I’ve never really been one to follow current fashion trends, and I think being able to make your own clothes is a great way to express yourself – it gives you a freedom to be you and not feel the need to conform with what’s on trend. I started sewing in high school, and I liked it so much I took textiles as an elective. Perfecting summer patterns – a wrap jumpsuit and my pants block.īRIANNA // Sydney // did you first get into sewing? Also avoid velvet to begin with – the pile creeps too much!įully lined coats – something about pulling it all through at the end is magical. Don’t worry too much about mistakes or perfection – everyone’s spent time with an un-picker. Just go for it! Start with simple shapes to get your confidence up.
Also I just really love the process of bringing a concept I have in my mind to life – and I love to use nice fabrics! Making your own clothes can be a radical act. I love having a choice to bypass mass-market clothing supply chains. Sewing my own clothing has helped build my self-esteemĪLICIA // Melbourne // did you first get into sewing?Īs a kid my nana used to sit me on her lap to use her old Singer – happy memories! So many things to sew and so little time! I’m on the hunt for a cute pinafore pattern – I’m visualising my summer wardrobe filled with funky dress and t-shirt combos. The pattern’s Le809 from French indie company ‘DP Studio’. Living in Brisbane we don’t need a big winter wardrobe so this was the second coat I ever made – I used a funky metal zipper, created bound buttonholes for the first time and covered all the seams with Liberty bias. What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever made?Īn unlined denim coat I made this year. The sewing community is your best resource! LIsten to podcasts for motivation (like Love to sew) and search pattern hashtags on Instagram before choosing what to sew. YouTube has wonderful instructional videos and sewing vlogs from the community (pattern reviews and fabric hauls are fun too). What tips would you give a complete beginner?įind a local beginner sewing class or sewing friend to help guide you through a project. Sewing soothes my soul and I can’t imagine a life without it. Creating my own clothing after high school helped me take back control and learn to appreciate and dress for my figure, rather than trying to follow the latest trends. I was heavy in high school and didn’t have a personal style – I struggled to find clothes I liked that fit so was always self-conscious and shy. Sewing my own clothing has helped build my self-esteem. What do you love most about making your own clothes?
#THE FABRICS STORE FULL#
I’ve been working in that field ever since, and have focussed my sewing into the pursuit of a full me-made wardrobe whilst doing the odd side project. I went on to study fashion design, and after graduating I worked in bridal alterations and then in retail designer dress fabrics.
#THE FABRICS STORE HOW TO#
My grandfather used to make dresses for my nan back in the day, and my mum taught herself how to sew from his old tailoring books.
In my teens I would head to the shop after school and occasionally help sew beads onto gowns. My mother and auntie had their own bridal made-to-measure boutique on the Gold Coast, and I remember as a young child playing with my cousin in the shop whilst our mother’s created beautiful gowns and had client fittings. KATIE // Brisbane // did you first get into sewing?
#THE FABRICS STORE FREE#
In each and every issue of Peppermint we partner with our pals at The Fabric Store to bring you amazing free sewing patterns (brought to life by Emily at In the Folds) that bring inspiration to our beloved sewing community.īut how do the very people who are surrounded by amazing fabrics day-in, day-out choose what to make next? What homemade creations are they most proud of? And what advice do they wish they’d had when they were rookie sewers? We sat down with staff from The Fabric Store locations in Australia and New Zealand to find out what floats their sewing boat – warning, may induce urgent need to whip up many me-made outfits…
| By Peppermint | What the Fabric Store Wore