SEWYEAH: Q & A
6 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
CHRISTINE LEECH, SEWYEAH
It is going to be an absolute pleasure to turn the Simple Shape Studio over to Christine Leech for our Embroidered Christmas Decoration Workshop. Christine has been making ‘stuff’ for as long as she cares to remember. She has worked as an art director on magazines, has written books, taken part in TV programs on craft, founded her own business SewYeah, and used it’s platform to teach her instagram audience numerous crafty techniques.
We asked Christine 6 questions - here is all you need to know about her creative pathway.
Q 1. You seem to be able to turn your hand to so many crafts! Was a creative route always in your sights?
I’ve always been crafty, from making ‘gardens on a plate’ and ’something made from eggshells’ for the local village Flower and Craft show when I was small, to whipping up velvet mini skirts for me and my friends to go clubbing in when we were at University. My mum taught my sister and I to use the sewing machine when we were about 9 and I’ve loved the problem solving element of making your own clothes ever since. Through various serendipitous turns in my career I have been able to write 12 craft books on a variety of topics, these have led to me running courses, teaching workshops and appearing on Kirstie’s Handmade Christmas as both a contestant and a judge. We have always been a very creative family. Between my mum and my dad I have learnt a little bit of pretty much everything, be it book binding or bricklaying - I think our family motto when it comes to anything vaguely creative is: “How Hard Can It Be?” And then we proceed by trial and error with varying levels of success to find out!
Q 2. What do you love to make? Do you have a fixed aesthetic or does your style and subject matters change a lot?
Over the years I have worked my way through most crafts! I’ve written books on papercraft, printing, embroidery, upcycling and sewing for the home. I did spend a good few years making pompoms for my book Pompomania but for the past few I have been more focussed on embroidery and especially making and embroidering things from felt. Everything I seem to make ends up quite jolly and full of fun. I have thoughts in my head for more serious pieces but they never seem to happen! I have a range of craft books that are all based on Zero Waste - using things from your recycling bin or charity shop finds to create new.
Q 3. Do you prefer crafting as a solo pursuit or do you get a buzz from teaching?
I love the mindful moments I get when crafting alone. I can lose hours to embroidery and find I really zone out and calm down. I do think I love teaching just as much though! It’s great seeing nervous people get stuck in with a craft project, they always end up so pleased with their final result. I love seeing how people interpret my ideas, the colour combinations they choose and the way they add their own personality to a design.
Q 4. Where do you find inspiration?
I can find inspiration anywhere! From the gaudy colour combinations in old technicolour films to art shows and museum visits. Having worked as an art director for magazines for many years I often find myself looking at the fashion houses new collections for inspiration on what trends are coming up and how I can use them in my crafting. Oh and whenever I visit Liberty in London I come away full of ideas for new things!
Q 5. What do you think is the future of craft?
I still think there’s space for more craft on TV. There needs to be some sort of alternative Great British Sewing Bee for handicrafts, I think that would be really inspiring for younger people. It would be lovely to have more craft and making in schools and available to young people, it’s so good for mental health, problem solving and creative thinking.
Q 6. What is next for you?
I’m going to be hosting a space at the Sewing For Pleasure Show next march at the NEC. I hope to have lots of kits and workshops ready by then so I can share my love of craft with even more people. Oh and of course I’ll be at the Simple Shape Christmas Market!
