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For some, this has meant mastering sourdough or tackling home renos, and for others it is time spent in the garden.

But have you considered sewing?

If you’re facing a period of isolation, this could be the perfect time to dust off that sewing machine at the back of your cupboard or get a friend to drop off theirs! Why not use this time at home to learn a new skill, tap into a new community and initiate an incredibly fun exploration of your own style?

Sewing is no longer the craft that our nanas did. It used to be the domain of a select few sewing companies with hard-to-understand sewing patterns with a limited range of styles and fabric.

In recent years, more and more indie sewing companies have popped up. Online pattern designers have emerged with contemporary styles and a focus on easy-to-follow and illustrated instructions for beginner sewists to learn as they go. Download their PDF sewing patterns, print at home and get started immediately!

It’s no longer necessary to sign up to classes at your local community centre, nor do you have to work it out yourself through trial and error.

This has been perfectly complemented by the rise of indie fabric stores. The range of fabric types and styles has grown so that you can get everything from designer deadstock fabrics, certified organic textiles and all kinds of niche fabrics (like the Japanese indie designer textiles from my store – Indy Bindy fabrics)!

Aims Wells of Indy Bindy fabrics wants to get you sewing.

The recent popularity of sewing has resulted in a large online sewing community—particularly on Instagram. Tap into this group of passionate sewists and you’ll find a supportive community, cheering each other on, solving sewing SOS, and offering endless outfit inspiration. You can even find your body doppelgänger to see how certain patterns might fit you by searching hashtags for your measurements. So even if you are early in your iso and too ill to sew, there is plenty of scroll-worthy content to get you inspired and planning.

Everyone is connected to the clothes we wear. It’s why we all have garments hanging at the back of our wardrobes that we haven’t worn in years but find it hard to let go of. Whether you love floaty linen layers, maximalist dopamine dressing or pared-back tailoring, our clothes are a key way that we express who we are to the world. It connects us to our identity.

By diving into sewing, you unlock endless fashion possibilities. You are no longer tied to the trends you see in the shops or to anyone else’s idea of what you should look like. Your imagination is now your only limit to what you can wear. So much more opens up as you consider; how do I want to present myself in the world, how do I want to feel when I put on my clothes, what colours or styles really put a smile on my face?

The beauty of learning to sew means that when you discover what makes you feel good, whatever that may be for you—you can make it happen. Dream up your ideal look and bring it to life!

By turning your iso into “I sew” you will begin to create more meaningful connections with your clothes. As you develop an appreciation of how much time and energy it takes to make a garment, it can inspire you to consider not only what you make but also what you buy, to also take better care of your clothes and mend them when they rip or wear.

Another mindset shift that comes with sewing is the realisation that size is just a number on a measuring tape. As you take your own measurements to make your clothes, you realise that those numbers are just data to be plugged into the process of making. When you sew, clothes are made to fit you—not the other way around.

Ultimately, sewing is a creative endeavour. It’s one of those pursuits that you can lose yourself in, get into an almost meditative flow and time stands still. Perfect if you’re stuck at home with nowhere to go. Before you know it, you’ll be on the other side of iso with a new outfit to return to the outside world in!

You don’t need many tools to begin:

Start with a simple project, one without closures like buttons or zips. Something like the Peplum Top or Wrap Skirt by Peppermint magazine (available for free or a small donation) would be perfect.

You don’t even need fabric to get started:

If you’re still unsure what to make first, head back to your wardrobe and review what you have already. Have a try-on session and look at each piece with new eyes. What do I wear all the time? Why do I love it? What don’t I wear? Do I need something to go with it? Is it the style, fit or colour? You’ll find endless inspiration there waiting for you!

Most importantly, have fun. Accept that you’ll make mistakes. Some things won’t work out the way you imagined but it is all part of the learning process. Whether your project is a success or not, you will definitely have learnt something new along the way. And when you do bring that garment to life that you imagined, nothing beats the feeling of satisfaction, that fresh-off-the-machine buzz of having made something with your very own hands.

And if you ever need someone to celebrate with, I’ll see you over on Instagram!

Aims Watts loves nothing more than supporting independent artists and inspiring creativity.  She  has sewn for most of her life and is the  founde r of  Indy Bindy Fabrics—an online fabric store that   Aims  built to support independent Japanese designers, introducing their art to sewists all over the world. 

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