June 20, 2025 • 38 mins
When Christine Lindebak was just five years old, she begged her mother to let her use the sewing machine. That early passion blossomed into a lifelong creative journey that now helps others rediscover the joy of making their own clothes through her pattern design business, Sewing and the City.
Christine's approach to pattern-making stands out for its exceptional attention to detail. Each design undergoes multiple rounds of fittings across different sizes over two to three months—a meticulous process that ensures perfect fit and function. The results speak for themselves in patterns like the Manhattan, with its distinctive puff sleeves and versatile silhouette that works beautifully as both a blouse and dress.
What makes Christine's work particularly valuable is her commitment to making sewing approachable. Beyond creating patterns with clear instructions and clever construction techniques, she offers a Fit Clinic program that helps sewists adjust patterns to their unique bodies. This supportive community space addresses common fitting challenges that often discourage people from sewing for themselves.
Christine's creative vision extends beyond pattern-making to her slow fashion brand, Lindy Lindy (named for her grandfather). Using vintage linens and reclaimed textiles, she creates one-of-a-kind garments that might otherwise end up in landfills. Her upcoming pattern featuring beginner-friendly embroidery designs further demonstrates her dedication to preserving and sharing traditional textile arts.
The resurgence of interest in handcrafts, particularly among younger generations discovering upcycling, represents a meaningful pushback against disposable fashion. Through her patterns, tutorials, and teaching, Christine is helping ensure these skills continue to flourish while empowering people to express their individuality through what they wear. Sign up for her newsletter to receive her free Manhattan pattern and join a community of makers reconnecting with the clothes they wear.
Instagram- Sewing and the City
Sewing slow Fashion Facebook Group
Sewing and the City on YouTube
Lindy, Lindy- Slow Fashion Shop
Liberty of London Cotton Fabrics
Catch the doodles on YouTube
My socials:
Sign up for my monthly newsletter
Portfolio website: Brewtifully.com
Instagram: /Brewtifully
Facebook: /brewtifully
TikTok: GettingSmallwithGrandma
LinkedIn: Tracy Dawn Brewer
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
Welcome back to a new episode of Brutally Made.
I am so honored and excited tobring you, christine Linda back.
She is the owner andentrepreneur of Sewing in the
City Sewing in the City, sothank you so much for joining me
, christine, where are youjoining me from?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Well, thank you, tracy, I'm so excited to be here
.
So I am in Valencia, spain.
That's what.
I thought, but I'm American,you can tell by my accent, but
I've lived here for about eightyears.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Oh, my gosh, so honored to have you on the
program.
And if you had seen any of mysocial medias in the last month,
you have seen where I sharedChristine's work and her pattern
making.
So that is one of the thingsthat we're going to dive into.
I signed up for her newsletterand I received a pattern for
(01:01):
free when I did that.
And I received a pattern forfree when I did that called the
Manhattan, and it was thisbeautiful blouse or dress.
So I had a fabric and I wantedto make it from that.
Now you suggested a woven, butwe'll get into all of that and I
made it out of cotton and I'mwearing it now.
So before I go into anyslideshow of her work, I want
(01:21):
you to at least realize I amwearing this beautiful I mean
these sleeves.
Oh, my goodness, your patternwork is just phenomenal.
So thank you for that.
And so let's just dive in alittle bit about your background
and what led you into patternmaking.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah, Well, first, your top looks so cute on you
and I love how you styled it andtucked it in the front.
Yeah, the sleeves I'm a big fanof puff sleeves and so I was
kind of thinking of differentways that I could do a puff
sleeve without having, you know,traditional shoulder seam.
So it's just a little bit of adifferent, a different take on a
(02:00):
on a puffy sleep.
You did well, thank you.
My, my dog is agreeing, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Trust me, everyone knows we have three dogs and
four cats around here.
You will hear them in thebackground, so just let him.
Let him support you, no bigdeal.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, he's definitely a little cheerleader back there
, um, so, so, yeah, so I, um, uh, I've got got into pattern
making.
I mean, I've been sewing sinceI was five, and my mom says that
I was literally begging her tolet me use the sewing machine.
Um, and so she, finally, youknow, despite being a little
(02:39):
nervous about letting me sew atsuch a little little age, um,
she let me do it, and I justhave never stopped.
Uh, and I sewed with commercialpatterns for a long time, until
about six, six years ago, Istarted doing my own patterns.
Um, just because you know it'ssometimes you, you just you just
(03:00):
want to want to have one, haveyour own thing, right, Right.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Cause I'm sure you manipulated those commercial
patterns.
As soon as you would open themup, I'd do the same thing, I can
see that.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah, so it's really fun that I get to share it on a,
you know, on a bigger scale.
And I mean, I have a loveaffair with patterns, I collect
them.
I don't I don't even know howmany vintage patterns that I
have, but probably well into thehundreds, I would say.
(03:34):
So I just love patterns and so,you know, I couldn't think of
anything that is more fun to dothan create patterns, oh my gosh
.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Well, I really encourage everyone and I will
have links in the show notes toall of your platforms to sign up
for your newsletter and printone of your patterns.
They are impeccable, your eyefor detail and there's so much
information to help guide youthrough it in different ways.
Once you download it, to onlyselect the size that you want.
(04:01):
So you're printing that.
Now.
