Welcome to the Kindred & Willow Blog!
For a number of years now I’ve had family and friends telling me, ‘you make a so many things, you should start a blog to share them!‘ It was always one of those things that I meant to do but never seemed to get started on, in part because I have a bit of a fear of sharing anything that I create. So with every post on this blog, just know how hard it has been hitting that ‘post’ button! Hopefully that gets easier with time…
In this space I hope to share a variety of my creative pursuits – from clothing design and patternmaking to sewing, knitting and simple crafts. Since I love to try and repair things rather than throw them out, I’m hoping to add a special section for make do + mend.
I believe that finding a way to be creative a little bit everyday feeds the soul and makes us happier people, so I hope to be able to inspire you to follow your own creative pursuits and share them with the world too!
I have loved making things from quite a young age. My parents were both x-ray techs and my dad used to bring home lots of lovely white cardboard and giant sheets of bright orange paper that protected the x-ray film which would have otherwise been thrown in the garbage. My two brothers and I would spend hours drawing and creating with those materials. My mum and dad were always encouraging our creative pursuits – from drawing and painting, sewing and knitting to crafting and writing – a childhood full of creativity that I hope to pass along to my own little ones.
I remember sitting and learning to knit with my lovely grandma who came from England to Canada in the 1940s as a war bride. Everyone in the family says I must have gotten my love of sewing from her as no one else in the family likes to sew much! My grandma used to design and make her own patterns and made lots of beautiful dresses and hats for herself and her three daughters. I used to love playing dress-up in those old dresses in my grandma’s attic–I think this must be where my love of vintage and antiques comes from too. My grandma’s dressmaking book, The Pictorial Guide to Modern Home Dressmaking, which was published in 1940, is one of my most prized possessions and a resource I have gone to many times for pattern-making guidance and inspiration.
My first foray into clothing design started when I was six and tried to make a pair of overalls for my guinea pig, Ginger, using old rags and a stapler. As I soon realised, guinea pigs don’t really have shoulders, so overalls are a pretty useless clothing item for them! My designs evolved into creating more useful things and with the help of mum’s old Singer sewing machine, I began making clothes for myself and altering items that I’d found at the thrift stores. Luckily my teenage years were in the midst of the grunge-era so the raggedy edges and sloppy seams of my early sewing projects fit right in. Not so much the case once I went off to fashion school (sorry, Ms. Kelly!) and had to learn how to sew neatly and quickly!
In addition to an ever-growing list of creative pursuits, I also love to read and enjoy writing a bit too when I have the time. The environment and sustainability are concerns of mine and I try to use as much sustainable fabric and crafting material as possible. I love natural fibres so creating with wool, linen, organic cotton and found or recycled materials is always a focus.
Finally, I am a mum of three lovely little beings (two older children and my pandemic-baby, born in early 2020). I have a wonderfully patient partner and ever-encouraging lovely extended family who are supportive of all my crazy endeavours. We live in Toronto, Canada.
I hope you enjoy looking around this space and will find something that will inspire you to create something that brings you joy. I’d love to see/hear about your own creations, so please send along a message or leave a comment and let me know what you’re working on!
I’m just getting started but be sure to check back often for new tutorials and free pattern downloads. You can also join my mailing list so you don’t miss the latest content!
Thanks so much for stopping by!
♥ Best Wishes & Happy Creating ♥
~Tovah~
I’d love to hear from you!
Please note that all content and patterns on this site are property of Kindred + Willow. Please do not modify, copy, reproduce, sell, or distribute any content in any manner or medium without permission. Thank you!
