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“With Radha’s spirit and cool sense of style - I knew making her pattern while upcycling the denim would be the bag of my dreams!”

- @samscreativeside

THE TOTEPACK PATTERN

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.

LECTURES

An upcycled denim and leather quilt at QuiltCon 2025

QuiltCon 2025 Upcycled & Repurposed

My goal for QuiltCon 2025 was to shine a light on all things upcycled at the show. In this post I'm sharing the quilts I found, and some sto

Helping you Quilt your Jeans with QuiltInk!

Want to experiment with quilting with Jeans in a fun and easy way? I teamed up with QuiltInk to create a special denim palette!

Quilting with Leather Part 2: Tools

All the tools you need, and some you should avoid, to get you started quilting with upcycled leather. In part 1 we talked about why you...

THE TOTEPACK

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Pattern & Upcycling Guide

Am I going to wear this to an @sfclimateweek event tonight? Who knows! This was a real spur of the moment project.

You know how it is: it’s two days before an event and you decide to take an upcycled denim appliquéd quilted art piece you made and turn it into a tank/apron/vest thing.

A tale as old as time. Who hasn’t decided their clockwork orange bear wearing sunglasses and a hat should be a piece of clothing?

Let’s see if I finish this and then have the courage to wear this because even for me, it’s a bit… unique?

#upcycledjeans #denimupcycle #upcycledclothing #upcycledfashion

Kitten advice needed! Penny and Troy are not allowed in the Sewing through Fog / FeelGood Fibers sewing room due to the fact they are naughty kittens. On a scale of “awe that’s cute” to “what the #%*????” they are a “what are you eating??”.

Penny is a big fan of batting thread (especially when it’s threaded on an overlock😑) and pulling pins out of the design wall, and Troy likes to chomp plants and we are fairly sure he ate some tape the other day 🤦🏻‍♀️.

I know they will calm down at some point, but I wanted to see if anyone had any tips on keeping your kittens safe in your sewing room.

(How cute are these photos though?? They were taken by @tristancrane who is an awesome photographer in the Bay Area)

#catsonquilts #sustainablesewing #creativereuse

I can’t tell you the number of chain stitches I’ve pulled out, in that special way where you can keep the thread intact (harvest it) to use again.

[Right now you might be thinking: wow that’s intense, I’d never reuse thread! And that would be a very sane reaction. But if you are thinking that sounds like fun, I have a tutorial on YouTube you can check out.]

But I’d never actually sewn a chain stitch until this week on my L890. And as a life-long sewist, it’s so exciting to learn new things and try new techniques!

And while I’ve sewn with knits and fleece before, it’s always been a struggle. For the last year I’ve actually been slowly stocking up on fleece (grabbing pieces that come into the creative reuse center where I volunteer), with the intention to make a fleece quilt!

I hope you will follow along as I start tackling this growing list of projects for my L890. If there is something special you want to see, just let me know!

#berninausa #berninaambassador #sustainablesewing

I was so glad Eli invited me to her monthly scrap night at @studiosessions.sewing and I was able to share a bit about how I mend denim (although talking and demo’ing handsewing is harder then you’d think 😅).

Eli has such a great space in Berkeley and has built a lovely community there, I definitely recommend checking it out!

#visiblemending #denimpatchwork #repairdontreplace

My love/hate relationship with overlocks began in the costume shop I worked in during college—anyone who has attempted to thread an industrial overlock will know exactly what I’m talking about 😅.

When I started sewing again (20+ years later), I knew I’d eventually want to get an overlock, and it was this upcycled denim patchwork skirt I made last year that really sealed the deal.

So much of what I do as a sustainable maker is combine odd shapes of varying weights and fibers. And while I don’t think the back of any project needs to look “perfect” (or the front for that matter), controlling those seams is critical for making the project last.

#berninaambassador #berninausa #sustainablesewing #denimpatchwork

When I asked people to guess what this shape was, there were some pretty great guesses! In fact most of the guesses were way better than the actual answer. Which was a ruler.

🤷🏻‍♀️ I can’t be a genius every day of the week. Ok this week’s post have really gone in a silly direction.

