A Day in My Workshop

Behind the Seams

A few thoughts from my workshop by the sea

People often imagine that making a bag starts with sewing.

It doesn't.

Most days begin with a large sail spread out across my worktable—or sometimes even across my garden when it's too big to fit indoors!

Pieces of sail cut of at the bottom on grass

I spend time looking at the sail, deciding which parts I want to keep. Original stitching, sail numbers and interesting details all influence the final design.

Then comes measuring.

Then measuring again.

After that, cutting, pinning, sewing, unpicking the occasional mistake (yes, that still happens!), and finally putting everything together.

Sailcloth is wonderfully strong, but it certainly keeps me on my toes. Once you've sewn the wrong seam, there's no hiding it.

That's all part of the challenge—and part of why I enjoy working with it so much.

Every finished bag has been carefully made by hand here in Dorset, one stitch at a time.