Creator Spotlight: Mel Tesch (aka Melt Stitches)
HOME SEWIST (SHE/HER)
Tell us about yourself and your practice as an Asian Australian Creator
I’m an ABC: Australian Born Chinese. I was born in Melbourne specifically and spent parts of my childhood there, Sydney and Brisbane. I would say my siblings and I grew up in a fairly traditional Chinese household with a touch of western influence.
I’m a home sewist who is obsessed with sewing! It’s such a fun hobby and I will fill all of my free time sewing outfits for myself and family. It took many hours of practice to get where I am today and I love being able to say “Thanks, I made it!”
I sew purely for enjoyment and usually for myself or my immediate family members. I have in the past been asked if I’ll do commissioned work but I have to graciously decline as I know I wouldn’t enjoy it if money or deadlines were involved!
What work have you chosen and what’s the significance/story behind it?
This is a recent make of mine, which I created to wear to Frocktails (an annual event where sewists meet up and talk all things sewing!). I think this is the first ‘nice’ dress I’ve made for myself and I chose this because it pushed me in a lot of ways. It’s called the Rosalyn dress by Russian pattern company, Viki Sews. I found it different from my other makes because there were a fair few complicated steps involved, I used a fluffy, slippery fabric, and I had to incorporate a lining which wracked my brain. I’m so proud of what I created and what I learned while making it and I hope others could see that through this dress!
What excites you most about being an Asian Australian creator?
Being an Asian Australian has never really been a label I would use to define myself. I forget for others, this can be the first thing they see and draw conclusions about me.
I am proud of my heritage and being able to be an Asian Australian in the sewing space on Instagram. I am so lucky to be part of a lovely community who are so welcoming and give me the space and power to share my work online.