Melanie Keane

Claire-Louise Hardie shares her clothes cloning experience in her latest book - Clone Your Clothes. Claire-Louise is a career costumer. All the images Claire-Louise refers to are on the podcast website and on the YouTube version of this podcast. Creating clothes for productions means she is constantly ensuring costumes are created for productions in multiples and to last the production run. This means she constantly created clothes by cloning style for the purposes of each production.  Claire-Louise was the Sewing Producer for the first 4 series of The Great British Sewing Bee. In 2015 Claire-Louise went to the London College of Fashion and to complete her Masters in Pattern Technology and Garment Technology.  One of her group assignments was to create a toile of a Balanciaga garment so she used her years of training to create this toile that was then part of the exhibit!  In Cloning Your Clothes, Claire-Louise shares her technical knowledge and provides us with 3 methods to clone those clothes that we love but can't find in the shops anymore. All the video links and materials Claire-Louise mentions are on the podcast website. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.  

Sew Like Dotty returns this week with ideas about starting your own sewing group. I’m thrilled to welcome back Alison Martin, the heart and hands behind Sew Like Dotty, for the second episode in our series! Alison is a beloved figure in the sewing world – a SewOverIt Pattern Insider, YouTuber, and the creator of the inspiring A Gift to November Challenge. In this episode, Alison dives deeper into her journey, shares fresh ideas for starting your own sewing group, and talks about the joy of building community through creativity.  Whether you're looking to connect with fellow sewists or spark your own local meet-up, Alison’s insights are full of warmth and practical wisdom. 🎁 Don’t miss her tips on handmade gifting through A Gift to November challenge, community sewing, and what it means to be part of the SewOverIt insider circle. 🧷  Subscribe, like, and join us as we celebrate the power of sewing to bring people together! If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube.   SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.  

Welcome to Part 1 of our inspiring conversation with Alison Martin, the creative force behind Sew Like Dotty and the Sew Virtual community. 🌸 Over the past four years, Alison has grown Sew Like Dotty into a safe and fun online space for sewists. She also manages an encouraging and thriving Facebook group, which she now focuses on full-time after retiring earlier this year. Alison’s passion for sewing was sparked by her mother and the garment industry in her hometown. With her deep-rooted skills and love for community building, she co-founded A Stitch in Tyne with two sewing friends—a local initiative that brings sewists together in the Tyne area for real-life meetups and creative collaboration. 👗 In this episode, we explore: The origins of Sew Like Dotty Alison’s journey from hobbyist to community leader How Sew Virtual and A Stitch in Tyne are connecting sewists online and offline 💬 Stay tuned for Part 2 next week, where Alison shares the exciting sewing challenges she’s hosted for the community! 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon to catch the next episode! If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube.   SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.  

In this episode with Melanie Keane, she gives us an insightful chat about how running the sewing groups for refugees has impacted her personally. In the 18 months after beginning sewing Melanie was asked 'Do I know anyone who can sew...? 2 weeks later she arrived at the refugee centre with 2 old sewing machines and some donated fabric.  4 months later Melanie had 3 volunteers working with her, 8 fairly decent sewing machines and 15 women in the mixed nationality group. The women were voracious in their making and desperate to sew for their families, repair clothes and just escape from their pitiful circumstances for just a few hours. Families had lived in the oppressive centre for over a year feeling hopeless and depressed. Sewing lifted their spirits, formed new relationships across the different cultures and allowed the women to feel like they were nurturing their families again.  Each week Melanie needed 25 metres of fabric and so she reached out to the sewing community, whose generosity astounded her.  She ran the project for 15 months until the centre suddenly closed. In this episode Melanie discusses how this impacted her and how she went on to set up another group for vulnerable women at The Lighthouse in Woking, Surrey. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive. Use LH7KWCRS to get one month of Stash Hub plus for free, which means you have unlimited uploads and can add more photos to their records. You don’t have to enter your payment details to use it. At the end of the month you’ll revert to the free version of Stash Hub and you won’t lose anything you’ve already uploaded.  Thanks Stash Hub!    

Melanie Keane’s sewing journey is very community driven. This is a two-part series and Melanie began sewing 9 years ago through quilting. In 2020 Melanie and her family sewed over 100 pairs of scrubs for frontline workers, transforming sewing into a meaningful family activity. This experience deepened her connection to the craft and led her to explore garment and bag making, where she found joy in blending functionality with artistic expression. Beyond her personal projects, Melanie’s dedication to sewing extended into community service. By fundraising for sewing machines and supplies, she empowered refugee women with a creative outlet and a sense of purpose. For many, this initiative became a path to healing and self-confidence. Melanie’s sewing journey illustrates how sewing can be more than a skill—it can be a tool for reusing textiles, social connection, and something to look forward to each day. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Use LH7KWCRS to get one month of Stash Hub plus for free, which means you have unlimited uploads and can add more photos to their records. You don’t have to enter your payment details to use it. At the end of the month you’ll revert to the free version of Stash Hub and you won’t lose anything you’ve already uploaded. Thanks Stash Hub! Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.

