Here are some highlights from my conversation with Sequin Girlie Sam:
Sam’s sewing journey has been part of a lifelong passion for creativity. Although she doesn’t specifically remember learning how to sew, it was something that was always happening around the house as she was growing up. Her attitude towards sewing was more practical than creative though, and Sam recalls sewing her own curtains for her first house at 19 years old.
After studying a Fine Art and Teaching degree, Sam was tempted to try textile art after learning about felting during an artist retreat in Devon. Her first creative experiences of sewing was using free motion machine sewing to draw designs on top of her felt pieces. Sam would make bags and accessories featuring her textile art. Sequin Girlie was originally the name of her Etsy shop, as many of her designs featured sequins and intricate bead work.
Like many people who have been sewing for a while, Sam’s collection of fabrics has grown and evolved. When she first started, she bought many quilting cottons because they were ideal for the small projects she made for her Etsy shop and school fairs. Over the last three years, Sam has got really into garment sewing, so the stash has changed to reflect that. Sam is a big advocate of sewing with jersey, as it can be more forgiving on the fit and the garment are comfortable to wear (who doesn’t love ‘secret pyjamas’?). Sam has made a YouTube video encouraging sewists to make friends with their overlocker and try some knit sewing patterns.
An organised stash makes is easier to keep tidy and knowing where everything is helps with the planning process. Sam favours rolling her fabrics as opposed to folding, as she finds this prevents them from getting messy when one fabric is removed from the pile. Bright colours and strong patterns are Sam’s vibe, so she uses the mantra ‘there will always be more fabric’ when she needs to take a break from buying fabric. One method she’s tried to keep her stash in check is a partial fabric ban that still allows buying plain fabrics. This has helped Sam create co-ordinating pieces to go with her bright and bold garments and reduce the number of wardrobe orphans.
Something Sam has learned through her sewing journey is that hobbies can be just that. You don’t need to turn your hobbies into a side hustle or create things to a standard that a stranger would pay for. She’s enjoying crafting to relax, including making pre-made embroidery kits, as you can create something without the mental effort of having to design it yourself. We chatted about the Sewing Bee and whether Sam would apply as a contestant. Sam said she liked the idea of doing the Transformation Challenge, as it’s a great chance to get creative. Interestingly, the Bees I spoke to said the Transformation Challenge was their favourite too. Sam doesn’t think she would apply to be a contestant on the Sewing Bee though, as sewing is something she likes to do for fun and she doesn’t enjoy the process when put under time pressure.
