The Sewing Revival

In my job I work with lots of groups of people.

The young and not so young, people with mental health issues and those who come to private classes.

It is a varied job and great fun!

Items made in a beginners class

All of these people have one thing in common, they are part of a huge revival in sewing. Across all of the groups I go into there is huge excitement about sewing and being able to create with fabric. I always go prepared with a planning - never go without a plan! But I am often side tracked by the ideas my learners have.

On Saturday I had a spot at a community centre open day. I took along 3 sewing machines with the intention of demonstrating how to use a sewing machine in the morning and then planned to hold short pin cushion making classes in the afternoon.

I didn't get a chance to hold 'classes', I was inundated from the minute the open day started by people who wanted to learn how to sew!

Patchwork Blanket in progress

At the end of a manic 4 hour session 20 learners had sat at the sewing machines making pin cushions and I spoke to another 40 who couldn't wait to make a cushion but were desperate to learn how to sew!

The growth in interest has been helped along by the Great British Sewing Bee on BBC 1, which has done a fantastic job of bringing sewing and clothes making into people's living rooms across the country.

I find that people want to make something unique for their homes or change clothing to create unique items. Lots of people loved the quilts I took along with me and wanted to have a go.

It is really promising for the future of sewing and quilting that so many people are interested in learning how to sew. Learning as a group in local community centres builds bonds between members of the community.

I hope that more and more people discover the joy of sewing and the revival continues to build. I feel privileged to be a small part of the journey that people are making with their sewing machines and fabric.

In the morning I will working with a group of young mums building their confidence, maths skills and teaching them to sew patchwork blankets for their children - basically I have the best job in the world!

Linking up with Let's Get Acquainted.