Encouraging the Sewing Community with Luke-Matthew Iveson

In episode eleven of Season 12 of the Meet the Mancunian podcast, host Deepa Thomas-Sutcliffe speaks with Luke-Matthew Iveson, a community sewing teacher and Season 10 winner of the BBC’s The Great British Sewing Bee. Luke shares how learning to sew from their grandma and working as a corporate diversity and inclusion consultant led to a shift into community-based workshops after the show gave him a platform and visibility as the first non-binary winner. Luke explains how sewing supports self-expression, creativity, and confidence—especially for LGBTQ+ people while also addressing barriers like cost, lack of access to sewing machines, and the loneliness of the hobby. Luke reflects on the impact of representation, shares a powerful story involving a trans young person, and their plans for inclusive classes, patterns, and outreach with groups including the Proud Trust and Stonewall.Did you know:  ·     About 4% of the UK population identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or binary·      Sewing, quilting, and textile arts hold deep roots in the queer community.  ·      Modern queer sewing spaces prioritise inclusivity, with thriving communities focusing on gender-affirming clothing alterations and creative self-expression. Key resource:website Time stamps of key moments in the podcast episode &transcript: (01:47) From Hobby to Community(02:56) Winning Sewing Bee(04:44) Workshops and access(06:44) Defining success (10:03) A class that mattered(11:24) Handling criticism(14:10) Staying motivated(15:51) What’s next(16:48) How you can help(18:45) Myths about sewing(20:22) Signature questions🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or www.meetthemancunian.co.uk#Manchester #SocialImpact #Podcast #Sewing #Community #LGBTQ+