It was such a joy to catch up with Pōneke-based Sarah Gulley on Friends of TFS this week! Many of you may know Sarah as the creative mind behind sustainable fashion platform The Weekend Project. Sarah is a self-taught sewist, sustainability consultant and a positive advocate for creating a better fashion industry, for people and the planet. We especially love following along on her enthusiastic and transparent journey into the highs and lows of all things sewing. Read on as we chat to Sarah about her sewing journey, hobbies, and projects past and present!
Hey Sarah, please give a brief introduction of yourself to our readers!
Kia ora! I’m a self-taught sewist and sustainable fashion advocate from Aotearoa New Zealand. I started sewing in 2020 and, around the same time, created an Instagram account to document my sewing journey. What began as a hobby quickly grew into something much bigger! These days, I also write a Substack newsletter where I write about sustainable fashion, sewing, and give lots of pattern recommendations.
Tell us a little about your sewing journey - what led you to sewing, how long have you been sewing for...
Apart from a slightly traumatic attempt at sewing in primary school, I’m entirely self-taught. I picked up sewing after the first 2020 lockdown. Like many people, I was spending far too much time on TikTok and Instagram, but the silver lining was discovering the amazing online sewing community. Seeing people make cute, wearable clothes made me think: How hard can it be? And more importantly: I bet I could make clothes I’d actually want to wear. Up until then, I’d assumed sewing your own clothes meant being stuck with 1940s-style tea dresses (cute, but not my everyday vibe).
My first proper project was the Wilder Gown from Friday Pattern Company. It was a hot mess (I didn’t know I needed to finish seams, and it ended up far too short) but I was instantly hooked. From there, I devoured YouTube tutorials, made more (and better) garments, and learnt through trial and error. Now, five years in, around 80% of my wardrobe is me-made. If I can teach myself to sew, I genuinely believe anyone can.
Tell us a little about The Weekend Project!
The Weekend Project started as a fun way to share what I was sewing on the weekends. However, early into learning to sew I had the realisation that all clothes are handmade. Somehow I’d never really grasped that until I was the one sitting at the machine, sewing each seam myself.
That realisation pushed me to learn more about the fashion industry, specifically how it impacts people and the planet. I was studying law at the time and ended up writing a thesis on fashion law and the environment, which helped kickstart my career as a sustainability consultant.
The Weekend Project now combines my love for sewing with my work in sustainability. I want to make sewing feel more accessible, show that you can build a wardrobe you love by making it yourself, and help people think more critically about where their clothes come from. That includes learning how to buy less, buy better, care for our clothes, and think intentionally about how we let them go.
What is it about sewing that brings you joy?
I love that sewing lets me express myself creatively in a way that’s super practical. I can dream up an outfit, and a few hours later (in theory!), that idea is hanging in my wardrobe. It’s such a satisfying feeling to turn a sketch or Pinterest mood board into something tangible.
What sewing projects are you working on, or planning towards, at the moment?
Right now, I’m making a summer holiday wardrobe! I’m heading to Canada and then New York, and it’s going to be hot, so I’ve been making lots of breezy linen dresses and lightweight cotton tops.
A couple of my favourite summer wardrobe projects are a self-drafted linen cami, and the Julia Dress from Liam Patterns in a beautiful buttery yellow cotton. Both fabrics are from The Fabric Store!
I’ve made about 15 pieces in the past three weeks, which is a bit wild. But sewing has been such a helpful outlet recently. My mum passed away a month ago, and throwing myself into planning outfits and making them has been a real comfort and an escape.
Share with us what you learnt from your biggest sewing success
Making the Martina Coat by VikiSews was a real turning point. It was a big investment—both in time and in money, since I used a beautiful double-faced wool cashmere (the most expensive fabric I’ve ever bought).
The whole process forced me to slow down. I’m usually a speedy sewer, always itching to move on to the next idea. But with this coat, I took my time, and it paid off. It’s now my favourite piece in my wardrobe—a true heritage garment that I plan to keep for years and maybe even pass on one day.
And what you learnt from your biggest sewing flop!
This one still hurts. I spent a month making a blazer — doing toiles, hand stitching, learning tailoring techniques. These are all things I usually avoid in favour of quicker projects.
