Creating unique pieces to share on your blog or Instagram and inspire others: the sew & blog combo is all the rage. It's exactly because the number of Sewists keeps multiplying that Fibre Mood is featuring a Sewist every now and then. Get to know Andrew from @sewandrew.
What inspired you to start sewing?
I think I've always been interested in sewing, I just never really had access to it. I grew up with a sewing machine in the house and while my mum knits, paints, bakes and is generally very creative, she herself would say that when it comes to sewing she's not comfortable doing much more than taking up trousers or fixing a seam. We did lots of craft together but not sewing. It was much later, around the time I turned 40 that I saw an early episode of The Great British Sewing Bee on TV - seeing people construct clothes and put them on was a bit of a revelation to me - I'd done a few crude alterations in the past, mostly making things worse, not better! The idea that I could make some clothing from scratch was too exciting to not try.
How did you learn how to sew?
I went online and found the inspiration to get started. There's a 'pleated zipper pouch' tutorial on youtube that I must have watched a hundred times before attempting to sew it! I downloaded a boxer short pattern and made them out of a tablecloth. I had no idea what I was doing, none of the seams are finished and how the fly came together is nothing short of a miracle! At just the right time I found two blogs that really made sewing relevant to me, Peter Lappin (malepatternboldness) and Duane MacLeod (MainleyMenswear) showed me what I might be able to make if I stuck with it. There is so much more information on sewing menswear out there now, I also am lucky enough to have a friend who has worked in fashion 'forever' and knows everything about sewing! Overseen by my friend, my first 'proper' pattern was quite adventurous; a waistcoat with welt pockets, notched collar and of course buttons and buttonholes. With her stern eye over my shoulder (like a Victorian School Mistress!) it actually turned out pretty well... and an obsession was born! The most important thing she taught me was how to decipher pattern instructions; modern pattern companies usually have great instructions, with blogs and videos to back up the techniques, there wasn't so much of that for menswear when I started, but it is getting better.
When it comes to handicrafts, are there any new challenges you'd like to take on?
I would love to be able to knit. Well, to knit properly! ... I can knit and I can purl, I can even cast on and off, so I'm sure it's more of a mental block than a physical one - I just can't seem to keep the right amount of stitches on the needles!
How would you convince someone who doesn’t sew to give it a go?
I'd say don't necessarily think you have to start at the beginning, if there's a beginners pattern you want to make, then great. But if you want to make a shirt, no amount of washbags or cushion covers are going to inspire you. So find a pattern you love, find a sewalong to help and make something you're excited to make. Even if it turns out a mess, I bet you'll still love it... and the next one will always be better!
What does your workspace look like? And where is it?
I live in a small one bedroom apartment right in the heart of London, so our living room is also the dining room and sewing room! My husband collects antiques and between us we have quite a lot of things. I have some Ikea shelving that houses *most* of my sewing equipment and when it's a 'sewing day' I take over the lounge, cutting out on the floor, machines on the dining table, ironing board in front of the sofa! It can get quite messy, but I try to put it all away at the end of the day!
What made you decide to start your blog or Instagram page?
I mentioned earlier that when I started sewing there wasn't a lot of information online about sewing menswear, every-day menswear specifically. Nowadays - if I want to look up a technique I know enough about what I'm doing to find it whether it's being performed on trousers or a skirt etc. When I started I didn't have the knowledge or vocabulary to do such detailed searches. Instagram seemed to be the place to be if you were sewing, so I started an account and found many interesting sewists, of all genders and felt welcomed and encouraged. It was a natural progression to start the blog (sewandrew.com). I wanted to share what I was making and how I was making it. Document it, for myself and anyone else who might be interested. I get a lot of support from home but I also really value the outlet social media allows me as well as the friendships, comradeship and support that come with it. That said, I think it can be easy to get sucked-in and become a slave to the 'posts' - I try to keep a healthy balance; I only really post about sewing and I only ever write a blog if I think I've got something to say about a pattern or technique. I always finish off with 'Notes to self' because there's usually something I'll do differently on the next one!
Where did you get the name for your blog or Instagram page? And why that one in particular?
No inspiring back-story there I'm afraid! SewAndrew kind of speaks for itself! Although, before that I was 'BusterSew' for a little while - Buster was my nickname as a child; they say when I was born I was so chubby I looked like I would bust!
Where do you get your inspiration for your blog or Instagram page?
It's really just whatever I'm making. Almost everything I make ends up on instagram, but there are only so many blog posts you can write about shirts, so I'll only do that if I think I've learnt something new on it; that I'd like to share. Of course I'm inspired by images and trends on social media and other sewists' makes too, occasionally I follow a photo challenge or theme month, so that will inspire the posts.I'm lucky enough to be a Pfaff brand ambassador (which means I get to play with a really cool top-of-the-range machine!) and part of the Minerva Ambassador team (where fabric is exchanged for review) - and even though I have a few commitments with them, they are both unpaid positions and I have plenty of say over what I post, so I really don't feel like I've 'sold-out' (Lol!).
And which other blogs or Instagram pages do you enjoy or inspire you?
I don't get a lot of time to read other blogs and so don't really seek them out, unless I'm looking for help on something. But there are a few bloggers that I followed early and have continued to follow. I follow quite a lot of people on Instagram already and find it frustrating when accounts appear and disappear on my timeline, it's hard to keep up with it all! But I've also been lucky enough to meet up with some wonderful sewists in real life, something I look forward to doing again. I've met people here in the UK from near and far; the USA and Australia, and a few years back I had a stop-over in New York on the same day as the MPB day run by Peter Lappin and got to meet so many wonderful people there. It would be great to organise something like that here in London one day...
Of all your creations, which one do you think is the very best? Which one are you proudest of?
Oh wow, that's like choosing a favourite child! Hard question...! I've made 'occasion wear' that I'm really proud of, a few years back I made a three piece suit plus a shirt, tie and underwear to wear to my Nephew's wedding, that was my proudest make for some time, but now I feel like I have to make another one as my skills have improved. When I got married in 2015 I made waistcoats for both myself and my husband using (very expensive!) silk Hermes scarves for the backs, they obviously have a lot of sentimental value now, which is good as I probably ruined any monetary value they had! I always think that whatever I made last is my favourite and best make! But last year I got into making Boiler Suits/ Coveralls, I've got a few now and there's no looking back! I'm not sure I qualify for one, but if I had a 'signature-look' at the moment I'd want it to be the Boiler Suit! I call my favourite one my 'Executive Boiler Suit' as it's made from a lovely suiting fabric and looks great with a smart shirt.
What future projects do you have in mind?
In the future, I want to try to work more on fitting and pattern adjustment. I've been lent a sewing and embroidery machine so I'm enjoying turning some of my drawings into patches and embellishments, but when it comes to actual garments, it's difficult to say what will be next - I've been making a lot of work and casual wear recently, so maybe it's time to smarten myself up a bit...? ...'Executive' dungarees?
What tips & tricks would you like to pass on to Sewist(a)s who are just starting out?
A lot of emphasis is put onto the so-called 'scary' elements of sewing - buttonholes, zips, jersey fabric etc. I'd like all sewists to understand that there is nothing to be scared of in sewing! The worst that could happen is you ruin a garment - and even then, the bonus is that you'll probably learn a valuable lesson too! So be fearless and make what inspires you.
