Hi Caron, tell us, where do you live?
Helsinki, Finland for the last 39 years. Originally from Bolton, close to Manchester
How did you first get into sewing?
When I was about 6-7 years old my mother used to do sewing from home. She had an industrial sewing machine at home and bundles of sewing work were delivered to our home. I loved to help her out sometimes.
Which is your favourite TAL pattern and why?
This is a difficult one to answer. I have only 8 patterns so far and they are ALL great! The V-neck Jumpsuit is one that I love for its versatility. I’ve used it a lot. Dressed up or down, it´s so very comfortable. The hot second has to be your Tulip Dress.
How would you describe your personal style?
I have always been a “Plain-Jane” i.e. I like solid colour rather than patterned fabrics but lately, I have been adding some pattern to my wardrobe.
Which is your favourite sewing tool and why?
My sewing machine is my baby! I love her! BROTHER sewing machines have been my go-to brand since doing a promo for them in Finland some 30 years ago. The one I have now is lightweight and tackles everything I throw at it with ease. My BROTHER brings together all the prep into what is usually a great garment.
What are your best sewing tips/tricks?
Be aware of the grain of your fabric when cutting out. If the pattern is not placed with the grain as directed then you could (with most fabrics) end up with a garment that looks like a patchwork.
What are the best and worst bits of sewing?
Buying the fabric for me is one of the best bits. My head is full of ideas and we now have the internet in our handbags so that we can check just how much fabric is needed for a garment. Also, the fact that depending on how easy/difficult the pattern is, you get results quite quickly.
I just HATE unpicking a seam and I have unfortunately unpicked a lot of them. At this point I usually have to take a deep breath, even leave the garment for a while as being annoyed is not a good mood to sew anything.
