Podcast · Leisure & Travel

Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably

by Zoe Edwards · English · Leisure & Travel

- Do you love sewing, AND are passionate about fighting the climate and ecological crises? - Are you wondering if your sewing could be made more sustainable? - Do you want to enjoy your creative passion in a way that really reflects your values? Join Zoe Edwards, a sewing nerd and creator of

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 49 min
Latest: 12 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

12 Oct 2026 · 59 minNew

#244: Holding and Working to Your Values with Tatjana Harttung

Have you ever found yourself having to justify your values, creativity or worth? I recently had a conversation with psychotherapist and coach, Tatjana Harttung, for her podcast, The Human Greenhouse, which explored that experience, and plenty more. Tatjana kindly allowed me to share our chat on the CYT feed as well as we touched on so many topics that are fundamental to this podcast also. We discuss our experiences of creating values-based podcasts that have grown communities, the role (or not!) of AI in podcasting, the perception and comparative monetary value of female-created products and…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

6 Oct 2026 · 37 min
#243: Sew The Precious
Imagine if all of us sewists piled up the contents of our fabric collections into one big heap. That would be a huge amount of fabric! Collectively we have A LOT of beautiful and useful fabric already in our possession that just isn’t getting used. You know me, I’m nosey, I want to know WHY that is! Why aren’t we using the pieces we love? And what would it take for us to actually cut into it? This is a community episode that digs into this topic. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Fabric photo by Emma Green via Unsplash Huge thanks to Lindsay Ashworth Fraser for voicing some of the written…
28 Sep 2026 · 1 min
#242: Quiet Care from Loose Ends – Kat Camfield with Masey Kaplan
As crafters, we usually develop a personal bond with our creative projects. But we might not consider the value and importance our crafting projects have for those close to us. And what do you do if a half finished project started by someone close to you falls into your possession that you are unable to finish? Amazing guest host, Kat Camfield, talks to Masey Kaplan, the co-creator of Loose Ends: a non-profit that matches volunteer handwork finishers with projects that have been left behind by people who have passed away, or are no longer able to craft due to illness or disability. Loose…
21 Sep 2026 · 49 min
#241: Teatowel Treasures and a Charity Shop Crawl with Ros Williams
Do you enjoy the challenge of making new things out of old? My guest for this week’s episode, Ros Williams, reconnected with her sewing machine during lockdown and has been transforming existing textiles in incredibly creative ways ever since. She even co-organised a charity shop crawl around her area in Edinburgh to help others access and give new life to what already exists in the world. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Follow Ros Williams’s creativity on Instagram @williamsrosamund. Ros initially connected with the online sewing community through the @sewover50 account. Ros also…
14 Sep 2026 · 1 min
#240: Haptic & Hue – Stories Through a Textile Lens with Jo Andrews
Jo Andrews is the creator of Haptic & Hue, the podcast through which she uncovers fascinating stories always through the lens of textiles, many of which might otherwise have been lost. A professional reporter and correspondent, Jo leaves me awe with her incredible story telling skills. I got to ask her tons of questions about the creation and impact of Haptic and Hue, all posed by the amazing patrons of CYT. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Jo Andrews is the creator of the Haptic & Hue podcast. You can also follow her on Instagram @hapticandhue. Jo and her partner Bill create an…
7 Sep 2026 · 46 min
#239: Replay – Explaining Deadstock Fabric with The New Craft House
Many of us sewers feel confused and even wary of the term deadstock fabric. Does buying fabric labelled ‘deadstock' really save it from landfill or incineration? Or are we enabling fabric producers and fashion brands to get away with overproduction, incentivising it even? And what’s the difference between ‘deadstock’ and ‘overstock’, and how, as consumers, can we tell the difference? This week, you’ll hear my conversation with Hannah and Rosie from London-based The New Craft House as they unpick this topic for us, leaving us all with a greater understanding. From school friends, to craft…
31 Aug 2026 · 24 min
#238: Replay – 5 Ways to Update Unworn Me-Mades
Right now, the weather is shifting from one season to another, and the clothing items we’re reaching for are altering accordingly. But it’s most likely you’ll find that some of those items, for whatever reason, just aren’t pieces you want to wear these days. So what can be done about that, aside from donating them and starting a ton of new sewing projects? In this week’s solo replay episode, I’ll share my method for diagnosing WHY you’re not wearing them. I’ll then be suggesting five different ways you can update those garments so that you’re excited to wear them again! Support the podcast…