I selected everything because Iwanted to experience it like a
traditional pattern whenever youget multiple sizes, so I really
wanted to like see that.
But you give so manyopportunities to be very
specific to what you want andprint that off with a regular
home printer.
You piece it together like alittle puzzle, you give
instructions for that and thenyou cut it out and make your
(04:25):
garments and they are.
Your work is just beautiful andI cannot believe it's only been
six years.
I mean that background fromsewing and just it's just
impeccable.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Thank you.
Thank you, yeah, the printingwith layers.
So it's like the way it allhappens in the computer, so each
size has its own layer, and sothat way when you go to print it
, you can.
There's a way in Adobe which isa free pattern or a free.
A free pattern it's a free,like software you can download
(04:58):
and it allows you to uncheckyour sizes or any sizes that you
don't want to print, and thatway you can.
You can print just one size, orsome people will do like two
sizes.
Um so yeah, it makes it alittle bit of a cleaner
experience that way.
Um so yeah, and I knew thispattern.
I don't know if you followedthe sew along on my YouTube.
(05:19):
Um, I did watch it, yes,Because I knew that the pleats
um that was going to be achallenge.
Yeah, and so I was like well, Idefinitely wanted to do a sew
along, just so people couldreally have like have a good
experience sewing it, and Ithink that for those specific
details, that could be a littletricky.
I think it's I like doing alittle sew along so people can
(05:42):
visually see what you're doingto get it to come together.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
So that was very, that was very thoughtful of you
to do that and to add that bitof information, because when I
was, you know, gettingeverything cut out and started
piecing together, I'm like, oh,this reminds me of, like the
Vogue patterns, because theywere always just a touch above
the others with their detail andthose specific cute little
(06:06):
features.
But, you know, the final isjust beautiful and, like I said,
I made mine in cotton.
I have a lot of cotton, verypuffy sleeve.
You know, if you want to callit that, pieces in my shop that
I get from vendors that are hugesellers, my shop that I get
from vendors that are hugesellers.
So I love that.
The cotton, you know, fabricthat I had and just wanted to
(06:30):
make something.
I've had it for two years now,wanted to do something fun with
it and I'm like, okay, eventhough this says more like
probably like a woven or ajersey or something, I really
want to do it in this cottonbecause I loved this print.
So it was, it was perfect and Ithought it worked well.
Of course, here I'm alwaysbreaking rules and not being
(06:50):
very specific to what someonesuggests.
But it's totally fine, you knowyou know, try something that you
love and I just I, I'm veryexcited to do another one and
maybe even make a dress out ofthat pattern and there's try
some other patterns, because youdo sell your patterns on your
website, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
I do.
So I have, um, I have othertops and dresses, um old season
like little jackets, um, andthen I even do like pajamas and
some like lingerie style stuff,um.
So yeah, I do have a little bitof everything.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Oh my gosh, basically anything.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Basically anything that I want, I'll.
Then, you know, it becomes apattern.
So that's kind of how it's alittle snippet of my closet.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Yeah, that's the best start, so I love that you
started sewing at five.
I would have loved to havelearned at that age.
I always wanted to hijack myaunt's sewing machine.
My mother didn't know how tosew my I always wanted to hijack
my aunt's sewing machine.
My mother didn't know how tosew, my aunt did and, of course,
my mom the same way.
You're going to sew yourfingers or you're going to put
the needle through your fingers,so they're always very worried.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yes, it's the fingers that was such a fear?
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Yeah, but I think that earlier you start learning,
the better.
Even hand sewing, learning howto do all of those stitches and
stuff that's really important.
So do you teach sewing andpattern making at all, or is
this just something that you doand place that online?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Yeah, I do.
Well, I've gone to Sew Expo inthe Pacific Northwest.
It's like the largest sewingconference, so I do teach there.
I've done that for like fiveyears now in a row, which is
really fun.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Christine, I'll have to know when you're there,
because my daughter's live inSeattle and I would like to go
over there.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Oh, what a good excuse, I didn't know that.
Yeah, oh yeah, it's every umlike the last week of February
kind of into that first week ofMarch.
It's an every year, so year.
So I get, I'm from Seattle, soI get to go back and see my
parents and then do expo.
And I grew up going to expoLike I I was, you know I would
(08:55):
tag along with my mom and soit's.
It was a really cool fullcircle.
Getting to come back andactually teach there and
participate, that's reallyreally cool.
I've had, I've had some younger, younger girls in my classes
too, which I just love because Ilove to see the next generation
(09:20):
learning.
Even though it's never too lateto learn, I mean it's never too
late, but I love seeing theyounger generation kind of
popping in as well.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Yeah, I agree, I think that is offered.
It's not offered enough and Istarted offering it in my studio
and I did have a lot of younger.
They've all been girls so far.
Guys.
I am not judging because myhusband is a 22-year Air Force
veteran and he sews with me.
He is wonderful.
Oh, that's so wonderful.
(09:48):
Yes, he does so.
We have two machines and he'llsew and make things and he's
always very proud of the stuffthat he does.
So it's, it's for everyone, itreally is.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That's so cool that he sews that's that is so fun.
Yeah, because it really is justabout creating something, like
bringing, bringing something tolife.
It's another tool.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
That's all it is.
It's another tool, and fiber issuch a great medium.
