How did you first get into sewing?
I think I’ve been sewing ever since I can remember. My Czech grandmother Ruzena was a professional dressmaker. She would look after me after school, so I grew up watching her making magic with her hands and fabric. She never properly ‘taught’ me how to sew; she just let me play with her old Singer and fabric scraps. Occasionally she’d show me how to make whatever I wanted to make and that’s how I learnt from her.
How would you describe your personal style?
I’m creative but also very pragmatic. I enjoy expressing my moods and ideas with my clothes, but I would never ever suffer for fashion. Clothes must be comfortable and functional. I also love that advice attributed to Coco Chanel: “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory”. Less is definitely more for me.
Which is your favourite sewing tool and why?
I love my duckbill scissors. They’re indispensable for tidying up seams and hairy buttonholes. I also love my Cohana mini thread snips. I amazed that such beautiful objects actually exist.
What are your best sewing tips/tricks?
Steam iron is your best friend. It’s absolutely essential for a polished, professional-looking garment. Also – keep your sewing space tidy and don’t rush. Enjoy the journey.
Do you have a favourite fabric you often choose?
I love cotton in all its shapes and forms. Cotton poplin is probably my favourite. I love its crispiness and structure; and the rustling sound it makes when you move.
What’s your most memorable sewing mistake?
I still make lots of sewing mistakes, but I try not to get too annoyed about it. It’s a normal part of the sewing process. As long as you learn something from your mistakes, it’s not a big deal. Once I’ve sewn my dress pockets upside down and realised it only after I completely finished the dress. That’s how I learnt that rushing and speed-sewing is not my thing.
What’s your proudest sewing moment?
I think every time I get a new follower or a kind comment on Instagram, I feel both proud and grateful. I still can’t quite believe that so many creative and wonderful people want to know about my makes and use them as inspiration. My little hobby has become such an important and positive part of my life – a corner of the world where people are still nice to each other, and life makes sense.
Which fabric shop/s do you usually buy from, online and/or Brick & Mortar?
My absolute favourite is Simply Fabrics – both online and their brick and mortar shop in Brixton, London. The shop owner Leo has an incredibly good eye, and he’s a serious fabric collector!
I also like visiting fabric shops when I travel. I buy fabrics instead of souvenirs.
What would you want to say to someone who’s trying to get started in sewing?
Just go for it. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes. What’s the worst that could happen anyway?! You might ruin some fabric and lose some time, but you could also end up with a beautiful piece of clothing, made by your own hands. Embrace the journey.
Instagram has an amazing sewing community – join it. If you don’t know where to start, get in touch with me, I’d be happy to help!
What is you next project?
It’s actually a TAL pattern! I want to make a sleeveless blazer and I’m using TAL’s Blazer Pattern as my starting point.
What do you like to listen to, or definitely not listen to , while sewing?
Music has always been extremely important to me. I think I’ll never get bored of searching for new artists and new musical styles. My taste in music is wide and difficult to describe, but I always trust my instinct. If I like something, I don’t care what others think about it. I like to choose an artist and thoroughly go through their back catalogue while sewing. I also like to listen to playlists on BBC Sounds app. ‘Morning After’ and ‘Late in the Day’ are my favourites, with their eclectic mix of old and new music. I often interrupt my sewing to add tracks to the various playlists on my phone.
What do you do when you’re not sewing?
I’m a TV news producer and work for the BBC. It’s an incredibly stressful job and as I grow older, it’s getting more and more difficult to justify the downsides of live and breaking news.
That’s why I love to escape to nature whenever I can. I also love London’s galleries. Modern and abstract art is my soul food.
Thank you for making and sharing Natasa!
NAME
Natasa Simovic
@needleandcloth
FROM
I was born in Croatia, when it was still a part of now non-existent Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia. London is home now; I’ve been living here for the past 24 years.
FAVOURITE TAL PATTERN
I love all the TAL patterns I’ve tried, but my favourite is the High-waisted Trousers pattern. I’ve made several versions. They’re easy to adjust to my body shape, look well dressed up or down, and most importantly – they never fail me when that dreaded ‘I have nothing to wear’ feeling hits. They work every single time.
Great inspiration – thank you! I immediately followed her on Instagram. 🙂
I am a member of the Natasa Instagram fan club! Her sense of style and sewing skills are enviable and she really knows what works for her. Her IG feed is terrific.