24 Aug 2026 · 55 min
#237: Replay – Activism in Real Life with Beedy Parker
Do the climate and ecological crises just feel too massive to deal with sometimes? When it all feels so overwhelming, it can be tempting to tap out completely and disengage. That’s totally understandable. However, my guest for this episode, Beedy Parker, shows us that it is entirely possible to participate in climate related activism and action, whilst continuing to lead a happy and exciting life. From attempting to influence legislation to hemming her neighbours' trousers, Beedy has been getting stuck in since 1970. Sadly, we can’t all be Beedy, but we can all take heart and inspiration…
17 Aug 2026 · 22 min
#236: Replay – Sewing When Your Wardrobe is Full
Is your wardrobe stuffed with me-mades? Whatever role garment sewing plays in your life, after a while, the clothes can really start to pile up. So how can we continue to take pleasure in sewing, without adding to your problem of too many clothes? Image source: Megan Lee via UnSplash This episode was originally released in February 2024 as Ep. #123 Idea No. 1: Challenging ourselves. Hear more about hand stitching clothing: Ep. #15: Hand Stitching Clothes with Louisa Owen-Sonstroem Ep. #73: The Seeds of Slow Sewing with Alexis Bailey Learn more about improving fit: Ep. #95: Refining Fit with…
27 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
#235: Make Quilts Political Again Kat Camfield with Lorraine Woodruff-Long
Textiles have a long history of being used for political discourse and protest. Lorraine Woodruff-Long is a self-taught and now award-winning quilt artist who is continuing that tradition today by creating exciting and powerful work on political and social issues that are important to her. Legendary guest-host Kat Camfield talks to Lorraine about her journey from marketing professional to artist and teacher, her inspiration, her use of reclaimed materials, the Forbidden Words project, and her tips for those wanting to dip their toe into protest quilt making. Support the podcast over on…
20 Jul 2026 · 57 min
#234: Making Sewing Accessible for All Genders with Tony Rea
Can a stereotypically female activity such as sewing be an appropriate medium through which to tackle male loneliness and isolation? This is a question that return-guest and GBSB finalist, Tony Rea, has been tasked to help answer. In this episode, Tony tells us all about the pilot of an awesome endeavor he’s involved in called Thread Brothers. We also get into the weeds about traditionally gendered crafts and spaces, and explore how sewing can help push us back against ageism. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Listen to my previous conversation with Tony: Ep. #124: Fearless Sewing with…
13 Jul 2026 · 51 min
233: No Stupid Sewing Questions with Julia Hincks
I’m a firm believer that there are NO stupid questions when it comes to sewing. If you need to ask it, even if it’s something you think you should probably already know, then it’s valid. But it’s not always easy to find the answers you’re looking for. So I’ve asked my guest, sewing author and expert dressmaking teacher, Julia Hincks, on the podcast to talk about her new beginner’s guide to dressmaking book AND to answer some burning questions from members of the CYT community. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Find Julia Hincks and her website is House of Miss Sew and you can find her at…
6 Jul 2026
#232: Magic and Movement for Makers – Kat Camfield with Justice McNeil
Have you ever consciously infused your handmade garments with personal magic? And how can we create clothing that feels like emotionally protective armour? This is the second part of guest-host Kat Camfield’s amazing conversation with textile artist Justice McNeil from Thread + Sprout. They touch on so many topics, including pattern instructions that work better for some neurodivergent brains, and the importance of physical movement within a sewing practice. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Listen to Part 1 of Kat and Justice’s conversation: Ep. #231: A Business Based on Scraps - Kat…
29 Jun 2026 · 26 min
#231: A Business Based on Scraps – Kat Camfield with Justice McNeil
Is it possible to create a successful sewing business making desirable products using scraps that allows you to leave your corporate job? Spoiler alert: Yes! Amazing guest-host Kat Camfield talks to Justice McNeil about the origin story of her inspiring business, Thread + Sprout, and how it’s evolved into something quite different, but equally inspiring. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Justice McNeil’s multi-faceted and evolving company is Thread + Sprout (@threadandsprout on Instagram) Justice’s ‘breakout hit’ was the Nature dress which is now available as a tutorial for you to make…
22 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
#230: How to Teach Repair Skills with Jeanna & Mary
Are you ready to share mending skills with others? Mary Morton and Jeanna Wigger, authors of the excellent book, ‘Stitch It, Don’t Ditch It’, have a ton of practical advice learned through hosting lots of in-person mending events. We discuss the different event formats for sharing skills, how to coordinate with venues and the best free resources available to support your efforts. Plus, there’s audio from the last event I attended with Jeanna and Mary on their tour of the North of England taken at Left Bank Leeds, a truly awesome creative and inclusive space that serves and supports its…
