From Stitch to Stadium: My First Truly Useful Make

In the early days, most of my sewing projects were relegated to a drawer and never saw the light of day! But then, something I made changed all that.

In the summer of 2012, I was experimenting with sewing projects and desperately trying to get better every time I made something. I was striving for perfection - whatever that looks like - and most of what I made ended up in a drawer because I didn’t feel it was good enough!

But then I stitched together something that completely changed how I saw sewing.

It was a backpack. Not just any backpack — this one came with me to the London Olympics.

At the time, I was still finding my feet with sewing. I’d made things as a child, but this was the first time I made something I really used out in the world, not just at home. It had straps, hardware, zips — and somehow, I made it work.

I remember standing in Olympic Park, surrounded by thousands of people, with that handmade backpack slung over my shoulder. And it hit me: I made that. It felt like I was carrying a little piece of my creativity through that incredible moment in history.

Was it perfect? Not even close. But it held my snacks, my raincoat, and all the excitement of the day. And it held a new kind of confidence, too — the kind that comes from making something functional and beautiful with your own hands.

I still have that bag, resplendent in a Union Flag oilcloth. It reminds me of where it all started for me and how important sewing has become to me over the years. It reminds me that every maker starts somewhere, and that the things we make often carry more than just our stuff — they carry our stories.

Thanks for reading 💛

If you’ve ever had a “first real make” moment, I’d love to hear about it — just hit reply.

Happy sewing!

Suzanne, Charlotte and Rebecca