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A stitch in time

The pandemic has spawned a sewing surge and a chance to rediscover the practical arts.

Original reporting by Richard Littlemore

A stitch in time
CommunityThe pandemic has spawned a sewing surge and a chance to rediscover the practical arts. United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent Britons Googling this past fall when he said “a stitch in time saves nine” to describe actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The phrase means it’s better to spend a little time solving a little problem now to prevent spending more time on a bigger problem later. As the BBC reported, it’s a sewing reference that can be traced back to 1723.Photo: Richard Littlemore

Where the work begins

The pandemic has spawned a sewing surge and a chance to rediscover the practical arts.

What follows

Further reporting continues across the university network.

At a glance

  • Campus: UBC Vancouver & Okanagan (Point Grey & Kelowna)
  • Focus: Community impact & civic life (Community)
  • Outcome: Verified reporting (September 2026 issue)
Sources 1
  1. Original reporting · magazine.alumni.ubc.ca

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This story is from the September 2026 issue of Alumni Digest · UBC. It's free, monthly and independent.

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