#sustainablesewing #reverseapplique #leathercrafts

As a sustainable quilter, I spend a lot of time thinking about the lifecycle of my materials, but also the tools I use. Because sustainable making isn’t just about where your fabric comes from—it’s about how you make things that last!

It was those thoughts that led me to choose the BERNINA L890 overlock/coverstich when I became an ambassador and was given the opportunity to get a loan-to-own machine.

The L890 is going to help me make pieces that are more durable, and honestly just level up the quality of everything I make. And that means those pieces will last longer, be worn or used more, and stay out of the landfill!

I’m excited to take you along on this journey with me, and discover all the things this machine can do.

#berninaambassador #berninausa

Comment “thrifty” for a link to my secondhand fabric store map. Because while you don’t need a reason to shop secondhand, there have been a few good ones floating around recently… 👀

Joanns closing, tariffs, global warming, textile waste, you know, nothing too big. It’s not overwhelming at all 😅😬.

And while I can’t solve the world, I can remind you I have a great online resource that maps secondhand fabric stores across the globe! And I can make cute little posts by state that you can share to help spread the word!

So share if you can and let’s turn this really awful time into an opportunity to raise awareness about these amazing small businesses and non-profits!

I can only tag 20 people so I’ve tagged as many as I can in the comments.

#thriftyourfabric #creativereuse #secondhandfabric #shopsecondhandfirst

No point, just a bit of nonsense for your Thursday. Because if you aren’t volunteering at a non-profit where you make vintage quilted dolls dance, and playing paper guitars, what are you doing to stay sane these days?

I want to know!

#creativereuse #sustainablesewing

I’m just throwing all the leather things at you right now.

I made this one a while ago when I was doing all my log cabins. I’m not sure what happens next, I’m worried anything I do will ruin it because it’s so strange and perfect exactly as is.

Does it grow? Does it get put on something? Does it… I just don’t know! And then whenever I see this I start to want to do log cabins again 🤔. I mean, I was planning a whole log cabin denim quilt and I made at least 4 blocks before I got bored… 😅

#logcabinquilts #leathercrafting #leatherquilt #denimquilt

Ok wait… I’m still making strips of denim but I forgot I have been wanting to do some reverse appliqué. So I did some?

If anyone can tell me what that first shape is you will win a prize.

Also I felt like ironing a bunch of tiny Liberty scraps onto some fusible for… something? So that’s what’s behind one of the R’s.

#leatherworking #sustainablesewing #upcycledcrafts

Just in case you thought I was focusing on perfection… here are some of the “mistakes” I made in my leather and denim quilt.

I mean, perceived mistakes. Because I wasn’t focused on everything lining up, but I made a design that could have lined up, maybe should have?

I have two minds on this topic. Because while I don’t think quilts need perfect corners, I also don’t think we should ignore care and precision just to finish something quickly.

Being mindful, taking care and time, that can happen whether or not you are trying to make your seams match.

#upcycledjeans #denimupcycle #sustainablesewing #leatherart

All this leather recently, I realized I never shared the leather binding I did for my big quilt last year. Because hand-sewing leather binding was so fun 😅!

I got some leather working tools at… (wait for it)… SCRAP last year and I’m so glad I did!Precutting the holes really made hand-sewing easier, and kept the stitches fairly even.

I’d also been slowly buying embroidery thread over the last year at @scrapsf , a mix of silks and cottons in various sizes, and I was able to find a matching thread for each color of leather.

I’m not sure I’d recommend this to someone working with leather for the first time, but it was a fun challenge and something I might do again… far in the future.

#upcycledjeans #denimupcycle #leatherupcycling #leatherworking #sustainablesewing

I don’t know what’s happening here. Maybe something? It started with the strips of denim, but now there is leather again.

I like it in these photos but things are slightly going sideways in actuality. Because here is the thing: I don’t want to make everything so complicated. I make every single thing so complicated.

I see a simple quilt and I love it. But then I go to make something simple and my brain just starts going “but what if you did…”. Because if it isn’t challenging and painful then it isn’t worthy.

And that’s your weekly look inside my brain 😬.

#upcycledjeans #denimupcycle #sustainableart #leatherart

A couple weeks ago I saw @aquiltingjewel piecing these thin strips, and I thought “what if I did the same thing but in pink and purple?” 😂. Just kidding, I thought about doing that in denim of course.