I was just talking with anotherartist and entrepreneur and she
asked what my favorite mediumwas and I said fiber.
And she's like I have never hadsomeone answer that and I said
there's so much.
You can do with layering thatwithin your work.
If you're doing a collage piece, clothing and adding paint or
(10:29):
whatever, it's still a tool anda medium, and so I just love how
that translates into otherpieces of art.
And sewing isn't art and itabsolutely needs to be addressed
as a beautiful art form, and Ithink you're doing it well with
your pattern making.
I just think it's beautiful tosee all that.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Thank you.
Yes, I definitely think thatit's coming back to like just
kind of thinking about theyounger generation and, like
your classes, having youngpeople come in.
I'm seeing that like sometimesthe door for younger people to
come in through is throughupcycling, where they'll get
something at like the thriftstore and they want to re, like,
(11:09):
refashion it kind of a thing,and I love that.
I think it's such a great, it'ssuch a great entry into the
sewing world as well.
Um, cause, maybe it feelsdoable for people, because I
think it can feel reallyintimidating to make a new
garment from scratch when you'venever sewn before.
But if you can like, oh, I wantto cut the sleeves off of this.
(11:30):
Maybe it's a little bit moreapproachable.
And so I love, I love that thatyou know young, the younger
generation, but that seems to bea little bit of a trend, I see.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Yeah, that's a great point and you're so right.
They really embrace, you know,merging textiles, merging looks,
finding ways to make itpersonalized.
I think the sewing world allowsyou to personalize and make it
unique, and that's what somebodyis always searching for.
How can this represent me?
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Yeah, it's like the kind of the pushback from fast
fashion where everyone has thesame trend, the same colors and
you just kind of end up losingthat individuality.
And also I feel like we've kindof lost the connection.
It's possible to lose theconnection to our clothes, with
(12:22):
fast fashion and everythingthat's available to buy, whereas
if you make your own clothesyou know like your fabric, you
had your fabric for a couple ofyears and you know there's just
like something that reallyspecial about that and that
sewing allows us to reconnectwith, with what we wear.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Yes, I love that.
Do you have any favoritepatterns or have you ever
investigated making your ownfabric patterns and getting your
own fabric with your designs?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
wish that I could really draw paint, um, and and
maybe I could, but maybe I justhaven't given myself the proper
time to like be really bad at it, um, but yeah, I think doing a,
a, a fabric collection somedaywould be really fun, you know,
maybe um doing I know I seepeople who draw on the iPad like
they do the paint on the iPad.
So yeah, I think that thatwould be a really fun adventure
(13:29):
someday.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Yeah, I use Procreate on my iPad and I do pattern
design and then have it printedwith like spoon, flower or
carriage, house and I've beenwith them since 2010, using
their platform to sell fabricand wallpaper, and so it's just
investigating it, you know,trying a few of your hand marks,
getting a little swatch orderedjust to see the quality of the
(13:53):
types they offer.
So many, oh, my gosh, so many,from canvas to silk to, I mean,
cotton, you name it, everything,yeah.
So I didn't know if you had afavorite texture of fabric.
Do you have a favorite fabricthat you like to sew with?
Oh, that's such a good question.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
It's so hard to answer.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I know it is so hard to answer Sometimes, like those
jerseys, sometimes just really,if I don't have my serger going
with it, they frustrate me.
Other times it's like I'll juststick with cotton.
They frustrate me.
Other times it's like I'll juststick with cotton.
It's fast, it's easy, I can getthrough it really quick.
So I you know, I don't know,maybe I'm too opinionated one
way.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah, no, I feel the same.
I, you know, sometimes I'll geta Jersey that rolls.
You know, when the edge, thecut edges roll, and that just
drives me crazy.
I had one the other day.
I was making a t-shirt, Um, butthe tip with that is, if you
ever get a knit that rolls, youcan use spray starch, um, and
you can spray the edges withspray starch and then and then
iron it and it will just give itenough of um, like a
(14:55):
stabilization yeah, that it'llsmooth out that, oh great hint
and I think you could use it onother things, like if you're
cutting bias, you know somethingon the bias, or whatever.
So that's my, my little tip forknits.
But yeah, I think if you saidokay, you could sew with
anything this afternoon, whatwould it be?
(15:17):
I think I would have to choosea Liberty of London cotton lawn.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
I think, yeah, the ultimate, yeah.
Oh my gosh, that is fabulous.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Yeah, my local fabric store has a full, you know,
Florida ceiling, like row ofLiberty of London in the cotton
lawn which is just that butterysoft.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
All the little prints I'm so envious.
You know we're crying that ourJoanne's all closed.
And I just love hearing that Imean, I literally am, I don't
know half an hour from Amishcountry and they have some large
fabric stores, but I don'tthink that they carry that.
So I just I love that you haveaccess.
(16:01):
Oh, my goodness, yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
It's special.
I I you know I I do tend to sewmore on a budget, so I'm always
looking for a little um likeI'll pick up remnants.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Oh yeah, I'm a big first place I go.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Totally.
I love remnants and it's likefinding the kind of the um
needle in a haystack, you know,to just go through the remnant
pile and find a gem like that.
So so, yeah, it's, it's fun,fun to look.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Yeah, oh, my goodness , I love that, so do you any?
Do you do any other type ofsewing?