Micah Clasper-Torch is a Los Angeles-based artist, designer, and educator helping to lead the modern revival of punch needle rug hooking. With a background in fashion design from The Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City and the Politecnico di Milano in Italy, Micah blends fine art, heritage craft, and wearable design to create one-of-a-kind textile pieces that range from coats and accessories to wall hangings and soft sculpture. In 2019 Micah was formally trained as an Oxford Punch Needle Instructor at the Oxford Rug Hooking School in Vermont, and in 2020 she launched Punch Needle World, an online community, shop and educational platform dedicated to uplifting the craft and its history, and making high quality supplies and training accessible around the world.   Her debut book, Punch Needle Fashion, comes out next month, in June 2025 from Quadrille and brings punch needle into the world of contemporary fashion through 15 original projects and a beautifully photographed exploration of the medium. Punch Needle Fashion pre-order link Web: www.micahclasper-torch.com IG: @claspertorch & @punchneedle.world If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.    

Kelsey founded Sew Pittsburg with the vision of creating a sewing community in the Pittsburgh area. As the Instagram account quickly gained traction, Sarah stepped in to help foster the group’s growing sense of community. https://www.instagram.com/sewpgh/ Together, they built a welcoming space for sewists to connect, share inspiration, and support one another. Their efforts transformed Sew Pittsburg into more than just an online presence—it became a thriving hub for makers, encouraging creativity and friendships. Through meetups, collaborations, and shared enthusiasm, Kelsey and Sarah have cultivated a vibrant sewing culture, proving that community flourishes when passion meets dedication. Find out how Discord allows their community to also run regular interest meetups! Photo credits: Kitoko Chargois. https://www.instagram.com/photo_by_kitoko/ 

Kelsey founded Sew Pittsburg with the vision of creating a sewing community in the Pittsburgh area. As the Instagram account quickly gained traction, Sarah stepped in to help foster the group’s growing sense of community. https://www.instagram.com/sewpgh/ Together, they built a welcoming space for sewists to connect, share inspiration, and support one another. Their efforts transformed Sew Pittsburg into more than just an online presence—it became a thriving hub for makers, encouraging creativity and friendships. Through meetups, collaborations, and shared enthusiasm, Kelsey and Sarah have cultivated a vibrant sewing culture, proving that community flourishes when passion meets dedication. Find out how Discord allows their community to also run regular interest meetups! Photo credits: Kitoko Chargois. https://www.instagram.com/photo_by_kitoko/  If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.    

Alison Smith, MBE, is a visionary in the world of sewing and couture techniques. As the UK’s leading sewing educator, she has revolutionized garment construction, corsetry, and tailoring, making intricate skills accessible to all. Founder of the School of Sewing, Alison teaches hands-on workshops that empower sewists of all levels. She’s also a celebrated author, with books like The Sewing Book and Dressmaking selling over 500,000 copies worldwide. Her expertise extends to online courses and the Members Club, where she shares advanced techniques, pattern hacks, and professional finishing methods. Alison discusses the updates to the recent edition of The Sewing Book. It's now available as Kindle version. Alison made history as the first person to receive an MBE for services to sewing and corsetry, solidifying her status as a trailblazer in the industry. Whether through her books, workshops, or online resources, she continues to inspire sewists worldwide, transforming sewing from a skill into an art. For those seeking to master dressmaking, Alison Smith, MBE, is the ultimate mentor. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.  

Natalie or @Nataliecsews is never seen on her Instagram account until now. On the video version of this podcast, you’ll both hear and see Natalie Chim. She has been industry trained and has sewn commercially for over 40 years. While Natalie's mother taught her how to sew, it was her father who showed her how to fit clothes properly. In this podcast Natalie refers to a number of good resources and ways to build your own sewing skills. You'll only find Natalie on Instagram and she's always available to answer your questions in direct messages. If you are able, consider supporting this podcast through our patreon account. There are 3 new tiers to choose from to support SewOver50's only podcast. Every podcast is free and the archive is gradually being uploaded on to the podcast YouTube channel. Sound with permission by Kaneef on YouTube. SewOver50 intersects with all communities. SewOver50 where we are so over ageism.  Our focus is the sewing talent each person shares on social media and providing recognition of their willingness to share their skills whether a beginner or experienced sewist. Make sure you listen to your SewOver50 friends in our SewOver50 podcast archive.