We now have 210 sewing bloggers as part of The Fold Line community and to celebrate this we wanted to start sharing their amazing makes with you. Sometimes it can be difficult to find new blogs to inspire your sewing projects so as this year continues we’ll be sharing them with you. Now let’s meet Gabby from Gabberdashery, Abi from Crafty Pin Up and Chuleenan from Csews.
Tell us a bit about what you write about on your blog?
Well my blog used to be about of lots of things- DIY, cooking, crafty until I fell in with sewing and now it’s totally a sewing blog with a bit of knitting thrown in now and then. It’s mainly a record of all the things I’ve made but I love doing tutorials, reviews and sew-a-longs at they are a great way to connect with fellow sewists.
Why and when did you start blogging?
The actual sewing blog started October 2014 because the moment I made my first dress I was completely obsessed with all things sewing and loved writing about, photographing and sharing my makes. I love reading sewing blogs as I find them so inspiring to make my own clothes so I blog to inspire others to do the same.
What do you like about it? How often do you blog?
There are so many things I love about blogging- from having an online record that I can look back on how much I’ve improved to reading a comment that just makes your day. I really enjoy the aesthetic side of it too – as one of my hats is being a web designer I really enjoy editing the pictures, playing with fonts and graphics – I change up my blog a lot – just for fun! I try to blog once a week but sometimes that’s impossible and other times I have so much to write about and more time so I’m blogging nearly every day. I have so much to blog about it’s hard to keep up with sometimes!
What is your best pattern make/project you are most proud of?
It’s got to be my first coat – Waffle Pattern’s Pepernoot Hooded Coat – it may not be perfect but I love every inch of it! It was the first ‘big project’ that I really took my time over and even did all the hand sewing (which I too often avoid!) I actually look forward to the cold days to wear it as it is like a sauna in there!!
What are your favourite other blogs to read? Who inspires you?
Oh so many – my bloglovin feed is getting ridiculous! Tilly & The Buttons was the first one I got into before I even started sewing and it totally inspired me to take the plunge. I really enjoy A Stitching Odyssey – she always inspires new vintage makes, English Girl at Home just makes me happy with her immaculate makes and Scruffy Badger is always a good read. Since I started a video blog last month I’ve been getting really into them too – Stitch My Style, Inside Number 23, Sewn and of course, Sew Over It are all endlessy inspiring!
Where do you sew?
I am unbelievably lucky as I have 2 sewing spaces!! I’m either sewing under my husband and I’s loft bed where there’s a big cutting/sewing table that he made me, netflix on and my dog under the table surrounded by my stage costumes or when it’s warmer I’m enjoying the sun and wildlife in my lovely summerhouse that we built at the bottom of the garden which is full to the brim of fabric and trimmings that I inherited from a wonderful family friend who was a very important dressmaker. Both spaces inspire me and I feel incredibly fortunate to have them.
What are you making now/next project?
I have a ridiculous neverending list of ‘to sews’ especially after lusting after everyone’s Me Made May’s wardrobe but I’m about to crack on with my Butterick’s Big Vintage Sewalong project as I’m very excited to be one on the blogger tour and I have big plans to start making more structured dresses and jumpsuits for my new music project that I’ve started working on – it’s a change of direction for me which means I can have fun reinventing my stage wardrobe!!
Find Gabby online
Vlog
Blog
Twitte
Instagram
Pinterest
Tell us a bit about what you write about on your blog?
I use my blog to review and document my dress making – which spurs me on to keep creating! I blog about my vintage inspired sewing, from true vintage patterns from the 1940s through to the 1960s, to modern reproductions with a retro feel. Along with pattern reviews, I also like to create vintage sewing inspiration posts, I’ve got a fabulous 1950s tiki style inspiration post coming up. Collating images and fabric swatches keeps me inspired and almost always leads to future sewing projects!
Why and when did you start blogging?
I only started my sewing blog back in April. It’s something I’ve wanted to start for such a long time, but this Spring came around and the timing felt right! It provides me with a much needed, selfish creative outlet. I’m self employed, so I view my sewing blog as my ‘me’ time! Since starting my blog I’ve made more garments in the space of 4 months then I did all of last year.
What do you like about it? How often do you blog?
I try to blog at least once every couple of weeks, which is how often I try to sew a little something for myself. I’m a big lover of Instagram so I usually post on there everyday! I haven’t bought any clothes since I started my blog back in April so I’ve been making garments quite regularly to build up my ‘me made’ wardrobe. Plus Summer is always such a great time to sew up some 50s style dresses! I love the sewing community I’ve discovered since blogging and I always like to share my mistakes on my blog too, it helps me learn from other sewists, and others can learn from my mistakes too!
What is your best pattern make/project you are most proud of?
I feel like every time I make a new garment, my technique has improved in some way or I’ve learnt a new skill. So usually my last make is what I’m most proud of. However I do love my Butterick ’53 B5708 – Shoulder Tie Dress and my Butterick ’47 – B5209 – 1940s Tea Dress – both the fabrics have been my favourite so far. Fabric choice can really make the outfit!
What are your favourite other blogs to read? Who inspires you?
