Stitch Social :: Elise

Today in our Stitch Social series, we’re getting to know more about Elise!  Elise has taken a class with every single one of our instructors at Stitch, and it has been so exciting for us to watch her sewing journey first hand.  Read the full interview to hear all about her favorite handmade garments and her living room sewing set up.  You can see more of her beautiful makes on her new sewing Instagram account @ristleberry!

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5. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SEWING AND WHAT GOT YOU STARTED?

6. I started sewing in the spring of 2018. I had taken a couple of workshops at a letterpress and linocut shop in 2017 and 2018 and the owner of the shop hosted a combined print-and-sew tote bag workshop that I participated in, and I was hooked!

7. HOW DID YOU FIRST FIND STITCH? // TELL US ABOUT THE FIRST THING YOU EVER MADE.

8. After that first workshop, I started looking for more sewing classes, and found Stitch! My first garment sewing project was the PJ pant class at Stitch. I accidentally cut two left legs, so I ended up having to use the same fabric in a different color, so they’re my harlequin PJ pants. I still wear them!

9. WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT SEWING?

10. When I’m not sewing, I love reading and going for walks with a good podcast or audiobook. I’m a regular at the National Arboretum in northeast DC.

11. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TYPE OF FABRIC TO WORK WITH?

12. I love working with linen and cotton lawn because they’re easy and they press so well. Lately, I’ve been trying to psych myself up to work with some trickier fabrics, so we’ll see how that goes!

13. TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROUDEST MAKE!

14. It’s so hard to pick one make I’m most proud of, but I think it’s probably my Sapporo coat. I bought the amazing herringbone wool fabric at Stitch, which was so fun because my previous coats have always been pretty standard black wool. I worked with Henna on a muslin to get the fit right, and then spent HOURS cutting to get the herringbone pattern matched perfectly—I think I spent more time cutting than actually sewing. I absolutely love having made a coat because I get to wear it every day, and I get compliments on it all the time.
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17. WHAT DO YOU DO TO GET YOURSELF OUT OF A SEWING RUT?

18. To get myself out of a sewing rut, I like to make a pattern I’ve already made or something new that doesn’t require a lot of fitting. I can sometimes get stuck in the muslin phase, so if I’m feeling unmotivated, I have to go with a project that doesn’t require too much fiddling with fit.

19. DO YOU HAVE A GO-TO SEWING SNACK?

20. Green grapes! And lots of tea and seltzer.

21. TEAM TRACE OR TEAM CUT (FOR PAPER PATTERNS)?

22. Team trace forever! My Stitch teachers have taught me well!
    

    WHAT SEWING TOOL COULD YOU NEVER LIVE WITH OUT?

23. I couldn’t live without my various fabric pencils and markers, and my edge stitching foot.

24. WHAT IS YOUR SEWING SET UP LIKE?  DO YOU HAVE A DESIGNATED SPACE?

25. I live in a small apartment, so I don’t really have a dedicated sewing space, although my serger and sewing notions do have a permanent spot in my living room in and on a vintage sewing cabinet I got at a flea market. I keep fabric in the little cabinet that acts as my TV stand. Lately, I’ve been storing my sewing machine on an IKEA rolling cart that lives in my closet. I also have an adjustable height folding table that I bring out to cut fabric. I’m definitely jealous of folks who have dedicated sewing room, but I’ve been really inspired by Helen and Caroline’s reminder on the Love to Sew podcast that the time it takes to set up and break down my sewing setup is always less time than you think—which is true. And let’s be honest, sometimes I totally leave my living room in full-on sewing chaos when I’m in the middle of a project.

4. DO YOU HAVE A CERTAIN TYPE OF GARMENT THAT YOU LIKE TO SEW, OR A PATTERN THAT YOU HAVE MADE MANY TIMES?

   I’m still in the process of figuring out my favorite garments to make, but my most made pattern is definitely the Cashmerette Appleton dress. I’ve made four for myself in various lengths and sleeve lengths, and one for a friend since the knit fabric and wrap style makes it easy to fit from far away. I’ve also made a few Closet Core Patterns Cielo tops and Cashmerette Rivermont dresses. Lately, I’ve been trying out a few T-shirt patterns to find my ultimate slouchy tee.

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6. TELL US ABOUT A FAVORITE STITCH MEMORY!

7. I have soooo many wonderful Stitch memories. I’ve taken a class with every teacher at Stitch, and I’ve been able to participate in a few weekend workshops as well, and I’ve loved every one! I’ve especially loved the classes and workshops on garments and techniques I’ve been too intimidated to try on my own, like jeans or a coat. One of the most complicated makes I’ve made was the Cashmerette Harrison shirt, which I did very slowly over the course of a weekend fitting workshop with Taylor from Blueprints for Sewing and then in a class with Kalle. I’ve also loved getting to know some of the other sewists in the Stitch community through the classes at the shop.

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   Stitch Social is a monthly interview series that features some of the members of our wonderful sewing community.