Behind the Seams: Sewing Studio Tour

A look inside my studio practice

Sewing Studio Tour: It's a place where textiles, tools, and ideas come together. I work slowly, using locally sourced and repurposed fabrics wherever possible, shaping them into pieces designed to bring comfort and ease.

The Vintage Overlocker

My overlocker is a MyLock 234, a sturdy Japanese‑made model from the 1980s that has earned its place as one of the most dependable tools in my studio. It handles everything from soft cottons to heavier canvas with a steady, confident stitch, and there’s something deeply reassuring about the way it settles into its rhythm.

The instruction manual lists Bamber Sew‑Knit Co., 42/44 Oldham Street, Manchester M4 1LE — an earlier address for Bamber Sewing Machines, the long‑established family business now based in Eccles. I wrote recently about my visit there and the story behind my Bernina 1130, which you can read here.

It’s lovely to see how these threads of history connect — a vintage overlocker, a Bernina from the same era, and a local company whose name has appeared on machines and manuals across the region for decades.

The Bernina 1130

The Bernina 1130 is the heart of my studio — a beautifully engineered Swiss machine with a quiet confidence that only comes from thoughtful design. Mine dates from the late 1980s and still carries the precision and solidity that made this model so well‑loved among sewists.

I’ve written a separate journal post about the hidden issue I discovered with this machine, and the steps I took to put it right. If you’re curious about the full story, you can read it here.

Even with its age and quirks, the 1130 remains one of the most capable machines I’ve ever used. Its stitch quality is beautifully consistent, and there’s a particular pleasure in working with a tool that was built to last.... for now, anyway!

My vintage Bernina 1130

My Backup Machines

I keep two backup machines in the studio — a Singer Denim and a Brother 120E — both practical, reliable options that step in when needed. They’re not part of my everyday workflow, but they’re a steady stand‑by that keep things moving when a project can’t wait.

Sewing Studio Tour: How I Work

My workflow is slow, steady, and intentionally pared back. Most days begin with clearing the table, threading whichever machine the day calls for, and laying out the fabrics I’m working with. I like to move through each stage one at a time — cutting, pressing, stitching — letting the piece take shape without rushing it.

Guiding fabric through the Bernina 1130, a quiet moment of making in the studio.

Closing Thoughts

This studio grows with me — shaped by the machines I’ve collected, the fabrics I’m drawn to, and the quiet routines that anchor each day. None of it is perfect, and none of it needs to be. What matters is the steady work, the small decisions, and the way each project finds its own pace.

These machines, old and new, have earned their place here. They carry their histories into every seam, and together they create a space that feels lived‑in, practical, and creative. It’s a studio for making, learning, and returning to the work again and again.