CREATING A COMMUNITY

Disabled sewists are revolutionising representation and showing us the importance of inclusion

- Marie Lawlor

The sewing community as a whole has undergone a kind of reckoning in the last couple of years. Progress is continuing to be made to ensure that marginalised groups are being seen and listened to.

When I first began sewing in 2016, I didn't 1 see anyone visibly disabled on my Instagram feed, and certainly not in wider publications and in the media.

My interest in sewing began during rehabilitation from a particularly gruelling surgery. My occupational therapist felt that I would benefit from starting a hobby, just for the sake of enjoyment. I dusted off my unused sewing machine from my wedding 14 years previously. I read the manual, and without a clue on what seam allowance was, or that you should change the needle after a while, I made some gorgeous bunting for my daughter's bedroom. I had found my hobby!

After reading through Tilly and the Buttons' Love at First Stitch, the idea of making my own clothes was cemented. To be able to make clothes that fit, and that I could adapt to my needs, was so exciting!

GETTING COMFORTABLE

In January 2017 | tentatively posted my first successful creation to Instagram - the Cleo dress from Tilly and the Buttons. From there, I began conversing with people online about our love of sewing; immersing myself with people with a shared passion was immeasurably positive for my wellbeing. At this time however, I wasn't aware of any other disabled sewists.

Over time, people started to become aware that I have Osteogenesis Imperfecta, but I never included any photographs of myself in my wheelchair or using crutches.

I had a fixed idea that to show a photograph of my sewing, I needed to be standing for it to be acceptable. It took two years for my crutches to appear on my feed, and this was through absolute necessity as I had a fractured hip.