Five minutes with Sarah Foot, embroiderer
Sarah Foot is the embroiderer extraordinaire, working as Thread The Word
1. Who are you and how did you become an artist?
I am an embroidery artist based in South East London using vintage and remnant fabrics as much as possible to minimise fabric waste. I have always loved trying out different crafts and making things here and there but never studied art in any formal way. I’ve always found satisfaction in teaching myself new things and figuring it out as I went along and I’m still doing that, it’s just my job now!
2. What’s your advice to others starting their own business?!
I always feel like this is a tricky question for me because it wasn’t ever fully my plan! I was already newly unemployed at the start of the pandemic in 2020 (not ideal) and most companies were busy firing, not hiring when I was looking for jobs. I had been doing embroidery for a little while making wedding presents for friends (because shopping from wedding lists felt too grown up and expensive) and anyone else who asked me. So when I found myself with a lot of time on my hands I decided to see how I could push my embroidery a little further. I had always worked for very small creative companies in the past (sometimes as the only other employee) so I had a certain amount of experience of rolling up your sleeves to get something done.
3. What does a brief day in your life look like?!
I try to start my day responding to emails and enquiries so I can get that out of the way (not the most interesting part of my job but very important). Then I try to sew or sketch for a few hours on whatever my current projects are. After I’ve had some lunch I usually head to the post office to send out orders, very often with a stop at a charity shop on the way (I love to browse for any treasures that might be waiting for me!). The walk and some fresh air is usually a great reset for me otherwise I can get quite stiff sewing all day with the posture of a prawn. If I can, I’ll try and finish off as much embroidery work as I can in the afternoon and pack up any completed orders to send the next day. It’s always satisfying to see a nice pile of parcels by my studio door, it’s like looking at ticks off a to-do list. At the end of the day I try and plan what I’ll post on instagram the next day but I won’t pretend this is always in my studio, sometimes it’s in a rush just before I go to bed but I like to have a plan for it if I can.
4. Who is a person you look up to and why?
Before I was self employed I had two amazing bosses who have been incredible mentors to me and I’m lucky to still consider them friends: Juliet Travers and Anna Wright. Juliet hired me straight out of university as her first employee when she had been running her eponymous wallpaper and fabric business for a year. I got stuck into everything it meant to run a small business with her and I still feel so proud of my part in the growth of the company, she trusted me with so much considering I had zero experience and I’m forever grateful to her. When she relocated to Hampshire I worked for Anna Wright as her brand manager and had so much fun developing and expanding her range of stationery and homeware using her incredible original art. Working for small creative businesses at different stages of their respective journeys was always a huge learning curve but it taught me so much about really going for it, persevering and not letting anyone throw you off track because it’s your vision you’re bringing to life. I have both their work in my home and they both still inspire me hugely.
5. Name your biggest professional highlight?
My first exhibition of non commissioned work felt like a really exciting moment. I honestly hadn’t really thought about doing it because it felt like such a risk (at least commissions you know there is a sale because someone has already asked for it!), but two friends asked me to share a gallery space with them and I couldn’t turn down the challenge. We are doing another show at Fishslab Gallery in Whitstable, Kent from 27th September - 1st October - come along if you’re local or fancy a day out!
6. Favourite book and why?
Heartburn by Nora Ephron is probably my most revisited, I just love it. My copy is full of underlinings and notes in the margin, we’re so lucky to have her novels, essays and films. I also love all Nancy Mitford’s novels. It's amazing that some of her books were written almost 100 years ago and still make me laugh out loud. Good humour never gets old.
7. Favourite podcast and why?
I’m a HUGE podcast listener, I’ve always got one on the go while I’m sewing. There are so many I love but I’m a huge fan of How To Fail with Elizabeth Day and Changes with Annie MacManus. They’re full of inspiring stories from inspiring people and remind you that things don’t always go to plan and sometimes that’s a real blessing. I also love anything that’s a good investigative piece too.
8. What’s the one thing you try and do every day for yourself?
Working alone can definitely be a challenge and sometimes feel a little bit lonely. I find making sure I talk to friends and family at some point during the day is really important, even if it’s about nothing in particular. Instagram is also a great way to continue to feel connected when you’re on your own. I especially appreciate it when I can ask my followers to help me decide between options when I don’t have a colleague with me in my studio to ask what they think. I know a lot of people have negative things to say about modern day phone culture and always being available but I personally am grateful for it!
9. What’s your guilty pleasure?!
I never feel guilty about things that I find pleasure in!! I watch a lot of reality TV and mediocre murder mysteries. They make me feel relaxed and comforted but they’re not everyone’s cup of tea.
10. Favourite holiday destination?
As a child we always went to Norfolk for Summer holidays and we were usually there over my birthday so, of course, I thought the whole thing was magic and totally for me. I’ve always loved holidays in the UK and there are so many more places I want to explore
11. What is your earliest childhood memory?
I remember being really young and my Grandpa showing me how to pick flowers making sure that my fingers were as close to the base of the stem as possible. He planted so many wonderful things which my family still enjoys now but unfortunately I haven’t inherited his
green fingers.
12. What do you think is the key to happiness?
I think it’s feeling as fulfilled as possible in as many areas as you can: creatively, in your relationships, physically - whatever is most important to you. That’s not to say if you’re not feeling 100% fulfilled all the time you can’t be happy, but I think it makes a huge difference to be tuned into yourself on what things you want or need to do to be on that path.
13. Window or aisle seat?
Window please. Mostly because you don’t need to be up and down like a yoyo for everyone else when they need the loo.
14. What’s a super power you wish you had?
I’d love to be able to teleport. Very often I find the actual act of travelling quite boring so it would be nice to skip that bit and make the most of wherever I’m going.
15. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?
“Sometimes it ends up different and that is better” - so many things in my life that I’m grateful for aren’t what I planned or hoped for, but they’re better. I find it helpful to thread remember in times when I feel frustrated about things not going in what I feel is the right direction.
16. What advice would you give to people who want to learn to embroider?
Don’t worry about it being good or having exactly all the right things. The reason I first started using fabric offcuts was because it was free! No one wants to buy loads of new kit for a hobby and then find out they don’t really like it - see what thread you might already have and if you can use that first. But the most important thing is to enjoy the process. It can be really calming and meditative and I always feel like new spaces open up in my brain when I’m using my hands.