really excited about in general, so I had to share. I’m a member of our local chapter of the Modern Quilt Guild and our small guild organizes Sew Days once a quarter and weekend retreats once or twice a year. These events are my personal favourite part of the guild. For the Sew Days, we usually reserve a room at one of our local libraries for the day. Then one or two people volunteer to bring irons and cutting mats. Everyone brings their own machine and anything else they need for their project. We sew all day and get takeout for lunch. It’s like a mini-retreat. And our libraries allow us to reserve the space for free. So there’s no cost. For our weekend retreats, we rent a large space. Usually, the guild pays for it and then individual members pay the guild back. None of the places we’ve gone are already set up for makers, but as long as it has one big room, we can make it work. For the last few retreats we’ve rented out this hundred-year-old barn that was converted to a lodge and event space. It has like six or seven bedrooms and most have a bathroom attached. Usually you’re sharing with one person, maybe two people. and we bring our own chairs and tables for this one and set up in their big event room, just like the Sew Days where everyone brings their own machine. The last retreat, I brought three machines. My favourite machine doesn’t zig-zag or do buttonholes. And I also needed my serger. So I had three machines. And then a few people volunteer to bring ironing stuff and cutting stuff. We share meals, so usually one or two people volunteer for each meal and everyone takes their turn with cleanup. The food is always excellent and there’s always too much of it. It’s pretty great, as the person in the family who’s responsible for most meals, to have a weekend where I can sew as much as I want, when I want, and know good food will be provided. Speaking of “sew when I want,” some people are up at 4:00 or 5:00 AM to start sewing, and we’ve even had someone pull an all-nighter. In between, we take walks or runs, fabric store trips, and even yoga breaks. The other thing I wanted to mention is that joining a guild is a great way to connect and stay connected with sewing friends, even though our guild is the “Bellingham Modern Quilt Guild.” As you know, there’s a lot of crossover in the things sewers like to sew. Many of us are also, or even mostly, garment makers, some of us have a more traditional quilt background, and some are really modern quilters. Our guild is so supportive in whatever you’re making. You can bring it to Sew and Tell at the monthly meeting to show it off to people who really understand and appreciate your make. Thanks for this question. Sewing with others is my absolute favorite part of my guild. Have a great day. Bye.

Helen: Aw, thank you so much, Amber. It’s clear that you are very passionate about getting together to sew in person, and I absolutely love that. It’s a really great idea to join a guild. A lot of people wrote to us with this idea, because guilds are already set up for community events and for sharing resources, and it’s just a great place to start if you’re looking to meet people who are interested in the same things as you. And the Modern Quilt Guild has chapters all over the world. They’re known for putting on QuiltCon, which is a major quilting convention held every year. I went last year and I actually had a quilt in the show, and it was an incredible experience to be around so many makers. Like, truly incredible. So much fun. So being in a quilt guild is a really great way to connect with all of those people. And we’ll link up the website for this in the show notes so you can find out if you have a local chapter near you.

Caroline: Yes. Amazing. And if you don’t have a local chapter, maybe you want to start one. Each chapter makes its own meeting schedule. Sometimes the meetups are even on Zoom. And members pay dues, but from what I’ve read, the first meeting is free. So honestly, what do you have to lose? Check it out and maybe meet some quilters.

Helen: Yeah, exactly. It’s free to try. You can just go and see if, if you connect with people. And what a wonderful experience to have something locally. And you can meet people who you probably never would’ve met otherwise in your local area and make some new friends.

Caroline: Yes, it’s a great idea. And Britt also wrote, “I am happy to sew solo! But I also belong to the American Sewing Guild, where I have the opportunity to join in Neighborhood Group meetings and 2 Sewing Retreats through the year. I have made my best friends through ASG.”

Helen: Ah, this is another great sewing guild to consider. If you’re worried that it will take too much of your time, you can keep in mind that it might not be that demanding. Some groups meet up like once a quarter, you know, four times a year. And even if a group meets up monthly or weekly, you can always just decide to go as often as you can or as often as you want to.

Caroline: Carmen wrote, “I’ve been a member of the Australian Sewing Guild for many, many years, and I’ve learnt so much and really enjoyed the connections. I also meet up 4 times a year with a group of friends to spend a day sewing – no pressure, no teaching – just chatting and sewing.”

Helen: I wonder if Carmen met that smaller group of friends through the larger guild. I think that that’s pretty common with big clubs. You don’t have to be best friends with everybody in the group, but you might meet some people that are more kindred spirits with you and start having your own little sewing meetups on the side.

Caroline: Yeah. I also really like this, like, quarterly meetup kind of, like, framework. It feels very achievable to get together once every few months instead of every month or every week for people who maybe that feels like too much. So yeah, once a quarter feels like a really nice cadence.

Helen: Yeah, it’s true. It’d give you lots of time to plan your project that you’re gonna work on, too.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Sara wrote, “I have loved being part of a modern quilting guild – I’ve learned so much there and have really enjoyed being part of the community. I also attend meet ups of local garment sewists. Recently I hosted what I hope will be the first of many mending clinics at our local library.”

Caroline: Ooh, Sara is out and about and sewing in the community all the time. This is so cool. I wonder what the mending clinics are like. Like, do people bring their stuff that needs mending and someone mends it? Or is it a place where you can learn mending techniques from Sarah? Either way, I feel like this is such a good thing. I have been thinking about doing some sort of like a mending clinic or workshop or hosting a mending event at Blackbird. I feel like that would be so fun. And also just a great excuse to get some mending done, ’cause it’s one of those things that I never feel like doing, but it would be so much more fun with a group.

Helen: It’s so true and I would, I was thinking, too, like, you don’t necessarily have to teach people how to mend. It could simply be a mending meetup where you bring your mending and you do your own mending and you figure it out as you go along. And you know, you can always Google things, but you don’t necessarily have to have an instructor in these situations. Just the act of getting together to mend would be amazing.

Caroline: Yeah, totally. Radha wrote, “I’m an introvert and it has to be a pretty special sewing event to lure me out of my house. Those events are mending clinics I do at the San Francisco public library, hosted by SCRAP, the non-profit I volunteer with. I get to help people extend the life of their clothes, and I learn something new every time from my fellow menders. Mending is so creative – every piece is a puzzle – and I find that really rewarding.”

Helen: Oh, there you go. She’s helping people to actually learn how to mend. That’s really cool. It reminds me of a reel I saw by Take Two Kids, which is a small business that makes children’s clothes, and they set up a mending popup called Home Sewn Tomatoes. And the idea is that you bring your clothes that need mending and the person will applique a tomato patch over it for you.

Caroline: So cute.

Helen: It’s so cute. All the signage looks like classic grocery store kind of vibe. And obviously we love the tomatoes. Caroline, I feel like this is right up your alley.

Caroline: Yes. It’s so cute. I love it. I love the idea of having patches that you can pick from to cover up any holes in your garments, and I totally agree with Radha. It’s really rewarding to mend because you’re kind of like, you know, you’re doing a puzzle, you’re trying to figure out how you’re gonna fix something. There’s always a way. So you have to get creative.

Helen: And it ends up more beautiful than it was when you started.

Caroline: I know.

Helen: I’m laughing thinking about, like, oftentimes the area that needs mending, for me, is the crotch of the pants. Couple of tomatoes.

Caroline: A couple, just slap a couple tomatoes on there. That’s not gonna draw attention at all.

Helen: I love it.

Caroline: It’s so funny. Yeah.

Helen: Next up, we have a comment from Trish. “I go to three groups but my fave is the first one I found. It’s at a community centre. The people are a variety of ages and stages. We all work on our own projects and natter on about our lives. It’s so good!”

Caroline: I love it. I hope those other two groups aren’t listening. I’m just kidding. You’re allowed to have a favourite, Trish. But yes, community centers are a great place to check for sewing groups. They tend to be low-cost, donation-based, or even free, and I love that Trish has three different groups. She’s probably getting a ton of sewing done and makes lots of friends in the process.

Helen: Yes.

Caroline: Adrienne wrote, “I’ve set up a monthly stitch club at our local community center. Our council gives us the venue for free and then everyone turns up with their projects. We have a few regulars but my favourite is when new people turn up. I’m an introvert by nature but I love seeing people connect with each other.”

Helen: Oh, this is so inspiring, Adrienne. See, you don’t have to be an extrovert to go to a meetup or even to organize one. As long as you have a place and a regular time, the connections will happen without you even having to work too hard. I love the idea of reaching out to your local community center or council and getting a space for cheap or even free and setting up a regular meetup. All you need is, basically, yourself to show up and eventually more people will kind of trickle in.

Caroline: Yeah, totally.

Helen: Kelly wrote, “I don’t have a dedicated sewing space at home so I usually sew the most in social settings, like regular Sewcial Sewing days at a community center, or retreats.”

Caroline: Ooh, I never thought about doing this, but it seems like some of the people who wrote to us do most of their sewing with others, and I think that’s so cool. When everyone around you is sewing, you can, you can’t help but sew, too. And even with all the chatting, I bet you you’ll still get a lot done. And it’s helpful to have that sewing time blocked off on your calendar. Plus, sewing friends keep you accountable and make the best cheerleaders. It’s like the best of all worlds.

Helen: It’s true. You don’t need to feel bad if you just cannot make sewing happen at home. If you’ve got too much going on or your space just doesn’t accommodate it, there might be other ways that you can get some sewing in.

Caroline: Yeah. La Movida Sewing and Design Studio, this is also actually a local sewing spot. Helen, I don’t know if you’re familiar, they’re out in Kitsilano, but they wrote, “Hosting the sewcial has been incredibly rewarding. It’s been so much fun to bring a bunch of sewists together in the community and see what they have been working on. We’ve been doing it for a little over a year now in Vancouver and we have a handful of people who come every time and then a few rotating people as well and newbies every time. I definitely suggest people have sewing groups in their area because it’s so inspiring to see what everyone is doing and I think it’s so important to have an opportunity to exchange knowledge and ideas.”