I’m not sure where this is going. But I think it’s going more askew. I mean, I think I like these strips when they are wonkier and uneven. Not sure why…

#denimupcycle #upcycledjeans #denimart

Having fun volunteering at the @sfquiltersguild show this weekend. How great is it that my guild has a special sticker for quilts that used at least 50% recycled materials!!?

And I loved to see that probably 20% of the quilts had that sticker. But I wanted to share just a couple that were Scrap SF quilts!! Woot woot!!

I met @the_official_piecemovement through @scrapsf , and I just loved every quilt she had at the show. And then I was so happy to see a Scrap callout on @carolheard7’s quilt. And if you look closely you can see a message that’s very close to my heart ❤️.

#bayareaquilters #sustainablesewing #creativereuse

This wasn’t what I was planning, I was just going to share my comfy, sustainable, upcycled outfit for volunteering at my guild’s quilt show.

But then I was reminded how much of my wardrobe is “Men’s”. And it’s even more now as I’ve gotten into upcycling, and only buy secondhand.

And then I started thinking about how lucky I am as a white cis women living in San Francisco to have the freedom to wear whatever I want, and how many people across the country are being attacked and discriminated against for how they choose to dress and present their identity.

Clothes are such a beautiful and powerful way to express ourselves. I just wish everyone had the same opportunity to do so.

Clogs by @bryrclogs
Vintage jacket from @prettypennyclothing
Watch @shinola

#upcycledjeans #denimupcycle #upcycledclothing #sustainableootd

Texture. Texture is everything to me—it’s the magic of mixing textiles—it’s the whole point of quilting.

I guess I’m using #igquiltfest2025 as an excuse to share all my little random projects I’ve done behind the scenes and not really talked about ☺️. This project came about from a prompt in Zak’s @quiltynook — to make something inspired by a book.

I was a huge sci fi fan as a kid and through college. I remember borrowing Foundation from my dad, and then moving into Philip K. Dick (my favorite).

And I’ve always been obsessed with his book covers, especially late 60’s and 70’s. I mean seriously, google “Philip k. Dick book covers”. This Ubik cover is very tame in comparison to most. I still have this idea to do a whole series of these…

#quiltynook #sustainablesewing #artquilt #philipkdickbookcovers

I mean… I think this pattern is my soul mate. Okay?? But do I just appreciate it and let it go, or do I try to recreate it?

I think I’d need to find a similar pattern that was slightly more my size. Then I could alter it or grade it or whatever.

Do I make this on my new BERNINA L 890 overlock/coverstitch @berninausa?? 😃 I would definitely need my overlock to make it.

Decisions, decisions…

#vintagepattern #denimpatchwork #upcycledjeans #denim upcycle

It’s texture week at #igquiltfest2025 (ok, that’s not really true, I just like the texture prompt so much I’m doing multiple posts. Because I don’t follow directions).

One of my favorite ways to play up denim’s texture is to quilt it to card-stock and use it for cards or frame it as art. This way you can use raw edges and not worry too much about the fraying that would happen with a quilt or clothes.

This is also a great way to use up tiny scraps. You can weave strips that have been trimmed off blocks, or cut mini 1” squares for a patchwork.

I sewed the first two on my machine (narrow needle, long stitches so I didn’t rip the card-stock), and the third by hand.

Fun and quick project.

#denimupcycle #upcycledjeans #upcycledart

One of my happy places, with an ice cream from bi-rite or burrito from… I’m not going to say where because sharing my favorite taqueria is a bit too personal for me 😅.

I’ve been coming to Dolores Park for almost 25 years, and it’s the perfect place to bring a denim quilt. Notice the giant wet splotch? There is mud all over the back, but that’s ok because denim quilts are meant to be used and washed and used again ☺️.

This #quiltsinthewild is for #igquiltfest2025
#upcycledjeans #denimupcycle #sustainablesewing

I have a new skill!! I can’t believe I’ve never hand sewn a buttonhole before, but I did and it was really cool. I got to use a blanket stitch but backwards which makes it a buttonhole stitch. You are supposed to use this special twist thread but I used something totally different ☺️.

