#213: A Self-Sufficient Maker with Shams el-Din Rogers

Zoe Edwards· Host0:00

What does it take to be a self-sufficient maker? How do we acquire our knowledge? And to what extent are you subject to crafting influences and advertising? This is the second part of my most recent conversation with return guest Shams Elden Rogers, in which we explore these ideas. We also share what's giving us hope as we push into 2026. So stick around a few minutes, and we'll get into it. Welcome to Check Your Thread, the podcast that will help you sew more sustainably. [upbeat music] My name's Zoe, and I'm obsessed with sewing. I've been blogging about it for over 17 years, and I'm the creator and host of the popular handmade wardrobe challenge, Me Made May. But like many people, I've become increasingly concerned about the climate and ecological crises, and I'm looking at the way that my lifestyle contributes to them. So in this podcast, I'll be nerding out about making clothes whilst exploring how to minimize the negative impact that it may have. I really hope you'll join me in this journey. Hello, lovely one. How are you doing? Thanks as ever for clicking play on this episode. So have you had any sustainability and/or mending wins lately? So here's a lovely win that ticks both those boxes that was left in the community chat space in the Check Your Thread Patreon by patron Annika. Annika writes, "I've been devoting a decent amount of time to trying to sew and mend over the last year, and my partner has had to listen to me talk endlessly about it, but he's gotten on board recently, coming up with a design for an upcycled denim apron, and he even mended a pair of socks last night. He watched videos, went to the sewing store, and got some wool thread,