Hello! I’m Natsu (@never_ending_couture_tricot), I’m Japanese and have lived in France for 15 years.
How long have you been sewing?
My sewing experience started when I was a child. I sewed with my grandmother and cousins to make my Barbie's clothes. But I really started to sew my own clothes when I moved from Paris to the countryside, about 9 years ago.
Why did you start sewing?
When I moved to where I live now, I couldn't find many clothes I wanted, so I decided to sew some by myself. Now about 90% of my wardrobe is handmade!
Where does the name "never_ending_couture_tricot" come from? And why did you choose it?
"Never ending” refers to one of my favorite movies, "Never Ending Story”. Couture means sewing and tricot means knitting in French. So I wanted to say "I can't help sewing and knitting" because I'm very addicted to it!
Why are you a fan of Fibre Mood?
Fibre Mood’s patterns are fashion-conscious with lots of style! Also all the fabric choices and beautiful pictures make me want to sew all of them! The patterns are usually very easy to sew, even with challenging designs! The instructions are very clear with detailed illustrations as well.
How did you come up with the idea for your Uzma hack?
I love asymmetrical design and playing with fabrics, so I immediately had the idea to add two ruffles with vertical and horizontal stripes. Uzma is a simple project that doesn't require much fabric. It was perfect for making a top + pants set.
Do you make pattern hacks often? What do you like about these?
I always try to add my own personality to the patterns. I take time to decide how I will hack for each project and I really enjoy this process! It makes me feel more connected with what I am making.
Where do you find inspiration and how did you go about matching your chosen fabric to this pattern?
I get inspiration from lots of runway pictures and Japanese fashion trends. Japanese designers are very innovative with the art of subtraction. I chose this muted color fabric so that the top wouldn’t be too much with the ruffles. I always try to keep a good balance between fabrics and patterns.
Do you have any golden tips for beginning Sewistas regarding this pattern or other projects?
Press each seam with an iron for a professional finish. Sewing is not something you should do in a hurry. If you are a beginner, you may want to practice a lot with simple patterns and easy-to-sew fabrics to build your sewing confidence. Uzma is a perfect pattern for this. For Uzma, it's important to stabilize the square neckline. You may not want to use a flowing fabric for the lining.
Are you planning any more Fibre Mood sewing projects?
I just sewed Trix, which I hacked of course, so it will be on my feed very soon! I also want to make Amelia or Veronica this summer and Carry for the autumn.
Anything you'd like to say to the Fibre Mood team?
Thank you for having me in this interview and for appreciating what I sew, even my hacks! I really enjoy sewing your patterns in every issue, so I can't wait to see the upcoming collections!
Also feel like hacking the Uzma top? Get the pattern here!