Do you like to do embroidery orany hand sewing or things to
embellish some of the piecesthat you do?
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Yeah, I do I.
So when I was I don't know, Imust've been before I could
drive.
So I must've been like earlyteens.
I studied French air likeheirloom sewing oh my gosh, with
his, with like smocking andembroidery and all the like
little insertion laces andthings, oh my goodness.
Yeah, I studied with MarthaPullen.
(17:00):
She was like a big the you know, the biggest teacher during
that time and I went toHuntsville, alabama, to one of
her.
She had like a three-day likeretreat type of thing.
So I went and so I really dolove embroidery.
I actually am working on a newpattern now that I'm going to
(17:22):
include three differentbeginner-friendly embroidery
patterns that you can embroider.
On a new pattern now that I'mgoing to include three different
beginner friendly embroiderypatterns that you can embroider.
It's like a little beginnersewing top and you can embroider
here because it's getting um, I, I see a lot of crochet, a lot
of embroidery out there now and,um, and I like to use upcycled
(17:43):
linens a lot.
So I'll find like pieces ofembroidery that you know, maybe
they have a stain here and therebut I can cut around it and so
doing that kind of upcycling.
But I figured well, if youdon't have access to an older
piece, you could still embroider, embroider your own and have
you know the look.
So, so that, yeah, that's mynext project.
(18:04):
I'm going to do a sew along aswell, just to teach the three,
just three basic embroiderystitches.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
So oh, I love that.
I will definitely be lookingfor that and that was going to
be one of my questions, likewhat's coming down, you know,
the pike with new patterns ornew, new designs or some new
ideas?
So I love that combination ofdoing something you're right,
hand stitched or handmade on topof your apparel is huge, huge.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah, and I think also it can feel a little
intimidating.
If you've never embroideredbefore, you're like I don't know
how you do that Um.
So I I drew out three just um,really pretty but um, you know
beginner friendly embroidery,embroidery patterns, and it's a
little.
It's um, either a top andlittle shorts, or a top and
(18:55):
little capri pants, or a dressversion, um, and it can be like
a lounge wear.
You can wear it out as well, um, but I designed it.
I have a.
I also have a slow fashionbrand that um, that I have on
the I have as well.
And so a lot of times what I'lldo is I'll use the pattern
because I've developed, you know, I've done all the fittings and
(19:18):
done all the development of itand then I'll I'll make ready to
wear a certain amount of unitsto sell in my slow fashion.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yeah, I love that.
That's a great reminder.
I want to make sure that peopledo know that they can maybe
grab a piece that's pre-made byyou.
I love that.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Oh, yeah, yeah.
So I designed the patternbecause in my slow fashion brand
I use a lot of vintage linen,so pieces that maybe they would
end up in the landfill or in youknow some forgotten corner of
the, of the thrift store orwherever, and so I, I I use
those, and so this pattern Idesigned in mind with using
(19:59):
smaller pieces of thoseembroidered linens.
So yeah, you'll see it, you'llsee the pattern and you can
embroider your own, or I'll haveyou know, some available as
well for sale.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Oh, that's wonderful.
Oh my gosh, it's so fun.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
It is.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
It is so fun.
I absolutely love that you'remaking it your own.
I would love to go back to whenyou shared that you started
selling at five, so what was thefirst thing that you got to
make when you were five yearsold?
Do you remember what you weremaking?
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, oh, I don't remember the exact first thing,
but I definitely know veryquickly I went right into
cabbage patch doll clothes, doyou?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
remember.
Yes, oh my gosh, yes, that'sthe cutest.
That's better than Barbie,because Barbie clothes are so
tiny Cabbage patch is perfectyeah.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Yeah, I think I did do some some Barbie stuff, but I
was really more of a cabbagepatch doll girl and I think I
was still little enough thatthey yeah, and I had.
I had quite a few of the dollsso they all had their full
outfits.
Yeah, I remember I had.
I had a book.
My parents must've bought me abook with all these patterns
inside with all the differentstyles, and that was really fun.
(21:14):
I think those experiences were.
I mean, I'm basically stilldoing the same thing now and you
know, just making outfits forreal people, yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
I love that.
I remember making my dollclothes out of.
I had Priscilla curtains in myroom and I cut them up and I
didn't tell my mother.
They were like the ones thathung behind my bed, so she never
knew for a long time that thosecurtains were cut at the bottom
because they were the skirtsfor my dolls.
Yeah, so I was.
Oh wow, that was the onlyfabric I thought I could find.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
I know.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Again hand sewing at first because I wasn't allowed
to use the machine, but I wasdetermined, but that is so funny
.
So it always seems like westarted with our dolls.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
That is such a fun story.
Oh, my goodness, I know so bad,yeah, but I think about sewing
and like what it brought methroughout my you know, those
early years, and it's thingslike that where you know your,
your biggest thing was how can Imake more clothes for my dolls?
And there's something just sogreat of that.
That.
That's the focus and and Ithink it's so great to have even
now, to have a creative outletwhere you can put your energy
(22:29):
into and it keeps you motivatedand focused on something really
positive.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So how long does it take you to make a pattern?
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Oh, it really depends on the complexity and how many
rounds of fittings that we needto go through to get it perfect.
Okay, so it could be, um, couldbe maybe five or six samples
that I'll go through indifferent sizes.
