MANUELA
Hello, I'm Manuela (@insolitabymanuela) and I was born in Karlsruhe. Luckily, due to my location in the south-west of Germany, I quickly found my second home in Italy.
What many people don't realise is that I've been working in the public sector for 20 years. I now only work part-time due to my children, but 5 days a week in the mornings. Writing texts for the homepage and newsletter, advising customers on company pension schemes and giving lectures are all part of my job. So something completely different from sewing ;o)
Since 2019 I have been self-employed in sewing and in 2023 I also started a small online shop. There I sell a selection of fabrics, paper patterns, Fibre Mood magazines and sewing accessories, etc.
When and why did you start sewing?
I can't really define exactly when, because I was always very creative as a child. I found it very difficult to read and write in primary school, but instead I had a strong urge to be creative. I did everything from handicrafts to painting and sewing.
In the beginning, I only sewed occasionally and because I had a discount sewing machine, the sewing experience was very frustrating. This changed abruptly when I bought my first good sewing machine for Christmas 2013. A Pfaff Creative 3.0 and I've been hooked on sewing ever since ;o)
MANUELA & BLOGGING
Can you tell us a bit more about your blog?
At some point, my nearest and dearest urged me to publish a blog. This was in 2014. My blog started out as a kind of DIY diary for me and to inspire others with my posts.
However, Instagram meant that the posts became fewer and fewer.
But thanks to my small online shop, I've been updating the blog more regularly again since last year. :o)
When and why did you start sharing your creations on Instagram?
Alongside my blog, I have been busy sharing my creations on Instagram. As Instagram became more and more of a focus, I started to neglect my blog more and more. Blogs were simply "out" and the quick posting of photos on Instagram had become "in".
Where does your Instagram name come from?
I already had my Instagram name before Instagram and my blog. Because I had already given my makes this name before I started blogging. It took some time to find a name back then. In the end, I came up with the word "insolita" through my favourite Italian band. They had a song with the title "insolita".
"Insolita" means unusual, extraordinary. And as no one around me sewed, what I was doing was unusual. And because it sounds nicer in Italian, I came up with the name insolitabymanuela - extraordinary/unusual from Manuela.
What was your favourite Instagram post?
One of the most popular Instagram posts was the stopmotion for Shorts Dahlia. And my behind-the-scenes reels are generally very popular.
MANUELA & FIBRE MOOD
Why are you a fan of Fibre Mood?
Fibre Mood's patterns are very modern and always on trend. The patterns are available in a very wide size range from 32 - 60.
We now also have such a large pattern library and there is something for every taste. I like to go back to older patterns and give them a new lease of life. But what I like most is the step-by-step illustrations in the instructions. Most of the time I don't even need the detailed instructions, I just sew according to the technical drawings in the magazine.
How did you join Fibre Mood as a Conversation Manager?
In March 2019, I got to know Fibre Mood at the H&H Cologne trade fair and was then contacted in June to see if I would like to work for Fibre Mood. My first task back then was to organise the video shoot for the Anna Social Sew Along and to build up the German sewing community. That was an amazing 5 years ago now.
What exactly does your work for Fibre Mood involve? What do you do for Fibre Mood?
My main tasks include proofreading / editing, translation work, organising the German Social Sew Along, keeping an eye on the pulse of the German-speaking community, looking after the German bloggers in the community and taking care of the link parties. To exchange new ideas with the team and also to support Fibre Mood at one trade fair or another.
MANUELA & SEWING
What is your favourite pattern of Fibre Mood?
I don't have an ultimate favourite pattern because I really like many of them. These include Babette, Judy, Dahlia, Molly, Lucca, Oriana, Edith, Kika and, for the kids, Dale.
Which of your creations have you worn the most?
I wear the Babette trousers the most and now that it's warm again, the Dahlia shorts. But I also wear Judy as a top or dress very often.
Which creation are you particularly proud of?
My winter coat Maggie, which is so mega warm and cosy inside. You don't sew a coat that often and you sit on a sewing project like this for a while. That's why I'm very proud of it.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
I always go through the world with my eyes wide open. Ideas bubble up when I'm traveling in particular. But I also find inspiration on Instagram and Pinterest. And if I want to sew a Fibre Mood pattern, I also like to look at the Fibre Mood homepage for creations from the sewing community.
Do you make hacks regularly? What is your favourite hack?
My favourite hacks are making dresses out of tops or vice versa. Or making fancy dress costumes from patterns. One example would be turning the Alexa dress into a mermaid costume!
Do you have any tips for other Sewistas?
Practice makes perfect. Always stay on the ball and if sewing doesn't work out the way you want it to, it's better to sleep on it for a night or two. After all, strength lies in rest.
And I don't recommend discount sewing machines. I've had bad experiences with them myself and I've also seen a lot of annoyed and disappointed faces on sewing courses. Frustration is inevitable. It's better to rent a good machine first or buy a second-hand one at a favourable price.
Do you have any Fibre Mood sewing projects in the pipeline?
Yes, of course, there are many things from the new edition! And also three patterns from edition 28 in the pipeline (Eden, Ashley and Dallas). :o)