Oh my gosh so many! There are so many wonderful sewists out there, I love to follow them on Instagram. I love any sewing blogger recreating vintage styles and I’m a sucker for good photography. My favorites are Vintage on Tap & Gussets and Godets.
Where do you sew?
I’m self employed and my business is designing & sewing retro lingerie and nightwear. So what was once my dining room is now my sewing studio. I’m constantly surrounded by lace and ruffles, but at least once a fortnight I’ll tidy up and I’ll squeeze in a dress or two!
What are you making now/next project?
My next projects are super vintage style Summer outfits. I’m working on an altered version of the Butterick patterns by Gertie – Bolero, Bustier, Sarong & Shorts pattern. But I don’t want to say what I’m doing with the pattern yet in case I fail miserably! Later this month I’ll also be working on my entry for Simplicity’s sewing challenge, using the vintage pattern choice. I can’t wait to start working on these!
But up next on my blog is my review of the Butterick B5930 dress with a really beautiful Summer fabric – very Mad Men! Here’s a peek:
Find Abi online:
Blog
Twitter:
Pinterest
Instagram
Tell us a bit about what you write about on your blog?
My blog focuses mostly on things I make, usually clothes for myself, and occasionally something I make for my husband. I’ve also reviewed some sewing books on my blog. Once in a while I’ll blog about hats because I collect and wear hats a lot – and sometimes I make hats. There’s usually some sewing or fabric connection to my posts.
Why and when did you start blogging?
When I launched my blog in November 2011, I was working for a company that used a CMS that wasn’t very user-friendly. So I decided to learn WordPress by starting a blog. I thought it would be fun to blog about sewing because the subject matter had nothing to do with my job. Plus I had resumed sewing after a long hiatus.
What do you like about it? How often do you blog?
I like documenting what I’ve made. My blog helps me keep track of what I’ve made, what I liked or didn’t like about a pattern, and if I make it again, I can refer to the post if I can’t recall how I made something. And if I’m stuck trying to figure something out or I want an opinion, I can always pose a questions and get some answers.
What is your best pattern make/project you are most proud of?
I’m proud of the first By Hand London Anna Dress I made. I made two muslins to get the bodice adjustments right. It was my first experience using a border print and I had fun experimenting with pattern placement. The fabric had a strong geometric print that got bigger as you got closer to the selvages. I cut the bodice perpendicular to the grain and I made a point of not matching the two back pieces so I had two different parts of the directional print on opposite sides of the invisible zipper. That dress was a finalist for Sewing Indie Month in 2014. I’ve worn the dress to work, to jazz concerts, and most recently, to a wedding.
What are your favourite other blogs to read? Who inspires you?
I enjoy reading Sew Busy Lizzy’s blog and seeing what’s she’s made. We’ve sometimes made things from the same Japanese sewing books. I’m in awe of Handmade by Carolyn who’s currently in the midst of wearing everything handmade for a year – from her clothes to her shoes, and even boots! I love seeing what Rachel of House of Pinheiro is making as well as her lovely photos. And I always get a kick from seeing what Heather of Handmade by Heather B is making, particularly her vintage makes and hats. I get inspired by what these ladies make.
Where do you sew?
I sew in the so-called dining area of the apartment, just off the kitchen. I’m also surrounded by my husband’s bookcases. The space is pretty tight. Here’s a little guide to the photo of my sewing space: 1. Two bins of patterns, rolls of tracing paper, serger. 2. There’s a tall skinny shelf next to the table where I have another sewing machine, sewing books, patterns, and supplies. On the table, spools of thread, marking pens and erasable highlighters, seam roll. 3. Sewing machine with pattern pieces for the Itch to Stitch Kathryn top draped over it. 4. Sewing patterns and random pieces of fabric; 5. Lotta Jansdotter Everyday Style book, cutting mat. 6. Scissors on hooks attached to wire cart, which has fabric in it. The red fabric covers the cotton mat when I’m not sewing. 7. My steam iron and box of Kleenex with limited edition Betsy Johnson design – zippers on one side, leopard print on the other. To the left of the iron is a five-drawer plastic cart where I keep my machine and hand sewing needles, buttons, more scissors, and other supplies. There are also smaller three-drawer carts next to that cart with thread, stay tape, and projects in progress in them.
What are you making now/next project?
I have three things in the muslin stage. I’m about half done with the Kathryn knit top, which I’m making with a solid violet knit rayon. I think it will be a wearable muslin. I also cut out my muslin for the fun Mimosa culottes by Named Patterns. It’s waiting to be stitched up. Last year I made one muslin for a knit dress using a 1970s Vogue pattern. I need to finish making my adjustments to the pattern and make a second muslin. I bought some expensive wool double-knit fabric to make a color-blocked version of the dress. My goal is to finally finish it this year so I can wear it in the fall. Also on deck is Christine Haynes latest pattern, the Lottie. I just bought some lovely cotton voile so I may just go ahead and make that, too.
Find Chuleenan online:
Blog
Instagram
Twitter
Pinterest
The post Getting to know Sewing Bloggers appeared first on The Fold Line.