Helen: Ooh, I love this. Small businesses like this one are a great place to look for sewing meetups or sewing nights. It seems like this one is really well set up with lots of tables and outlets. And they’re very passionate about this community aspect of sewing and having a sewing studio, which is absolutely amazing. Kudos to them.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Simone wrote, “I sometimes go to small businesses for the monthly craft night and I take my machine.”

Caroline: Ooh, this is a great idea. A meetup group doesn’t have to be sewing-specific. Many crafty groups will welcome sewists. If you wanna bring your machine, just check with the organizer before you go to make sure that they can accommodate you. Our assistant, Lisa, told us that she used to do hand sewing steps at her knitting and crochet group sometimes, and no one had a problem with it.

Helen: Imagine. They’re like, “Those aren’t knitting needles. What are you doing?”

Caroline: Yeah, “Get out!”

Helen: “Stop. Stop!”

Caroline: Wait. Helen, you have a craft group, as well, don’t you?

Helen: I do, I do back-to-back weekly nights, if you can believe it. Tuesday night is craft night. Wednesday night is sewing night. So those nights are both sacred to me. And I love our weekly craft night as well. Sometimes we do little sewing things, but mostly we’re doing other kinds of crafts. And the person who organizes and hosts that one, Melinda, is amazing at coming up with fun ideas for us to do, and they’re usually just quick. It’s another two hour thing. So we just get together and do fun, silly Pinterest crafts together.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. Incredible. Your crafty calendar is stacked, Helen.

Helen: It is stacked. I know. It’s, it’s a, I’m, it’s amazing. I’m so lucky.

Caroline: Tracy wrote, “I facilitate a large meet up group, 11 years running. We have swaps and sew-ins. I love to socialize with others about sewing. I also provide alterations for a living. This helps me get inspired to make fun stuff and keeps my soul alive. I love your show!”

Helen: Thank you, Tracy. I love that you wrote “keeps your soul alive.” I think a lot of us feel that way about sewing. It’s cool that they also do swaps. There are so many fun things that you can combine with sewing in person, like gift exchanges, games with prizes, fabric swaps, snacks, drinks. I mean, all sorts of fun ways that you can add a little extra to your sewing meetup.

Caroline: I say do it all in one. I want a day with all of these things. Sounds really fun.

Helen: So true, the perfect day. Rochelle wrote, “Hosting a pdf pattern assembly workshop this weekend to make sewing friends and reach my community.” Ooh, we mentioned this earlier. I love this idea.

Caroline: I know! This is so great. Workshops are a great way to sew with others, too, and if the class is pretty organized, you can leave a little time for socializing at the end, or you can invite everyone to a cafe afterwards for those who want to stay and chat. Helen, I remember when we used to do our monthly, I think it was, like, monthly, sewing meetups with our friend. Sometimes I would just bring a PDF to assemble because I was like, I don’t really feel like sewing, but I wanna hang out. I wanna get the vibes going. PDFs take forever to assemble, so I’m just gonna knock this out and I don’t have to lug my sewing machine over.

Helen: It’s true. Yeah. It is a great project for in-person if you are not feeling like bringing all of the supplies with you.

Caroline: Yeah, just batching, like, putting together PDFs or even cutting out projects and not actually sewing them. That’s another thing you can do when you get together if you don’t feel like pulling out the machine. Nora wrote, “I met someone at an event in town last fall and now I have someone to text with about projects. We’ve also met up for open sew at a studio in town a few times! I’m so excited to keep building this friendship because none of my other friends are into sewing like this!”

Helen: Aw, I love this. A blossoming friendship. Truly, no one can appreciate sewing like a fellow sewist. Like, other people can admire and be interested in what you’re doing, but if they don’t sew, they just don’t get it.

Caroline: Yeah, I agree.

Helen: You can’t understand.

Caroline: I know. This reminds me of our early friendship, you know, kind of getting to know each other, but also knowing that we had sewing in common. It was so fun to talk about that. And also, we both had businesses, so that added a whole other layer to it. But I have to say, my least favorite part about our We Sew episodes is that I can’t text you progress updates. I often am like, gosh, I wanna show this to Helen, ’cause we have a little group chat going where sometimes we’ll share in progress or when we finish a project that we’re really excited about, we’ll put it up in there. And I don’t get to do that with our We Sew episodes.

Helen: I know. It is, truly, the hardest part. I just want to show you so badly I end up showing everybody else instead, and it’s not the same.

Caroline: I know.

Helen: Courtney wrote, “I hosted a sewing retreat day with my friends. We had food delivered so we didn’t have to stop sewing. Most of us pre-cut our projects beforehand so it was productive and fun.”

Caroline: This sounds so fun. I love the idea of getting food delivered as a little treat in the middle of the day. And it’s a good idea to cut out your projects before you get together. There’s just not enough room in most spaces to do that during a sewing session. So yeah, coming prepared does pay off.

Helen: It’s true, especially if you really wanna get stuff done. I do this for our weekly sewing nights ’cause I like to leave the table free for them to use. So I try to cut everything out ahead of time and even interface ahead of time so I can just sit right down at my machine and just start sewing.

Caroline: Oh, you’re so considerate. It’s really nice.

Helen: It’s considerate and selfish ’cause I’m like, I wanna get these pants done tonight.

Caroline: Yeah. You’re like, I am not sharing this table with anyone.

Helen: Stacey wrote, “My favourite, now fifth year in a row ‘Sew Rogue Retreat’ where we find a random Airbnb in the middle distance between 3 friends spread out over Europe and sew for four days. Uninterrupted, away from the outside world, comfy clothes and snacks, no labouring, just sewing. And rest.”

Caroline: Oh my gosh, I love this so much. First of all, Sew Rogue makes it sound like you are, like, three secret agents in a movie, which is really funny. And second of all, it just shows that you don’t need a big organization to sew with others. A friend or two and a place to sew is all you really need to socialize and recharge. Also, when Stacey mentioned, like, “We found a random Airbnb in the middle distance.” I’m thinking, like, this is also potentially the beginning of a horror movie. Like this, like, random Airbnb in the middle of nowhere. Three friends get together.

Helen: You’re driving there and you lose your cell reception.

Caroline: Yeah. And you’re like, where are we? I’m glad we brought our scissors.

Helen: No, this is a great idea. It would be so fun to get away and, like, a neutral ground, too. Like, if you’re at your house, it’s obviously harder to just disconnect and relax. So the Airbnb idea is great. And if you split an Airbnb between three or four people, it can be a lot more affordable. So this is a great idea.

Caroline: Helen, where do you think is the middle distance between Courtenay, Vancouver, and Calgary?

Helen: Oh, I thought you were just gonna say Courtenay and Vancouver. I’m like, the ocean.

Caroline: Yeah. You know, we’re either sewing in the ocean or the Rockies.

Helen: The Rockies would be fun, like Jasper or something, but I guess, like, that’s pretty close to Calgary, actually, but…

Caroline: I don’t know.

Helen: It sounds nice. Um, maybe like the Kootenays?

Caroline: Yeah, yeah. All right. Just spitballing, that’s all.

Helen: I love this idea for us. It would be so fun.

Caroline: Ellie wrote, “I have a long distance sewing bestie! We travel to skill building workshops together!”

Helen: This is great. Learning a new skill with a friend sounds wonderful. You can help each other out if you get stuck or have questions. I wonder if they ever have a hard time finding workshops that they’re both interested in equally, like, wanting to travel to. But I guess it doesn’t really matter as long as you know you’re hanging out and sewing together. And there’s so many fun workshops out there.

Caroline: Oh, Helen, remember when we hosted a workshop at Blackbird with a bunch of friends that traveled to come together?

Helen: Yes! That was so fun.

Caroline: That was so sweet. All right. So some people might disagree, but we think that sewing on a video call totally counts as sewing together. In fact, we do it. And after all, you are still hanging out in real time. A bunch of our listeners wrote to us about their virtual sewcializing.

Helen: Yes. First up we have Hayley from Thready Set Go. Hi, Hayley. She wrote, “Sewing in the company of others is such a fun and uplifting way to spend a few hours. Many of us don’t have friends in real life that sew, and so having in-person or online sewing meet ups is amazing! I run a number of online sewing socials every week that have become a pivotal part of so many members’ weeks. A lot of people can’t access in-person socials either due to time, commitments or health restraints so somewhere you can chat to people whilst you sew without having to leave the house has become incredibly important to them. Of course there is lots of talk about sewing, fabrics, events, etc., but we’ve all gotten to know each other aside from that as well and it’s become a group of friends that make time for each other every week.”

Caroline: Aw, this is so nice. Thready Set Go hosts live sewing socials during the week and on the weekends, and they sound like a great option for people who either don’t have an in-person meetup nearby or can’t make it to one for whatever reason.

Helen: Yes, I’ve actually done one of these events with Hayley. Uh, they featured our Falconer Pants a little while back and I hopped on to one of their sewing socials to talk about the pattern and just hang out for the event and it was really, really delightful. Like it was just so fun seeing everybody on their computers in their sewing rooms and getting to chat with people. We broke out into smaller groups so it was a little bit less chaotic. Like, obviously tons of people on a Zoom call is not necessarily gonna work. It’s better to have a presenter and listener vibe at that point. But then we broke out into smaller little sewing circles so that we could chat and get to know each other, and I thought it was fabulous.

Caroline: Oh, that’s so nice. Very cool. Sarah wrote, “This might be stretching your definition a little bit, but the Sew Sew Guild has all-day Zoom Sewcials on Sundays. Sometimes other days, too. It is unstructured and we actually give Saremy the day off from answering questions (she still comes to hang out sometimes). We just visit and chat about all manner of topics while we sew or work on some other sewing-related activity, or even while we cook dinner. It’s very come-as-you-are, for as much or as little time as you want. Being able to get to know my sewing buddies without having to pack up my machine and all other accoutrements is such a joy and I feel like I’ve really been able to level up my skills while also making genuine friends.”

Helen: Yes. Oh, this is so awesome. Okay, Sarah’s talking about the community built and managed by a former guest Saremy Duffy, and here’s what Saremy had to say in response. “I love seeing how the members created this monthly zoom time and they host it themselves – it’s such a testament to how much you all enjoy each others’ company and new people always feel like they can jump right in. Makes me so happy!”

