Most recent finish — patched these 501’s with t-shirt scraps I wove together and then added a bunch of stitches to hold it in place.

What denim Pac-Man are you today?

I love how this chair turned out! It was actually a fairly quick project—I’d already done some of the denim patchwork. And now I have a chair pocket for snacks!! #denimupcycle #upcycling #creativereuse #textileartist

Did shibori dying today it was super fun. We didn’t really follow the instructions… #textiles

Current project: recovering this chair with patchwork denim. So far I’ve done a great job taking it all apart…

I’m so proud of how this dress turned out. I just love turning scraps or discarded fabrics into something beautiful that I know I’ll wear. #upcycledfashion #creativereuse

I have this sweatshirt that is super comfy but I don’t love the colors of the screen print, so I’m experimenting by embroidering with Sashiko thread on top. I think I like it… not totally sure where this will end up. #upcycledfashion

Troy is a weirdo. #catsky

Not that I needed an excuse, but I decided to make an upcycled patchwork dress for H+H next week. I’m newly obsessed with using a flatlock stitch to make patchwork.

Anyone else heading to H+H Americas in Chicago next week? Yep, I’m going to a trade show for new product when my focus is upcycling and secondhand. But that’s exactly where we need more sustainable voices! To create real change you can’t just yell into an echo chamber, you need to reach out.

You might be wondering, what the heck is that? Well, it’s old jeans I made into appliqués I made into a clockwork orange bear wearing a hat and sunglasses that I’m now making into a shirt to wear to a sustainable fashion event for San Francisco Climate Week. Duh. #sustainablesewing #upcycledfashion

I think my cat is broken. She almost fell asleep sitting like this.

More secondhand fabric shops by state! These are all small businesses and/or non-profits ❤️♻️ The live map: www.sewingthroughfog.com/thriftyourfabric #shopsecondhandfirst #creativereuse

No time like the present to start shopping secondhand! I will be sharing other states this week and Canada. These are all small businesses and/or non-profits ❤️♻️ The live map: www.sewingthroughfog.com/thriftyourfa... #shopsecondhandfirst #creativereuse

My mom’s photos from her protest in Santa Rosa, CA.

Me: I really like simple, minimal quilts, I want to make more like that. Also me: what if I did appliqué leather clamshells on top of pieced denim strips? #quiltsky #upcycled

Today I did my first hand sewn buttonhole. Why did I wait so long?? So easy and perfect way to finish this upcycled denim coat.

Just gave a lecture at UC Berkeley for the class “The Politics of What We Wear”, and I’m feeling so good. I like guild lectures but getting to talk to college seniors about the apparel industry and textile waste and upcycling, it just feels like I’m actually creating change. #sustainablefashion

The latest issue of Southern Cultures asks how we might imagine a progressive way forward for textiles in the U.S., with attention to sustainability, craft preservation, cultural heritage, justice and equity, entrepreneurship, and global economics. Explore it here: buff.ly/K2Z682p

These two 🥹

american masculinity is so amazing. caring about clothes as a man apparently makes you "gay" but our position on geopolitics totally depends on whether you wear a suit

Heidi Parkes is a master storyteller and her use of upcycled and repurposed materials creates magic in her quilts. I interview her about her award winning quilt “Mimi, Mimi, Mimi”. @heidiparkes.bsky.social youtu.be/ZEJEExa3g-w?...

Want to be inspired? Listen to Émilie Trahan talk about why she uses upcycled and repurposed materials in her award winning quilts. It was a joy to chat with her. youtu.be/g1_yctCf9jE?...

You know @zakfoster.bsky.social and I are going to find the only secondhand fabric at QuiltCon and support them. They are called Sew Renewable!

Drinking a leisurely cup of coffee at my dining table, mentally preparing my introverted self for 4.5 days of so many people before I head to the airport for my flight to Phoenix. My emotions: 😁😳🤪🫠🫣😊 #quiltsky

So many projects in process 🫠. But at least I finished this one! Or re-finished it…

Just in case.

I got my BERNINA photo today and I’m feeling like it looks a bit too… proper? So I had to fix it. ☺️

Redoing the back of this indigo dyed quilt dress in case I want to wear it to QuiltCon. I didn’t like the gathers when I first made it but I was in a hurry. What? You don’t decide a week before a trip to make a bunch of stuff to wear and then rush them all? 🙄 #quiltsky #sustainablefashion

Heard a women walking by my house: “Hey look, it’s Amy’s favorite car [with sarcasm]”. Second women responds: “And it’s always a man driving it.” Ain’t that the truth. 😂😐🫠

Troy is excellent at hiding. When he hides, no one can find him.

(2 of 2) then I went in the back and there had just been a giant donation of thread. I think this says a lot about all the stuff that already exists out there. There is already enough for everyone. We just need to learn to share, to connect resources to people, to donate/buy from each other.

(1 of 2) Scrap SF is magic (it’s the creative reuse center where I volunteer). There is this phenomenon called “Scrap provides”: whenever we are running low on something, more of that thing magically gets donated. I got there today and our thread boxes had been decimated.

Folks, I don't intend to post about every single horrible thing that's happening at the moment because I'm not a direct news source and also because my mental health has an upper limit. Don't confuse lack of obsessive news updating for lack of concern or lack of personal action. Also, here's a cat.

It feels completely absurd to post about quilting today, but we have 4 more years of this. So, I’ve decided I’m doubling down on celebrating positives. Positive thing #1: I’m so freaking excited about a collab I’m doing with QuiltInk that’s going to help more quilters quilt with jeans! #quiltsky

I think they are bonded now 🥹.

Also this one please. Because I definitely do not need to make my cats little matching jumpsuits out of this. feelgoodfibers.com/product/pack... #quiltsky

I wasn’t planning to share fabric for sale on FeelGood Fibers here on my Sewing through Fog account. But I would like someone else to buy this bundle otherwise I might buy it and I really don’t need it. Thank you and good night 😑. feelgoodfibers.com/product/sall...

Part 1 is up on the blog & YouTube — intro to quilting with leather, some tips and tricks to get you started.

This ⬇️

Working on a tutorial(ish) thing about how I quilt with leather. I’ll post it on YouTube and my blog soon(ish). I’m going to try to start using YouTube more to be less dependent on Ye Olde IG, if you want to follow me there you can. Or not. www.youtube.com/@Sewingthrou...

This vintage crochet top before after an overnight soak with OxiClean. So much better but still stained. I think next step will be dyeing it…. blue. Of course. #upcycle #vintagefashion

Cats on quilts.

I always thought that “resting” was just working lying down, but now I’m wondering if I’ve been doing it wrong.

Next project ☺️. Currently soaking in OxiClean overnight.

I feel like I’m moving so fast, trying to accomplish the things, checking off the boxes, I never get time to stop and focus on something. And that was one of the gifts of last week, at the BERNINA ambassador retreat, getting to dedicate time to learning and practicing without distraction.

Channeling my anxiety and dread into getting caught up on store adds for Thrift your Fabric - just added 12 new stores in the US and 1 in New Zealand!! www.sewingthroughfog.com/thriftyourfa...

Love seeing this pattern come to life in someone else’s hands (and paws) 🥹.

Penny. Peaceful kitten naps with quilts. Awake kitten is a gremlin. #quiltsky