sweetfrenchtoast » sewing + diy for a modern handmade life

In the year that I’ve been sewing, I’ve always hesitated before choosing a word to describe myself as someone who sews. I see “sewist” used a lot, but there’s something about that word that simply sounds strange to me. It just doesn’t feel right. But neither do “seamstress” or “sewer.” And “stitcher”? For some reason, that makes me think of a serial killer…like Jack the Ripper!

There are definitely differing opinions on the topic (here’s one—and here’s another), but to me, the jury is still out. So I hope you’ll cut me some slack if you notice me using the terms interchangeably, or perhaps even making up my own sometime.

I am sure of one thing: I am grateful to have the means to pursue hobbies like sewing. My complaints about lacking a dedicated craft room and not being able to visit Mood Fabrics in person often enough are classic #firstworldproblems.

Last year, I made my first microloan via Kiva, to a farmer in Cambodia who used her loan to buy a cow, maintain her rice field, and buy stock of merchandise to sustain her selling business. After that loan was successfully repaid, I decided to fund a microloan to a seamstress named Maria Julia in El Salvador.

Kiva says this about Maria Julia:

For several years, Julia has been earning her income by manufacturing skirts, shirts and dresses. She lives with her 4 children, 2 of whom still depend on her because they are studying (ages 22 and 20). Since she started working with Integral loans, her small business has improved; it now has an additional sewing machine and she has hired a person on a commission basis, paid per piece of clothing, so she can meet the demands of her customers, who order from her due to her quality work. She is asking for this loan to purchase more fabric in order to manufacture garments to offer to her customers.

I love the thought of taking a small amount of money—something I would easily spend on a fabric shopping spree—to support someone who sews to support herself and her family. Perhaps if I’m successful in accomplishing my sewing goal to use more fabric than I buy, I can support a few more seamstresses in need this year.

If you’d like to see what microlending is for yourself, you can make a $25 loan for free on Kiva. That’s an offer you simply can’t refuse.