Sign In
In this special roundup episode of Seamwork Radio, Sarai and Haley take a break from their typical focused discussions to chat about what they're currently making, share personal insights about their creative practices, and answer a listener question about parting with handmade garments. This conversational format offers an intimate glimpse into their sewing lives and creative inspirations.
The Sentimental Value of Handmade Clothing
The episode begins with a question many sewists can relate to: "What do you do with clothing you've made but no longer wear? I have such a hard time getting rid of things that I've made."
Haley shares that while she traditionally had no problem parting with handmade garments, she's recently experienced regret about certain pieces she's let go. Her solution? Creating a "closet archive" — a dedicated space for preserving particularly special garments even if they're not in regular rotation.
At the Seamwork office, where they create numerous sample garments each month, Haley established criteria for what merits archiving: pieces with special fabrics, unique details not found in other patterns, or items that simply hold special meaning. She notes that this approach was partly inspired by her own mother, who had discarded all her vintage clothing from the '70s and '80s, leaving nothing for Haley to explore as a teenager interested in vintage fashion.
Sarai relates to this sentiment, sharing a story about a yellow smocked mini dress her grandmother had made for her mother in the 1960s. As a child, Sarai wore this dress (at a more modest length on her smaller frame), and she still vividly remembers it decades later because of its connection to both her mother and grandmother.
Both hosts acknowledge the challenge of balancing sentimentality with practicality. Sarai mentions her recent closet cleanout, where she set aside certain special pieces in a basket as her own form of archiving. She also suggests considering alterations for unworn handmade garments, like potentially converting a beloved but ill-fitting Grace dress into a skirt to give the beautiful fabric new life.
Dream Travel Wardrobes
With Sarai planning a trip to the South, the conversation shifts to what they would sew for comfortable yet stylish plane travel.
Sarai, who hasn't traveled since last fall, envisions "secret pajama" knit pants that look like regular pants but offer the comfort of loungewear, paired with a matching cozy sweatshirt. She'd complete the outfit with a large scarf or shawl to accommodate unpredictable airplane temperatures.
Haley, who's still nursing, has more specific requirements. She favors either knit pants or elastic-waist woven pants (suggesting the Palmer pattern with its kick flare detail) paired with a tank top and button-up shirt. The button-up serves multiple functions—providing nursing access, temperature regulation, and versatility throughout the trip. She mentions she's already working on some of these components for an upcoming trip.
Both agree that a button-up shirt is the ultimate travel workhorse, as it can be worn as a light jacket, knotted over a dress, or thrown over a swimsuit at the pool.
Current Sewing Projects
When discussing their current projects, Haley reveals she's still working on the pants mentioned in their previous episode but is excited about her next project—either the Henrietta skirt from Spaghetti Western Patterns (a pull-on style with interesting gathered side panels) or a swimsuit, depending on which impulse strikes first.
Sarai has just completed her Chelsea jeans, a project that took longer than expected due to needing to source rivets and a rivet tool. She mentions she modified them for a straighter leg silhouette instead of the traditional flare (a process she documented on the Seamwork YouTube channel). She's so pleased with the results that she's already planning future versions in corduroy for fall.
For her next project, Sarai is deciding between the Everly bias-cut mini skirt (which Haley notes is "underrated") or the Farah wrap sweater in an ivory sweater knit she already has on hand. She's leaning toward the Farrah since it's currently "sweater weather" and she could wear it right away. Sarai also shares her enthusiasm for mini skirts, attributing this preference to being a "child of the 90s."
New Creative Practices
Moving to the topic of new things they're trying, Sarai discusses her efforts to reduce screen time, particularly on her phone and tablet. Despite not being heavily involved with social media, she finds that constant access to information and the habit of looking things up can disconnect her from being present in the real world.
Her approach includes establishing boundaries, such as not using devices in the bedroom and designating specific times for activities like scrolling through Pinterest. She acknowledges that the addictive nature of screens means everyone needs to find their own appropriate boundaries.
Haley mentions that having children has created natural boundaries around her screen time, as she avoids excessive phone use when with her kids. Both agree that managing screen time is a "moving target" that requires periodic reassessment.
The conversation leads to a brief discussion about e-readers, with Sarai revealing she just ordered a Kindle to help separate her reading from other online distractions. Haley shares she's on her third Kindle in 15 years and appreciates having a device dedicated solely to reading.
For her new practice, Haley is refreshing her "core style" Pinterest board—something she does every few years. She's enjoying seeing what elements have remained consistent in her style over the past three years and using the creative energy of early spring to inform her upcoming sewing plans.
Cultural Recommendations
Each host shares a personal recommendation:
Haley enthusiastically recommends RuPaul's memoir "The House of Hidden Meanings," which she initially listened to as an audiobook during walks with her baby daughter Frankie. She recently attended RuPaul's book tour following the paperback release and found the experience "amazing." She praises the book for its themes of discovering chosen family and finding one's place in the world, noting that many creative people who "don't fit quite inside the box" might find it especially meaningful.
Sarai's recommendation centers on her passion for cooking and baking: the cookbook "Chez Panisse Desserts." As spring transitions to summer with increased availability of fresh fruits, she finds this classic cookbook particularly relevant. She praises its simple recipes that rely on quality ingredients and consistently deliver perfect results. This leads to a brief discussion about their shared excitement for upcoming fruit seasons, particularly cherries, and a humorous anecdote about Sarai's dog Lucy being frightened by windsurfers during a cherry-picking trip to Hood River.
What's New at Seamwork
The episode concludes with updates on new Seamwork offerings:
- Recent pattern releases: the Yarrow skirt and Rosa dress came out in May, with two new patterns coming in June
-
Upcoming YouTube content including Sarai sharing everything she sewed for spring and her summer sewing plans following the Design Your Wardrobe program - A new Skills Workshop on invisible zippers taught by Erica
- The recently released workshop on hemming knits, available to members or for purchase
