Even grown-ups would find it hard to resist the lovely goodies in sewer Meg McElwee?s latest book, ?Growing Up Sew Liberated: Making Handmade Clothes and Projects for Your Creative Child? (Interweave Press).
A few of the patterns that caught my eye included her hideaway play tent, reversible hooded play cape, and cozy kiddo pajamas. Each project description gives readers an idea of the care that McElwee puts into creating her patterns. Her directions are clear, concise, and downright fun to see come together.
That makes McElwee?s Denver event on Friday (July 20) that much more intriguing. She?ll do a meet-and-greet book-signing at Fancy Tiger Crafts, 59 Broadway, from 7 to 9 p.m.
Her charming first book, ?Sew Liberated,? presented a colorful, stylish and practical approach to creating usable pieces.?Her determination to make a fabric stash stretch as far as possible (while living in Mexico and teaching in a one-room Montessori school), gave McElwee an appreciation for being able to forge refined looks with eclectic scraps. This inventive use of materials inspired applique, embroidery and hand-sewing.
I exchanged an e-mail with McElwee earlier this week to find out more about her process as a pattern designer, and inquire about whether she?s as much of a crafting addict as I am.
Colorado at Home: What was your first sewing project? How did it turn out?
Meg McElwee:?Other than the ubiquitous 80s hair scrunchies, I sewed up an awful pair of lavender floral knee-length shorts, paired with a fringed tee. I was in 5th grade, and I wore that outfit (almost as an accessory to my head gear and braces) to the county math tournament. It doesn?t get any less glamorous than that, and I didn?t endeavor another garment project until my style,?thankfully, matured. At least it was a functional, if not chic, project!!
Colorado at Home: Where do you find inspiration?
Meg McElwee:?I am so inspired by beautiful photographs on blogs as well as my contacts on Flickr. I tend to be rather insulated in my design universe ? I don?t follow high fashion or watch Project Runway or anything like that. I do have a style that I would call my own ? it?s a simple, rustic aesthetic with clean lines. For me, my designs must be both functional and beautiful. For my clothing designs, this means that they must be comfortable.
Colorado at Home: In ?Growing Up Sew Liberated,? you write that sewing is a balm for your soul? Do you find sewing meditative? What is it about sewing that feeds your soulful side?
Meg McElwee:?I do. As long as I don?t have a deadline, I do. I sew a lot with knit fabrics, and I find that they require you to be present to the situation at hand. The fabric is unique, the way it interacts with my machine is unique, and it?s a great way to focus on the moment. The hum of the machine can also be chant-like, if you have a bold imagination.
- Sewer and author Meg McElwee will be at Fancy Tiger Crafts on July 20th from 7-9 p.m.
Colorado at Home: What?s your favorite design from the new book?
Meg McElwee:?The art satchel, followed closely by the doll pattern.
Colorado at Home: I imagine your work space to be the dreamiest place. Is it?
Meg McElwee:?If you had asked me this question two months ago, my answer would have been a resounding ?no!? We recently remodeled the old building that we use as a studio/office space. A space that previously had two very small windows, an unfinished ceiling and a wall splitting the space in half is now the most beautiful, window-filled sewing space. It makes such a difference! We kept the light and airy feel going by framing the windows in natural pine, painting the walls a creamy white, and putting in a faux wood floor. While it has yet to get its final decorative touches, having a light-filled space has already done wonders for my creative spark. I just WANT to go to the studio, now!
Colorado at Home: I?m an ?A.D.D. crafter.? I have a hard time staying focused on one project and generally have several going at once. Are you similar? How do you juggle projects and pattern development? Are they the same thing for you?
Meg McElwee:?I do have a tendency to be that way, but I?ve had to re-train my crafting brain. Having too much in the pipeline can actually be stressful for me, even if the work is enjoyable. Nowadays, I tend to work on one sewing project at a time. Often, I am sewing as part of my pattern development, so I really can?t move on to the next project until the other is completed!
Colorado at Home: What advice would you have for aspiring sewers who may feel a bit intimidated? What?s a good project to start with?
Meg McElwee:?A handful of patterns in ?Growing Up Sew Liberated,? as well as several of my sewing patterns for women, call for knit fabrics. There?s a myth that sewing with these uber-comfortable fabrics is scary, but that?s not so. It just takes getting to know your machine, the fabric you?re working with, and having a few special tricks up your sleeve. I think that knits are, in fact, a liberating fabric to work with because you can bypass all of the complicated fitting issues that you run up against sewing with woven fabrics. I?ve been in Denver filming a class with Craftsy about this very subject ? sewing with knits. I think it?s a great class for beginners so they can jump right in to the little knit baby shirts and pants in ?Growing Up Sew Liberated,? and sew some wardrobe essentials for themselves as well.
Meg McElwee will be at Fancy Tiger Crafts?Friday (July 20th) from 7-9 PM for a meet-and-greet book signing! Don?t miss it!
And be sure to follow Meg McElwee?s blog, Sew Liberated!
Source: http://blogs.denverpost.com/coloradoathome/2012/07/19/meg-mcelwee-sew-liberated/
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