15 Jun 2026 · 47 min
#229: Further Fabric Confessions with Lise Bauer
To be honest, this episode’s link to sustainability is very tenuous, but when repeat-guest Lise Bauer hits you up saying she needs to talk - you drop everything and talk. The main topic of conversation is where we’re both at with the latest round of the Last Sewist Standing challenge. I wonder if our statuses will surprise you…. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Find Lise and the Last Sewist Standing challenge updates at @the.craft.camp on Instagram. Check out Lise’s personal account @miss.taeschli on Instagram. Listen to my previous conversations with Lise: Ep. #118: Last Sewist Standing…
8 Jun 2026 · 50 min
#228: Crafting with Neurodivergence with Kim Witten
Whether or not you identify as neurodivergent, you’re going to want to hear this episode. In Episode 222, Kim Witten and I requested submissions about people’s experiences of neurodivergence and craft. My goodness did we receive a fascinating selection of submissions. If you are at all interested in people, how they think and move through the world, you’re going to love this episode. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Kim Witten (@witten.kim on IG) is a transformational coach and writer: She has appeared on the following previous episodes: Ep. #71: Making Personal Manifestos with Kim…
26 May 2026 · 1 hr
#227: Threading Change – Kat Camfield with Sophia Yang
Those of us who make some or all of our own clothes ourselves might feel like we’ve opted out of the fashion industry. However, as citizens of this planet and feminists, we can’t ignore the problems caused by clothing and fabric production. And, in fact, us home sewers might be well placed to have a huge positive impact. Because, as Sophia Yang, the founder of the world’s leading youth-led ethical fashion NGO, Threading Change, discusses with guest-host Kat Camfield, we know that clothes aren’t just commodities: they are creations that contain stories. And that concept is potentially…
19 May 2026 · 57 min
#226: Sashiko, The Untold Story with Atsushi Futatsuya
Most of us think of sashiko as a type of visible mending that we discovered via Instagram or Pinterest. But what actually is sashiko, and how should we engage with it? Is it an artform to be revered and put on display? A common household practice borne out of necessity, used for survival? Is it a form of meditation? Or some lovely hand stitching patterns we can emulate to fix and customise our jeans? Atsushi Futatsuya, is a sashiko practitioner and story teller who helps fill in the blanks in our knowledge about this fascinating and multilayered practice. Support the podcast over on Patreon!…
11 May 2026 · 44 min
#225: Destashing Online with Caroline from Destasher
There are lots of online marketplaces out there through which you can sell or give away your unwanted crafting materials, but they all have their drawbacks. Destasher is a new UK -based platform JUST for sewists and yarn crafters wanting to buy, sell, giveaway or claim materials and supplies within the maker community. Its creator, Caroline, tells me what makes Destasher such a great option for those of us trying to make more sustainably and affordably. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Check out and sign up to the Destasher website and follow them on Instagram @destasher_uk. Makers’…
4 May 2026 · 20 min
#224: Sewing When You’re Skint
I love hearing and reading practical tips for how to stay creative when your budget is tight. But what is rarely acknowledged in those types of content is how rubbish and frustrating trying to maintain a creative hobby when you’re skint actually feels. In this episode, we acknowledge and gently challenge some of those negative feelings, so that applying those practical tips feels positive and rewarding. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Image source: Sasun Bughdaryanvia Unsplash Other episodes to listen to related to this topic include: Ep. #58: Sewing On a Budget Ep. #64: Sewing Trends…
27 Apr 2026
#223: An Alternative Fashion Future with Charlotte from Stitched Up
The next installment of the SIDDI tour with Jeanna and Mary. I speak to Charlotte from Stitched Up - a Manchester-based not-for-profit with the goal of building an alternative fashion future by sharing sewing, mending and upcycling skills, and facilitating clothing swaps and textile recycling. I spoke to Charlotte Vinsen who freelances with Stitched Up, about what Stitched Up do, how it works and who it’s for. I also catch up with Jeanna and Mary after they deliver their first interactive talk, and we debrief on what went down and what went well. Support the podcast over on Patreon!…
20 Apr 2026
#222: Neurodiversity and Craft with Kim Witten
In recent years there’s been a growing amount of research and understanding around neurodiversity: the variety of ways in which different people’s brains and nervous systems work. With more and more people getting formerly diagnosed, or at least identifying as being neurospicy to some degree, regular guest, Kim Witten, who is a coach, writer and one of my cleverest friends, is back on the podcast to explore what it means to be neurodivergent, and how neurodivergence intersects with craft. We consider if and how neurodiversity might affect someone’s engagement with craft, and also the role…
