We’re thrilled to be collaborating with the talented Laura Casey from Sew Different as part of our Christmas Sew-Along Festival! Laura has provided us with her Sicilian Top pattern for the Festival, which we hope you’re as excited as we are to sew!
We spoke to Laura and asked her all about Sew Different and her journey as a pattern designer.
How did Sew Different come to life?
It started as a blog where I was documenting my sewing journey and early designs. I quickly gained followers and realised that it had the potential to become a business.
What inspired you to start your own pattern company?
I was looking looking for simple, contemporary patterns with easy to follow instructions and couldn’t find them, so I started to make my own.
Can you tell us more about the design process behind your patterns?
I am one of the few Indie pattern designers who bring out a collection of patterns rather than a single pattern at a time. I love the feel you can create with a group of garments. They work together to create a look. I often have an idea of how I want something to look but it will always go through many incarnations before I settle on the final design.
Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I usually draw my inspiration from travel and events. I launched a collection last year called Pink City which was based on my journey through India to see the textile industry there (Jaipur is known as the pink city). It was so inspiring to see the beautiful hand printed fabrics, dying and weaving.
What tips do you have for beginners starting out with sewing or using your patterns for the first time?
Pick something with a one or two star difficulty rating. If you are unsure of techniques, you will find thousands of demonstrations on Youtube to help you out. Don’t start out with expensive fabric – use something cheap to make sure that you like the style and that it suits you before you move on to the beautiful and cherished pieces in your stash
How does it feel to see people around the world using your patterns to create their own garments and projects?
It’s always thrilling to see people wearing my own designs. What is particularly interesting is to see other people’s take on it. So often other people make up one of my designs in a different fabric, or pair it with something else that would never have occurred to me.
Do you have any new patterns or exciting projects you’re working on that we should look out for?
We have just launched our brand new range of patterns called the Creators Collection. Inspired by the artistic community at the mill complex (Dean Clough) where my new studio is based, they are practical garments for practical people. Whether you are a potter, a painter, a chef, a gardener of a sewist, there is something for you with plenty of pockets. There are pinafores. overalls, aprons and tabards – perfect for making up in hardwearing materials like denim, cotton and corduroy.
Want to join the sewing fun & make your own Sicilian Top?
Join us and lots of inspiring creators in this 5-day online Christmas Sew-Along Festival 🎄 Designed to boost your skills, inspire creativity and bring your sewing dreams to life. You’ll get lifetime access to expert-led tutorials, patterns as well as the support from a friendly and thriving sewing community – all from the comfort of your home!
