Weekend Review: The Point of the Needle

 

The Point of the Needle / Barbara Burman
London: Reaktion Books, c2023.
288 p.

I've meant to read this one for a while, but only just got around to it now. It is a look at "plain sewing", the kind of everyday sewing done by women over decades, and which is experiencing a bit of a resurgence now. 

I liked it, it did talk about all the things I love about sewing and see other sewists mention too. The sense of creativity, accomplishment, community, skill etc. And this book also investigates when sewing wasn't done by much choice, but as a necessity. 

It's focused on England, and she has a series of interviews with older women that pepper the book, as the different topics are raised. She also looks at more contemporary social sewing (well, things in the last decade anyhow). She does mention the Sewcialists blog which began in 2013 and shut down in 2025 I think -- but calls it American, when it was begun and maintained by a Canadian (small annoyance for me). 

I liked it but felt that there was nothing new here -- that could be because I have read many similar books in the past, maybe someone newer to sewing would be more engaged. I also found that the tone was very academic and strangely detached. Like I couldn't tell if Burman has actually ever sewn herself - this book did not have the same enthusiasm behind it as the last one I read in this field. But maybe that's just her academic approach.

So overall, there were some interesting bits, and I appreciate that she was able to interview a bunch of women about their lives in sewing while they were still able to share, and then let us read those discussions. But a bit of a slow read for me unfortunately. 

Literary Sewing Circle: Book Talk

 

Today's the day for some beginning book talk! How are you doing with the book? Have you started it yet? Finished it? Finding it slower or easy to get through? Do you have any reactions you'd like to share? 

Here are a few questions to ponder today and for the next while -- whether you have begun reading, or you've only read blurbs & author interviews so far and still have something to say, join in! Although there might be a few spoilers in the questions and discussion below so if you haven't got too far yet you might want to come back to this post.

You can reply to these questions, or add your own impressions. If you want to hear other takes on a part of the book that you are curious about, leave your own questions in the comments, too.

We'll be having another book discussion on the last post of this round if you would like to add more thorough comments there, after we've all finished it. 

1. If you decided to pick up this book and read it for this round, why? Was it the description or just the challenge that caught you first?

2. Are you at all familiar with the setting/timelines of this book? If so, does this add anything to the read for you?

3. Is there a particular character that you're drawn to so far? Any particular themes or moments that stand out for you?

4. What do you think of the sisters? Are they realistic to you? What about the many side characters - do you think the way they relate to one another supports the story?

5. What do you think of the structure, having the storyline shift between the present and the pasts of Penny, Josephine and Archie? Does it work for you? 

6.  Is there anything specific  in the book that has sparked an idea for a project yet? Are you mulling over any ideas?

October Sewing Plans

 

And somehow it is already October! I have plans for my sewing this month - only a few goals to try to reach. 

I have a cool upcycling project to get busy on, using some swag from my library. Hope to share that soon. I think it should be straightforward if I don't encounter any surprises. 

And I have my Literary Sewing Circle project to first decide on - and then gather everything I need so I can sew it up by deadline. 

Along with these two main projects, I want to take a look at my Make Nine 2026 now that we are in the final quarter of the year, and figure out what I can possibly accomplish by year-end. I have many choices, since I've been pretty bad at following along with that plan this year! 

And I have a blouse I cut out in the spring that's still waiting for some interfacing and then I should really sew it up and get it off of my UFO pile. 

And if I have time, I really want to trace some Burda patterns that would make great fall/winter outfits.

I think that will probably keep me pretty busy this month. More than enough to fill any of the time I have to sew. 

Weekend Review: With Her Own Hands

 

With Her Own Hands / Nicole Nehrig
NY: Norton, c2025
278 p.

Reading some more dense books about textiles, history and sociology this month. Starting with With Her Own Hands, a collection of reflections and stories about sewing, weaving, embroidering, and related textile arts.  

It's a hard one to summarize, as it moves across the world and across time to reveal how textiles have played a role in women's lives, offering intellectual and emotional outlets, community building, financial resources, trauma processing, social activism, and just simple enjoyment, too. 

It's broken out into seven chapters, and includes many stories -- some of them I was aware of, as I have read quite a bit in this area, but some were new to me. I enjoyed her writing style, too. She's academic (a PhD in psychology) but she's also a knitter herself, which you can tell from how familiar she is with the nuances of her storytelling. The writing has a historical density, but it's also engaging and full of great anecdotes. 

I enjoyed the parts about embroidery and social activism quite a lot, as I am familiar with those areas, and it was great to learn more -- from artists recreating lacemaking from their Armenian background to an Egyptian woman who took up needlework as her medium after she was barred from painting classes because she was a woman, to the contemporary artist Michelle Kingdom (a favourite of mine) -- so many fascinating makers are shared here. 

