Do you have a special space where you can dive into your hobbies, let your creativity flow, or work on that project you’ve been dying to finish? For me, my sewing spaces – from the smallest corners to dedicated studios – have always been more than just rooms. They’re like a creative sanctuary, each one playing a part in my journey. From my first flat to the home I’m in now, I’ve always found a way to carve out a space for sewing, no matter how tiny or temporary.
My love for sewing has roots that stretch back to my childhood, where my mum’s influence shaped so much of my creative spirit. During the Second World War, she worked in a factory making clothes for soldiers, often under intense pressure to work quickly and efficiently. She never fussed around with sewing; she got things done. In the same way, she could whip up a dress for me in an hour, transforming fabric into something wearable with astonishing speed. Her knack for fast, no-nonsense sewing flowed down to me, shaping my own approach to sewing – get it done, try new things, and see what you create.
Creative freedom from Mum’s sewing legacy
My mum was brilliant at making do and letting me experiment. She’d hand me old fabrics – sometimes old coats, blankets, or leftover pieces lying around – and let me create whatever came to mind. Once, she even made a coat for me from an old piece of tweed wool, which had been a blanket. Some of my projects failed spectacularly, but others turned out wonderfully, and through each attempt, I learned the art of transforming fabric. Thinking back, I realise how much her openness to experimentation influenced my own approach.
She didn’t just teach me to sew, either; she taught me the ins and outs of sewing machines themselves. My mum was a whiz with sewing machines – she worked in a sewing shop for a time, and she was such a natural at it that she could sell a machine to someone who came in just to buy needles! She showed me how to fix a machine when it jammed, how to change the needle, and even how to oil it. Thanks to her, I never felt intimidated by any machine, no matter how industrial or complex. That confidence has been invaluable throughout my life, especially when working in fashion school, where the rule was simple: if the machine didn’t work, you fixed it.
Building a creative space in every home
My first sewing room wasn’t much – just a tiny spot with my basic sewing machine and that old industrial overlocker my friend sourced for me. But it was all I needed to start experimenting and taking sewing seriously. Have you ever had a space, even a small one, where you felt free to create and explore?
After finishing school, I worked in a factory making women’s clothing. It wasn’t my dream job, but it laid the technical foundations I needed. Still, I dreamed of studying fashion, and my mum once again came to my rescue. She introduced me to a lady who helped arrange an interview at a local college, and soon, I was balancing a one-day-a-week course with my assistant designer job. Those years were challenging, working for a low wage and supplementing my income by making clothes to sell to local boutiques.
Each sewing room, no matter the size or shape, has nurtured my journey, allowing me to evolve and grow in ways I never expected.
The importance of a dedicated sewing studio
Through it all, my sewing room was essential. I remember bundling up stacks of punk-inspired black tops and pants and pushing them into boutiques on a pram. It was quite the sight! Each piece I created had a bit of me in it, and my sewing room, no matter how small, was where I could make that magic happen. Do you have a space where your creativity has room to flourish, no matter how big or small?
As life moved on, each home brought a new sewing setup, and every one of them was unique. One of my favourite sewing spaces was in a house we were building from mud bricks. I claimed the first finished room as my studio and, years later, moved into a larger area with views overlooking the bush. This space became the heart of my full-time business, where I manufactured women’s clothing, children’s clothes, and school uniforms for nearly five years.
Creating a studio from scratch
When we moved into our current house a decade ago, I set my sights on a room with a north-facing view that was perfect for my sewing studio. It was a mess at first, with old carpet and furniture piled high, but I knew it had potential. After some renovation work, I brought in metal shelving (I swear by these for fabric and tool storage!) and enclosed cupboards for more delicate fabrics. For anyone with a fabric stash, I can’t recommend this enough – light can fade your special pieces quickly.
If you had a space to design from scratch, how would you set it up? There’s something exciting about envisioning a space, gathering ideas, and gradually bringing it to life.
Before and during renovations
During renovations
After and now
What sort of creative are you?
When I’m in full creative flow, my room looks like a whirlwind went through it – fabric scraps, threads, half-finished projects everywhere. I’ve learned to embrace the messiness as part of my process, though I also love the ritual of resetting everything. There’s something deeply satisfying about putting it all back in place and giving myself a fresh start. Do you find your own creative process messy too, or are you more of an organised creator?
Over the years, I’ve come to rely on my sewing rooms not just for making clothes but for hanging up ideas, pinning up fabrics, and leaving reminders for myself. Seeing these little pieces helps keep my creativity alive and reminds me of where I’m heading next. Each sewing room, no matter the size or shape, has nurtured my journey, allowing me to evolve and grow in ways I never expected.
Enclosed cupboards for more delicate fabrics to reduce fading
Reflecting on your own creative space
I hope this inspires you to think about your own creative journey. Is there a corner in your home where you can let your ideas flow, where you feel free to make mistakes and learn as you go? If you’re lucky enough to have that, cherish it – those spaces are worth their weight in gold.
I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your own journey and create a vision for your creative path forward. How do you bring creativity into your daily life? Is there a way to make space for it, even if it’s just a small corner? Whether it’s a sewing room, an art corner, or a desk piled with projects, honour that space and see where it can take you. ⬇️🤗Share your reflections in the comments, I would love to read your journeys.