Check Your Thread
136 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago - ★★★★★ - 53 ratingsHello! Welcome to Check Your Thread, a podcast about sewing more sustainably. Each episode we enjoy nerding out about sewing, whilst picking up ideas and useful tips for how to reduce our impact on the environment. My aim is always to approach topics with a sense of curiosity and fun, and hope to leave our listeners feeling inspired by the end of each episode.
Examples of topics that we cover include sourcing second hand textiles, zero waste sewing patterns, mending, upcycling, scrap-busting and alternative and surprising sources for fabric. If there are any topics you’d like CYT to cover, anyone you’d like me to get on the podcast to chat to or you’d just like to say hi, please email me at [email protected] or message me via Instagram @checkyourthread.
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Episodes
#35: Mask Making with Sophie Passmore
March 28, 2022 19:32 - 43.6 MBShortly after the COVID pandemic reached the UK in early 2020, artist and maker Sophie Passmore responded to the craziness and confusion by founding the Mask Makers UK community. This Facebook group became an important hub providing information, assistance and support to thousands of voluntary mask makers. More than two years later, Sophie is still keeping abreast with developments in mask-related science, advice and design progression and sharing it all for those who want and need it. Mask ...
#34: Ethical Fabric Sourcing with Charlie Bradley Ross
March 21, 2022 11:59 - 41.6 MBBefore many of us were even aware of the damaging aspects of fabric production, Charlie Bradley Ross was researching better alternatives. Her desire to share that extensive research and the connections she made with ethical and more sustainable producers grew organically (excuse the pun) into her business, Offset Warehouse, and later The Sustainable Fashion Collective. For Episode 34 of CYT, Charlie tells me about her journey, offers a beginner’s guide for sewers wanting to choose better fab...
#33 Encouraging Kids to Sew
March 14, 2022 11:59 - 16.8 MBSewing and mending are important life skills, as well as being a source of fun and creative expression. However, with fewer and fewer schools offering any kind of sewing or textiles lessons, are us adults doing enough to pass on these skills to children and young people? After all, the planet will be in their hands before long. In this episode (Ep.# 33), I argue the case for encouraging kids to sew, and offer up ideas and tactics for how to do so, whether you are a parent yourself or not. ...
#32: Episode 32: Textile Activism with Shams el-Din Rogers
March 07, 2022 11:55 - 1 ByteFor Episode #32 of Check Your Thread, I got to talk with textile activist Shams el-Din Rogers. For me, this is the most powerful and thought provoking conversation I’ve had for the podcast to date. Shams shares her thoughts and perspective as an activist, advocate, teacher and campaigner. We get into the sources of Shams’s frustrations, altering patterns of consumption, her experience as a black maker, active allyship, mending as a political act, making for those will limited resources and m...
#32: Textile Activism with Shams el-Din Rogers
March 07, 2022 11:55 - 70.7 MBFor Episode #32 of Check Your Thread, I got to talk with textile activist Shams el-Din Rogers. For me, this is the most powerful and thought provoking conversation I’ve had for the podcast to date. Shams shares her thoughts and perspective as an activist, advocate, teacher and campaigner. We get into the sources of Shams’s frustrations, altering patterns of consumption, her experience as a black maker, active allyship, mending as a political act, making for those will limited resources and m...
#31: Exploring Zero Waste Design with Liz Haywood
February 28, 2022 11:59 - 26.4 MBFor this episode, #31, I got to speak to Liz Haywood, a very talented designer who creates zero waste sewing patterns. After a 20 year career in clothing production, and writing and self-publishing a book called The Dressmaker’s Companion, Liz discovered ZW design and started making her own patterns using this approach. Two years ago, she committed to only producing patterns that are zero waste, and has been exploring and pushing the genre forwards ever since with her book Zero Waste Sewing ...
#30: Tips and Takeaways from Made Do and Mend
February 21, 2022 11:59 - 19.5 MBThis is the third and final instalment of my mini series about the Make Do and Mend campaign. We pick up where we left off in the second episode and explore some more themes and lessons from the 1940s that really resonate today. In the second half of this episode I then leave the big-picture ideas to zoom right in on the topic. I share some of the practical tips and advice that I found in the reproductions of the leaflets produced by the Government as part of the Make Do and Mend campaign. S...
#29: Lessons From the 1940s
February 14, 2022 11:59 - 18.6 MBThis is the second instalment of my mini series about the Make Do and Mend campaign. As I was reading and writing about that era, I couldn’t help but think about the situation we find ourselves in today with the climate crisis. There was so much relating to the use and reuse of materials that felt so familiar to what a lot of us have been thinking and talking about more recently. Many of us are trying to work out how to consume less and be more resourceful whilst continuing to make stuff and...
