We interview Laura Strutt
Laura Strutt is the author of craft books such as Modern Embroidery. She tells us how she combines her love of stitching with a writing career…
When it comes to dream jobs for keen crafters, the opportunity to write about your favourite hobby can seem too good to be true. But that’s exactly the career path Laura Stru has taken – where her editing and writing background has taken her on a journey to becoming a full-time craft designer, consultant and author.
Laura has been into needlecrafts practically her whole life, “I feel like I have been making and crafting since I was a very lile girl,” she explains. “My family all seem to have a strong creative flair – my mum and sister are avid kniers, along with both my grandmothers. My maternal grandad was a talented calligrapher alongside being a prey handy with embroidery needles! I’d say that I’m a multi-disciplinary crafter, and find the process of creating as satisfying as the finished piece. I’m particularity aracted to projects that encourage me to slow my pace and bring me back to the present – hand sewing is excellent for that!”
Her passion developed into the ability to create her own designs very early on, “I have been making my own creations for as long as I can recall – the thing I can remember designing was a dress for a doll, I drafted the paern cut the pieces and stitched it by myself using our treadle Singer sewing machine!”
With a passion for craft behind her, Laura next embarked on a career in journalism. “My journey to becoming an author has been rather scenic,” she says. “I have an English & Creative Studies degree and studied Journalism at postgraduate level. I began my career working in trade publications and became the editor of the leading craft industry trade publication. Working in an environment where I could combine my love of writing with a passion for creative pursuits was a fantastic opportunity and I moved on to consumer magazines – going on to launch a sewing magazine.”
Her career gave Laura the opportunity to start designing commercially, with her first commissions being paerns for a kniing magazine she was working on at the time. After gaining a taste for designing, she made the decision to spread her wings further, “I decided to make the break and pursue a freelance career, working to combine my skills as a writer and as a designer maker, with my growing knowledge of business. I set up my own company and quickly began to work on a range of different and exciting projects.”
Designing for clients means keeping many balls in the air, as Laura explains, “People come to my website for different reasons, some are looking to buy original handmade pieces or arrange a special commission. Others are looking for inspiration and paerns to make. This is also a portal for my consultancy service – people reach out to me to request support for creative businesses or to work on new creative briefs.”
With all this to organise Laura is always on the look out for project inspiration, “Like a lot of creative folks I find inspiration in a mix of places, sometimes it is the world around me – nature, architecture or the elements. Other times it might be from a conversation, or from something from a book I’ve read, a movie I’ve seen or a piece of music I’ve heard. And, of course, browsing through a craft store – both on the high street and online, is a sure fire way to dream up a new project to start on!”
As for the design process itself, Laura doesn’t have a set formula, “It can differ from project to project – sometimes I start with a client brief which might have criteria or parameters to work with. Other ideas might be inspired by a technique or craft supplies, and in these cases making sketches and working initial swatches acts as a springboard to get the design started.”
With her latest title focussed on embroidery, Laura has enjoyed the mindful focus that it can bring. “So many people are taking to the ‘Slow Stitching’ movement of hand sewing – from decorative projects like embroidery and cross stitch to more functional work like visible mending and Sashiko. Like them, I get a great deal of satisfaction from the mindfulness that comes with these projects. Working slow, deliberate stitching is incredibly calming on the mind.
“I’m currently indulging my passion for slow stitching with my growing interest in English Paper Piecing patchwork.”
What lies ahead for Laura? “From a business perspective, lots of creative businesses, from large corporations to designers to makers looking to monetise their side hustle, come to me for consultancy – one aspect that always pops up is using Instagram as a crafter or creative business. I’m currently finishing an eBook resource to do just that! I can’t wait for it to launch, bringing support and Instagram inspiration to other crafters, designers, makers and stitchers!” www.madepeachy.com Instagram @madepeachy
Working in an environment where I could combine my love of writing with a passion for creative pursuits was a fantastic opportunity xx