Um, just to make sureeverything's fitting, fitting
correctly.
(22:58):
Um, so, normally it's it's liketwo to three months Wow.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Okay, yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Um, so it it takes time, but I I could probably do
it faster.
Um, but that's just I don't knowany reason why.
I mean sometimes I wish it wenta little faster, but just cause
you want it to be done, but um,but yeah, I think I, my first,
my whole first career was infashion, working in a corporate
environment that was very highstress, high pressure, and so I
(23:31):
that was really superchallenging for me.
I burnt out, and so I thinkI've kind of consciously chosen
a rhythm that allows me to workat my own pace and not max out
my creativity and everything, asI'm developing a pattern.
I'm also, you know, doing otherthings, like my YouTube channel
and stuff like that.
So, yeah, it's a good rhythm.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
That's good.
I love to hear that and I lovethat you specifically said
fittings.
You didn't say increaseeverything by like two inches or
whatever.
You're very conscientious abouthow it fits per size and I
think that that is a reflectionof your eye detail and how, like
I said, how well the patterncomes across when you print it
(24:12):
and the instructions, and justit's wonderful.
I just I can't say that enough.
I really hope people experiencewhat you've created, because it
is just phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Thank you, thank you, yeah, thank you, thank you.
Yeah, fit is a big, a big thingalso, um, because we all have
different shaped bodies, so it'slike one.
You know, I have to use one,one set of proportions to
develop a pattern, because you,you have to have something to
(24:45):
start, um.
But then, uh, I do teachclasses, um, I have a live
program that I run called fitclinic, where I help, I help
people understand how to do thepattern adjustments.
Like if you have um, if apattern is cut for a person with
, like, a C cup, but you have aD cup, um, you, you, you know
(25:07):
there's a certain way to do itso that it fits around the top
part but also fits around yourbust, and you know all, all the
things.
Or some people have a shorterwaist, or you know larger hips
than than the waist, like adifferent um proportion between
waist and hips, and so all thoselittle things are really easy
(25:28):
adjustments that you can make toget things to fit your body.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Yeah so, but just knowing that that's available, I
love that you offer that.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Yeah, yeah and I do it, we do it live on zoom and so
cause there's something aboutyou know, being alone in our own
house and with your mirror butyou're like what do I do?
It's cooling here and coolinghere.
I don't know what to do, and soit's nice to have a.
I do it in a group setting, sothere's usually, you know, a
handful of us on zoom, and soyou get to learn from other
(25:59):
people as well.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Yes, and that's that's wonderful, that community
, that sense of I'm not in thisalone, I'm not the only one
having this issue.
I think that that's reallyimportant for people to remember
.
You're not in your creativespace alone.
Please know that there arepeople out here like us that
want to encourage you to exploreways to find what you need, and
(26:21):
we're here with those answers.
And so I think that that's yeahvery important to remember.
Yeah, exactly yeah, veryimportant to remember.
Yeah, exactly so.
Is there a pro?
Is there a project that youhaven't tackled yet, that you
would like to create a patternfor?
Is there something you haven'tdone something?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Oh, I'm telling you, I have this little itch that
just it won't go away.
So I know it's one of thosethings that will probably
eventually come come to life.
Um, I'm doing some children'spatterns.
Oh my gosh, I know, it's sorandom.
Um, but I just I made a, uh, acouple of little pieces for um a
(27:00):
friend who's having twins andit just ignited this spark Cause
I couldn't find what I wantedto sew for her?
Um, of course not.
Oh, I know, and yes, just spent.
I really spent a long time justgoing through all the available
patterns and it's like I just Ireally want to make some
children's patterns, but I needto stay focused.
(27:22):
Right now I have, you know,with sewing in the city with my
slow fashion brand.
That's only a year, just alittle over a year old, so I
really need to give it more timeto grow and get get going.
So, um, so I'm not, I can't doit yet, but like any good
creative, you know we've got alist of ideas.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
I love that.
I sew all the time for mygrandchildren.
So I love that that's on thehorizon or in your the back of
your mind, because I think thatthat would be terrific.
I tend to make a lot of thingsthat match their mother.
Oh, because my kids grew up Ihave three daughters and we I
would make our clothes and theirclothes and they would match
and they were such 90s babiesand they just cringe now when
(28:06):
they look back at those pictures.
But I don't care, I just thinkit's so fun.
Their dolls match them.
And just the other day theysent me a meme and it was like,
where these girls werephotographed with dolls that
match their clothes and I sentthem back a picture of them.
I'm like, yeah, I know, I didthe same thing, you forgot.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
That's amazing.
Oh, I, I love, love, love thatthere's.
There's just something that youlike.
You can't replicate that kindof like love and detail that
goes into the whole process ofchoosing the fabric and patterns
and putting it all together andhaving the photograph.
(28:44):
It's just, it's really, reallyspecial and when they were
little they would go to thefabric store with me and then
we're like pick your dress out.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
You know, really special, and when they were
little they would go to thefabric store with me and then
would like pick your dress out.
You know, pick the fabric outor help me pick a pattern, and
oh yeah, and then by the timethe second oldest got into high
school, she was self-designingher homecoming dresses, so she
would draw them.
Then I would have to make upthe pattern to match her drawing
, to make her dress, and so theywere very creative alongside
(29:09):
with me and I just love that andit's such great memories.
