Hey, I’m Lottie.
Pattern cutter, block maker and fitting specialist.
I am a crusader for reclaiming your body with clothes that actually fit through industry standard pattern cutting and slowed down sewing sessions.
I believe that sewing a handmade wardrobe allows us space to reconnect with our beautiful bodies and develop skills to pass onto future generations. I am passionate about supporting sewists to fan the flames of their creative inner fire. Making clothes that actually fit is a deeply healing process. We can all speak to the pain of wearing standard size clothing. We blame ourselves for being the wrong size or shape. I am here to tell you, but more importantly show you, how this simply isn’t true.
I spent years sewing in an unsuccessful way until I finally took some classes and began making clothes I felt good in. From here I dove deeper and deeper into the technicalities of sewing and pattern making and trained as a pattern cutter. Another big motivator for me has been wanting to live in a more sustainable way. Not only does sewing my own clothes feel like a boycott of fast fashion, I feel pride in preserving the craft. Homemade garments feel like precious treasure.
My Values
Creativity over perfectionism
The sewing world has developed a bit of a reputation for doing everything ‘perfectly’, immaculate makes on Instagram, avoiding fitting issues and oversimplifying the process. I believe what we really need is to slow down and throw perfectionism out the window, that’s where the healing is.
Body positivity
We can all speak to the pain of standard sizing and it often leads to us feeling that our bodies are wrong in some way. I believe that making clothes for ourselves that fit has the power to change our lives and in turn the lives of everyone around us. Feeling more comfortable and celebratory in our own bodies has a powerful ripple out effect into all areas of life.
Boycotting fast fashion
The textile industry is the third most polluting industry on the planet. Learning how to make our own clothes empowers us to live more sustainably and more in harmony with the natural world. 3 out of 5 fast fashion items end up in landfill within one year of purchase.
Ethical expression
It feels SO GOOD to say “I made this”. And I think it is much deeper than just showing off. Being accomplished in a skill like garment making allows us to express our values of respecting the earth's resources, life-long learning and creativity.
Client Love
“I was a bit nervous because as a plus size sewist I wondered whether the course would cater for me, which it did. It was great to work with a small group of other sewists on the same pattern and to see how many adjustments needed to be made for all of us..whatever shape or size..to get that perfect fit.” — Phillipa
“One of my favourite things about the course is the way it’s slowed down my sewing practice to consider how patterns come together and encouraged me to be more creative with my sewing!” — Hollie
The course has helped in two ways: firstly, it’s given me insight into how to properly measure my body and secondly once I knew what my measurements were to be able to adjust the pattern to suit me (and my body!).” — Bente
“I can’t remember a time I felt this good in a piece of clothing, with the fit especially AND the added benefit of wearing something I’ve actually made!!Thank you so much for all your help!!” — Emily
Feedback like this is why I do what I do. In my classes we take the time for accurate fitting and that moment when a garment fits her shape perfectly is an emotional one.
More of My Story and Approach
I believe living creatively is the key to unlocking a satisfying spiritual, ethical and connected life. Whatever the task, creativity teaches us flow and pleasure.
With lot’s of learning, trial and error, I trained to become a specialist in fit, block making and pattern cutting clothes you actually want to wear.
For me, sewing is not really about “fashion”. Making clothes that fit my body has been a journey of healing. Like many of us, standard sizing left me feeling like there was something wrong with my body. I was made to feel too fat, too short, too curved etc etc. Buying a bigger size didn’t improve the situation because these clothes were made for one type of body only. I saw a gap in the industry and knew I had to create a space for Sewists to learn garment making in a more effective way.
Now when I make clothes, it is a meditation. A meditation on my curves, my comfort, my creativity. The clothes I make can make me feel powerful, sexy, free… Creating for yourself is such a gift, an act of self care.
Throughout my life I have come back to the body as a portal to empowerment. I wrote my university dissertation on titillation in 18th century literature. And how changing medical views of women’s bodies was reflected in the writing of female sexuality as passive. Women have been disempowered in the shaming and misrepresentation of their bodies and I believe that standard sizing is another example of this.
An incompetent system of clothing production leaves women feel like there is something wrong with them, not the system.
In my classes we take the time for accurate fitting and that moment when a garment fits her shape perfectly is a moment like no other.. Sewing together you see not only your own body’s beauty but how we are all perfect in our uniqueness.
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