Caroline: And if you feel nervous about jumping into an established group, don’t. These groups are made up of people just like you, sewists who would like to hang out and sew and chat. And many of these groups have newbies pop in regularly, so you won’t stand out too much.

Helen: Yes, it’s true. It can be a bit nerve-wracking to just, like, hit “join” on a random zoom call. You don’t know what you’re getting into. But the beauty of it is that you can also just hit “hang up” whenever you want.

Caroline: Yeah. Oh my gosh. Imagine. Just ghost. Come in and then you’re like, actually, I’m too scared. Bye.

Helen: In my experience, in these groups, lots of people don’t talk. Lots of people don’t turn on their cameras. Even, you know, it can be, it can be as private as you want it to be. You can participate as much as you want. I think there’s low expectations for how much you’re gonna bring to the table in those situations. You can kind of feel it out and decide how much you wanna be involved.

Caroline: You know, I sometimes struggle with social anxiety and feeling, like, really introverted in new situations, so I could see myself, like, popping in, no camera, with, like, an alias the first time, just observing, and then coming in as myself the next time. Is that allowed?

Helen: And never telling them.

Caroline: Yeah, like, who’s that mysterious person? I don’t know. You never know.

Helen: You never know.

Caroline: On the flip side, you may not even need to meet new people to sew with others. All you need is one friend or family member who can sew and a plan. Sarah wrote, “My best friend, who lives about 90 minutes away, and I have occasional crafty overnights where we get together at one of our houses for a sewing slumber party.”

Helen: Ooh, okay. That sounds amazing. Absolutely love this idea. I would be tempted to blow past my sewing curfew and just sew all night long, like 2:00 AM, sewing an invisible zipper against all of my instincts.

Caroline: I know. Yeah. I feel like I’d have to do really easy steps in the middle of the night. Too risky.

Helen: It is so cute, though. You could plan to get up early and get sewing right away while you have your coffee. It’s so smart.

Caroline: Mm-hmm.

Helen: Hayley wrote, of course, “Of course, every possible minute I can get to the sewing room I sew. However, recently my sister and I have started having sewing retreat sleepovers at my house! She arrives early in the morning, we sew, we fabric shop, we watch and listen to sewing content. Then we have dinner and sew some more. Then once we’ve sewn the things, we turn on the twinkly lights, put on some tunes from the 70-00’s, open the bar and sing and dance, gossiping and laughing at old memories. We try to align these nights with the moon cycles so we can enjoy watching the full moon rise or celebrate a seasonal solstice or equinox. Ahh, the serenity.”

Caroline: Oh my gosh. I love this idea. I love the idea of setting it up so that it kind of lines up with the moon cycle. So witchy and wonderful.

Helen: It’s so witchy. It’s so smart. I love it. It’s so cute. It sounds like a blast, honestly. It sounds like exactly my kind of day/night.

Caroline: Yeah. I like the idea of being like, we get the sewing done and then we have a party. It’s like a full 24-hour affair. Yeah.

Helen: Make the most of it.

Caroline: You can fit a lot in. Very inspiring. Roslyn wrote, “We have sewing birthdays in our family. My aunties, cousins, and siblings get together and sew.”

Helen: Oh, I love this. If you have a big sewing family, it’s a great way to sew together regularly. I wanna know if you do sewing themed birthday cakes, like, like a birthday cake that’s, like, shaped like a dress or, like…

Caroline: Oh my gosh, yes.

Helen: Oh, it’d be so fun. No, this is a great idea. If you have a fellow sewist, plan a sewing birthday party.

Caroline: Yes, I love it. Maybe we should do a sewing retreat for my birthday. I would love that.

Helen: Ooh. And November is a great time to do a retreat ’cause it’s usually kind of rainy and you wanna be cozy inside. Let’s do it.

Caroline: Mm-hmm. Yeah. All right. Even though these themed events are inspiring, it’s totally okay to just keep it simple and relaxed. @hill_and_dale_quilts wrote, “Bring quilt binding to the porch and my aunt will 100% offer to hand stitch binding with me.”

Helen: Ooh, this is ideal. I’m envisioning a sunny afternoon, some iced tea, some juicy gossip, sitting on the porch. You’ve got your blanket built in when you’re doing hand binding.

Caroline: So cute. I love it.

Helen: Lexi wrote, “My friends do Sew Nights where we hang out and do the sewing tasks we hate to get motivated!”

Caroline: Yes. This seems like a great way to procrastinate. Like, I’m about to do this sewing step I hate, so let’s just save it for Sew Night. But then you get it done in the end. It’s definitely easier to do an annoying sewing step when you’ve got fun people cheering you on.

Helen: Yeah, I could see this being really fun.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: To close out this episode, we have I think our best voicemail ever.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. It’s so good.

Helen: We’re gonna let Mary and Claire take it from here.

Mary: Hi, Carolyn. Hi Helen. This is Mary.

Claire: And I’m Claire.

Mary: We are two sewing buddies who met about 12 years ago while working at the same sewing shop in our city. We spent countless hours at work discussing all things sewing, and we’ve continued this love even though we have both retired and live in different cities. We meet up once a month, today at my house, and the kitchen becomes our work room. Machines, patterns, thread, et cetera, festoon the floor, tables, and chairs.

Claire: We even have a mission statement: But coffee first.

Mary: Discussions and show and tell begin our day. Machines are ready but not often used. Iron is plugged in and snacks cover the table. We break for lunch. More coffee, chocolate, and then we may get to do some actual sewing.

Claire: We plan when our next guild meeting will be, and sometimes it’s a road trip to a thrift shop, attending a workshop, a new spot to purchase fabric, et cetera. Always, though, with the mission statement: But coffee first.

Mary: Our other talent, however, is making up short videos, songs, and ditties. So we’ve written a little song that sums up our IRL time together. Full disclosure, our vintage status had us look up what “IRL” stands for. This is a song by Mary and Claire called “We Need a Little Sewing,” with apologies to “We Need a Little Christmas.”

Mary and Claire: Pull out the fabric

Pick out the pattern

Make a shirt, no, a coat again

You pour the coffee

I’ll get the pins and pattern

Clear the table, we’re on

For we need a little sewing

Right his very minute

Machines are primed and ready

Patterns out.

Yes, I can pin it

Need to get the iron

Got the interfacing

You can cut, I’ll mark the fabric

Get the spray bomb, we’ve got static

Fill up the bobbins

Replace the needle

Shoot, oh no. Where’s the foot control?

I’ll thread the serger

Go get the dress form

Oh my gosh, we are so on a roll

For we’ve grown a little closer

Grown a little smarter

Learned a lot from YouTube.

Challenge one another

We still need to get together

Keep each other going

We need a little sewing now

Let’s plan a road trip

I need a dress this summer

Got some good ideas

Silk, linen, cotton

A simple pattern, something we can sew in a day

‘Cause we need to get together

Keep the sewing going

Keep each other busy

Get each other motivated

Sharpen up your scissors

See you next week, Wednesday

We need a little sewing now!

But coffee first.

Helen: But coffee first.

Caroline: Oh, I loved it so much.

Helen: It was in my head all day after I first heard it. I was, like, walking around my house, like “Need a little sewing. Got to get together.”

Caroline: It’s so good.

Helen: It’s so good. Mary and Claire. Absolute friendship goals. I loved it so much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Caroline: Yes. I think we’re gonna have to add “write a sewing-themed song” to the docket for our next sewing session, Helen.

Helen: Oh my gosh. It’d be so fun. And if anyone else out there wants to write a sewing song and send it in, uh, we will play it on the show.

Caroline: Oh, 100%. Yes. Oh my gosh. Okay, so there are so many fun ways to sew with others, whether it’s meeting new people at an established organization, inviting your loved ones over for a few hours, or setting up your tablet and getting on Zoom. We hope this episode inspires you to try it out. It definitely inspired me. I wanna do some more sewing IRL.

Helen: We have to schedule our next Zoom sewing date. We haven’t had one in a little while, so gotta do that. And I’m loving the idea of a sewing birthday retreat. Caroline, we need to do that.

Caroline: Yes! Let’s do it.

Helen: That’s it for today’s episode of Love to Sew. You can find me, Helen, at Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co. and Caroline at Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns. We’re recording in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

Caroline: You can support Love to Sew and get access to bonus content by subscribing on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. You even get access to the back catalog of bonus episodes. That’s over 75 hours of Love to Sew. Go to patreon.com/lovetosew or check out our podcast page on Apple Podcasts for more info.

Helen: Head to lovetosewpodcast.com to find our show notes. They’re filled with links and pictures from this episode. And if you’d like to get in touch with us, leave us a message at 1-844-SEW-WHAT. That’s 1-844-739-9428. Preferably do it in song, please. Or you can send us an email at [email protected].

Caroline: Thank you to our amazing podcast team for a great season. Lisa Ruiz is our creative assistant and Jordan Moore of The Pod Cabin is our editor. And thank you all for listening. We will talk to you next season.

Helen: Next season and over on Patreon.

Caroline: Bye.

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We made garments from our fabric scraps and we reveal them to each other ON THE PODCAST! We chat about how we decided which scraps to put together, our patchwork techniques, and how we feel about our scrap stashes now.

The transcript for this episode is on this page at the end of the show notes.

Show Notes: 

From the Listener Feedback Section:

Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Helen’s Patchwork Dress:

Caroline’s Patchwork Jacket:

The Origins of Caroline’s Scraps:

Other Mentions: 

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Transcript:

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

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

Helen: And I’m Helen, the designer behind Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co.

Caroline: We’re two sewing buds who love to sew, and it’s literally all we want to talk about.

Helen: We made garments from our fabric scraps and we’re about to reveal them to each other on the podcast! We’ll share how we decided which scraps to put together, how we patchworked them, and how we feel about our scrap stashes now.

Caroline: If you love to sew, this is your show. Bonjour, Helen!

Helen: Bonjour, Caroline!

Caroline: Comment ça va?

Helen: Ça va bien, et toi? Et tu? Wait, my French is deteriorating already.

