Matthew Dummigan hit the small screen in last year’s Great British Sewing Bee. Read what drives him on to create and sew
By Matthew Dummigan
I began sewing when I was young, it started with cross stitch. I can remember where I was when I finished my very first one. I was sat at the dining table at my nan and grandad’s house, it was a red tractor pulling a green trailer of dirt. I used to watch my nan fix her neighbour’s curtains, patchworking or fixing/altering clothes. I was fascinated, nan taught me the basics. I went on to study textiles for GCSE, I was more suited to textiles as I can’t draw for graphics and let’s not talk about wood/metal work. I didn’t think about making clothes until I was at college where, with my nan, we made my first wearable garment. We were creating our own version of The Nutcracker; I played a fruit salad. We used cerise and orange silk to create a tails jacket and a bed sheet for the lining, I still have this costume and cherish it.
LOCKDOWN SEWING
I didn’t sew much when I was at university, just a few fancy dress items like Freddie Mercury’s jacket, Katy Perry’s cupcake bra and costumes that stripped the genders of performers for a piece for my MA. I left land to work at sea and didn’t pick up my sewing machine again until the first Covid lockdown. Sewing took my mind off all the bad news and connected me to my nan, it encouraged me to be creative. This is where I began experimenting more with fashion and expressing myself, I felt free and excited that I could dress how I wanted. My style is often called dramatic, drama and expression isn’t always big, it can be subtle. I encourage people to play with shapes and colours!
WORKING IN SCHOOLS COUNTERACTS NEGATIVITY
With lockdown and the lack of funds, I was looking for a job and began working as a TA in a primary school. Working with children is interesting, they’re more accepting and understanding then a lot of adults and adults think they (children) are. I get comments from the children at school about my clothes. It’s those interactions that counteract the negativity I get from those who don’t know or understand me; however, I definitely don’t have the patience to teach children to sew.
SEWING BEE HAS GIVEN ME CONFIDENCE
Sewing is a great past time; it is also an importan
