CHANGING TACK

‘I began making my own patterns on the computer’

Laura Casey, 47, lives in West Yorkshire with husband Shaun and their two teenage daughters. In 2015 she turned her successful sewing blog into a thriving online business.

THE IDEA

I graduated in fine art, then enjoyed a career in textile marketing and exhibition design. After my girls were born I went part-time, keeping a few private clients, mostly in exhibition design. As a creative person I was always aware that everything I did professionally was controlled by the client and, increasingly, I wanted to do something for myself. Like most women, I love clothes but found it hard to find affordable pieces that fitted well. I began making my own, and drawing simple patterns on my computer. Then I started a blog to document my sewing adventures and share my patterns for free. My