Caroline: This will make sense in a minute.

Helen: How are you, Caroline?

Caroline: I am buzzing. I’m so good. I’m so excited to find out what you made with your scraps…

Helen: I know.

Caroline: And to show you what I made. It’s gonna be epic. I know. It’s gonna be epic.

Helen: Yeah. This is our last We Sew episode this season and we saved it for last because we knew it was gonna be a beast to sew. ‘Cause sewing with scraps is not always easy.

Caroline: No.

Helen: So I’m excited to hear what you made and also talk about sewing with scraps. ‘Cause we all have them. We all have so many of them.

Caroline: We really do. Yes. And I’m also really excited, but before we dive in, we wanna remind you all that the best way to support Love to Sew is by joining us over on Patreon or Apple Podcast subscriptions.

Helen: Yes. You get access to bonus content every month and we have so much fun catching up with you all on those more casual bonus episodes. We talk about things like these projects that we’re working on. We talk about other things we’re sewing, things we’re loving right now, TV shows, podcasts, and we just get to chit chat and get a little behind-the-scenes peek at our lives, which is really nice.

Caroline: Yeah. I love recording those episodes with you and it really means so much if you all are able to support us over there, even if it’s just for a month or two. And honestly, if that’s not in the cards for you right now, we totally get it. So no worries. But we always like to just let you know that we love seeing you over there.

Helen: Yes, we do. And you can also support us for free by rating and reviewing us on Apple Podcasts. We haven’t asked for reviews in a little while, so we’d really love some more recent ones on our show. So if you have a minute and you’d be willing to do that, that would be absolutely amazing.

Caroline: And above all, thank you all so much for listening, for cheering us on. Go over on social media this week and let us know what you think of our scrap projects.

Helen: Yes, there will be photos on the website, too. You can head to lovetosewpodcast.com right now if you just wanna see these projects, you can’t wait.

Caroline: Yeah. You kind of have to see them while you’re listening.

Helen: It’s true.

Caroline: But not if you’re driving. Wait till, wait till you’re not driving.

Helen: Caroline, when you see my project, you are going to choke. You are gonna need your epi-pen. You’re gonna expire.

Caroline: Let me go grab it. Hold on. Pause, please. We’re both just gonna pass out from just being so impressed with each other’s projects.

Helen: I feel it.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Okay, we’re gonna kick off today’s episode with a little bit of feedback, although it’s not coming from a listener today, it’s actually coming from me, because I had a very interesting discussion with the good people at Discovery Fabrics the other day about seam sealing. We were talking about rainwear fabrics on the podcast, making waterproof garments and things this season, and I’m working on a raincoat pattern. I went up to Discovery to get some fabric and I was chatting with them about seam sealing and they’re so knowledgeable, first of all. If you’ve got questions, they’re amazing. But basically they told me, don’t bother…

Caroline: Yeah. That’s so interesting.

Helen: Which was kind of a relief, honestly. I’m still gonna experiment with the various options and make some tutorial content, some resource content around the pattern. But what Leslie said, Leslie’s the owner of Discovery, is that seam sealing is almost always unnecessary and/or not worth it, particularly with the tape. It takes a lot of time and it is almost impossible to do well at home because we just don’t have the same commercial grade welding machine that heats and cools the tape as it goes along, that actually adheres it properly to the fabric. You can do it at home with a mini Clover iron, those tiny little itty bitty irons, heating the tape. And then she said, best to let it cool and set overnight. So it’s quite a slow process. You’re gonna have to do several rounds of this. And then the mini iron is necessary because a larger plate is gonna damage your fabric at this heat level. You need it to be hot, hot, hot. So it’s risky with the fabric. It’s difficult to do right. It’s especially hard to do properly on curves. So chances are you’re gonna put in this work and it’s not necessarily gonna be sealed.

Caroline: That’s so interesting. I hadn’t really clocked that, but it’s so true that rainwear fabrics are often made from polyester or nylon, which can scorch and burn and melt under high heat, so that makes a lot of sense. I also wasn’t aware of the welding machine. Like, a welding machine. What is a welding machine? A commercial welding machine?

Helen: Honestly, I haven’t looked, I haven’t looked into what that machine does, but that’s what they use when they’re manufacturing rainwear garments and tents and things. And it properly adheres the tape and cools it. And obviously we’re not gonna have access to that, so we can mimic that at home, but to varying degrees of success. Obviously, you wanna do tests and stuff when you’re trying to do these kind of applications and see what kind of results you’re getting. Don’t do it right onto your finished garment, please.

Caroline: Yeah. So true.

Helen: Not saying that it’s impossible by any means. And if you’re really interested in it, I think it’s totally worth pursuing. I’m still curious about it. I got some tape, I got some liquid seam sealing, and I’m excited to give it a go. The seam sealing liquid can be messy, but it is a little bit easier to apply ’cause you just brush it on and it kind of fills the holes from the needle. But what Leslie did tell me is that, far more important than sealing your seams, is using a proper size needle and proper size thread. If your thread is not big enough to fill the hole that your needle leaves behind, that is how the water is gonna get in. If you use a proper size thread that can actually fill that hole, not a lot of water is gonna get in there. Even if you topstitch, ’cause they make rain wear garments there as well, for sale, like, ready-to-wear, they have a little garment section at the front of their store and they topstitch all their seams and they don’t do seam sealing. Like, they just use really high-quality waterproof fabric. They use the right thread, the right needles, they topstitch their seams. So there’s, there is, like, extra holes along there but, like, the seams are double stitched so they’re nice and secure. So most seams are not even gonna let in the water. Unless you’re out in some kind of crazy downpour for a long period of time. So it does depend on what you’re planning to use the rainwear for. If you’re gonna go on a hike in the rain, then yes, you may want that extra protection. But for most of us, dog walking, going to work, grabbing our groceries, living our lives in a rainy climate like we do here in the Pacific Northwest, it’s not necessarily gonna be worth it to go and seal all your seams unless you’re really excited about it.

Caroline: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, this is really cool information. Thank you for sharing, and thanks to the folks at Discovery Fabrics for giving you that intel. I love getting that, like, real-world experience.

Helen: Exactly. They’ve made so many garments and they’ve worked with these fabrics and they have beautiful rainwear fabrics that are really nice and waterproof. So it was honestly a bit of a relief because I was like, I need to include in the pattern all this information about how to properly rainproof these fabrics. And then now I’m thinking more, I wanna make this accessible to the home sewist and then have resources available on my website if people are interested. But I don’t necessarily need to be telling everybody, you have to seal your seams. ‘Cause that also makes it feel like quite an undertaking of a project, you know?

Caroline: Yeah, totally. It might deter some people who are looking for something a little bit easier and don’t want to be intimidated by this, like, new sort of technique that you would have to learn.

Helen: Yeah, exactly. And new materials that you might need as well, which can be quite expensive. So yeah, that’s a little update on rainwear. And if any of our listeners have sealed seams and have experience with that, we’d obviously love to hear from you if you have thoughts on that, as well. So let us know.

Caroline: Yeah. Leave us a voicemail like our next listener, Jamie, that we’re gonna talk about. Who left us a lovely voicemail.

Jamie: Hi, this is Jamie from California. I love the show. I just was listening to the episode where you said you were on your 250th show. Apparently, I’ve listened to a hundred shows, says my podcast app, so I still have lots and lots to catch up on. This is a very silly comment, but I just wanna say that when I got into sewing, right, there’s, like, a few French terms that are like, you know, sound really fancy and exciting, like “couture,” you know? Like, I love the way that that’s pronounced. And there’s this word, H-A-U-T-E, which I was like, oh, this must be a very fancy French word, but I don’t know how you say it, ‘cause I don’t know how to pronounce French. And then I very recently learned that it’s pronounced “oat” and, like, as an American, that is so unexciting and so un-fancy. I thought it was like “hot” or “hoat” or something, but no, it’s “oat.” Oat couture. And I just think it sounds ridiculous, but yeah. All right. Love you guys. Bye.

Helen: Oh my gosh. That is hilarious.

Caroline: I know. I love it. “It’s so unfancy.”

Helen: “Oat. Are you serious? Oat?”

Caroline: Yeah. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Yeah. It’s, it’s pretty hilarious that you’re disappointed by how haute couture is pronounced. I’ve never really thought about it, but it does kind of sound like the thing you’d make porridge with. But this voicemail gave us kind of a fun idea, ’cause there are so many fashion and sewing terms that are borrowed from the French language. And I am a French speaker, so I was thinking maybe I could help with some pronunciations.

Helen: Yes, you really need to sell Jamie on the pronunciation of this. Maybe if you say it with the French accent, they’ll be like, “Haute! I get it!”

Caroline: Yeah. Yeah. ‘Cause I, I don’t mind the word “haute.” I think it’s a nice word, especially when you pair it with “couture.”

Helen: Yes. Maybe it’s the pronunciation of “couture” you need to have nailed down. This is why Caroline’s gonna do it and not me. ‘Cause I, I hear it. It’s not quite right.

Caroline: And I am a French speak speaker from Quebec, which, the pronunciation of words in Quebec is, like, slightly different than French from France. But anyways, I will pronounce these words how I know to pronounce them. Um, but yeah, let’s go through, maybe I’ll say the word and you can say what it means.

Helen: Ooh. And how, maybe, it’s somewhat often pronounced by non-French speakers.

Caroline: Yeah. You could do, like, your version.

Helen: I’m really gonna ham it up.

Caroline: Yes. Okay. So, kind of continuing on with “haute,” there’s another word that is: “couturier.”

Helen: Yes. A “coo-ture-ee-er.”. This is someone…

Caroline: This is gonna kill me. I love it.

Helen: This is somebody who makes haute couture.

Caroline: Okay.

Helen: I’m trying, I’m trying.

Caroline: I know you are trying. I love it. “Atelier.”

Helen: I would say “atelier.” Add that hard R in there.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: This is a studio or a workshop.

Caroline: Mm-hmm. “Entredeux.”

Helen: “Entredeux.” That’s nice.

Caroline: You do this, like, oh my gosh, this “eur” thing.

