How My Sewing Journey Began (And Why It Led to Sew Sloth Studio)

Before I talk about the future of ET Sewing Stash and Sew Sloth Studio, I need to begin at the beginning. I’ve always been a serial hobby-collector. I paint, draw, craft, crochet, build Lego, game — you name it, I’ve probably tried it. Anything that sparks my interest immediately becomes my next “new obsession.”

For a long time, sewing was on that list too. I mean, how cool is it that you can take pieces of woven fabric and, with a sewing machine, turn them into something real and wearable? The problem was… I already had way too many hobbies. And sewing isn’t exactly a “casual” hobby. Between the sewing machine, tools, fabric stash and bits of hardware (which I now own too many of), I simply didn’t have space — mentally or physically — to start yet another craft.

And being a full-time teacher left me almost no spare time to pick up something new. So sewing stayed on the “one day” list.

Then my daughter arrived — and everything changed.

Suddenly, the idea of twinning outfits became irresistible. And honestly, she was the biggest reason my husband agreed to let me start sewing. Not because he was controlling — but because he knew I had a very long history of starting hobbies enthusiastically and then abandoning them (except Lego, which he of course approves of).

So I bought a basic Brother sewing machine. I told myself it was just a trial run. No expectations. No pressure.

My friends sent me a beginner sewing pattern and said, “Just start with this.”
Oh boy… what a journey that first dress turned out to be.

Learning to sew during maternity + Covid = chaos

I was still on maternity leave. My daughter was actually an easy baby. And yet, sewing that simple dress felt like climbing a mountain.

Why?

• The terminology was overwhelming.
  Seam allowance? Basting? Top stitch? Right side? Wrong side?!
  Who knew one craft required a whole dictionary?

• I had no baseline.
  I didn’t know what “good” looked like. I had no idea if I was doing anything correctly.

• There was no one to ask for help.
  This was pre-AI. I had YouTube and some notes, but it felt like piecing together a puzzle in the dark.
  And of course, Covid meant no face-to-face classes.

When I finally finished the dress, I was genuinely proud. Sure, it was too short and too wide — but I had made something.

That pride lasted until laundry day.
The moment it came out of the wash… threads everywhere.

Who knew “finishing seams” meant doing something other than… nothing?!
I was traumatised enough to take a break.

(My daughter wearing the first dress I made. Clearly wasn't too pleased with exposed thighs.)

My first in-person sewing class changed everything

When Covid restrictions finally eased, my friend invited me to a full-day, in-person sewing class. And that was the turning point.

Within one lesson, everything clicked:

• I finally understood the why behind each step

• I learned basic sewing machine troubleshooting

• I discovered how to properly finish seams

• I saw with my own eyes what “correct” sewing looked like

When I came home, I sewed another dress just to apply everything I had learned — and it was the first time I felt confident.

(My daughter wearing the dress I made during my sewing class. It was deliberately long since they grow so quickly!)

(Applying what I had learnt by making another dress, except it's a little shorter)

But life wasn’t ready to let me sew (yet)

Being a teacher during Covid was… intense. I was juggling an infant, online teaching, tech issues, and sheer exhaustion. Sewing took a backseat again.

It wasn’t until I got pregnant with my second child that everything shifted. I decided it was time to take a break from teaching — and that freed up space for creativity again.

That’s when I upgraded to a computerized Juki sewing machine and bought an overlocker.
Let me tell you: the overlocker brought joy back into sewing. Clean, neat seams in seconds? Heaven.

Sewing became more than a hobby

Sewing for my daughter quickly became my favourite thing. She’s tall and skinny, and store-bought clothes rarely fit well. But handmade ones? Perfect every time. And she loves wearing them.

As I sewed more:

• Every new dress included something new for me to learn

• I pushed myself toward more challenging designs

• I ventured into bag-making, especially to make gifts for teachers

• I kept levelling up my skills because sewing became my form of growth

What sewing has taught me

Over the years, I’ve learned a few truths:

• Sewing is not cheaper than buying clothes.
  But it is the best way to achieve a perfect fit.

• The pride from learning a new sewing skill outlasts any shopping dopamine.
  There is nothing quite like making something with your own hands.

• You care more for what you make.
  Slow fashion becomes personal when you understand how much work goes into a single piece.

If you want to start sewing — don’t wait

This is the one hobby that truly stuck for me. I still dabble in my other interests, but sewing is what I turn to when I want to reset, unwind, and escape the daily grind.

And that journey — the struggles, the breakthroughs, the joy — is exactly why I started Sew Sloth Studio’s beginner sewing classes. I’ve been the lost beginner before. I’ve felt overwhelmed. I’ve cried over tangled threads and celebrated uneven seams.

Now, I want to help others start their sewing journey with confidence, clarity, and joy — especially those who want to embrace slow fashion and mindful, handmade clothing.

If I can start from chaos and trauma (thanks, laundry), you can start too.