MY SEWING WORLD

From her woodland cabin, Taylor runs Softpaw Vintage where she recycles vintage textiles into timeless garments

- Taylor Randal

Raised by my grandparents on a farm in Washington State, I grew up with an appreciation for doing things by hand and being self reliant. Living out of the cabin my grandfather built and witnessing my grandmother utilise the land by canning and making jams, resourcefulness was also embedded in me. I could entertain myself for hours by crocheting, hand sewing, embroidering - most of which was taught to me by my great grandmother who lived up the street. Riding my bike from her house with the thrill of learning a new craft made me feel invincible.

It was my grandmother who taught me the basics of machine sewing and quilting; one of my earliest memories is sitting on the living room floor, measuring yarn and hand tying her quilts together with her. After secondary school she gifted me her vintage Montgomery Ward sewing machine and I taught myself to not only sew garments but to make and use my own patterns for clothing as well.

NEW BEGINNINGS