Helen: Have you ever watched the Great Canadian Bake-Off? You know, one of the, one of the judges has a very thick Quebecois accent and I love it.

Caroline: I know.

Helen: So, “entredeux?” Is that good? That’s a type of embroidery stitch used to join two pieces of fabric in heirloom sewing,

Caroline: Okay. The next one is “toile.”

Helen: “Toile.” I know that one. That is also known as a muslin or a test version of your garment.

Caroline: Yeah. I’ve seen people say twall.

Helen: Oh, twall. Yeah. Yeah. I think “toil” is funny because it does feel like you are toiling.

Caroline: Yeah, it’s true. Okay, so the next one is “voile,” which also I think people say v-oil. Yeah.

Helen: Yes, I have said “voil” for many years. I’m trying to correct that one. Lightweight, usually sheer cotton fabric.

Caroline: Plissé.

Helen: “Plissé.” That one I haven’t heard. That means “pleated” in French. It’s usually used for permanently pleated synthetic fabrics. Those ones that are kind of like little scrunchie accordions.

Caroline: “Broderie anglaise.”

Helen: “Broderie anglaise.” Another word for eyelet fabric.

Caroline: “Prêt-à-porter.”

Helen: Ooh, that makes me think of Prêt à Manger.

Caroline: Mm-hmm. Yeah, it’s true. That’s the name.

Helen: Which is “ready to eat,” right?

Caroline: Yes. Yes. I think that’s also, like, there’s like a restaurant called Prêt à Manger.

Helen: Yeah. Yeah, that’s what I mean. Yeah. Very popular. That’s “ready-to-wear.”

Caroline: “Bouclé.”

Helen: “Bouclé.” A nubbly, highly textured, woven fabric used for suiting, like in classic Chanel suits.

Caroline: “Charmeuse.”

Helen: Oh, I’m definitely just saying “sharm-ooze.”

Caroline: Charmeuse. Yeah.

Helen: Sharm-use! A lightweight, fluid, satin fabric. Wait, say that one again, Caroline.

Caroline: Charmeuse.

Helen: Ooh. Chills.

Caroline: Okay. The next one, I think a lot of people have heard of: “jacquard.”

Helen: Ooh. Yeah. ‘Cause most people do put that D in there.

Caroline: Yeah. Jac-ard.

Helen: Jac-ard. Yeah. Specialty woven fabrics like brocades and damasks are often made on a jacquard loom.

Caroline: “Jacquard.”

Helen: Jachard. Ja. No, I’m putting the D on. Oh my gosh. I need to not do this on a podcast.

Caroline: We’re definitely gonna offend some people. And for that, I am sorry.

Helen: I am representing the segment of listeners who doesn’t know how to pronounce these words and is learning today.

Caroline: Yes. Okay. Okay. The last one we have today is: “crêpe de chine.”

Helen: “Crêpe de chine.” That one has a little cute little accent hat, what do you call that?

Caroline: Circonflex.

Helen: Ooh. Yes. And that’s crepe fabric with a pebbled texture and a lot of beautiful drape.

Caroline: Yes. And that was really fun.

Helen: It was. And we should say that I don’t think anyone’s gonna bat an eye if you don’t pronounce these words the French way at the fabric store. But it is fun to know and learn and practice correct pronunciations of things. So hopefully we all learned a little something today. I know I did.

Caroline: I would argue that people would bat an eye if you do pronounce these words the correct way.

Helen: You should endeavour to confuse people…

Caroline: Like, in North America. Yeah.

Helen: With your correct pronunciation.

Caroline: Yeah. Oh my gosh. Okay. Well that was really fun. I think though it’s time to move on and get a little scrappy, ’cause I am just so excited.

Helen: Me too. Me too. Me too. Me too.

Caroline: Alright, Helen, are you gonna reveal yours first? Because I can’t wait.

Helen: Yes. Okay, I got, I can’t believe this moment has come.

Caroline: I know. The anticipation is killing me. Oh my gosh. Okay. Wait. Oh, it’s so pretty.

Helen: Thank you.

Caroline: The colours are so good. Wow.

Helen: I know. We’ll get into that, ’cause there’s a reason why all the colours go so well together.

Caroline: Wait, Helen, it’s so pretty. There’s a reason why the colours go so good together? Did you, like, dye them or something?

Helen: Oh my gosh, no. Can you imagine? No. This is the new Fableism Watercolour Wovens collection. So they were designed to go together. I had a bunch of leftover scraps from cutting out the bunting for my wedding, and I used every single piece that was left over to make this dress.

Caroline: What? Of course, that’s why it’s so many triangles or, like, off triangles, like half square triangles. Is that what they’re called?

Helen: Yeah, exactly, yeah, half square rectangles.

Caroline: Wow. Helen, it’s so pretty. I love it. Wait, what pattern is this?

Helen: It’s the Syd Graham Skyline Dress which, for those who aren’t familiar, has three tiers. The bottom two tiers are rectangles and then the top tier is a bodice, but it’s also gathered into a bias binding finish around the neck and arms, and it makes, like, a spaghetti strap. So it’s very flowy, A line, breezy, beautiful summer vibes, and it’s a midi length. And the Watercolour Woven collection is, like, earthy rainbow, I would say? Like, it has this, like, beautiful warmth to it, but it does include the whole spectrum of the rainbow. So it is a very eye-catching piece.

Caroline: Okay. Helen, sorry. You look so good. Like, you’re, like, glowing in this dress. It looks so good on you. The pattern looks amazing. The colours are perfect. I love your, like, matching shoes. Helen’s, like, in…like the blue sky, like, beachy. You must be near a beach. It’s sandy. Oh my gosh. It’s so, so perfect. I love it. I love it. It looks so good. This is so fun. Okay, are you gonna wear it all the time this summer? Also so seasonally appropriate. I love it. We’re going into summer.

Helen: It does feel very appropriate for summer and I think after I finished it I was like, okay, this is so gorgeous. I’m gonna toot my own horn. It’s so gorgeous. I love it so much. It’s a real showstopper. So I think it’s probably the dress I’m gonna wear to, like, my family welcome dinner before the wedding.

Caroline: Oh, yay. It’s so perfect.

Helen: But I had a moment where I was like, is this my wedding dress? Am I wearing this? This is incredible.

Caroline: It’s so beautiful. I love the, the piecing that you did, you used smaller triangles around the top and then sort of medium-sized through the middle, and then at the bottom they seem maybe a little bit bigger and, but then you also have strips at the bottom so it brings your eye, like, up and then down and oh, I love it. I can’t wait to hear about how this was put together. Wow.

Helen: Yeah, that was a conscious choice, for sure, to have the sizing go from tighter at the top to larger at the bottom, to kind of create that vertical flow down the dress. And one of the things that I loved about this project is I sort of made it as I was going. I was like, I think I’m gonna make a dress for my patchwork project and I’m gonna use these fabrics. And I started putting them together, ’cause first you kinda have to make fabric from your scraps. And then I was like, I think I have enough to make this pattern. And it just kind of all started to click. And I was like, oh, I could do the top out of the little ones and the middle out of the medium and then the stripes on the bottom. And it was really fun to put together. And I ended up using every single leftover piece. Every single piece.

Caroline: Wow. Oh my gosh. Incredible.

Helen: So it’s truly satisfying.

Caroline: It looks so good. And even though all the little blocks are not the same, like, the little, where the triangle hits is not the same. Sometimes it’s like a small triangle and a big triangle. Sometimes it’s even, it’s still, the motif repeats, the, like, angles kind of repeat. So it just works. And I, that’s the beauty of, like, working with scraps, right? Like, you kind of have to make it work with what you have.

Helen: Yeah. You can take your scraps and cut them into uniform pieces, but in this case, I took my scraps, which were relatively uniform, I will say. I had mostly, like, chunky wonky triangles left ’cause I was cutting triangle bunting. So I had long strips from the top of the fat quarter and then I had weird little wonky triangles from the sides. and I put them together just as they were. So like you were saying, the angle on the half square rectangles is different. Like, they don’t match up. The points are not all perfect, they’re all kind of over the place. They’re wonky, they’re kind of funky-looking. But as a whole, once you put it all together, it just works. And it doesn’t matter that they’re not perfect and that they’re not, like, all lined up perfectly. So I was really happy with that. I also had a moment where I almost unpicked the bottom tier because I noticed that the angles on the half square rectangles were going in the opposite direction.

Caroline: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Helen: And I was, like, looking at it on my table being like, oh no, I messed this up. Like, everything’s going to the left and then this tier’s going to the right and, like, it’s ruining the flow of the whole dress. And I was all in my head about it, but honestly, I was just like, I’m not unpicking all of these seams at this point. It’s just not happening. So I just went ahead and finished it and it doesn’t matter. It still looks really cool and it adds a little visual interest.

Caroline: It really does. Yeah. It kind of highlights that there’s this, like, bottom gathered tier on it. I just keep wa, I’m watching your video on loop ’cause it’s so, so beautiful. So you sewed everything with your serger so that the seams would be finished, as well?

Helen: I didn’t go with the machine at all. I just ran everything through the serger. ‘Cause I was like, I need to expedite the process, first of all. ‘Cause it’s, like, so many pieces to sew together. There’s a lot of tiny pieces. And then I figured, yeah, they would all be finished. ‘Cause otherwise I’d have to, like, line it or something. And this way it will stand up to being washed. I’ll still probably wash it by hand and hang it to dry just so that it doesn’t get super, like, wrinkly in the washing machine and dryer. But, yeah, going in with just the serger I think is a good way to approach scrap projects sometimes. ‘Cause you just need to make sure the seams are finished and the serger is, like, if you have your tension correct, will hold that seam nice and strong.

Caroline: Wow. I really wanna make this pattern now, too. It’s really cute. It’s really cute.

Helen: Thanks! I know, it was so cute. Okay, I wanna talk more about the pattern, but I, first wanna see yours. I wanna see yours so bad.

Caroline: Okay. Okay. Lemme send it to you.

Helen: Okay, I just saw the preview. Ah! I’m dying. Oh my gosh. Stop. Caroline, this is huge. I mean, not huge size-wise. I mean monumental.

