I just love the name of Katie’s Blog: easy and simple “What Katie Sews” … And Katie sews a lot and always with style! So we are very glad to have also Katie with us joining our Sewing Around The World project. We now return from Anna Neah in Sweden, who had sewn the wonderful Flower-Power-Luciana-Dress, once more to England and visit Katie in north London.
Katie has chosen the pattern Mary Trousers for Sewing Around The World and had sewn it with a wonderful Kokka Double Gauze from The Village Haberdashy. We thought that this is quite exciting because as known a Double Gauze fabric does not drape very lightly – a property that we have actually given as recommended fabric for Mary Trousers. But these disruptions while sewing are always quite exciting showing a pattern in a different light!
And this is also what Katie’s blog is about! She experiments and often deconstructs patterns and combines them skilfully with different fabric qualities. Also Katie is extremely stylish in the choice of fabric color and patterns! Definitely Katie loves black – one can see very quickly scrolling through her blog. Also for Mary she chose a fabric with a black basis and small white arrows “flying” irregularly over it. We think the Mary Trousers looks nice at her and send a big “Thank You” for this inspiring contribution to Katie and also to The Village Haberdashy for their uncomplicated and generous support!
We asked also Katie some questions about her passion on sewing and here are her answers:
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Present yourself a little bit (name, age, children, name of the blog, age, city where you live, what you are doing when you are not sewing,..)
I’m Katie, I’m 31 and I live in North London with my boyfriend and two cats. I’m a product designer at a fashion startup called Mastered by day. My sewing blog, What Katie Sews, started in 2013.
When did you start to sew and why? How did you learn to sew?
I sewed a little bit as a teenager because my mum used to make soft furnishings so there was always a machine around. Then I had a few years off while I went to university, and picked it up again around 3-4 years ago when I took a dressmaking class at my local fabric shop Ray Stitch. I am mostly self-taught through the internet and lots of trial and error, but I have taken a couple more classes too.
What are your favourite clothes? Do you have a fable for something?
I’ve got to be comfortable above all else, so I sew a lot of knits and loose clothing. I like natural fibres, dark colours, and interesting shapes or detailing.
What is the sewing project you like the most?
I love my Vogue 1501 black midi dress (http://whatkatiesews.net/v1501-black-midi-edition). I feel really cool whenever I wear it and I’m proud of the construction and style – it’s very me.
Do you only sew for you or also for other people (husband, children,…)?
I’ve made my boyfriend a couple of shirts and pairs of shorts, and I’ve also made gifts for female family members and friends. Mostly just myself though.
From where do you get your ideas? Do you buy patterns or do you invent your own ones?
I like to try new patterns, and I also like to alter patterns to add new details once I know they fit well. I took a class to draft my own blocks, so I also use those to design garments from scratch. I window-shop a lot and keep sketchbooks and Pinterest boards of projects I’d like to try.
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Have you heard about our new sewing project “Maker’s Wish“? No? Then just click here and join!
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