Guest Blog: Miglė Slėny

We’re delighted to introduce Miglė Slėny, a talented quilter and crafter from Lithuania, whose work beautifully merges traditional quilting craftsmanship with a modern creative flair. Miglė’s passion for quilting shines through in her intricate designs and thoughtful use of patterns, showcasing her deep connection to the art of sewing.

In this guest blog, she shares her insights and inspiration, offering a unique glimpse into her creative world and her journey as a maker as well as some handy tips. Whether you’re a seasoned quilter or just starting out, Miglė’s story is sure to leave you feeling inspired!

Can you share your journey into the world of textile design? What drew you to this career and inspired your passion for it?       

It happened quite unexpectedly and unplanned actually. I was looking for some new textile medium as me and my husband were crafting baby swings and hanging bassinets at the moment. I remembered my grandmother making patchwork and asked about it my mum. She told me more, then I started to research and tried to actually piece textiles into one piece. I remember the feeling that I can make a completely new fabric out of many different pieces fascinated me so much. So I went all in quite fast and started to sell my first quilts for babies and then moved on to vests and jackets.

Could you walk us through your creative process? How do you take a concept or idea and turn it into a finished textile piece?  

Most of the time I work on custom orders so usually a client comes to me with few wishes, like colour tones or shapes. Then I start drafting my tiny collages on paper, a client chooses one and I start working on an actual garment then. If I am making a new collection myself I think of something to unite it all and go from there. 

What are your main sources of inspiration for your designs? Are there particular places, people, or experiences that consistently spark your creativity?                  

I think that as with many activities the inspiration can come from anywhere. Sometimes I can notice nice colour combinations in a costume drama, sometimes it can come from a nice pottery piece I saw online and most of the time it is probably a bit of everything. Nature is a very important part of my life and it can be a source of inspiration in a way that it can empty my head and give me some space to see the ideas that are actually waiting for me in there for a while.

What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve encountered as a textile designer, and how have you overcome them?              

I don’t really like to sew :) Being precise and measuring and following patterns and instructions is a true headache for me. It is completely not my personality. But I do like to craft! Just make things as I go, think of many more while I do it and do them as well whenever I have a chance. So hand sewing appliqués and hand quilting doesn’t annoy me at all. I love it! My brain views it as a treat. So I enjoy that a lot and this is my main focus. And then I just try not to over complicate it with patterns and make it simple for whatever is left. So I just learned the absolutely necessary parts of making a piece of clothing and I stick to it. And when I have many orders I hire a person for that specific task of sewing a clothing piece together out of my handcrafted pieces. 

How do you incorporate sustainability into your designs and production processes? What steps do you take to ensure your work is eco-friendly?          

I use only finest materials which is Lithuanian linen and 100 percent wool batting. I love that my pieces are natural and made from the oldest fabrics there is which feels amazing on the body and they look better, drape better and feels softer  as the clothing  ages. They are very durable. And of course I don’t overbuy. I plan my pieces very carefully and incorporate my scraps and leftovers in the future projects. 

What advice would you give to aspiring textile designers who are just starting out in the industry?                                            

Maybe trying out every new technique if it seems that would benefit you. In the beginning I thought hand appliquéing is so difficult and time consuming that I didn’t even tried it. I would spend hours trying to make same things in patchwork technique only to realise later that doing hand apliques is way more easy and opens endless possibilities in putting your imagination on the textile. Now I am very fast at it. 

How has technology influenced the way you design, and what impact has it had on the textile industry? Are there any tools or innovations that you find particularly useful?  

I think the biggest influence it brought to small businesses like mine is ready to use commerce tools, when you can have your own shop in few hours. And audience! For many crafters social media is the main channel for selling. Which can be extremely tricky, but also very useful.   And also all the digital patterns and instructions available online. I remember my mum flipping through old magazines looking for knitting patterns for my sweaters and not finding what she needs when I was a child so this aspect is way easier nowadays. Every craft is a lot more accessible to anyone interested in it. 

Are there any designers or artists who have had a significant impact on your work or inspired your creative direction?   

I don’t have anyone in particular I could say had an influence on me in textile, but I really enjoy following Tessa Layzell. Sarah Buscaglia from @farmandfolk is my idol for everything she does and how she lives. And of course there are many more. 

Do you have any sewing tips or tricks that have improved your methods? Whether it’s something small or a quirky technique, what’s a sewing hack everyone should know?    

Hmmm, I can’t really think of any in particular. But as I mentioned before, hand appliquéing details turned out to be way more accessible for me then I anticipated and really freed many ideas in my head. So I would advice not to be afraid of new techniques or ways because they can have a huge influence on your ideas (the advice I should take myself towards new patterns :)) Oh, and I might have one quirky. Most of the time I make creases for quilting with my needle just laid down to the side a bit. It might seem it would rip a fabric but it doesn’t and you save one more tool to have. 

Thank you so much, Miglė, for sharing your passion and insights with us as part of our guest blog series. Your dedication to quilting and crafting is truly inspiring, and we’re thrilled to have had the chance to showcase your work and creative journey. We know our readers will be as inspired by your story and tips as we are! To see more of Miglés work check out her shop instagram @m.o.s.s.o.m

Did you read our other guest blogs from Victoria Rose Richards, Poppy Treffry and