The Sewing Social

How Sewing Shapes Confidence and Identity with Lucy from Sew Essential

The Sewing Social

Show Notes

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lucy from Sew Essential shares her journey from passionate home sewist to running one of the UK’s best-known sewing businesses. We talk about confidence, creativity, and how sewing can quietly shape the way we see ourselves. Lucy reflects on the evolution of the sewing community, the pressure of perfection online, and why experimentation and “getting it wrong” are such important parts of the creative process. A thoughtful conversation about ...

More from The Sewing Social

Oct 14, 2026

Send us Fan Mail What happens when fashion design dreams take an unexpected turn? In this episode, Rosie Briscoe, better known as The Linen Thief, shares her creative journey into upcycling, thrift flips and sustainable sewing. Rosie explores how second-hand fabrics and pre-loved clothing can be transformed into unique, wearable pieces through creativity, experimentation and a willingness to think differently about fashion. She discusses the importance of sustainability, making the most of wh...

Oct 7, 2026

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Sewing Social, I’m joined by Chris Wincott (Haus of Wincott) to talk about his journey from experimenting with sewing as a child to developing his own ideas around fashion, textiles and design. You might recognise Chris from M&S: Dress the Nation, but his creative journey goes much further than the show. We talk about how his early experiences with sewing developed into a passion for fashion, and how his own experiences have influenced the work he w...

Sep 30, 2026

Send us Fan Mail What does it take to turn a love of sewing into a successful sewing pattern and fabric business? In this episode of The Sewing Social, I’m joined by Clair and Charlotte from Emporia Patterns to talk about their journey through the sewing world - from their early experiences with making and dressmaking to building an independent pattern and fabric business. We chat about designing sewing patterns, the hardships of a small business and how the sewing community has evolved...

Sep 23, 2026

Send us Fan Mail Neil O’Dwyer has had anything but a conventional career. In this episode of The Sewing Social, Neil shares his unconventional journey from banking to tailoring, teaching and storytelling, and the unexpected role that sewing has played along the way. We talk about what first drew Neil to tailoring and sewing, making a career change later in life, and how a series of unexpected opportunities led him from one career to the next. From working in banking to becoming a tailor, maki...

Sep 16, 2026

Send us Fan Mail What happens when a passion for sewing grows into a platform designed to help sewists make more sustainable choices? In this episode of The Sewing Social, Caroline Bacle joins us to talk about her journey from Montreal to London, her love of sewing and dressmaking, and the story behind Destasher - a platform created to help sewists give unwanted fabrics, sewing patterns, haberdashery and other sewing supplies a second life. Caroline shares how her own experiences as a sewist ...

See all episodes →