So I love what you're doing,because that foundation to offer
this tool for making somethingtogether or making a gift like
you were doing it's justtremendous and I think that it
goes far beyond just doingsomething for ourselves.
It's putting so much goodnessout in the world.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Totally yeah, and sometimes I think you know it's
like it's not.
It's not necessarily aboutmaking another dress or you know
something, cause I thinkprobably everyone in in our
circles have enough clothes Like.
If you know it's not like wereally need anything but it's.
There's so much more that goesinto the, the sewing.
(29:50):
You know it's very creativewhen I sew, when I get in kind
of the flow state like hours canearn.
You know good hours go by.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
I have to tell Alexa to set alarms.
I totally will forget where I'mat and what I'm doing, and then
time just flies.
Yeah, you totally get lost, andwhat.
I'm doing and the time justflies.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Yeah, you totally get lost and it's great.
Agree more, yeah, like if you,if I have something that you
know, like like a decision Ineed to make or something that's
just kind of, um, yeah, like achallenge, or just something I'm
trying to kind of figure out, Ican, I can sew and I can.
Just the answers just kind ofcome because you're relaxed a
little bit.
Yeah, oh, I totally agree, Ilove that I know it's so good,
(30:38):
it's a really good I mean anyhobby.
I feel like whatever it is thatyou do to express your
creativity is really.
You know, it's something Ithink a lot of people are
getting back to now too.
You know, after the last coupleof years, so I think it's great
.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Yeah, making time to, you know, find those, what they
were calling grandma crafts arecoming back.
But it's true, I see it in myshop and I see it online, and I
am here to promote every bit ofit as much as I can because I
think it's wonderful.
Yes, it really is.
(31:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
So you're running your businesses, are you doing
that alone?
Do you have help?
Yeah, so I have.
I have part-time help, so, andI have someone who, for example,
when I like the, theinstruction booklet that you had
for, like all those drawingsand things, those, someone does
those for me.
I love that.
Yeah, so that.
And then I have someone whohelps me with, you know, social
(31:40):
media and just kind oforganizing things, emails and
such.
So so yeah, but but yeah, forthe, for the most part, I'm, you
know, I'm doing a lot of thewell, all the filming I do all
the editing of my videos.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Wow, yeah, yeah, on top of making your patterns and
sewing and all of that.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Wow, it's funny.
There's so many little thingsthat go into the day to day that
you know.
Even when I said, oh, it takesabout two to three months to do
a pattern, it's like, wow, thattakes so long.
But then you figure all thelittle things that are happening
along with that.
That it's.
It's yeah, but luckily I reallylove it.
So it's fun, that's great.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Oh, my goodness.
I just think that it's awonderful, unique process and I
love that you're doing it insuch a public way and sharing
especially these ups and downson this episode, and then we're
going to be able to share allyour social media and places
where everyone can find you.
So can you share a little bit,like where everyone can find
(32:45):
what you're doing and if youhave different social medias for
your slow fashion brand and,yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
So, um, I think the main place to go is my, my
Instagram, and it's uh, sewingand the city, um, and from there
you'll find all the the linksto the Manhattan pattern, which
is my, my free pattern, um, andthen, and you'll find links to
my shop and all the things.
And then my slow fashion brandis also Instagram and it's at
(33:14):
lindylindyshop and Lindy Lindyis, it's a play, it's actually
the nickname that we used tocall my grandfather because of
our.
Our last name is Linda back,which can get a little tricky to
say, and so he people wouldcall him Lindy and I always knew
him as grandpa, grandma andgrandpa Lindy.
(33:34):
Oh, so, when it came time tolook for the name, I I didn't
want it to just be like my name,you know.
That just seemed toostraightforward.
So, um, I put two, two of thenickname together and Lindy,
lindy it is.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
That's wonderful.
I love that, oh my gosh.
Yeah, all of those links willbe in our show notes and I love
the pictures that you sent to me, so I'm going to have those on
a little slideshow for theYouTube channel, because I
always like to, you know, havesome visuals so people can see
about what we're talking aboutto see you, people can see about
(34:14):
what we're talking about to seeyou, and I again had a blast
making your pattern and makingmy blouse, and so I highly
encourage that everyone signs upfor your newsletter so you can
keep in touch.
Is that a monthly piece orquarterly?
Speaker 2 (34:23):
Yeah, I try.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
I try to do it weekly oh wow, weekly Okay, but like I
haven't, I've been it.
Weekly.
Weekly is what I aim for.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
But like I haven't, I've been, it's been a little
crazy the last couple of weeks,so but yeah, so weekly with with
not a lot of consistency.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Weekly with some grace.
We're good with that.
I love that.
Weekly with some grace.
We're all about that aroundhere.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Trust me, I love it, I love it and usually, like I'll
do it, I'll have links to likemy YouTube on there and then
I'll do.
I love scouring the internetfor different fabric finds, so I
usually include a couple onwhether it's like a really good
bargain that I find or somethingreally pretty and I give like
different pattern suggestionsthat would work with it, and
(35:06):
then I highlight someone who'smade something with one of my
patterns and then any likeupdates.
So that's kind of what I do inmy in my newsletter.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
That's all great information, though, because
again we're out here looking forfabric now, in any place that
we can find and so sharing thoseresources, that that's
tremendous.
