Today we’d like to introduce you to Lyndsey.
Hi Lyndsey, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Sobriety completely changed the direction of my life. Before getting sober, I spent a lot of time simply moving through each day…getting through my 9-to-5, coming home, wasting my evenings, and repeating the same routine over and over again.
I would say my story really begins with sobriety. About a year ago, after going through some difficult times, I decided to get completely sober. Once I did, I suddenly had something I hadn’t had in a long time: time, clarity, and the desire to create.
About eight months ago, I was scrolling through Pinterest and found myself becoming more and more interested in fashion. There was so much creativity and inspiration out there, and I wanted to be a part of it. I started by styling clothes and taking photos, but eventually my creativity outgrew what I could buy. I had designs in my head that I couldn’t find anywhere, so I realized I would have to make them myself.
I come from a family of sewers, and suddenly everything clicked. My grandma owned a formalwear store and passed her sewing skills down to my three aunts and my dad. I asked my dad if he still had a sewing machine I could learn on, and he did. I was soo excited so I drove home that weekend and begged him to teach me.
The first few weeks were pretty daunting. I had no idea where to start, and I was frustrated by how difficult it felt. If you’ve ever threaded a machine, you know what I’m talking about. I thought sewing would come naturally, but I quickly realized it would take patience. I began by practicing simple, straight stitches until they felt more natural. Before long, I found myself experimenting with more complicated patterns and fabrics…probably much sooner than I should have. Looking back, though, challenging myself helped me build confidence quickly and eventually bring the designs I had imagined to life.
Once I realized how expensive fabric could be, my focus shifted. I started searching thrift stores for garments and textiles that I could repurpose instead. Around the same time, I began learning more about the fashion industry’s impact on the environment and the realities of fast fashion. From that point on, my passion became giving old clothing and forgotten fabrics a second life.
As I continued learning, I started sharing the process on TikTok. (@lynny.sews) I wasn’t expecting anything to come from it and I simply wanted to document my progress. Posting online was definitely outside of my comfort zone, but I hoped that showing the learning process might inspire someone else to try something new.
Then one evening, everything changed. My neighbor posted a video he had taken a few weeks earlier of us talking about my sewing account. In the video, he asked, “How’s the TikTok account going?” and I excitedly replied, “Good! I have 78 followers!” The video unexpectedly went viral and began to follow along.
I think people connected with the fact that I was creating because I genuinely loved it, not because of the followers. Even today, my videos aren’t polished or perfect. And I don’t want them to be. A good example of this is my sewing before my 9-5, they are extremely chaotic but I have a blast doing it. I share both the successes and the mistakes because I want sewing to feel approachable and accessible. If someone watches one of my videos and thinks, “Maybe I could do that too,” then I’ve accomplished exactly what I set out to do.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I’ve honestly just been really grateful to have something that I love creating, but there have definitely been challenges along the way. One of the biggest has been continuing to create even when I don’t feel inspired. Sewing can be a challenging niche on TikTok because the projects naturally take a long time, so I’ve had to learn how to get creative with my content. That means planning multiple videos from one project, thinking of different directions to take it, and documenting as much of the process as possible. Also, learning how to edit on top of that. It’s definitely been a learning curve, but an exciting one.
Another challenge has been balancing sewing with other responsibilities . There are definitely days when I come home exhausted and don’t want to sew or post… and sometimes I don’t. I’ve learned to give myself grace with that. I know I’m not always going to feel inspired, and that’s okay. The creativity always comes back, and I’ve learned to trust that and not be too hard on myself.
Another challenge has been learning to be comfortable with other people perceiving me. I’ve definitely started posting more than I ever have before, so I had to step outside of my comfort zone. It’s been a learning experience to put myself out there, share my creations, and just not overthink how others might see me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’d say I’m best known for upcycling clothes and sewing before my 9-to-5. To put it simply, I love taking something thrifted or old and turning it into something new. My content ranges from tutorials and reveal videos to sharing the process behind each project.
I’m still figuring out exactly what types of content I want to focus on long-term, but that’s something I love about TikTok is it gives you the freedom to experiment, explore different styles of content, and find what feels the most authentic to you.
What’s next?
I’m still figuring that out. I don’t have one specific path mapped out, but I do know that I want to keep creating, growing, and sharing what I love with this community.
Right now, I’m just enjoying the process of learning, getting better at sewing and creating content, and seeing where this takes me. I think one of the coolest parts of this journey has been realizing that you don’t always have to have everything figured out and you can just keep showing up, creating, and letting new opportunities show up along the way!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndseyoleen?igsh=YjAxeHk4OHFvdW8x&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@lynny.sews?_r=1&_t=ZT-97z2CU6jxj3