Caroline: Well it is huge size-wise, as well.

Helen: A quilted jacket! You quilted!

Caroline: I know, I think I made you proud with this one, or I was hoping I would.

Helen: You did! Oh my gosh. It’s absolutely gorgeous. Okay. I am looking at a quilted jacket. Tell me everything.

Caroline: Yes. So this is the Rue Quilted Coat from Spaghetti Western Sewing. And the fabric used for the coat is several nine square block quilts that I made. And all of the squares are made from scraps. So I went with, like, a tonal kind of colour scheme, mostly browns, different tones of browns. And I used, like, pops of that sort of chartreuse-y green and red and some blue and denim and cream. So it’s kind of a mix of, like, solids, a few prints, yarn dyes. And I used all woven scraps. I used scraps from many past projects. I’m gonna have fun pulling pictures of all those projects and I’ll, I’ll put them in the show notes and maybe we’ll do a post about them. But I also ended up dipping into our scraps at work, because we generate so many scraps at work and often we just donate them. So I thought it would be fun to go in and just to be able to stick with my sort of colour scheme. I could use some of the scraps and like flawed bits and bobs at work to sort of supplement. So, yeah, it was a beast of a project, Helen.

Helen: Right? Not only are you patchworking, but then you had to sandwich, quilt, like, you went for it. Oh my gosh.

Caroline: Yeah. I fully quilted it. I’ve been in a sewing hole for the last three weeks, basically just working on this project. But I am so, so happy with it. I love it. I love how it fits. I feel like it’s gonna be this, like, heirloom piece that I’m going to keep forever. Like, it feels so special and I’m really proud of it.

Helen: It’s gorgeous. I love the size, too. The fit looks really cozy and like something that you can wear even if your size changes. It’s not gonna be too small or anything. Like it’s, it’s a nice oversized fit that doesn’t look like it’s too big.

Caroline: Totally. Yeah. The pattern is designed to be oversized and I even kind of sized up. I just knew I wanted it to be, like, big. I was like, I wanna swim in this. I want it to be cozy. I wanna wrap myself in it when I’m cold. Like I just, I really did not wanna risk it being, like, tight around the hips or anything. And I didn’t wanna make a muslin, so I was like, I’m just gonna go big. I’m going big. And it totally worked out.

Helen: It looks great. How big are the patches in your nine patch?

Caroline: So they’re two and a half inch squares.

Helen: Finished or started?

Caroline: Started. Sorry. Yeah. So finished it would be two inch, ’cause I used a quarter inch seam allowance. And then, yeah, six inch or six and a half inch unfinished squares for the bigger brown ones.

Helen: I love that you alternated the solid squares and the nine patch. ‘Cause it really makes it have this checkerboard effect and it’s like a checkerboard within a checkerboard, which is really fun. And then I also just absolutely love the colour combination and the way you’ve mixed prints and solids. ‘Cause it really adds some amazing warmth to the project. Like there’s so much depth there because of all the little flowers and other little motifs. I can’t see it super up close, but it is so cute. I can see all your little prints in there, ginghams, ah!

Caroline: Yeah. I thought it would be too busy to do only nine square blocks for the whole thing. And similarly, yeah, I was like, it’ll be too busy if I’m only pulling prints and stripes and, like, ginghams and stuff. So I, I really wanted to mix the solids in. But the solid red is, like, from my We Sew Eyelet top, the lining. There’s, like, a little brown check from my We Sew the Trends top. There’s actually brown poplin. A lot of the brown popin that I use in here is also from the We Sew the Trends skirt that I made. And then there’s, like, a linen check from a project that I made, the, um, oh my gosh, I forget the name of the pattern, but it has, like, little ties, on the, at the waist.

Helen: Yeah, I remember that one.

Caroline: And, there’s, like, some scraps from a Sabrina Skirt sample that we made recently for the photoshoot. And lots of other little ones. And, like, lining from my Thompson Coat. So lots and lots of…even the OG red block print top that I made, the, like, Wiksten hack a while ago. I found scraps from that. So I really went diving for scraps. And I had a lot of fun picking things that worked together. Luckily, I am pretty predictable with my colour choices in my wardrobe, so I was able to find a colour scheme that really worked.

Helen: The way you’ve combined it is really impressive. It’s so cool. Like, I feel like I would’ve been tempted to go all brown or all cream, but the pops of red and the pops of, like, icy blue really make it. Like, and that’s a bold choice, ’cause there’s not a ton of them, but you’ve mixed them in so perfectly.

Caroline: Oh, thank you. I’m really happy with how, how it worked out and I’m excited to talk about the process with you as well.

Helen: Oh, I bet. Wait, uh, first I just have one more question, ’cause I wanna talk about the quilting. Like, you quilted in the ditch of the nine patch, it looks like?

Caroline: Yes. I ended up quilting in the ditch. Yeah, so it created that grid pattern on the bigger blocks as well.

Helen: That’s what I was gonna say, yeah. So cool.

Caroline: And it’s not perfect. Like I’ll maybe, I don’t know that I have any really close up pictures on my phone, but I’ll definitely share some. But like, I’m not perfectly in the ditch for every block. Like, things shifted around. I really tried not to be too precious with it, ’cause I was like, it’s such a big project. I can’t be a perfectionist. I’m already not the biggest perfectionist with my sewing but, like, for this, I was like, I know these quilt lines are not gonna be perfect, and I’m accepting that. And I just went with it and I was like, I know it’s just gonna all blend in the end. And it did, so.

Helen: It does. Yeah. I think quilting in the ditch can be really challenging. It’s so hard to get it right in the ditch, and oftentimes people don’t get it in there, or don’t even try to get it in there, but they still go in the ditch and, like, it wobbles a bit, but from a distance you never see it. And then, even up close, I think it adds a nice level of handcrafted feel.

Caroline: Yeah. Totally.

Helen: Incredible. You must be so proud of yourself. This is amazing.

Caroline: I am really proud. Thank you. I’m so proud and I, I am so excited. I mentioned the seasonality of your dress because I’m sad that we’re going into summer and I’m probably not gonna be able to wear this jacket until, you know, later this summer. But that being said, I finished it a few days ago and it was kind of cold and rainy the next day, so I wore it to work immediately and I, like, didn’t take it off all day. I was like, I am getting wear out of this jacket. And we’re heading to Montreal this weekend and it’s gonna be a little bit chillier there, so I’m gonna bring it along. I’m gonna get as much wear out of it as I can. It’s always a good sign when you finish a project and you just wanna put it on. Like, I just wanna wear this jacket, so I know I’m going to rediscover it in the fall and get tons of wear out of it, so.

Helen: Oh yeah. You’re gonna be wearing this jacket all the time. Even now. I mean, it’s unseasonably warm here right now, but it’s gonna get cool again. And evening walks, you know? It’s so cozy. I feel like quilted jackets are a great transitional piece because you’d think they would be really, really warm, but actually they’re really breathable, especially if you make them out of cotton. And you know, with the lightweight batting in there, they keep you the right level of warm, I think, depending on the situation. They don’t tend to, like, hold heat or moisture too much, so they can be really great for this time of year.

Caroline: Yeah. I think it is the most comfortable thing I’ve ever made because it’s, it’s like I’m wear, I’m literally wearing a blanket, but the fit is so… it doesn’t pull or, like, constrict in any way. It just feels like a big hug. And it makes me really happy to like, look down and see it, too, when I’m wearing it. So, yeah. No, I’m, I’m pretty obsessed. I’m obsessed with yours, too, though. We need to talk about this. So what else do we need to cover for this, for your project? Because, yeah, what made you choose this pattern?

Helen: So obviously, we had Syd on the show this season, so I was really excited about the idea of choosing one of her patterns, specifically this dress. ‘Cause in my head I was thinking, I would love to patchwork a bunch of fabric together to make a dress, and there’s lots of dress patterns that could work really well for this. But this one in particular is really popular for patchworking. If you go to the hashtag for the Skyline Dress, there’s a ton of patchwork versions. There’s even some patchwork versions in the product photos for this one. I think it works really well because the bottom two tiers are big rectangles, so it’s obviously challenging when you’re working with scraps to make the fabric to make the project out of. It’s like a two step process. You have your scraps and you have to make material, fabric, and then you can cut out the project. So if you’re just making a rectangle, it’s a little bit easier to patchwork the fabric together into a square, rectangle shape, than into an actual pattern piece kind of -esque shape. So with the pieces I was working with, I knew that rectangles would be super easy, and then I only had to worry about cutting a pattern piece out of the top tier part, which was a little bit stressful. When I was cutting it out, I was like, ’cause you put all the time patchworking it together, and then you’re like, oh, I’m cutting it. Oh! But this dress is really forgiving. Every tier is gathered into the next one, including the bodice is gathered into the bias binding. So I knew that no matter what, I would be able to adjust the fit of the bodice. And I cut it out, I stay stitched and gathered all of the neckline pieces, and then I just pinned on some straps so I could double check that the fit was gonna be correct before I did the binding part. So it was relatively easy to adjust as needed because it’s gathered. So you could make it wider, you can make it narrower. It’s really easy. So I think that’s one of the reasons why this pattern is so great and why it’s been so successful in the community. It’s quick to sew, it’s easy to make. The fit is forgiving, the instructions are good and the result beautiful. What more could you ask for?

Caroline: Yeah. Totally. It is like the perfect pattern for this project, and it’s a really good point that the tiers are just rectangles. So when you’re quilting together fabric, it just takes a little bit more of that guesswork out.

Helen: Yeah, exactly. And I even made my tiers, like, they weren’t quite the same size as the tier in the pattern, but as long as each tier is bigger than the last one, you’re fine.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: You can adjust. If you want more volume, you can make them bigger, you can make them longer, narrower. You can adjust it to fit what you have on hand. So it makes it really flexible. And yeah, I mean, I live in dresses like this all summer, like around the house and going out swimming. That’s the perfect, like, throw it on, go to the beach. So I am definitely gonna be wearing this one. And I am hoping for compliments when I’m out and about in it. I think it’s a good one.