13 Apr 2026
#221: Upcycling Secrets – Kat Camfield with Brynn, Emily & Meagan
What are the biggest challenges AND the biggest joys of running a business making products from upcycled textiles? Legendary guest interviewer, Kat Camfield, has rounded up three intensely talented Canadian upcyclers: Brynn from B-Bot Clothing, Emily from Woodbrick and Meagan from Salt Legacy. We hear how they each started their businesses and their different approaches to the same problem: trying to divert textile waste from landfill. They all share tips and advice, including sourcing secrets for others wanting to get into upcycling, either for themselves or to start a business. Support the…
23 Mar 2026
#220: How to Save and Make Money with Sewing
No one should feel obligated to use their sewing skills and free time for anything they don’t want to use them for. However, if funds are tight, you might decide to look into how sewing can save, or even make, some money. In this episode you’ll hear from some members of the CYT Patreon community and subscribers to the CYT newsletter, about how they save money, and also make money, with sewing. If it’s something you’ve been thinking about, this episode is bound to provide inspiration. Support the podcast over on Patreon! Image source: Pierre Bamin via Unsplash Also listen to the following…
16 Mar 2026
#219: Flux-Friendly Sewing Patterns with Sasha Starlight
It is inevitable that our body’s shape and size will fluctuate over time, be that over the course of a day, a week, a month or a number of years. As more-sustainable sewists who want to get a lot of use from the items we make, we should be factoring in these body changes when planning our projects. So does that mean that everything we make should look like a potato sack? Pattern designer, Sasha Starlight, explains why the answer is NO! In this episode, Sasha describes some of the different attributes a sewing project can have to be flux friendly, and talks us through some unexpected benefits…
9 Mar 2026
#218: Fabric Confessions with Lise Bauer
Do you fancy a fun catch up with repeat guest Lise Bauer? Of course you do! In this episode we find out what has changed with Lise’s relationship with her fabric stash, and we both make confessions regarding recent fabric purchases. Lise also makes a strong case for attending a Frocktails event, and suggests a different way to engage with social media. Support the podcast over on Patreon! The costumes made by my big kid: Find Lise and the Last Sewist Standing challenge updates at @the.craft.camp on Instagram. You can sign up to this year’s round of Last Sewist Standing via the sign-up post…
2 Mar 2026
#217: Mending for Mental Wellbeing with Rebecca from The Big Fandango
All of us are aware of and enjoy many of the mental health benefits of crafting, making and mending. Rebecca Jackson understands this better than most, having experienced one of the worst things someone can go through. It led her to set up The Big Fandango five years ago in Bury, just outside Manchester in the UK. The Big Fandango is a social enterprise with workshop space that creates and nurtures community and positive mental health through learning sewing and textiles craft skills, whilst also delivering suicide prevention training to businesses and organisations. You will also hear from…
16 Feb 2026
#216 : Replay – No Small Business on a Dead Planet
It seems like every day, another small craft business announces that it’s closing down. In this solo episode I’m looking at the causes. What can we do to both support small businesses AND buy less new stuff for the sake of our planet? Support the podcast over on Patreon! Image source: Tim Mossholder via Unsplash Find out more about the Last Sewist Standing challenge: Ep. #118: Last Sewist Standing with Lise Bauer This Forbes article, ‘The Benefits Of Shopping Small All Year Long’ by Jim Granat, was really interesting. The shoplocaluk.org website has some more useful information. I used the…
9 Feb 2026
#215: How to Dress Kids More Sustainably with Izzie from ApparelXchange
You’ll have heard me say it a ton of times before: sewing clothes yourself isn’t necessarily the most sustainable way to clothe yourself or your family. But obviously, you’ll be prizing my sewing machine out of my cold, dead hands. However, with literal mountains of existing garments already in the world, there are plenty of other ways to source clothing with a reduced environmental and social impact. In this episode, I speak with Izzie Eriksen, founding director of a Glasgow-based social enterprise called ApparelXchange, about the various ways we can clothe our young people more…

About Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably

Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably is a English leisure & travel podcast from Zoe Edwards. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Zoe Edwards
Language: English
Category: Leisure & Travel
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 49 min
Latest episode: 12 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1579342799

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