I’d been putting off adding a button to this coat, searching SCRAP every week for the perfect vintage button, and I just couldn’t find one. So I went with ye olde faithful covered button. I’m fine with it.

I just had to get it done because I had to drop off the coat (and a quilt) for the @sfquiltersguild quilt show next weekend. I love that we have a wearables category, it’s great to see all the quilty clothes.

#igquiltfest2025 #denimupcycle #upcycledjeans #sustainablesewing

Most loved quilt. I thought I couldn’t choose one and then I realized it was easy. It’s the quilt I use the most. Because using a quilt is loving it. And it was made during a special time, my old kitty Akira was around to test it for me ❤️.

It’s the second quilt I ever made—100% from Liberty Fabrics, the front is all tiny pieces of Tana lawn, the back is Liberty’s quilting cotton. The Tana lawn is so soft, it’s my quilt for snuggling on the couch.

Aesthetically this quilt is a bit confused, but it has all these little beautiful moments. It’s best experienced up close.

#igquiltfest2025 #libertyfabric #libertytanalawn #scrappyquilt

She’s home and just came out of the box 🥰🥳, and then immediately into her travel case so the kittens wouldn’t eat her 🫠. (Just realized it sounds like I’m talking about a hamster not a BERNINA L 890 overlock/coverstitch 😂).

Next week I’ll be sharing a bit more about why I decided this machine was necessary to take my quilting to the next level, and some of the awesome projects I’m hoping to create 😁.

And those quality control tags in the last slide? You know you’re a BERNINA groupie when you save all of your and have 3 (plus a warranty from 1990 from when your mom bought your B 1230 😅).

[Pictured: AIDS memorial quilt for Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, block #4664]

Today’s prompt for #igquiltfest2025 is Quilt of Significance and for me that’s the AIDS Memorial Quilt. It was the first quilt that made an impact on me, before I’d ever quilted.

I took these photos at the AIDS Walk in San Francisco. It’s a walk I did for many years with Levi’s (Team 501).

I have a good friend who is a rockstar in HIV research and I keep thinking about the NIH grants getting cut, and it’s just heartbreaking. So many things right now are heartbreaking.

#aidsmemorialquilt

I think you might be surprised by my favorite quilt book. When I first discovered quilting I thought a great way to learn more was to recreate a bunch of blocks from the Dear Jane quilt.

I would look through the book, find a block I liked and then make it at 2x(ish) scale. Not following any directions, just recreating the shapes.

I’d bought some Kona Cotton Snow (yes I once bought new quilting cotton 😅) and used it has a background for all my different Liberty scraps.

I still love this book, and the blocks I made. And while most of the books I reach for now are mending and hand-sewing, I think this will always be my favorite book because it helped me on this path.

#igquultfest2025 #scrappyquilt

Today’s prompt for #igquiltfest2025 was recent finish, which was these little denim 1/2 circles I added to the front of my jacket for QuiltCon.

You’ve been on this journey with me where I’m trying to love hand sewing (closer but not quite there), and I decided to hand sew these down with a blanket stitch. I recorded my progress but never planned to share these videos.

Because I knew I was doing something wrong. Decorative hand sewing is my sewing weakness, I’m not an expert. And I know I’m never using the right tools or holding my hands the right way.

And then I get really critical of my work and start overthinking it (I’m not just the president of the overthinkers club, I’m also a member).

So, long story short, I decided to post this anyway because I decided to. So maybe the next time you start to overthink something you instead remember how silly I sounded and you just do it.

#denimupcycle #upcycledclothing #visiblemending #handsewing

I want to thank @quiltmakermag for putting sustainability on display in their Spring ‘25 issue, and for my dear friend @coachjennigrover for interviewing me!

I’m learning that upcycling and reuse can be a polarizing topic in today’s quilting community, and it’s so wonderful to see it celebrated and shared. There is even a denim quilt pattern in this issue by Dawn Fisher Polomski!

Sustainability in textiles is only going to get more and more important, and every quilty business out there should be finding the right way to address it and incorporate it into their business model.

It’s the right thing to do for the planet, but also it’s just a smart business decision as consumers become more educated and more concerned about the environmental crisis.

As quilters, we have the power in our hands to make real change.

#quiltingmagazine #sustainablesewing

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