Caroline: Oh, I am sure you’re gonna get compliments. It’s so cute.

Helen: Oh my gosh.

Caroline: The colours are so beautiful.

Helen: It was really fun to make and it, I kind of made it in a whirlwind. Like, I feel like I cheated a little bit, Caroline, I’ll confess, because using scraps from a fat quarter bundle means they all were kind of uniform and they all went together. And they were fresh scraps. Like, the concept of a scrap project to me, I was like, oh, I have all these scraps that have been in my stash for years, but then all of a sudden I was, like, cutting out this bunting and I was like, wow, look at these scraps. They’re so beautiful. And I was about to start my scrap project and I was like, I’m just gonna use these. And it was the fastest I’ve ever sewn up scraps.

Caroline: Yeah. Quick turnaround.

Helen: Like…

Caroline: That’s a testament to Fableism.

Helen: Quick turnaround. Yeah, exactly. They were irresistible. But I do have a lot of linen scraps. That’s one scrap that I pretty much always save, is washed linen or everyday linen, heavyweight linen. All those scraps I have tons of. So I might make a dress 2.0 with the linen scraps. ‘Cause now that I’ve kind of tried it with this, I’m itching to do another one, for sure.

Caroline: Yeah. Well, I would just release that feeling of cheating because I think the purpose of this episode, to me at least, was to, A, use scraps. You did that. B, inspire people in the community to also go dipping into their scrap stash and make something fun and show that you can make really cool things with scraps. So you did that as well. And whether it’s a new scrap or an old scrap, it’s still a scrap. And really, you made something that you love and that you’re gonna wear. And that’s really important, too, I think, so.

Helen: Yeah. It’s true. And I used every bit of that bundle, which felt really good. Like it was, it’s so beautiful. And to make use of every little tiny piece, just, like, was so satisfying. And one thing I will say to encourage people out there, if they wanna experiment with making a scrap dress like this is: the pieces don’t have to be this small. Like, these pieces were pretty small and I quilt, so I was like, I got this, you know, looking at a pile of like 500 pieces of fabric and being like, I could sew those together. But like, you don’t have to go that small. There’s tons of versions of this skyline dress made with larger pieces, like, you know, 16 inches wide by 20 inches tall, and you just put some of those together and you get a really similar effect. So you don’t have to go this tiny to achieve this look.

Caroline: Yeah, totally. And a lot of the time, scraps aren’t tiny. Sometimes you end up with a big chunk at the end of a project that you want to use that for something, and maybe it’s not big enough to make a whole new garment out of that one fabric. So that’s the perfect use case for something like this.

Helen: Totally.

Caroline: Yeah, speaking to the scraps, in my case, I don’t know if you remember, but when we decided on this episode, when we were doing our brainstorming, I had just done a huge clean out of my sewing room. Remember when I told you I, like, purged everything? And I had actually brought all of my scraps into the warehouse, all of them. I was like, I’m getting rid of all of these scraps. Like, they’re haunting me. I don’t need these anymore. And…

Helen: “I’m never gonna use these.”

Caroline: Yeah. Caveat, like, we are really lucky because in Vancouver we have Fabcycle, which is a textile recycling and reuse center. And so, at Blackbird, we collect every single scrap and we try to use it as much as we can. So our in-person shopping days we do fill-a-bag where people can go through the scraps. We save all the slightly bigger ones or flawed pieces of fabric for that. And then anything that’s too small, we donate to Fabcycle. So in my mind, I was like, this isn’t going in the garbage. It’s going to either be recycled or, you know, go into the fill-a-bag pile or whatever. But then we said we were going to do this episode, so I had to go back to the warehouse and go into, we have this giant u-line cart, like a rolling kind of almost laundry cart. It’s enormous. That is just filled with fabric scraps. And so, ’cause we hadn’t done like a pickup in a while, so I had to go through and find all of my bags of scraps so that I could pull out…’cause I really wanted to, like, genuinely use my scraps for this project, at least for the most part. So I had to go through and find all of my old scraps, which was hilarious. ‘Cause I was like, they’re haunting me. Like they’re, they’re, I have to go back. But in doing that, I was also able to go through a lot of the other scraps that we, at Blackbird, were gonna donate, that were quote unquote, you know, unusable, that I was able to, to pull out and, give them some new life. So that was exciting, too. Yeah.

Helen: That must’ve been so funny and amazing that, that you tried to get rid of them, but they just came crawling back.

Caroline: Yeah, they just came crawling back. And honestly, I kind of have a new outlook on scraps now because I thought so much about different projects that I could make with scraps. And so now I’m gonna try to be more intentional about what scraps I save so that they don’t feel overwhelming and they maybe have a little bit more of a purpose. Because I would love to make just an actual quilt out of scraps, really similar to this jacket. ‘Cause I love how it turned out so much. And I basically made a quilt in five pieces.

Helen: Yeah, exactly. You can do it.

Caroline: ‘Cause I made five panels for this jacket. So if I put them all together, it’s, it’s a huge quilt. And I think I could totally do it again as a little project that’s ongoing. I was actually really inspired by Sienna, @notaprimarycolor on Instagram, because she was working on a nine square kind of scrap block project years ago and I remember loving what she was coming up with. And so when I was thinking about how to use my scraps, I was like, oh, I want to go find these posts on her Instagram and see what she did with them. And I’m pretty sure she made a quilt with them in the end. But she kind of did it over time, like, accumulating the scraps and making blocks. And I sort of condensed that into just a few weeks. But very, very inspiring, her project that she ended up doing with that. And then for the colours in the coat, I was, I was really inspired by @whatabbeywore’s version of the Rue Coat with, it’s mostly brown and it has some pops of red and blue in it. And so when I saw that, I was like, ooh, I want to do a similar colour scheme. I ended up incorporating more colour into mine, more kind of varied tones, but that was kind of what put me over the edge of like, that’s the project I want to do.

Helen: Oh my gosh. Great inspiration. It turned out so beautiful. Like, I know I said that already, but I’m just looking at it again. I’m like, this jacket is so beautiful.

Caroline: Yeah, next time I see you, you can try it on. ‘Cause I feel like it would look really good on you, too. It’s, yeah, I don’t know if I talked specifically about the details of the pattern, but one of the things I love about it is it has this, like, retro kind of collar, like, it’s like an oversized, not really like peter pan collar, but it’s like a nice curvy collar. It’s, it’s very nice. And it has these, like, side splits at the hem. And it’s all finished with bias tape. And there’s some patch pockets. And so, yeah, it’s, it’s a really nice design, an easy to fit design.

Helen: Yeah. The pockets look kind of similar to the Wildwood pockets, and it’s my favourite style of pocket for a jacket because the angle to put your hands in the pockets is perfect. And that’s what you want in a quilted coat. ‘Cause you wanna be able to just cozy up and stick your hands in at the right angle. And it works. It’s so cute.

Caroline: Yeah. I also slightly adjusted the shape of those pockets ’cause they had a couple of right angles in them and I didn’t want to sew binding around a right angle. So I just cur- I just, like, smoothed it into a curve so I could just do a continuous curve around.

Helen: That’s why it looks even more like the Wildwood pockets, then.

Caroline: Yeah. Because the Wildwood pockets are perfect. So yeah. I, I definitely wanted to change that up. But the only other change I made was lengthening the coat by a couple inches. ‘Cause it’s actually drafted for 5’2” height. I’m 5’8”, so I probably could have lengthened it more, but I think the length that it is is pretty perfect on me, so, yeah.

Helen: That’s great. I also lengthened mine ’cause I’m 5’9.5”, so I just added a little bit to each tier. I don’t even remember how much, just a little bit to each tier to get it to be a little bit longer. And then the only other change I made was that I anchored my inseam pockets. ‘Cause it has a classic inseam pocket where the bag is like a teardrop shape and so it can go to the back or the front. When it’s inside, it kind of flaps around. And when it’s possible, I love to anchor that into a seam so that it’s always facing forward. So I made the pocket a little bit longer. It’s, like, comically long on the inside, but from the outside you can’t tell. And then it’s anchored into the waist seam. so that was the only change I made. Just a personal preference, but it was easy to do and otherwise the pattern was great.

Caroline: Amazing. Did you employ any little changes to your setup and your sewing room or, like, techniques to sew your blocks together to make things more efficient? ‘Cause it’s such a beast to, to, I’m saying this from my own experience too, but such a beast to put together so many little pieces of fabric that you almost have to like, optimize your setup. Right?

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: So how did you set yourself up when you were working on this?

Helen: I definitely cleared off my entire work table. So I have a four by eight table. So I cleared that all off so that I could lay out all the tiers. And I was able to mostly fit everything on the table, kind of laid out flat so that I could visualize the different tiers of the dress. Looks almost like lego blocks when it’s not sewn together. So that was helpful. Obviously, having a big work surface like that is extremely helpful. And then, yeah, I was just serging, so I kind of went a little like, I don’t know, I went off into, like, another place when I was making this project. Like, I had all these scraps and all of a sudden I was like, I’m making this dress. And then I spent the next two days, just, like, three hours or so at a time, just, like, lost in this project, like, serging pieces together. ‘Cause it’s a lot of legwork just to connect all the pieces.

Caroline: Were you chain piecing with the serger? Were you going, like, one after another?

Helen: Yeah, I was just chain piecing. I, like, paired all the triangles together. I wasn’t paying too much attention, but I was kind of looking for contrast. It’d be, like, a lighter-ish one with a darker-ish one. And then I would just, like, put them, I made a little stack of pairs and then I just ran them through as fast as I could. It was definitely a speed project, for sure.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Did you make all your nine patches first? Like, did you plan them all out?

