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ABOUT

MEET YOUR MAKER

I'm Sophie and I currently create and reside on unceded Awabakal country. Small Victories Craft Department is a one man show, it's 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 upcycled works, choosing crocheted bags because I like to make things that are both creative and functional. 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 varying levels of 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 things are used that are not recycled or purchased consciously. Bag hardware, while recycled where possible, is something that I have found really challenging to source consciously and affordably. The majority of the carabiners used in my work are imported from overseas.
Orders are packed using recycled tissue paper, fairtrade twine, biodegradable satchels and biodegradable tape.

THE NUMBERS - Pricing and time
  • 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 make.
  • 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)
COMMISSIONS
I do not take commissions. I might one day but today is not that day.

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.