In this episode of the Sew & So podcast, we sit down with Maddy Ballard—sewist, journalist, and author of Patchwork: A Sewist’s Diary. Born in the U.S. and raised in New Zealand, Maddy’s creative journey has been shaped by her diverse heritage and global experiences. From learning to sew during the pandemic to weaving her skills into a thoughtful book, Maddy shares how sewing provides comfort, self-expression, and a sense of future possibility. She talks about sustainability, the magic of remaking, her journalism career, and how she balances her many creative passions.
Our guest today is Maddy Ballard, sewist, journalist, author. Born in Syracuse, NY, to a Texan father and a Chinese-New Zealander mother, she grew up in Auckland, New Zealand where she lived until she was 22. She then moved to England to pursue a postgraduate degree in English literature at the University of Oxford. Working in England as a journalist after her degree ended, she returned home during Covid, which is when she learned to sew.
After a couple of years working in Auckland, Maddy moved to Wellington to pursue a master’s in creative writing, which is when she wrote her book "Patchwork".
She now lives in Melbourne Australia and still works as a journalist -splitting most of her spare timebetween writing and sewing but also loving to sing and cook.
(2:00) Born in the US, Maddy’s family moved back to New Zealand when she was 4 years old. Why did they make this move?
(3:00) who in her family sewed and how did that influence her love for the craft? It started with her grandmother…and a great friend!
(3:40) While Maddy was exposed to sewing quite young, she didn’t take it up in earnest until she was in her 20’s. What was the impetus for this?
(5:23) What was her very first sewing project and what are her memories of its creation?
(6:20) Maddy is self-taught…how did this work out?
(6:40) Maddy calls sewing “magical”. How did sewing provide comfort and stability during the major transitions in her life?
(7:52) Maddy talks about her mixed heritage and how it influences her creation choices.
(9:37) Maddy talks about her book. How it came together and what started it all.
(12:15) Maddy talks about sewing be a way to accept your body. She explains…
(14:00) Why does Maddy say that Sewing is an act that helps you believe in the future?
(14:47) While researching for her book she found out that sewing was really important to her family. She tells us what she learned and how it touched her.
(16:45) Remaking is important to Maddy…she tells a specific story of how this worked for her.
(18:52) An advocate for zero waste she talks about sustainability and its challenges.
(21:25) Maddy tells us about her work as a journalist. She’s focused on food, restaurants and hospitality. Now she’s in the bicycle industry!
(22:20) Maddy writes, sings, cooks and sews. Is it hard to balance it all?
(23:13) Maddy talks about sewing as a form of self-expression and how it’s influenced her own projects.
(24:23) What’s she working on now?
(25:14) What’s next and what are her dreams? There could be a novel…and a quilt in her future!
(27:36) Is there a question we didn’t ask?
(27:55) Where can you find her book Patchwork - A Sewist’s Diary?
(28:20) How can you reach Maddy? Instagram @MaddyBallard 27