#173: Quilting Through Burnout with Radha Weaver

Check Your Thread: Sewing More Sustainably

Hopefully, full-on burnout is not something you have, or will, experience yourself. However, we all encounter periods of pressure and stress. My guest, Radha Weaver, is a recovering overachiever who worked in a demanding role at Levi’s for fifteen years. Travelling all over the globe developing multiple product lines eventually proved too much, and it was sewing and quilt making that Radha turned to to reconnect with her creative identity. And, ironically, it was reclaimed denim that she’s since been most drawn to working with. In stark contrast to her former job role, Radha is now carving a path for herself promoting the reuse of existing textiles, and she explains how and why we could incorporate them into our own work also.

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Find Radha Weaver via her website, Sewing Through Fog, and follower on Instagram (@sewingthroughfog).

Radha mentioned the Fibershed movement that’s committed to the production of ethical and environmentally sound local textiles.

Radha compared two Check Your Thread episodes:

• Ep. #151: Explaining Deadstock Fabric with The New Craft House
• Ep. #156: How To Run and Ethical Textiles Shop with Bevan O’Daly

I recommend you check out Radha’s appearance on the Quilter on Fire podcast which was episode #177.

Radha has developed a range of patterns and online classes to help people work with reclaimed textiles and upcycle their jeans, including her amazing tote bag backpack combo pattern:

Find the Thrift Your Fabric map to discover your nearest creative resource centres.

Radha volunteers at Scrap SF, the happiest place on earth, apparently!

Swanson’s Fabrics is a well known source in the US for preloved fabric and notions.

Radha recently acquired Feel Good Fibers, a US-based destash market place!