So I don't want to leavewithout thinking is there
anything that you'd want to talkabout that I've missed or that
you're doing, or any, any showscoming up or any, any education
(35:36):
opportunities that are comingthat would be coming up that you
want to share?
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing that's
upcoming is is I'm reopening thefit clinic program again, so
and that's live.
So it's kind of a fun, a funprogram.
I know I've had several womencome through who've kind of
given up sewing for themselvesat some point and then they got
into quilting or like sewing fortheir grandkids kind of a thing
(36:04):
, and and so just you know,passing on that message that you
can get a good fit in yourclothes, and if you've tried and
it hasn't worked, um, you know,it's I, I love helping people
get a good fit and you know, ifyou're ready to maybe experiment
with sewing your own clothes,it's, it's a good, good place.
(36:25):
So, um, I'm excited to openthat again.
It's really fun.
I love getting on, zoom withpeople, with people and
commiserating around aroundsewing and seeing, seeing at the
start like you know somethingtotally not fitting, and then,
week after week, we refine itand then they come and it's like
a perfect fitting garment,which is really fun.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
That's terrific.
I love that you get so much outof it.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
And I know they are.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
You make it feel so approachable and that they can
ask any question, and noquestion is too silly.
So I love your attitude towardsit and your kindness that
you're displaying.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Oh, thanks.
Yeah, it's such a complimentwhen people say that it's that
it's, I make it approachablebecause it it that's one of the
things that's so important to mebecause, um, you know, some
like, I learned to sew so longago that I don't remember what
it was like to learn, and so,sometimes yeah, I'm like I
(37:25):
sometimes it's hard for me to tolike get in the mind of someone
who's never sewn before, and soI never want it to feel like,
oh, she's sewn forever, so she,you know, it's easy for you,
kind of a kind of a thing.
But I don't know, and so Ialways just try to want to be
like encouraging and help makeit look easy as well, cause it's
(37:47):
you know, it's not, it doesn'thave to be such as a struggle.
It takes a lot of practice, youknow, to learn to sew, but so,
yeah, I love, I am like thebiggest proponent, like learn to
sew, learn to sew, it's great.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
Oh well, thank you for creating that space
virtually, offering the patterns, offering the newsletter and
offering your talent to everyone.
I really am so happy that youreached out to be on the program
because I love discovering youand all of your work and I will
be a big fan forever.
Thank you, tracy.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Likewise.
Thank you, christine.
Yes, thanks for having me.
Bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Bye.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
thank you, christine yes, thanks for having me bye,
bye.
Welcome back to a new episode of Brutally Made.
I am so honored and excited tobring you, christine Linda back.
She is the owner andentrepreneur of Sewing in the
City Sewing in the City, sothank you so much for joining me
, christine, where are youjoining me from?
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Well, thank you, tracy, I'm so excited to be here
.
So I am in Valencia, spain.
That's what.
I thought, but I'm American,you can tell by my accent, but
I've lived here for about eightyears.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Oh, my gosh, so honored to have you on the
program.
And if you had seen any of mysocial medias in the last month,
you have seen where I sharedChristine's work and her pattern
making.
So that is one of the thingsthat we're going to dive into.
I signed up for her newsletterand I received a pattern for
(01:01):
free when I did that.
And I received a pattern forfree when I did that called the
Manhattan, and it was thisbeautiful blouse or dress.
So I had a fabric and I wantedto make it from that.
Now you suggested a woven, butwe'll get into all of that and I
made it out of cotton and I'mwearing it now.
So before I go into anyslideshow of her work, I want
(01:21):
you to at least realize I amwearing this beautiful I mean
these sleeves.
Oh, my goodness, your patternwork is just phenomenal.
So thank you for that.
And so let's just dive in alittle bit about your background
and what led you into patternmaking.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Yeah, Well, first, your top looks so cute on you
and I love how you styled it andtucked it in the front.
Yeah, the sleeves I'm a big fanof puff sleeves and so I was
kind of thinking of differentways that I could do a puff
sleeve without having, you know,traditional shoulder seam.
So it's just a little bit of adifferent, a different take on a
(02:00):
on a puffy sleep.
You did well, thank you.
My, my dog is agreeing, oh yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Trust me, everyone knows we have three dogs and
four cats around here.
You will hear them in thebackground, so just let him.
Let him support you, no bigdeal.
Speaker 2 (02:17):
Yeah, he's definitely a little cheerleader back there
, um, so, so, yeah, so I, um, uh, I've got got into pattern
making.
I mean, I've been sewing sinceI was five, and my mom says that
I was literally begging her tolet me use the sewing machine.
Um, and so she, finally, youknow, despite being a little
(02:39):
nervous about letting me sew atsuch a little little age, um,
she let me do it, and I justhave never stopped.
Uh, and I sewed with commercialpatterns for a long time, until
about six, six years ago, Istarted doing my own patterns.
Um, just because you know it'ssometimes you, you just you just
(03:00):
want to want to have one, haveyour own thing, right, Right.
Speaker 1 (03:04):
Cause I'm sure you manipulated those commercial
patterns.
As soon as you would open themup, I'd do the same thing, I can
see that.
Oh my gosh.
Speaker 2 (03:12):
Yeah, so it's really fun that I get to share it on a,
you know, on a bigger scale.
