Hello fellow sewcialists! My name’s Laura and I’m the face behind Sew For Victory – a website dedicated to an amateur’s adventures in sewing.

Sew For Victory was born at a very particular – and peculiar – time in my life. It was the end of 2015, I was grappling with the challenges of a PhD programme that was making me tremendously unhappy and knee-deep in a really troubling time for my mental health. Feeling like my identity was wrapped up almost entirely in my work, I cast a wide net as I attempted to find any kind of creative outlet that would help me to discover something new about myself. Many hobbies later, I decided on a whim to buy myself the cheapest sewing machine that the internet had to offer. Sewing was the hobby that stuck. Through some major life changes, I have developed my skills and found a kind of internal peace in the process of indulging my much-neglected creative side. Sewing has followed me across careers and continents, as I’ve taken myself (and my incredible fabric stash) from the UK to the US. Through it all, my sewing machine – as well as all of the wonderful people that I’ve met through Sew For Victory – have been there to support me.

Although incredibly personal, this website isn’t solely a place for me. In capturing the relationship between sewing and mental health, sharing the stories of other sewists with similar experiences, and tackling the many (many) errors that come with learning to sew, my hope is that Sew For Victory provides a place for anyone with an interest in sewing. Whether you care for vintage-inspired garments, are looking to learn more about the benefits of creativity for mental health, or simply want to chat all things sewing-related, this is a space for you!

So stick around and follow me as I attempt to figure out the easiest way to install an invisible zipper and question whether I’ll ever be truly adept at sleeve insertion (I think we already know the answer to this one). If you’d like to get in touch with me about anything, you can find my details on the Contact Me page.

Otherwise, happy sewing!