Each section has lots to learn, and the range from mythology to present day is well handled. There is enough here to keep you reading, and it will give you lots of tidbits to add to conversations too! 

It's an enjoyable read, not necessarily a quick one, but really satisfying. 

Literary Sewing Circle: Inspiration!

 

It's the first week of our Literary Sewing Circle featuring The Excitements by CJ Wray! Have you found a copy yet? Have you started reading? If so, how are you finding the opening chapters? 

Today's inspiration is going to look at some of the characters in this story; we'll find ideas based on their names. Here are a few suggestions for projects you could make based on character names of all sorts. 

Let's start with our main characters - the Williamson sisters Penny and Josephine, and their great-nephew Archie. 

Penny's personality really takes over a lot of the story. So starting with her, you could look at a few different projects inspired by her name. 

The Penny Dress by Sew Over It is a classic easy wearing shirtdress, reflecting an earlier decade as well as Penny's name. 

Or maybe the Penny Pinafore by Sew Liberated is more your style. It might be more suited to Penny's practical work during wartime as well. 

The clean lines of the Penny Jacket by FibreMood might be the one to catch you. This can look casual, or formal enough to receive a French war medal in, depending on what you make it with! 

Or in a nod to her nonagenarian love of burgundy pantsuits, you could try out the Penny Pants by Kelsey White Patterns

Now Josephine was slightly more feminine and demure, at least when they were young. The romantic Josephine Dress by P&M Patterns  might be a good fit for a Josephine inspiration! 

But it could be that Josephine's streamlined style in her later years inspires you, and you might want to try the Josephine Tunic by Made by Rae, which has some nice details but is still neat and tidy. 

Penny has a nickname for her sister, and it could be that it's where you find some inspo! Penny calls her Josie Jo -- maybe you'll make the Josie Dress by McCalls  and/or the Jo Dress & Top by Seamwork! 

Josie McCalls

Jo Dress

Or maybe it's just the name that you are inspired by, and some frills and furbelows are more to your liking. If so, the Joséphine Dress & Top by Atelier Bernie  has separates options that will give you lots of choices. 

Moving on to Archie, you could make the Archie Woven Shirt by Style Arc I think that a man or woman could get away with wearing this, depending on personal style. 

Or mayble something straightforward, the fairly simple Archie Oversized Tee by Winslet Patterns 

Perhaps you'll think of little Archie and all the things he carried as a boy & make the Archie Backpack by Knot & Thread Designs This is a good size for lots of things - probably even enough room there to tuck in a copy of Fairbairn's guide to Defendu. 

Or how about Arlene, the dedicated home care assistant to Penny and Josephine - who also has an interest in fashion design? You could try the Arlene Knit Top by Tiana's Closet  as something she might wear for everyday work. It's sweatshirt-like, but elevated with fashion details. 

Or maybe you'll want to make the Arlene Totebag by Sirena Elite It's big enough for a weekend trip to Paris! 

Penny and Josephine's frenemies, the fellow war workers Davina and Sister Eugenia, could inspire a project, too. You might want to doll yourself up a little with the Davina Dress by Itch to Stitch 

For something with a little more of a dressy/casual feel, perhaps the Davina Sweater/Skirt Set by Made By Oranges  will catch your interest. 

And just because our characters are older women doesn't mean they aren't interested in pretty underthings -- the Davina Lingerie Set by Carla Renee Couture  is a choice if you also like making undergarments. It has a bit of a retro feel, maybe a throwback to our characters' younger days. 

Sister Eugenia likes room to be comfortable and might have enjoyed the Eugenia Sportswear Set by DG Patterns if her younger, pre-nun days had been in contemporary years.

But for a French twist on her name, you could also try the Eugenie Blouse by Atelier Scammit 

Josephine's solid, reliable friend of her childhood and youth, Connie Shearer, might be the one to inspire you. You could try the Connie Casual Shacket by Ellie & Mac, something they might have worn walking in the Scottish countryside as teens. You could even use shearling in a double nod to her name! 

Or you could go a bit fancier with the Connie Top by Tiana's Closet  - a free pattern to try out! 

Looking at some of the minor characters might also give you some ideas. Hazel is Davina's care help in Paris, where she is overcome by the heat (and maybe also Davina) so only appears briefly. But she might be reflected in the Hazel Dress by Victory Patterns  (one of our sponsors!) - maybe even made in a French print. 

Or Sister Margaret Ann, who accompanies Sister Eugenia, might inspire quite a nun-like and period appropriate nightie with this Margaret 1940s Nightgown by Atelier Serena 

Later in the book we meet a Canadian character, Madeleine. Maybe that's where you'll start, with something like the Madeleine Dress at TAUKO magazine 

Another minor character is someone who appears in the sisters' midlife: Penny meets the wife of an old flame, named Veronique -- try the Veronica Blouse by Mood, a free pattern that's as youthful and free-spirited as she was. 