#28: Make Do and Mend
February 07, 2022 11:59 - 18.4 MBThis is the first episode in a mini series I’ve made about a topic that fascinates me: the Make Do And Mend campaign of the 1940s. ‘‘Make do and mend’ is a phrase often used today to refer to the ethos of repairing something over throwing it away. Sometimes it’s used in direct reference to the campaign that took place during the second world war, when materials were scarce and repair was essential. But as time passes and we move further away from that era, it often gets used more generally: ...
#27: Zoe & Julia go Rag Rugging
January 31, 2022 11:59 - 30.4 MBThis episode follows myself and friend-of-the-podcast Julia Hincks as we attend a workshop and try our hands at rag rugging! We were invited by former guest and rag rugging expert Elspeth Jackson to attend one of her in-person workshops. If you can’t attend one of her workshops yourself, Elspeth’s company Ragged Life sells books and kits, and produces online courses and YouTube videos, so you can learn from her wherever you live. So how hard is rag rugging? What fabrics are suitable to use? ...
#26: Harvesting Materials with Eliu Hernandez
January 24, 2022 11:59 - 1 ByteFor Episode 26, I had the pleasure of talking with Eliu Hernandez, a quilter and maker whose work focuses on reclaimed denim. Eliu has developed an approach to deconstructing unwanted jeans that allows him to harvest as much as possible to reuse again, including the belt loops, pockets, leather patches and even the thread! I loved nerding out about denim with him, and even if denim isn’t your jam, this conversation may help you take reusing garments to a whole new level. We also discuss the ...
#25: Handmade Period Pants with Yelena Buck
January 17, 2022 11:59 - 1 ByteFor our quarter-century episode, I’m having a deep dive into the topic of handmade period pants with lingerie and pattern designer, Yelena Buck. If you’re a period haver, or there’s one in your close family, this episode might convince you to try making some if you haven’t already. We talk about the benefits of period pants in general, and self-made ones specifically, plus the ingredients that go into them, and how to launder them so they’ll last for many years. Yelena also expands on some o...
#24: Conscious Making in Real Life with Rebecca Evans-Merritt
January 10, 2022 11:59 - 1 ByteWelcome to Episode 24 with the wonderful Rebecca Evans-Merritt, a maker that I’ve long admired for both her gorgeous makes, AND her intelligent, thoughtful approach to making. Last year she created a talk for the Fold Line sewing weekender event entitled Slow and Conscious Making that included suggestions on how we can improve the sustainability of our sewing. Finally! I thought, a reason to get in touch with Rebecca and get her to talk to me! In this conversation we discuss those definition...
#23: Sewing Goals for the New Year
January 03, 2022 11:59 - 1 ByteHappy New Year! Episode 23 is a solo one made with a helpful dose of listener feedback. The start of a new year is a great time to think about new habits you’d like to implement going forwards. I’ve collected a whole heap of goals related to sewing more sustainably that listeners intend to focus on during 2022, and I’ve thrown in some additional suggestions of my own. If you like the idea of setting goals or aims at this time of year and could do with a dose of inspiration, or you just like ...
#22: Mending Workshops with Carla & Meg / Community Glue
December 27, 2021 11:59 - 1 ByteIt’s the last episode of CYT for 2021, and a first for the podcast: a conversation involving three people! I talk to Carla Bruni, the founder and organiser of Community Glue Workshops which are regular, free mending events taking place in Chicago, and Megan Grandstaff, who is one of the talented and dedicated volunteers, who specialises in fixing clothing and textile items. We get into the origin story of this almost-ten-year-old enterprise, and learn the keys to its massive success. How doe...
#21: The Joy of Reclaimed Fabric with Sarah aka Sew Love NZ
December 20, 2021 11:55 - 1 ByteIt’s Episode 21 of CYT, and today we’re busting a big myth: that you have to be completely serious and joyless to be passionate about the environment, or to have any impact. I’m chatting with New Zealand based sewing teacher, maker and sustainability phenomenon, Sarah Lancaster, AKA Sarah Sew Love. (You can also hear her cat, Forest, in the background!) She shows us that having a vibrant aesthetic and awesome energy really helps her engage with others over important topics. We talk about how...
#20: What thread should I buy?
December 13, 2021 17:53 - 1 ByteWelcome to Ep. 20. In this solo episode, we literally check our thread! Of course, what fabrics we sew with is a big factor in the impact our garment sewing will have. And, increasingly, there are more and more options available to us to express our values and preferences in our thread choices as well. I break down the thread options for making our own clothes, then offer up some criteria on which to judge each option to help you make your mind up about what to pick. I mention a lot of spec...
