Seamwork Radio: Sewing and Creativity

What do you do when sewing frustrates you? How do you handle stress, failure, and the occasional hit to your self-esteem that comes with creating? In this episode, we'll share a tool that can help you be kinder to yourself and stay motivated to make.

Ann Lowe moved to New York with big dreams. She wanted to become a great American designer, no small feat for a Black woman from Alabama in 1928. But she held fast to her dream, taking enormous risks and facing down catastrophe to realize her talent.

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Have you heard the term "deadstock" applied to fabric? What does that mean? Inspired by a thread in our community, we'll discuss the benefits and drawbacks of deadstock, vintage, and secondhand fabric. And we'll share some favorite places to find it.

We've all been spending a lot more time at home in 2020, and that's led many of us to think more about our spaces. Whether you have a tiny corner or a luxurious craft room, we'll share 8 tips to help you organize and update your space without buying things you don't need.

Decluttering handmade clothing is HARD. We all get attached to things we've made with our own two hands. In this episode. Haley helps us out with five questions you can ask yourself and three practical tips to help you move your handmade clothes to the donation pile when it's time.

This is the story of a designer who really knows herself and her craft. She left a decade-long career in the fashion scenes of Los Angeles and NYC to open up a textiles studio in the Catskills of upstate New York, where she rebuilds textiles with magic, ritual, and a deep connection to nature.

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In this episode, we'll hear stories from the Seamwork team about how past and future generations of sewists have impacted our sewing stories.

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Folkwear has been creating patterns for nearly 50 years. Despite four changes in ownership and two recessions, this women-owned business is still making patterns today.

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In this episode, we'll hear stories about sharing, and how we share our craft with our loved ones. We asked you about a time that you sewed for someone else. Did it go as planned? Did they love it? How did they react?

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Maggie Crisler stands 6'1" tall, is plus-sized, and feels like her accent isn't quite Southern enough for her small Alabama town, but it's too Southern for the rest of the world. After a tumor on her pituitary gland caused her to rapidly gain over 90 pounds in one year, she thought she was locked out of clothing that fits. And she quit sewing. Why should she bother making clothing if her body might be totally different in a few months?

"I didn't know what was gonna happen, and I still honestly don't know what's gonna happen with my health and my body. I don't know if once we get all of the stuff sorted, if I'm going to drop 30 pounds or if I'm going to stay the same size or what. "

Maggie is a force. She plays a bright red vintage organ in a rock 'n roll band, quilts, has long, wavy red hair, sews her clothes by hand, and has a cool job at Alabama Chanin. When you talk to her, she exudes confidence. She's matter of fact. She has a kind tone in her voice, she's a great storyteller, and you can't help but want to just hang out and chat all day. But she's spent much of her life feeling like she doesn't fit in.

Born and raised in Alabama, and growing up in a creative household, sewing has always been a part of Maggie's life. Her relationship with this craft has changed as much as her body. After a two-year hiatus from sewing, Maggie is back with some lifelong lessons she's learned about making, sustainability, self-image, and the power of a well-fitting garment.

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