Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably

Obviously, as a listener of this podcast, you’re a fan of keeping existing items in use for as long as possible. But what do the different approaches to mending signify in different contexts? Guest-host Kat Camfield continues her conversation with academic and crafter Kathryn DeZur which explores some of the layers within this question. Plus they discuss reaching a creative flow state, and the importance of operating at the edge of your skill level.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Listen to the first part of this conversation:

Ep. #246: Protecting Our Creativity From Capitalism - Kat Camfield with Kathryn DeZur

Kathryn DeZur is an academic, writer and crafter living in New York state, USA:

Photo credit: KDZ Photography

Kathryn’s book, ‘Visible Mending: Remaking Ourselves’, is part of the In The Moment book series from Saraband Publishers.

Kathryn’s two-sweaters-into-one upcycle:

Kat Camfield is a sewing teacher and sewing retreat organiser living in Victoria, Canada. You can follow Kat on Instagram @gatherandstitch.ca.

Ep. #196: Eco Printing - Kat Camfield with Carly from Lorelei Textile Design

Ep. #200: Making Check Your Thread - with Zoe & Kat, Part 1

Ep. #201: Making Check Your Thread - with Zoe & Kat, Part 2

Ep. #204: The Sewing Machine, A Novel - Kat Camfield with Natalie Fergie 

Ep. #214: Is Inclusivity Enough? - Kat Camfield with Frances from Sincere Studio 

Ep. #221: Upcycling Secrets - Kat Camfield with Brynn, Emily & Meagan

Ep. #227: Threading Change - Kat Camfield with Sophia Yang

Ep. #231: A Business Based on Scraps - Kat Camfield with Justice McNeil

Ep. #232: Magic and Movement for Makers - Kat Camfield with Justice McNeil

Ep. #235: Make Quilts Political Again - Kat Camfield with Lorraine Woodruff-Long

Ep. #242: Quiet Care from Loose Ends - Kat Camfield with Masey Kaplan

Have you ever thought about how capitalism might be impacting your creativity? Often we can find ourselves feeling guilty when we are engaging in activities that don’t adhere to society’s definition of productivity. Yet we KNOW that our creative pursuits help keep us whole and sane. So how can we protect our creative practices? Epic guest-host Kat Camfield talks to academic and crafter Kathryn DeZur about some of the themes and topics in her new book - Visible Mending: Remaking Ourselves.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

Kathryn DeZur is an academic, writer and crafter living in New York state, USA:

Photo credit: KDZ Photography

Kathryn’s book, ‘Visible Mending: Remaking Ourselves’, is part of the In The Moment book series from Saraband Publishers:

Kat Camfield is a sewing teacher and sewing retreat organiser living in Victoria, Canada. You can follow Kat on Instagram @gatherandstitch.ca.

Ep. #196: Eco Printing - Kat Camfield with Carly from Lorelei Textile Design

Ep. #200: Making Check Your Thread - with Zoe & Kat, Part 1

Ep. #201: Making Check Your Thread - with Zoe & Kat, Part 2

Ep. #204: The Sewing Machine, A Novel - Kat Camfield with Natalie Fergie

Ep. #214: Is Inclusivity Enough? - Kat Camfield with Frances from Sincere Studio

Ep. #221: Upcycling Secrets - Kat Camfield with Brynn, Emily & Meagan

Ep. #227: Threading Change - Kat Camfield with Sophia Yang

Ep. #231: A Business Based on Scraps - Kat Camfield with Justice McNeil

Ep. #232: Magic and Movement for Makers - Kat Camfield with Justice McNeil

Ep. #235: Make Quilts Political Again - Kat Camfield with Lorraine Woodruff-Long

Ep. #242: Quiet Care from Loose Ends - Kat Camfield with Masey Kaplan

The big sewing shows are potentially a great opportunity to find out what’s going on currently in both the sewing industry and the community. I spent four days earlier this month at the Knit + Stitch show at Alexandra Palace trying to get a sense of both. I recorded conversations with three previous CYT guests and one new voice who you will adore, each sharing their take on what’s going on with sewing more broadly, and giving us updates on their own sewing related endeavours.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

I spoke to my guests at the Knit + Stitch Show at Alexandra Palace in London between 8th-11th October 2026.