#19: Quilting and Considered Consuming with Shelly Sommer
December 06, 2021 11:59 - 1 ByteWelcome to CYT! This episode (Ep.19) features a fascinating, wide-ranging and inspiring conversation with quilt-maker, Shelly Sommer. I thought we were going to be mainly discussing quilting, potentially as a way to use up fabric scraps and unwanted clothing, however Shelly is such an intelligent, thoughtful maker and human that our conversation ended up going off on a whole heap of interesting tangents. We did talk about the traditions, purposes and changing role of quilts, and that led t...
#18: Rag Rugging with Elspeth Jackson
November 29, 2021 11:59 - 1 ByteWelcome to Episode 18. As you may have noticed, I’ve always got my eyes peeled for interesting and useful ways to use up fabric scraps. In this episode I’ve got for you a conversation with author and rag rug expert Elspeth Jackson, to coincide with the release of her new book Rag Rug Techniques for Beginners which is out this week. Elspeth has carved out a career for herself based on teaching and writing about rag rugging, as well as selling kits and related products through her business Rag...
#17: What are zero waste sewing patterns?
November 22, 2021 11:55 - 1 ByteWelcome to Episode 17! So whilst clothing made using zero and low waste practices is as old as clothing itself, zero waste patterns available for home sewing is a relatively new phenomena. This episode is an introduction to the topic, and I plan to build on it in the future with conversations with zero waste designers and practitioners. The Zero Waste Fashion Design book by Holly McQuillan and Timo Rissanen via Bookshop.org HERE. Liz Haywood’s Zero Waste Legacy Sewing ondemand class avail...
#16: Patternmaking in Public Places with Louisa Owen Sonstroem
November 15, 2021 11:45 - 1 ByteIt’s Episode 16 of CYT, and the second that features my conversation with Louisa Owen Sonstroem. Last week we heard about how Louisa embraced and became an expert in hand sewing clothing. This week we talk about a different, but equally fascinating topic: a project Louisa started in 2019 called Patternmaking in Public Places. PIPP aims to democratise access to patternmaking, by bringing it out from behind closed doors and sharing it with the public. Louisa tells us about the two very differe...
#15: Hand Stitching Clothes with Louisa Owen Sonstroem
November 08, 2021 12:00 - 1 ByteWelcome to Episode 15! Have you ever considered sewing a garment entirely by hand? I must admit that it had literally never occurred to me until I got to speak with today’s guest, Louisa Owen Sonstroem. This is the first of two Check Your Thread episodes with Louisa, and in this one we learn how a trained pattern cutter who works in the NY garment industry became an expert in this slow-sewing practice. We talk about how she fell in love with making her own clothes, but had an epiphany about ...
#14: Quick and Cheap Handmade Gift Projects
November 01, 2021 19:39 - 1 ByteLet’s be honest, for those of us who sew, spending a couple hours at our sewing machine is probably preferable to the same time spent wandering around the shops or trawling websites trying to find someone the perfect gift. In this solo episode, I’m sharing heaps of ideas for presents we can create for our loved ones that won’t take an age or cost us a mint. All these ideas should take no more than an evening to make, a lot of them use patterns or tutorials that are free, and pretty much all ...
#13: Natural Dyeing with Amy Taylor
October 25, 2021 07:12 - 1 ByteI’ve been promising to cover natural dyeing techniques for a while now, and I’ve made good on that promise with this episode! I got to speak to a talented and experienced natural dye expert, Amy Taylor. A practitioner and teacher based in Chicago, Amy shares so much information in this extended episode of CYT. We go into the history and techniques, plus she busts some myths and tells us some fun stories of her experiences dyeing fabric with natural substances. If you ever had any questions a...
#12: Sew Over 50 with Judith Staley
October 18, 2021 18:36 - 1 ByteJudith is the creator of, and one of the main driving forces behind, the biggest sewing community on Instagram, SewOver50. Whilst providing a virtual hub for conversation and inspiration for everyone, SewOver50 also pushes for the increased visibility of older people within sewing related industries. In our conversation, Judith tells me about the rapid creation of that community and the goals behind it. She also shares how her own revelations surrounding her wardrobe and sewing output sparke...
#11: Sewing Vs. Kids
October 11, 2021 12:29 - 1 ByteIn this solo episode of CYT, we’re taking the definition of sustainability in a different direction from the usual environmental meaning. I’m talking about how to sustain your sewing life when you are a parent, particularly of younger kids. It’s basically all the points that I eventually figured out for myself, but wish I’d heard when I first became a parent. If you aren’t a parent of young kids, don’t be thinking that this episode isn’t for you however. There’s lots in this that would apply...
#10: Clothing Systems with Guy – the Light Touch
October 04, 2021 07:27 - 1 ByteIt’s Episode 10 of the CYT podcast! We’re into double figures now! I’ve got a super interesting conversation for you today with Guy from The Light Touch London (soon to be Bristol). He’s a really thoughtful maker with heaps of fascinating ideas and projects, many of which we touch on in this episode. His investigations into clothing systems, and tracking your outfits enthralled me in particular, and we also get into the Fibreshed movement, the soil to soil life cycle of clothing, his love of...
