Photography: Berndt Sellheim
Q: Did you sew as a child?
A: No. I took up sewing in 2016, after
setting my mind to learning. It is a
vital life skill, but one I lacked. I am
a total newbie.
Q: Any home-economics stitching
classes at school?
A: I remember something about sewing
a denim bag in high school for a home-
economics class. I think it was the
fi rst and only time I sewed anything
until 2016. I don’t think it was a great
experience at the time. My late mother
was wonderful, though, and created
our Halloween costumes and more. She
was very crafty. I wish I’d taken it up
with her when I was little.
Q: Why did you decide to learn to sew
as an adult?
A: With time, it became clear to me that I
was lacking an important life skill. I didn’t
sew, and didn’t even feel comfortable
sewing on buttons. Sure, I had to
sometimes try, but I had no idea what
I was doing, and they often fell off again.
I often needed alterations, hemming or
mending and I couldn’t do it myself. It
was well and truly time to become more
self-suffi cient, so I wanted to learn how
to alter and mend my clothes and I also
wanted to be able to make things formyself and for other people. I wanted to
make things with quality and care, and
didn’t want to be restricted by what was
available in commercial stores, creatively
or otherwise.
Q: Did you have any stitching
calamities when you fi rst started?
A: I spent a very long time on a vintage
bolero pattern that I basically want to
burn now. It was the wrong size, so I
graded it, did two toiles and spent a
long time on the sewing, and it turned
out horribly. It’s my only disaster so
far, but I did learn a lot. It was one of
those old 1950s vintage patterns where
the notches don’t line up and you love
the illustration on the front but it just
doesn’t pan out.
Q: Are you sorry you didn’t learn earlier?
A: There are many things I could have
done better or earlier, but I have lived
a very full life so far and I don’t believe
in regrets.
Q: What have you made since you felt
comfortable with the craft?
A: My fi rst project was a Neo-Victorian
skirt, and I’ve since made a standard
cushion (good practice), a brooch
holder, a circle skirt, a pencil skirt, a
deconstructed steampunk ensemble,
a fox backpack for my daughter, aChristmas dress for her, a Victorian
corset and more. I have also altered or
added to a lot of my existing clothes.
Q: How does sewing make you feel
more self-suffi cient?
A: It’s an important life skill I think
every person should possess. You can
cut down on a lot of waste if you better
understand fabric and clothes, choose
more carefully when you buy and mend
or alter what you have to suit you,
your personality and your life. It brings
great pleasure, as well. I want to feel
connected with the things I cover
my body with and live in.
Q: Was your prime motivation fashion,
self-suffi ciency, environmental
concerns or fi nancial?
A: My primary motivations were all of
the above, but also fi t. I am unusually
tall and have a large hip spring that is
not found in standard modern clothes
or patterns (14-16 inches), so I end up
needing a lot of alterations. I started
my sewing by doing alterations to my
existing clothing, as well as mending
my vintage clothes, and then I began
to make new pieces from scratch. I
remain passionate about adapting and
saving old pieces, as well as creating
new ones. Because I love and wearHomespun 67