We could look at the French family connections for ideas too - when the sisters are young they spend time with their Aunt Claudine and Uncle Godfrey in Paris and meet a whole cast of characters. You could choose the Claudine Dress by Paulinessence Patterns

Or try something quite unusual with the Godfrey Chainmail shirt by Official Hambly 

There are many men in the story, from early boyfriends to husbands and lovers in later years. Any of these could be used as inspiration for a project! 

You might start with the August Top by Alissah Threads - a women's blouse but still referencing his name. 

Or maybe you knit... you could try this August Sweater by Ozetta, on Ravelry for a more masculine nod. 

The classic Gilbert Top by Helen's Closet could refer to another Paris friend in the sisters' youth. maybe in a more manly or French print fabric? 

Gerald, Josephine's wartime friend who stays in her life could potentially inspire something made for someone in your life  -- perhaps using the Gerald Underwear Set by Jalie This can be made into undies, swimwear or even leggings. 

The Frank Jeans by Closet Core  might jump to mind when you're thinking about wartime encounters

And you could make something to go alongside the jeans, with the Connor Messenger Bag, a free tutorial from Love to Sew 

Briefly mentioned later in the book, the name Ralph could be reflected by the Ralph Backpack by IThinkSew 

Or anything by Ralph Pink, of course! 

Equally briefly mentioned, the name Edgar closes out our inspo, with this unexpected unisex pattern, the Edgar Harem pants,  by Tiana's Closet. I dare someone to try this! 

So many names in this book - I didn't even get to all the Williamson relatives. Remember that your project only needs to point to whatever element in the book inspired it, no matter how small. If you're already getting ideas, I would love to hear about them in the comments (although do try to avoid spoilers if you can). Hope you're digging into the story and having fun so far!

Adding Squares for a Better Fit

Not much sewing going on around here this week, but I did finally get around to a fix I have wanted to do for the last few weeks -- ever since I finished my Trio Top. 

I had lowered the neckline of the top from the original, but realized that the back was too low with the same number of blocks as the front. Not for modesty or anything like that, it was that the gathered elastic sat at an odd place on my back and the feeling of it really bothered me!

To fix it I had to unpick topstitching on black & also the panel so I had been putting it off. But I finally got around to it & fortunately I also had a handful of precut blocks left over to choose from. I sewed an extra line of blocks, added them to the back panel & sewed it all back up again. Once I got started on it, it really didn't take long. And now it's much more comfortable to wear and it sits better on my shoulders as well! 

Weekend Review: Backstitch

 

Backstitch / Marian Mitchell Donahue
Boston, MA: Galiot Press, c2026.
314 p.

This is a novel I have been wanting to read since I saw it mentioned in pre-publication! Fortunately I found it in one of my online library resources -- I had to read it right away. 

It's the story of two girls growing up in a household in which their mother Alice is a focused and somewhat notable artist, with all the distracted, moody , self-centred artist stereotypes going on. Her work always takes first place, and the sisters are often used as models, woken up in the middle of the night and dragged down to the studio to pose in the cold - or arranged into a tableau in the wet garden as needed - until finally one day their father Arthur comes home in the midst of one set piece and puts an end to it. 

The two girls, Violet and Marigold, see themselves as inseparable but as they grow older, Violet, the eldest, follows Arthur's footsteps into academia, while Marigold becomes a working artist - but careful not to turn into her mother. 

As the book opens, Violet is heading into a large retrospective show honouring their mother, put together by Marigold. Violet is uncomfortable with the huge show promos featuring a painting of her as a child - her own eyes follow her as she arrives. From this moment, we move backward through their lives, and their parents' lives, getting the more complete story bit by bit. The story is mapped out against the rooms of the exhibit, and the structure adds a really interesting element to this novel. The story is told backward, stitching the perspectives of all four family members together. 

The title and theme also come from Alice's breakthrough in her work - the inclusion of stitching into her wild canvases. This stitching reflects the past, her fractured relationship with her family of origin, the way she engages with the symbols of domesticity, and the secrets she keeps about and from her daughters. Her stitching plays a role in the resolution of some of these plot threads as well. 

It's a complex study of art, artistic temperament and emotional neglect -- both in Alice's past and the way she relates to her daughters. It can be hard reading, but it is also beautifully written, with both art (Alice) and astronomy (Arthur) creating visual impact. You'll wish you could see an Alice Snyder piece in real life after this. If you enjoy thoughtful reads with difficult family dynamics, women's struggles to find their authentic path, discussions of art, ethics, and long-held secrets, I think you'll like this one too.