#9: Overlockers & Coverstitch Machines with Julia Hincks
September 27, 2021 07:00 - 1 ByteWelcome to episode 9 of Check Your Thread. In this one, I chat to my friend and colleague Julia Hincks, who just so happens to be a sewing expert and author. She has written two amazing sewing books, The Overlocker Technique Manual (published in 2014) and The Coverstitch Technique Manual (which has just been released). If you already own an overlocker (AKA serger) or coverstitch machine, or you’re considering investing in either, you need to hear this conversation. Julia gives her expert adv...
#8: Is Sewing Sustainable?
September 20, 2021 19:04 - 1 ByteIt’s episode 8 of CYT, and in this solo episode I’ve posed myself the question: is sewing sustainable? I share my musings on the concept of sustainability, particularly as it relates to sewing, and how we need to be wary of over simplification and greenwashing. Plus I discuss what I consider to be the overarching goal for sewing in a more sustainable way, and ideas for how we can achieve it. Making clothing that fits our bodies, personal style and lifestyle requirements can guarantee that we...
#7: Experimental Sewing with Riccardo Guido
September 12, 2021 19:33 - 1 ByteIt’s Episode 7 of the Check Your Thread podcast and this one was such a joy to record. You may recognise Riccardo as one of the finalists of season 5 of the Great British Sewing Bee. However, Riccardo Guido started boldly and fearlessly experimenting with reclaimed fabrics and innovative approaches to garment sewing long before Joe Lycett ever muttered the phrase ‘Transformation Challenge’. Right from the beginning, Riccardo has forged his own path to making his own wardrobe, including sig...
#6: Life, Sewing and Sustainability with Amy Dyce
September 05, 2021 20:10 - 1 ByteIt’s the sixth episode of the Check Your Thread podcast, and the second episode featuring parts of the great conversation I had with Amy Dyce. Last week Amy shared heaps about her small business, Craft & Thrift. In today’s episode, the conversation moves from running a sustainability-minded business, to running a sustainability-minded life! We discuss ways to share eco habits, the realities of eco-guilt and how making sustainable choices can get murky. Amy also talks about the ways she uses ...
#5: Craft & Thrift with Amy Dyce
August 30, 2021 10:53 - 1 ByteWelcome to the fifth episode of CYT, this time featuring a conversation with Amy Dyce, a crafty, thrifty environmentally-minded woman who has a small business called Craft & Thrift. Through her Etsy shop she sells thrifted, vintage and deadstock fabric, along with other related sewing products. Amy was so generous with her time that we ended up chatting and recording for over two hours! Because of that, we will release two episodes that include different parts of our conversation. This first...
#4: My 5 Favourite Scrap Projects
August 23, 2021 12:08 - 1 ByteIt’s clear that making the most of the fabric we buy is fundamental to keeping our craft as sustainable as possible. In this solo episode I’m making a case for keeping and using your fabric scraps and leftovers from previous sewing projects, and I’m going to run through my 5 favourite uses for scraps and leftovers. Support the podcast over on Patreon! The Closet Core Pattern free pouf pattern, found HERE, is an excellent way to use up scraps for making the outside and can be stuffed with ...
#3: African Textiles Today with Jacqueline Shaw
August 16, 2021 07:05 - 1 ByteIn the third episode of Check Your Thread I’m talking with Jacqueline Shaw, founder of Wax and Wraps which offers African textiles sewing subscription boxes. Jacqueline is an expert on the African fashion and textiles industries and has an MA in Ethical Fashion and Sustainability under her belt as well. In this conversation she shares her excitement about what’s going on right now in African fabric production. She educates me on lots of topics related to her experiences and passions, includi...
#2: How to Sew Sustainably with Wendy Ward
August 09, 2021 09:21 - 1 ByteIt’s the second episode of the Check Your Thread podcast, and I’ve got my first guest! Wendy Ward has integrated sustainable thinking into her making so deeply that she has literally written a book called ‘How to Sew Sustainably’! In this conversation Wendy shares tips on sewing more sustainably from her book and from her own sewing life. Plus we discuss the commercialisation of craft and how privilege is often associated with sewing today. And finally Wendy talks about how to keep craft acc...
#1: Introductions
August 02, 2021 10:32 - 1 ByteWelcome to Check Your Thread, a new podcast about sewing more sustainably! In the first episode, creator Zoe Edwards takes us on a journey through her sewing history, from fashion student, to garment industry employee, to sewing blogger, to dressmaking teacher and more. Learn what inspired her to start Check Your Thread and find out what you can expect from future episodes. Let’s nerd out about garment sewing whilst getting inspired to reduce the impact we have on the planet. Zoe has been ...