It may come as a surprise to learn that 60 per cent of Brits don’t know how to sew – which may not seem like a big deal, but in the era of fast fashion and throw-away culture, it’s a much needed skill we should all learn. Not only is it a therapeutic and a creative hobby, but knowing your way around a needle and thread is one way to live more sustainably and find value in clothing. Button fallen offa dress? Sew it back on. Trousers too long? Hem them. Repairing, adjusting and patching up garments are far better solutions than resorting to chucking an item when it no longer suits us. Amy Harris promotes this resourceful attitude through Sew Darn Good, her website and sewing workshops and here she shares her stitching story, alongside an upcycled dress project.
I have been sewing since I can remember. My gran taught me how to knit when I was really small and I continued doing creative things like that at primary school. By the time I was 13, I decided that I wanted to be a fashion designer and train at the London College of Fashion. At secondary school, I was lucky to have an inspiring textiles teacher who introduced me to upcycling and taught me about some of the negative impacts of the fashion world. She spoke about sustainability, which was quite unusual for that time, and that gave me a really early introduction to this area of fashion. Yet at university I became disillusioned with the industry. In my final year, I created a sustainable collection, but no one seemed interested, and I couldn’t see a future in a line of work so against my values. This is not to say I was a perfect consumer – I struggled with the lure of fast fashion and it took me a long time for my actions to fall in line with my ethics.
I trained as a design and technology teacher and taught textiles for a few years. The UK education system is putting less and less of a priority on the creative subjects, and I felt discouraged by the focus on data and progress. I wanted to make a bigger impact, and it was this drive that got me back into sewing and when I decided to start Sew Darn Good – where I run workshops and courses, as well as producing made to measure items and running a repairs and alterations service. I wanted to use my skills to encourage people to love what they already have by adjusting or fixing, alongside teaching people to sew and build a stronger connection with their clothes.
I offer everything from one-offembroidery and fabric painting workshops to upcycling sessions and six-week courses in my studio. One of my favourite workshops last year was upcycled wreath making. Students had two hours, bags of scraps and wire frames to make their creations. There was a real buzz as everyone excitedly made their wreaths, desperate to finish on time. I also teach people how to make items of clothing – like pinafores, dungarees or skirts. I get more women than men on the workshops, but I do get males attending, which I really like, as we all associate domestic sewing with women. It’s a mix of ages too, from people in their 20s and 30s, right through to those in their 60s.