Caroline: Yeah. so I cut all of my squares, but then I ended up having to cut, like, two more sets of the squares. Like, I didn’t go in planning the area enough. Like I was, like, I just kind of visually was like, that looks like enough, you know? And then I ended up having to cut so many more. But yes, I cut all my little squares and then I would lay out as many blocks as I could fit on my table at home. And then I looked up a video on how to chain piece nine square blocks, which is not like a perfect chain situation. But there was, like, a way to do it so that I could do, like, the three rows and then the three rows were connected. I could iron those and then go in and, like, just do those, the cross seams. I used, like, my quarter inch foot on my machine for those. And I ended up setting up my iron right next to my machine. Not the most ergonomic. I know Rose Parr would probably tell me I should be getting up in between, but I just needed the efficiency. So I put my iron and my ironing board, like, right next to my machine so I could, like, do all my blocks, wheel over, do all my ironing, wheel back, do all, you know, finish all the blocks. And then I made a big stack of all the blocks and I had all my other, like, solid squares cut out. And then I started laying out my, basically, like, panels. I made five panels and put together the panels to make, you know, those little things. And then I ended up doing the pinning, like, the sandwiching of the quilt at the office so I could have a little bit more space. And I just used a cotton lawn print lining. I did not quilt my lining. It would’ve been too much. I thought about it and then I was like, Caroline…

Helen: Just to, like, use scraps for the lining, too?

Caroline: Just, yeah, yeah, exactly. But I was like, it’s okay, you can give yourself a pass.

Helen: It is okay. And it’s also probably not ideal to have a bunch of seams in the lining, ’cause it just adds bulk.

Caroline: Totally. Yeah. Yeah. So I gave myself a pass on that one. But yeah, then I pinned everything together. One game-changer for me, ’cause I don’t know if you remember, Helen, but I’ve made two quilted coats previous to this. I was joking with people at work about how I have, like, quilted coat amnesia, because every time I make a quilted coat, I know now, after this, that I hate it. Like, in the moment, I hate myself. ‘Cause I’m like, this is so much work. And I remember in these previous projects being like, I’m never doing this again.

Helen: Oh my gosh. Okay. Wait, question, at what point in the process does that feeling kick in? Is it when you’re patchworking the fabric together? Or is it the actual, like, sandwiching and quilting part where you’re like…

Caroline: It’s the sandwiching and the quilting. I think I went through eight spools of thread.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: And on the, like, fifth one when I, like, had used every bit of brown thread in my sewing room and I had to drive to the office to get more thread, I was like, why did I do this to myself?

Helen: Oh my gosh.

Caroline: But what I was gonna say is, this is the first quilted coat I’ve made with a walking foot on my sewing machine. I ended up investing in the walking foot for my Bernina a few years ago, and, game-changer, complete game-changer. ‘Cause that was, I think, one of the stressors for me in making quilted coats, is like, when you’re actually quilting the sandwich, things move around. The backing doesn’t stay straight. You get the, um, I don’t know what it’s called when, like, everything sort of looks like, it’s, like, angled, like, pulling in the wrong direction, which I, I know that I have to sew all my lines in the same direction. But even when you do that, sometimes you get the roping and the weird folds and just things don’t line up properly. Like, the bottom layer moves at a different pace than the top layer. And I remember having to kind of almost wrestle with my machine to get it through properly, and the walking foot made it so much easier. I had none of those issues and I just feel like it looked way better in the end. So that made the process less stressful. But yeah, it was like, I felt like I had overcome this huge obstacle of like, okay, I have now quilted all these panels together. And then I was like, wait, now I have to cut out a jacket and make a jacket.

Helen: And sew it. Yeah, it’s two projects, I’m telling you.

Caroline: It’s two projects. So yeah. And I cut out and that was, like, similar to you, like, stressing about when I was putting my pattern piece on these little panels. I was like, okay, placement. Like, am I gonna stress about placement? Like, I tried not to stress about those details too much with this project.

Helen: Yeah, I think that’s wise, ‘cause it’s gonna look good no matter what.

Caroline: Exactly. Yeah. I was like, I knew I wanted the, like, front to at least, like, line up, the quilt lines and stuff, or the pieces, but I realized even after I was finished that I was like, oh, I could have lined up my side seam. Totally didn’t do that. But it doesn’t matter. My arm covers it.

Helen: That’s under your arm.

Caroline: It’s under my arm. And yeah, it, it came together pretty well. Like, the pattern itself came together well, so there were, there weren’t any, like, dramatic hiccups or crash outs or anything other than me just being like, I wanna be outside in the sun, gardening. And all I’m doing is, like, just quilting. Yeah. How did I get here?

Helen: Oh my gosh. The nice thing about quilted coats is, like, once you do get to that point where your pieces are cut out, it’s not a hard project. It’s usually fairly straightforward. There’s binding, but other than that, you know, the pieces are pretty simple, so it can come together quickly. But yeah, I mean, I am kind of happy to hear that it’s the quilting part that makes you frustrated, because that means you could still make a quilt and just get a long armer to sew it for you and, boom, problem solved.

Caroline: 100%. And I thought about that, too. I was like, I think that I would really enjoy the piecing portion of a quilt and then I can just send it off and I’m not worried about it. And then it comes back and I just have to bind it. So yeah, I, I totally have that on my radar as a future project. And speaking of binding, I got to use my simplicity bias tape maker, bias tape making machine. And thank goodness for that thing, ’cause she was a workhorse. I have a video of it just making miles and miles of binding.

Helen: Miles.

Caroline: And I was really, it was worth it, yeah, to have that tool in my…

Helen: Because you need what, probably like 10 meters or something?

Caroline: 10 meters, yeah.

Helen: I think Wildwood needs nine. Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah. It was a lot of binding. Yeah. But thank goodness for that. Thank goodness for my big tables at work, too. Like, cutting, even cutting out all the strips of binding, I ended up doing that at work ’cause I could just do it in big, long strips instead of having to, like, you know, do it in smaller strips, so.

Helen: Yeah.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Speaking of future scrap projects, I have seen lots of sewists in the community utilize the strategy of cutting your scraps into usable size pieces immediately. So if you’re cutting out a shirt and you have some leftover cotton, cutting it into whatever size it is that you are doing for your project. So five inch squares, 10 inch strips, whatever it is that you think you might wanna do with it, and then having that stack of squares or whatever set aside so that when you do wanna do your project, you don’t have to take all these like wrinkled, weird shaped pieces and cut squares out of them, ‘cause it’s kind of annoying.

Caroline: Yes. I think one of those, like, flat, like, project boxes from, like, Michael’s would be really awesome for something like that. ‘Cause you could just cut out your squares, set them in that box, you know, file that box away, pull it out, and then when the box is full, make some blocks and, like, kind of move through it that way. But that’s what Sienna did, too. I, I remember her posting, like, as she went along, you know, cutting all those little pieces and saving them for that future project. So it’s a really smart way to approach it, I think.

Helen: Yeah, totally. Having it ready to go. I would love to make some more scrap projects, though. I’m definitely feeling inspired and, you know, materials are expensive these days, so making use of those scraps to make incredible projects. I mean, we both made things that, I’m gonna speak for you here, but, like, are some of the most beautiful things we’ve maybe ever made, out of just leftover materials, so that’s incredible. Like, to be able to make such a beautiful project using stuff you already had on hand. Hell yeah.

Caroline: Yeah. this is one of my favourite projects I’ve ever made, for sure. I just, you know, when you just get that feeling when you finish a project, you’re like, oh, this is a good one. This is a fave.

Helen: This is a good one.

Caroline: And also, I think the most involved project I’ve ever done, other than my wedding dress, I’m gonna say that. Yeah.

Helen: It was? Oh, good for you.

Caroline: It was, yeah. Yeah. I’m, I feel very accomplished. And you can, too, if you wanna make something with your scraps.

Helen: I know I would love to see people tackling scrap projects. And I actually had an idea the other day for our next season of Love to Sew. I’m gonna pitch it to you right now.

Caroline: Yeah, tell me, what?

Helen: Let’s announce these ahead of time so that our listeners can join in and make things before the episode.

Caroline: That’s a really great idea. We should totally do that. Yes.

Helen: And we can have a little online party and see everyone’s makes and it’ll be so fun.

Caroline: Yeah. That sounds really good. Like a little community, not challenge, but you know, event. Yeah. Yeah, we can post the, the season’s We Sew projects and then we can all celebrate together.

Helen: Exactly, and then we can all do it together. ‘Cause I am finding it so motivating. Like, I don’t think I would’ve made this dress. Like, I would’ve maybe thought of like, oh, I could sew all these scraps into a dress. Would I have done it? Probably not. You know? Like, it was the motivation I needed to have that reason to do it.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: So I really appreciate that.

Caroline: Yeah. No, me too. Any other thoughts about the project? I’m looking at my notes to see if I missed anything.

Helen: I don’t think so. I’m so excited to share. I’ve got some little, like, in-progress videos as well, so we’ll put up a couple of videos each on our Instagram this week. So stay tuned to see our works-in-progress and see the finished makes.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: We’re so, so excited to share.

Caroline: We really are. Great job, Helen. What a great We Sew to cap off the season.

Helen: Thank you. I know, you did amazing, too. That was so much fun. I can’t believe what we made. We’re so good at this.

Caroline: Yay. We’re so good at this. Pat ourselves on the back.

Helen: Yeah, exactly.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. Well, thank you all so much for listening. I mean, pretty much all sewists have a stash of scraps, so let’s all start seeing them as an opportunity rather than a burden.

Helen: Yes. I love that. It’s like free fabric, after all. Right? Sewist math.

Caroline: Yes, I love sewist math. That’s it for today’s episode of Love to Sew. You can find me, Caroline, at Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns, and Helen at Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co. And we’re recording in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

Helen: You can support Love to Sew and get access to bonus content by subscribing on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. You even get access to the back catalog of bonus episodes. That’s over a hundred hours of Love to Sew. Go to patreon.com/lovetosew or check out our podcast page on Apple Podcasts for more info.

Caroline: You can head to lovetosewpodcast.com to find our show notes. They’re filled with links and pictures from this episode. If you’d like to get in touch with us, leave us a message at 1-844-SEW-WHAT. That’s 1-844-739-9428. Or send us an email at [email protected].

Helen: Thanks to our amazing podcast team. Lisa Ruiz is our creative assistant and Jordan Moore of The Pod Cabin is our editor. And thank you for listening. We’ll talk to you next week.

Caroline: Bye-bye.

Helen: Bye.

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