I really wanted to improve my tailoring skills, so I invested the most time and money I’d ever spent on a project. But when I finally wore it out, the interfacing bubbled off the outer fabric making it unwearable. The interfacing was cheap and I hadn’t spent enough time at the start properly pressing it on to my fabric.
That project came before I made the Martina coat, and honestly, it taught me a lot about the importance of patience, and also about investing in quality materials and tools (interfacing included!).
Describe the space you use for sewing in 5 words...
"Organised but messy, cosy, creative."
What kinds of fabrics do you prefer to sew with?
I mostly sew with natural fibres like linen and cotton. I avoid synthetics where I can, unless it's deadstock.
What are your top 5 sewing most-used tools?
- My projector, which I use instead of printing patterns
- Fabric scissors from LDH/rotary cutter
- Clips (I way prefer using these over pins)
- Measuring tape
- Iron (boring but essential!)
Tell us the story of your favourite wardrobe item (doesn’t have to be made by you)
My Sailor Jeans from Kowtow. Easily my most-worn piece of clothing! I’ve worn them at least three times a week for the past two years and they’re still going strong.
They’re beautifully made, super comfortable, and such a versatile staple. Plus, I love supporting Kowtow as a local brand with strong sustainability credentials.
They’re also sentimental. A bunch of my friends own them too, so it’s a bit of a Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants moment except that we each have our own pair!
Do you have any special sewing tips you’d like to share?
If you’re someone who sews a lot, investing in an ultra-short throw projector and a cutting table will change your life. I don’t print patterns anymore, I just project them directly onto fabric and cut them out on a table covered with A0 cutting mats.
It’s not a cheap setup, but it’s saved me so much time and made sewing feel even more enjoyable and efficient.
Is there anything you wish you knew about sewing before you started?
There’s no secret to starting, so just start! You’ll mess up sometimes, but that’s part of learning. The only way to get better is to keep sewing.
Read Sarah's tips on how to start sewing over on The Weekend Project here.
Where do you find motivation and inspiration?
Instagram is a big source of inspiration. The online sewing community is so generous and creative. I love seeing what other people are making, especially when they share honest reviews and hacks.
I also follow fashion creators like Lucy Williams and Jessie Bush and draw inspiration from their RTW outfits to recreate in my own style.
Are there any other hobbies or activities you enjoy besides sewing?
I’m a big reader. My idea of a perfect evening is curling up on the couch with a great book. I just picked up Skipshock by Caroline O’Donoghue to read on holiday and I can’t wait to get stuck in.
I also love writing and researching, which is why I started my Substack. And I dabble in tennis — very casually, very amateur!
If we were visiting Pōneke Wellington for a day, what would you recommend we do and see?
Start the day with coffee and a scone at Swimsuit, then head over to The Fabric Store for a fabric fix. Kowtow is right around the corner and always worth a browse.
After that, pop into Unity Books (my favourite bookshop), then grab lunch at Queen Sally’s Diamond Deli. Spend the afternoon wandering Te Papa and the waterfront or go vintage shopping at Hunters and Collectors.
Cuba Street has great spots for dinner — try 1154, Loretta or Kisa. And finish your day with a wine at Ascot or a whisky apple at Dee’s Place.
Are there any favourite books, podcasts or blogs that you’d love to share?
Absolutely! I could go on forever, but here are a few of my favourites for sewing and fashion content:
Books -
The Golden Thread by Kassia St. Clair
Wear Next by Clare Press
Fashionolpolis by Dana Thomas
Podcasts -
Style-ish by Shameless Media – great for fashion news and style tips
Wardrobe Crisis by Clare Press – always interesting, thoughtful guests
Online -
@databutmakeitfashion – amazing fashion + data analysis
Blogs -
The Essentials Club and DIY Daisy were huge for me when I was learning to sew. They’re both super helpful and full of inspiration.
A very kind thank you to Sarah for chatting with us this week, we're looking forward to following along her sewing journey at The Weekend Project! We hope you've enjoyed this Friends of TFS interview, head over and follow Sarah and be sure to check out her book and podcast recommendations!