#73: The Seeds of Slow Sewing with Alexis Bailey

This episode is the first of two featuring hand-sewing expert and pattern designer Alexis Bailey. We hear how her multifaceted slow-sewing business, Fibr & Cloth Studio, grew from a frustration she felt whilst travelling, and how the pandemic presented her with the perfect conditions to launch. Alexis also shares how becoming a pattern designer was foisted upon her!

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Check out Ep. 52 of A Smaller Life podcast where previous-guest-of-CYT Saskia de Feijter has a wonderful conversation with more-recent-previous-CYT-guest Kim Witten!

Alexis Bailey’s slow sewing space is Fibr & Cloth Studio. F&C can also be found on Instagram @fibrandclothstudio and her personal Instagram account is @helloalexisbailey.

Bernadette Banner explores hand sewing and historical garments on their Youtube channel.

Alexis’ first foray into hand sewing garments used the Strata top pattern by Sew Liberated:

Image source: Sew Liberated

The Freerange Slacks pattern by Sew house Seven was another that Alexis made hand-sewing kits for when she started out.

Alexis then moved on to using the simpler Pants No.1 pattern by Sonya Phillips.

Making Magazine gave Alexis the push to start drafting sewing patterns.

Her first step was to complete the Pattern Making Workshop by Lauren Dahl.

The Umbra Lounge Set pattern was her first resultant pattern.

The Mahogany Turban pattern is a great scrap buster:

Image source: Fibr & Cloth Studio