I'm Sophie and I currently create and reside in Muloobinba (otherwise known as Newcastle, NSW).
Small Victories Craft Department is a one man show, it is literally just me back here. I am obsessed with yarn. I love to crochet, spin and occasionally weave and knit. I also really love thrifting for yarn and literally anything else that I can use as or turn into yarn. I started Small Victories Craft Department to share my art.
I chose bags because 1. I love making them and 2. I wanted to produce works that were useful and functional, contrasting the high-waste, fast-fashion consumer society that we live in.
I draw a lot of inspiration from the fashion, art, tattoos and zines that came out of the early hardcore punk and riot grrrl subcultures - as well as nature, queer art and vintage fibrecrafts.I am a queer, non-binary identifying person and while I have a deep appreciation for my large stack of vintage crochet magazines, targetting housewives and mothers, with patterns for tea cozies and baby bonnets.... I want to kick the ideology that crochet is a feminine craft, I want to cultivate BROCHET.
PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS - Upcycling for the earth, the animals and the people
The majority of the materials used in SV pieces are recycled textiles that I have "yarnified", sourced from local charity stores. I choose to use upcycled materials in my work because I enjoy making unique one of a kind pieces and because it is important to me to consider where the materials used come from and where they go. Crochet and yarn share connections with both the fast fashion and the animal agriculture industry. The fast fashion industry contributes to the devaluing of textile-based labour, human exploitation and massive waste that impacts vulnerable people and land, while the animal agriculture industry has contributed harm to animals throughout history. While policies and practices in Australia have evolved over time to protect and facilitate humane treatment of animals raised for fibre, there are still some inhumane practices that are legal. This makes navigating HOW ethical a wool brand really is very challenging. By prioritising the use of recycled materials and fibres in my work, I am lessening the amount of my own funds that contribute to these practices. I am always on the hunt for ways that I can make this project more ethical and sustainable but I also want to provide transparency when materials are used that are not recycled or consciously produce. Bag hardware, while recycled where possible, is something that I have found really challenging to source sustainably. The majority of the carabiners used in my work are imported from overseas or purchased from Bunnings (who have likely also imported them from overseas).
- Making textile yarn generally takes 30-60 minutes to make 100g (average t-shirt yarn), most of my bags are 350-500g once finished and take between 1.5 and 4 hours to crochet in addition to yarn production time.
- I design and make my own patches and complete all sewing myself
- Pricing reflects costs (supplies, fees) and time (yarnifying, crocheting, patch making and sewing).
- I base my labour costs on the average market, which equates to approximately half of the Australian minimum wage per hour (approx $24, so $12)
I take commissions at my own discretion. Given that I am working with recycled materials, I cannot guarantee that I will have the exact colours that you are searching for or that I will be able to source them.
I am happy to have a discussion about your idea and to see what we can do.
Current commission prices for bags start from $200.
I also welcome discussion about smaller commission pieces, such as scarves and phone straps / lanyards.
Pricing includes consulting, materials and labour costs.
I do not offer Ghillie bag commissions.
RETURNS
I do not accept returns. I go to great lengths to ensure that everything that is for sale is of a high quality and standard and I do my best to provide transparency when things aren't, for example in the context of sample sales. Please be mindful of this before purchasing.