This decade, Sewcialists are fighting for change.
We have two goals here: building community and amplifying the voices of all kinds of sewists. We are a website run by volunteers, featuring about 70 different authors each year. We’ve always tried to be gentle agents of change, but as troubles facing the world increase, let’s lean into the radical force of positivity and truth!
Here’s our Sewcialists Manifesto, a public statement of our goals and values:
- Sewing is political. Who you are, what you look like, and where you live affect your crafting. The Sewcialist founders included people of different genders, orientations, nationalities, languages and backgrounds, so it was always clear to us that those factors impact sewing.
- Listen and learn. From our Who We Are series and Interviews, it is clear that racism, ageism, ableism, sizeism, and sexism and other forms of discrimination still exist and affect our everyday life and sewing. If you are so lucky as to not experience those things, then respectfully listen to those that do.
- Believe in people. Sewists are amazing and we think that approaching topics from a positive place is more effective than yelling at each other. There is so much to celebrate in this community, and we are stronger together!
- When you know better, do better… but don’t wait until you are perfect to start trying. Sometimes it is intimidating to talk about touchy topics, but we believe it’s better to jump in and try. With climate change, political unrest, and inequality around the world, now is the time to act.
- Every little step counts. There are lots of small ways you can make the sewing community more inclusive, like following diverse accounts on Instagram or buying from designers with wide size ranges. Make small changes to become more sustainable, and don’t fret that it doesn’t all happen at once!
The truth is, none of this is new. You, our wonderful community, already do all of this! You encourage everyone, share your knowledge and strength, and inspire each other every day. The Sewcialists community is 30 000 strong, and together we can be the change we want to see!
What is your sewing manifesto for 2020 and beyond? What are your goals and focus, both for yourself and for the community?
“Knowledge not shared is knowledge wasted”, this has been my creed for many years. It was shown to me by a machine knitter who came to me for lessons to learn new and different techniques beyond the beautiful pleated skirts she had been knitting for a number of years. Her skirts were lovely, but no way was she sharing HER knowledge.
My goals for 2020 is to continue to share my knowledge and passion for sewing and machine knitting by mentoring our local weekly sewing group, blogging, teaching, and challenging myself to learn new skills.
What a beautiful motto! I”m going to remember that one, Yvette. Thanks for all you do to share your knowledge!
I have a few for 2020-30 and they’re intertwined:
1. Be true to self. I’ve let a couple trolls get the better of me, and I pulled back a bit in the past. I’ve already started putting more out into the world, and sure as flies on shit, I got some trolls already coming out… but this time, I’m not backing down. I create what I like. You like it? You’re welcome on the ride. You don’t? You’re free to do your own thing.
2. That said, I believe in the benefit of the doubt. One has to clearly be an asshat to be labeled as such. We all trip up on words, and read our own tones into text, so giving the benefit of the doubt is key to success with #1.
3. And to bring it all home, I am Punk As Fuck. “In an age of cruelty, kindness is punk as fuck. Be punk as fuck.” Be kind when giving the benefit of the doubt. No sense in jumping on someone who may have worded something differently in their head than you read it in yours.
Thank you Gillian & Chloe for always having my back and being my sounding board. I love that we often come to the same point together from our own paths. Here’s to many more years together. <3
Amen to all of the above! As a die-hard people-pleaser, I have am in the process of retraining my brain to consider WHO I want to please. I want to look back at the end of the 2020’s and be proud of who and what I stood for!
I love this manifesto!
I love this statement. Thanks so much for taking the heart, courage and time to put it together!
+1
Hello Sewcialists, I have been inspired to think about my own sewing manifesto.
To be clear this is a manifesto only for myself, everyone’s life is different and your decisions should be your own.
How do I justify sewing more clothes when I already have enough?
This is a question I am constantly grappling with. I already buy very little ready to wear but I do buy fabric which I have no definite plans for, just because I take a fancy to it. Buying fabric doesn’t seem like buying clothes but buying anything you don’t actually need can’t really be virtuous.
This problem is that I like sewing, it’s my favourite hobby and one that keeps on giving. I still have many new skills to learn and am yet to complete the perfect garment.
I started off as a refashioner but have gradually steered towards buying new fabric and sewing with that. I am under no illusions that my hobby is saving the planet or anything. I even think that buying second hand can encourage others to justify their excessive purchases because they donate unwanted items to charity.
So here are my answers, not perfect ones or original ones :
Make less – one garment per month is probably enough.
Shop my stash. I am not prepared to ban new purchases but there should be something like a 2 for 1 new ratio at least.
Wear out what I have, by targeting most worn items and giving them at least 10 more wears.
Keep records of what I wear, a clothes diary – I’ve already been doing this for 3 months and it has helped me wear a more diverse selection of my wardrobe and has been something I’ve enjoyed.
Find a new hobby maybe volunteering at a charity shop.
Don’t expect perfection, you are not a saint.