Sewing Retreats

S: I was always dressed in homemade clothes as a child and was sewing cushions and bedspreads for my dolls house from scraps from about six. As a teen I would buy second hand dresses on a Saturday afternoon and would have altered them with a hand needle singer machine on my bedroom floor and would be wearing them out again on the Saturday night.

M: My mum had this amazing chest full of vintage dresses. I grew up dressing up in these pieces and later, inspired by the shapes and the fabrics, I started to recreate them as a teenager.

A: Family heritage I guess, my grandfather was a weaver of tweed, my grandmother a spinner. I watched my mother make all our clothes. The rest of my family are engineers.. There was no escaping this path. I started formal training at age 15 as an apprentice in a costume work room for the National Trust. 

L: I’ve been sewing for as long as I can remember. My Mum and Nan both taught me to sew when I was very young, but I really got into clothes making as a teenager. I think it was a way to express myself and flex my creative muscles, whilst also nurturing the growing interest I had in the impact the clothing industry has on our planet.

S: I am a qualified teacher and have been nurturing people to make with their hands, mostly at Degree level, for over 30 years. Making and its transformative effect has always been at the core of my practice, from teaching teenagers to solder and light campfires to buttonholes on a retreat. Being trained to sew to a professional standard with Merchant and Mills has been better than any degree course you could ever wish for.

M: I come from a fashion background. I have worked with a couple of big luxury brands, made bespoke pieces for clients like wedding dresses and event outfits and taught pattern cutting and sewing at Brighton University.

A: I'm a tailor and costumer. I've spent over 35 years in industry. My career has given me the broadest depth of experience from corsets & bodices for the National Theatre to stunt costume at Marvel, but I think I've just been very lucky to spend those years working in incredible workrooms and learning from the most creatively skilled people producing costume for the Royal Opera House, West End stages and films.

 I started teaching my craft when I was finally able to set up my own workroom 20 years ago, and I've always believed passing on these skills is a privilege, whether it be in my sewing school or nurturing apprenticeships day to day in the workplace. 

Currently I'm a Head Tailor at Warp and Weft in Hastings, leading a workroom producing bespoke garments from suitings to silk. Our core belief is traditional methods of making and exceptional fit lead to lovingly created clothing, that is cherished and longer lasting. 

Tailoring and costume is my skill, but teaching is my passion.

L: In the past I’ve been a freelance sewer, picking up all sorts of sewing related jobs, and working from a studio I had in a very no frills converted shipping container. I’ve been at Merchant and Mills since 2022, often I find I’ve met many of our students previously from the time I spent working in the shop! I moved into a sewing role at the very start of 2024 and have spent lots of time sewing amongst the fantastic team we have! The skills I have learnt sewing with Merchant and Mills are invaluable, and my sewing is forever changed!

S: I loved the patterns, cloth and slow fashion ethos and had been a regular customer at the Rye store for years. When the opportunity to work with M&M came up in 2021, I was more than happy to join the team.

M: The shop is magic, the first time I visited I wanted everything! The fabrics are beautiful, amazing quality and colours. If there’s anything that could inspire someone to start their sewing journey, it’s the shop. When an opportunity came up to teach, I jumped at it.

A: Well you can't be an obsessive lover of cloth and not know about Merchant and Mills, I stocked and used the patterns to teach in my own sewing school. But it was when they produced the Denim pattern  collection that got me hooked. 

Merchant and Mills kindly offered me a position in lockdown! When all the stages were quiet and costume production halted.. Sewers were created in living rooms around the world and someone had to cut the fabric. I joined the quiet army of cutters at Merchant and Mills and boy that job was huge! I then took the customer services role and started chatting to you all.

L: I’ve always worked in Rye, so naturally I would find my way down to the shop on my lunch breaks to stroke rolls of cloth, rummage the notions or pick through the remnant baskets. So, when the stars aligned for me one day and a job was advertised, I applied!

S: The Japanese cloths are often my favourites. Understated quality that sews like a dream resulting in timeless garments that wash and wear well. My favourite pattern would have to be the Sidney. I have made the majority of the M&M archive at least once, but the Sidney in Jacquard is my regular comfort weekend wardrobe staple. I own 3 myself but have made many more as gifts.

M: The Edie in Abhla handwoven cotton, I love the little sparkle, and the Sanda in darkest teal wool coating, I love that colour.

A: Tencel all the way! This cloth can look and feel like silk but has all the durability of cotton (and it's got good eco credentials too). It's not the easiest cloth to work with but I was determined to perfect making with it because I love to wear it so much. 

I adore the trouser patterns in the collection currently, the Pegs and Junos. I wear them constantly! 

L: This is tricky for me. My favourite cloth and pattern changes more than I’m willing to admit! But at the moment I’ve really been enjoying working with the Japanese cloth, although I am also quite partial to a gingham. I’ve made quite a few Trapeze dresses lately, so I think that’s my favourite now. Subject to change though!

S: The nature reserve. No matter what the weather, it is wild and beautiful. Go prepared with a flask of tea and hunker down behind a groin to shelter from the wind and stare at the sea.

M: Knoops Iced Coffee!

A: My perfect day in Rye is breakfast at The Whitehouse - salmon and hash browns! A doggie walk on the nature reserve by Rye Harbour and back for an ice cream at the Mermaid cafe in summer or a Knoops hot chocolate in winter. 

L: I think we’re so lucky in Rye to have so many amazing spots! There isn’t a wrong choice but my go to is either the Whitehouse (best bread in Rye) or Knoops for an iced Matcha.

S: The people! We are blessed to have sewers travelling from all over the world to join us in the studio and they always bring a unique and magical energy with them. They enter as six strangers and leave as friends. It is always a joy and a privilege to facilitate and be a part of.

M: I love meeting people and seeing what patterns and fabric choices they make. It’s just so rewarding advising our retreaters on their projects and seeing the pieces come together bit by bit.

A: Everybody comes with an inbuilt passion for fabric and making, When you have a student already loving the craft - teaching you is easy. Your ideas flow and we can build your skills effortlessly. I see more progression in that workroom than I see in a normal class room simply because you adore being in that inspirational space. I also get to see lifelong friendships blossom. I'm looking forward to meeting more of you!

L: I’m not sure I can pick just one thing. Aside from being able to nurture a skill that brings me so much joy, I always come home after a retreat and feel so lucky that I get to meet such incredible people. As a community I think we have some of the most extraordinary and talented people, and I am forever taking inspiration from all of them!