How Sewing & Fibercraft has Inspired My Art (Patreon)

A friend and I were speculating recently on the overlap between those who enjoy comics and illustration and those who enjoy fibercrafts. I have several friends who enjoy cosplay and fiber arts- many of whom are artists. I figure many of you might feel the same way.

Those of you who look closely at my work might see how sewing and fiber arts have influenced me over the years. When I was younger, I LOVED to sew doll clothes, tiny things, and accessories for myself. I loved macrame, crochet, and embroidery, and as a teenager, got into cosplay. I've always loved making something out of almost nothing- assembling a cogent thing out of disparate parts. Crafting is a lot like making comics- you take a lot of little things you love and combine them into something bigger.

Sadly, I've given up much of that (for the time being) as Bowie will eat pretty much anything- scraps, string, needles- off the floor. We've revisited quite a few things when I hosted Crafternoon livestreams, and I do still enjoy crafting and making things with my hands.This love of sewing and fiber arts has influenced my art quite a bit, particularly 7" Kara.

 A small black and white spot illustration of Kara surrounded by thread, buttons, & a pincushion.

A small Bockingford paper fieldtest on their watercolor board depicting Kara with a button illustration.

 Sketchbook doodle in pen and ink with spot color and washi tape depicting Kara surrounded by whimsical sewing implements. 

If you read 7" Kara, you know that Kara's mother, Meldina, is a skilled seamstress who earns the bulk of the family's trade through her handicraft. She's apprenticed Kara under her, hoping to pass along the family trade (as her mother did for her), but unfortunately, Kara doesn't share her mother's love for sewing. While Kara and I have much in common, Meldina and I both share a love for the soothing repetition of sewing and needlework.

 Watercolor corner illustration for the back of Volume 2.

Sequential comic pages from Chapter 6 (volume 2) of 7" Kara. Meldina is trying to teach Kara needlework techniques, but Kara is having trouble focusing.

Character illustration of Meldina from the beginning of 7" Kara Volume 2.

Many of us depict our personality through our hobbies and vice versa. I extend this to my comic work as well. Kara is typically depicted with flowers and animals, representing her love for the outdoors and adventure. Meldina is depicted with sewing utensils—needles, thread, buttons, and scissors—depicting her love for her craft and attention to detail.

Sewing and fiber crafts also feature prominently in my Lilliputian Living series. I try to embody a make do and mend attitude throughout the illustrations.

Two black and white illustrations from Lilliputian Living. These were also included in my coloring book, Curious Little Things.

Sewing, along with many other handicrafts, has been a consistent theme throughout Lilliputian Living, and sewing implements frequently appear as furniture for tinies.

A couple years ago, a friend of mine got into fibercrafts and I wanted to celebrate that with her. Since I've left my needles and yarn to the side for now, I decided to dedicate a Lilliputian Living to Lilliputian fashion- including the means of production. Knitting and macrame, weaving and fiber collection were all depicted in last year's black and white illustrations collection.

Kara struggling to turn a sleeve inside out- maybe she stitched in the wrong place?

 A Lilliputian woman weaving on a large floor loom

 A Lilliputian woman making macrame belts and sashes

 A young Lilliputian woman arm knitting a blanket

 Lilliputian children working a knitting machine

A young Lilliputian woman in her fabric and notions shop, displaying 'bolts' of fabric and buttons.

Sewing, crochet, and embroidery were all skills the women in my family practiced and passed down, and while I can't currently practice them myself, I can still honor the tradition and traditional skills by depicting needlecrafts and fiberarts in my work!