Tony:

Find out more about Tony on his website, and see his latest projects on Instagram @tonyr.maker.

Listen to my previous conversations with Tony:

Ep. #124: Fearless Sewing with Tony Rae

Ep. #234: Making Sewing Accessible for All Genders with Tony Rea

Tony collaborated with Emporia Fabric to create the Tony shirt pattern:

Tony has recently been involved with the Sew and Sews Cornwall CIC and Keep Ahead of Hair.

Maria:

Maria Theoharous makes the Sew Organised Style podcast.

Follow Maria on Instagram (@velosews).

Listen to my previous episodes with Maria:

Ep. #138: Making Sewing Podcasts with Maria Theoharous

Ep. #139: Behind the Scenes of Podcast Making with Maria Theoharous

Sewing pattern designer Megan Nielsen recently launched the Sewciable app.

Maria talked about the Reverse Garbage creative reuse centres in Australia.

Maria created the @everythingfrocktails Instagram account.

Caroline:

Check out and sign up to the Destasher website and follow them on Instagram @destasher_uk.

Listen to my previous conversation with Caroline:

Ep. #225: Destashing Online with Caroline from Destasher 

SarahJane:

SarahJane and previous-sewing-bee-contestant Lauren Tedstone.

Follow SarahJane on IG @quepale_showgalsj.

SarahJane was working on the Rainbow Fabrics stand.

Rainbow Fabrics supports Destash 4 Palestine and Thread Brothers among other excellent causes.

SarahJane and I were both wearing the Dressmaker’s Charm Necklace from Fabric Godmother.

Find SarahJane at the Stitch Festival in Angel, London, next March.

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 content, and the importance of learning new skills and working with our hands.

Support the podcast over on Patreon!

You can find Tatjana Harttung’s work, including her podcast, The Human Greenhouse, on her website.

Tatjana spoke to Nigel Shipley, one of the founders of Extinction Rebellion:

Ep. Upgrading Democracy

Tatjana attends the online School of Journaling

Listen to the episode about the Thread Brothers endeavour:

Ep. 234: Making Sewing Accessible for All Genders with Tony Rea

We also spoke about my other podcast, Can I Dig It? Food Growing for Busy People, made with my co-host Pippa Chapman.

Listen to the episode I made with Pippa when we first met:

Ep. 112: Gardening More Sustainably with Pippa Chapman

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 submissions. Lindsay is a sewist, choir leader and voice over artist, and can be found @lindsayashworthfraser on Instagram.

You might have heard Lindsay in the previous episodes:

Ep. #180: Secrets of Successful Destashing, Part 1 

Ep. #181: Secrets of Successful Destashing, Part 2

Ep. #207: Style Shifts and Sustainability with Lindsay Ashworth Fraser

Lindsay is considering the Roman Overcoat Pattern by Maison Fauve for her Harris tweed:

Martha has been toiling and fitting the Belemnite Dress pattern by Marilla Walker for her green cotton/hemp fabric bought in Tokyo:

Yvonne has a couple of waistcoat project ideas for her precious fabric:

Rachel intends to use the Square Shirt pattern by Domum Creation for this Liberty Coastal Landscape Tana Lawn fabric.

Debs has is consider both the Jasika Blazer pattern by Closet Core Patterns and the Naomi Blazer pattern by The Modern Sewing Company for her beloved wool:

Diana has great plans for the Saturday Top pattern (part of a set) by Friday Pattern Company to use both her special lengths of fabric:

Chloe made the Azure Dress pattern by Closet Core Patterns. See the finished garment here!