When did you first start sewing and how did you learn?
I started sewing after my daughter was born 17 years ago. I was inspired to take up the hobby after spending my maternity leave watching Sandra Betzina's Sew Much More and decided I needed a machine. I wound up teaching myself how to sew and then relied on books and sewing forums to increase my skills.... and of course, lots of trial and error!
Can you remember the first thing you made?
A pair of pajamas of toddler pajamas - they wound up being way too large and the shorts were sewn with one leg right side out and the other inside out. It was a great learning experience and gave me the confidence to try other, more complex patterns to increase my skill set.
Do you have any favourite pattern designers or celebrity sewers?
Where to start? I think this list could be huge, although here's some of my favorites right off the top of my head:
For women's clothing: Jalie, Papercut Patterns, Style ARC
Bags: Emeline Bags, Swoon, Betz White, Amy Butler
Kids: Peek-a-boo patterns, Blank Slate, Jalie, Shwin Designs, See Kate Sew, Go To Patterns.....
What's your sewing room like and how do you organize your stash?
I am fortunate enough to have a dedicated sewing room that's large enough for shelves for my sewing machines, a cutting table, bookshelf to house my favorite titles, and a closet to hide my fabric stash!
Here's a link to photos: http://stacysews.com/entry/2007/1231_the_finished_sewing_room/
What music/podcasts/TV shows do you love to stitch along to?
I tend to watch\listen to a lot of shows on Netflix while I sew or catch up on programs like Project Runway while I trace patterns and cut fabric.
Do you do any other crafts and what are your hobbies?
I like to dabble in other crafts when I'm not sewing (like knitting), papercrafts, and jewelry making.... although I'm not nearly as proficient at them!
Is there anything else you'd like to add?
I write a lot of tutorials and patterns that can be found in Sew News and Creative Machine Embroidery magazines as well as Bernina's WeAllSew website.
Clothes
Toys
