How did you first get into sewing?
Through my kids. They both have been skinny babies who didn’t fit very well in most affordable ready-mades.
How would you describe your personal style?
Casual-chic.
Which is your favourite sewing tool and why?
Good question. I’m a sewing scientist and as such I love (and hoard) tools. One of my most used tools is a narrow-edge foot, for I’m a big fan of neat seams.
What are your best sewing tips/tricks?
When sewing I’ve always close by: a piece of thicker leather as a height adjustment and hemming aid; a pair of tweezers for sewing fiddly bits; masking tape for marking seam allowances on the machine’s stitch plate and for distinguishing between right and left side of a fabric; a little magnetic needle holder which I can place in or close to the machine; wash away wonder tape for e.g. fixing slippery ends of fabric layers.
Oh, and a potato peeler 🙈 for sharpening taylor’s chalk.
What are the best (and worst) bits of sewing?
Best bits of sewing are its creativity, that I can create the clothes I have in mind and don’t have to go though an endless number of shops (often finally ending up with an unsatisfying compromise), getting distraction,… There’s always a good reason.
The worst? Cutting the fabric, which often affords the same amount of time as the fun (aka sewing) part.
What’s your most memorable sewing mistake?
Sewing a zipper of a jacket inside-out and at the same time upside-down, sewing the hood on the front of a jacket, cutting four front parts of pants instead of front and back. There have been lots more and there will be for sure.
What’s your proudest sewing moment?
That magic moment when turning a lined coat or bag.
Do you have a favourite fabric you often choose?
I love the broad variety of fabrics and I’m always happy to try out new materials. However, my most favourites are Tencel, viscose, linen.
Which fabric shop/s do you usually buy from, online and/or Brick & Mortar?
A mixture of both. Generally, I prefer to get hands on the fabric before I buy it, but the opportunities are rather rare. So once I’m familiar with the qualities of a designer’s fabrics I order them online.
What would you want to say to someone who’s trying to get started in sewing?
Don’t be too impressed by techniques and technologies, just give it a try. Maybe you make mistakes. But so what? Make them, you’ll learn from it. And anyway… it’s often from supposed mistakes that the coolest things emerge.
Besides: give yourself a chance to learn from others by reading, watching, talking.
What is you next project?
A small capsule collection for fall.
What do you do when you’re not sewing?
I love spending time with my family and friends, reading or going for a run.
Thank you for making and sharing Corinna, and good luck with your capsule wardrobe!
NAME
Corinna Sprang
@elbmiezen
FROM
Hamburg, Germany
FAVOURITE TAL PATTERN
The Cuff-Top. I love its straight-forward, clean look and its high versatility by simply varying the fabric.
LISTEN TO WHILE SEWING
Rock, Pop, Alternative, sometimes modern Classic like cello, preferably loud 😅.
