First published 2024
Maddie Ballard transforms her sewing practice into a meditation on identity and relationships. Each chapter follows the creation of a specific garment, from a lining decorated with her female ancestors' Cantonese names to a dressing gown crafted for a dear friend. Ballard traces patterns from existing clothes, adds thoughtful details like back pleats and generous pockets, and cuts fabric with unusual precision on bathroom tiles rather than carpet. She considers how each stitch connects her to the people she loves. The book reveals how making clothes becomes a way of making meaning. Through needle and thread, Ballard discovers methods for caring for others and herself. This sewist's diary shows readers how creative work can become a path to understanding who we are.
Genres: essays, literary-fiction, autobiography, contemporary, memoir
Vibes: contemplative, intimate, lyrical, meditative, reflective
Tropes: creative-journey, found-family, intergenerational-connection
Period: 21st-century
152 pages · Paperback · The Emma Press