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HI I'M RADHA
I’m a textile artist, sustainability educator and small business strategist based in San Francisco. But don't worry, I balance all that serious stuff with a fair bit of silliness, and I share my work without judgement.
My unique expertise and passion for sustainability was fueled by a 15-year career in the apparel industry where I travelled the world, visited denim factories in China and Bangladesh, and unfortunately had a front seat to the rise of fast fashion. I used to create new jeans but now at Sewing through Fog I help keep those same jeans out of a landfill through classes and patterns to help you Quilt Your Jeans.
![[I made and posted this tutorial back in July, but it felt relevant again this week. I mean, who doesn’t love a cropped t-shirt in the middle of winter? ☺️ 🚫🧊]
I got this t-shirt from @artist.for.resistance at an event they organized on the 4th to raise money for @missionactionsf, a local org that offers legal aid for immigrants.
I had this moment where I was trying to decide what to do, because I thought the shirt was great, but I don’t buy new clothes anymore unless there is a really good reason, or it’s a local/ethical/sustainable brand.
I decided this was a really good reason. I don’t draw hard lines in the sand about stuff like that because there are always exceptions. Sometimes buying new is good, and I think making sweeping decisions doesn’t take into account that life is nuanced.
But also, I could cry at how beautifully my BERNINA L890 did that coverstitch 🥹. I don’t mind a raw edge on a knit, but I wanted this to stay flat and not roll, and it’s just so clean.
@berninausa
#sewingispolitical #craftivism #tshirtupcycling](https://scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/627609369_18031541204785896_2059599968065034392_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=102&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0xJUFMuYmVzdF9pbWFnZV91cmxnZW4uQzMifQ%3D%3D&_nc_ohc=tRjMW0NzKy0Q7kNvwHS2wTa&_nc_oc=AdlZY6ccbHXLK0LywwMoln2Fhzi7k0dYMyalZu1_WSnRghJY8zgUuRtE5Of34d1fNMg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=ihT8T35m4Ysgo6asERXu2g&oh=00_Afvj7sflcRGxPyF6HxF9O7pjPtWn1GYL6Eb4xti8rxhXFw&oe=698839A2)
![[quilts pictured by @sewistry_nc ]
I decided to start Off the Grid as a virtual gallery for quilts that were rejected, overlooked, or didn’t quite fit the expectations of other quilt shows.
And as submissions started coming in, I kept seeing quilts made from repurposed materials, and a bunch of awesome protest quilts. And I decided I wanted to do more than just show the work, I wanted to support the people making it and their cause.
So, for this inaugural show at Off the Grid gallery (on the @feelgoodfibers website) I’m awarding two $350 prizes:
• one for best use of repurposed materials
• one for the most impactful protest quilt – chosen by viewers, with the prize donated to a nonprofit selected by the maker (potentially one in Minneapolis).
I know it’s not a lot, but it’s just the beginning and I already have more ideas for the future! The gallery will be live soon, and submissions are still open! Comment “gallery” and I’ll send you the link.](https://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/622087770_18030762284785896_6491089431515378620_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=106&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=_DewdQShpwYQ7kNvwH6reOa&_nc_oc=Adl-QM9_3kgtJZsZULTSI-3nvofvgi9S6eAOYng9_N1PsjkTbrmQ9dWVGyrFuoxq-EQ&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=ihT8T35m4Ysgo6asERXu2g&oh=00_AftmiFymycezjWbDXPJcGYfK0_OXA-u8XKwQH542RwVrgQ&oe=69882813)
![I already had the leather needle and teflon foot on the machine so…
[FYI I have a couple YouTube videos on working with leather, comment “leather” and I’ll send you a link.]
I’ve made log cabin quilt blocks before with leather but I always used my lightest weights. But I have this leather I tried to dye in an indigo sucrose vat (not the most successful experiment) and I’ve wanted to try it out. The issue is it’s heavy…
These are all 2” strips and I used a 3/8” seam allowance but I probably could have gone up to 1/2” because these seams are thick. I thought I’d share the “before” and then hopefully an “after” tomorrow once it’s sat under my tailors clappers overnight and hopefully a bit flatter.
I don’t have leather glue, but I’ve been meaning to get some for a while. With leather this thick, glue is pretty necessary for seams. But I’ll see how it goes!](https://scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.82787-15/618790492_18029822078785896_1795873704765143281_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_e35_tt6&_nc_cat=105&ccb=7-5&_nc_sid=18de74&efg=eyJlZmdfdGFnIjoiQ0FST1VTRUxfSVRFTS5iZXN0X2ltYWdlX3VybGdlbi5DMyJ9&_nc_ohc=qvHkKgCMKEYQ7kNvwGnjpRL&_nc_oc=Adlp3PkBm-bpCy6Qv5NbFz5O_SD3ays7mfhQwzSf5ZIHDWxLRTZ-9Kxfh7J04ozCB3E&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-sea5-1.cdninstagram.com&edm=ANo9K5cEAAAA&_nc_gid=ihT8T35m4Ysgo6asERXu2g&oh=00_AfvD2sjMlanP3-rD4sV-jKiQmTr83NZ-aeqhsM4tBb4TPw&oe=69882C27)
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