A DURSLEY mum is reinventing herself - and other people's wardrobes – after launching her own handmade children’s clothing business.
Sarah Hayward, 40, first started making clothes for her children seven years ago whilst on maternity leave in 2016.
She borrowed her mum’s old sewing machine and learned how to make bespoke pieces of clothing by watching YouTube videos.
Then during lockdown, Sarah decided not to return to her day job to look after her two young children Charlotte and Will - now aged six and four.
She spent every spare minute she had working on patterns, stitching designs and practising at her sewing machines before launching her own business Cotswold Cubs Handmade in 2020.
“I love that you can take some random bits of fabric and turn them into something beautiful,” she said.
“After borrowing my mum's old sewing machine, I fell in love with making clothes straight away.
“This creativity is something I've never experienced in a ‘normal job’, I love that I’m able to work it around looking after my children.
“The first things I made are so special to me, they show how far I've come and how much I've had to learn along the way.
"They're all tucked away in the kids' memory boxes.
“I love making pinafore dresses. I always have to work really hard to get the fit and look just right and I'm always so pleased with the end result. They look beautiful once they're finished!”
Through her business Sarah designs and makes baby and children's clothing from newborn to 6-years-old from her Dursley home.
Her clothing ranges from vibrant bloomers to animal print leggings, rainbow pinafores, and chequered rompers.
She has previously also designed outfits based on Christmas, Halloween, the Queen's Platinum Jubilee and other animal designs.
Sarah gets her fabric printed in the UK in small batches to minimise waste, and everything is hand cut, sewn, and ethically produced.
Cotswold Cubs Handmade’s spring collection is now available.
For more information visit her Instagram @cotswold_cubs_handmade or https://cotswold-cubs-handmade.myshopify.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here