And I mean, I have a loveaffair with patterns, I collect
them.
I don't I don't even know howmany vintage patterns that I
have, but probably well into thehundreds, I would say.
(03:34):
So I just love patterns and so,you know, I couldn't think of
anything that is more fun to dothan create patterns, oh my gosh
.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Well, I really encourage everyone and I will
have links in the show notes toall of your platforms to sign up
for your newsletter and printone of your patterns.
They are impeccable, your eyefor detail and there's so much
information to help guide youthrough it in different ways.
Once you download it, to onlyselect the size that you want.
(04:01):
So you're printing that.
Now.
I selected everything because Iwanted to experience it like a
traditional pattern whenever youget multiple sizes, so I really
wanted to like see that.
But you give so manyopportunities to be very
specific to what you want andprint that off with a regular
home printer.
You piece it together like alittle puzzle, you give
instructions for that and thenyou cut it out and make your
(04:25):
garments and they are.
Your work is just beautiful andI cannot believe it's only been
six years.
I mean that background fromsewing and just it's just
impeccable.
Speaker 2 (04:38):
Thank you.
Thank you, yeah, the printingwith layers.
So it's like the way it allhappens in the computer, so each
size has its own layer, and sothat way when you go to print it
, you can.
There's a way in Adobe which isa free pattern or a free.
A free pattern it's a free,like software you can download
(04:58):
and it allows you to uncheckyour sizes or any sizes that you
don't want to print, and thatway you can.
You can print just one size, orsome people will do like two
sizes.
Um so yeah, it makes it alittle bit of a cleaner
experience that way.
Um so yeah, and I knew thispattern.
I don't know if you followedthe sew along on my YouTube.
(05:19):
Um, I did watch it, yes,Because I knew that the pleats
um that was going to be achallenge.
Yeah, and so I was like well, Idefinitely wanted to do a sew
along, just so people couldreally have like have a good
experience sewing it, and Ithink that for those specific
details, that could be a littletricky.
I think it's I like doing alittle sew along so people can
(05:42):
visually see what you're doingto get it to come together.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
So that was very, that was very thoughtful of you
to do that and to add that bitof information, because when I
was, you know, gettingeverything cut out and started
piecing together, I'm like, oh,this reminds me of, like the
Vogue patterns, because theywere always just a touch above
the others with their detail andthose specific cute little
(06:06):
features.
But, you know, the final isjust beautiful and, like I said,
I made mine in cotton.
I have a lot of cotton, verypuffy sleeve.
You know, if you want to callit that, pieces in my shop that
I get from vendors that are hugesellers, my shop that I get
from vendors that are hugesellers.
So I love that.
The cotton, you know, fabricthat I had and just wanted to
(06:30):
make something.
I've had it for two years now,wanted to do something fun with
it and I'm like, okay, eventhough this says more like
probably like a woven or ajersey or something, I really
want to do it in this cottonbecause I loved this print.
So it was, it was perfect and Ithought it worked well.
Of course, here I'm alwaysbreaking rules and not being
(06:50):
very specific to what someonesuggests.
But it's totally fine, you knowyou know, try something that you
love and I just I, I'm veryexcited to do another one and
maybe even make a dress out ofthat pattern and there's try
some other patterns, because youdo sell your patterns on your
website, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
I do.
So I have, um, I have othertops and dresses, um old season
like little jackets, um, andthen I even do like pajamas and
some like lingerie style stuff,um.
So yeah, I do have a little bitof everything.
Speaker 1 (07:23):
Oh my gosh, basically anything.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Basically anything that I want, I'll.
Then, you know, it becomes apattern.
So that's kind of how it's alittle snippet of my closet.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Yeah, that's the best start, so I love that you
started sewing at five.
I would have loved to havelearned at that age.
I always wanted to hijack myaunt's sewing machine.
My mother didn't know how tosew my I always wanted to hijack
my aunt's sewing machine.
My mother didn't know how tosew, my aunt did and, of course,
my mom the same way.
You're going to sew yourfingers or you're going to put
the needle through your fingers,so they're always very worried.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yes, it's the fingers that was such a fear?
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Yeah, but I think that earlier you start learning,
the better.
Even hand sewing, learning howto do all of those stitches and
stuff that's really important.
So do you teach sewing andpattern making at all, or is
this just something that you doand place that online?
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Yeah, I do.
Well, I've gone to Sew Expo inthe Pacific Northwest.
It's like the largest sewingconference, so I do teach there.
I've done that for like fiveyears now in a row, which is
really fun.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
Christine, I'll have to know when you're there,
because my daughter's live inSeattle and I would like to go
over there.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Oh, what a good excuse, I didn't know that.
Yeah, oh yeah, it's every umlike the last week of February
kind of into that first week ofMarch.
It's an every year, so year.
So I get, I'm from Seattle, soI get to go back and see my
parents and then do expo.
And I grew up going to expoLike I I was, you know I would
(08:55):
tag along with my mom and soit's.
It was a really cool fullcircle.
Getting to come back andactually teach there and
participate, that's reallyreally cool.
I've had, I've had some younger, younger girls in my classes
too, which I just love because Ilove to see the next generation
(09:20):
learning.
Even though it's never too lateto learn, I mean it's never too
late, but I love seeing theyounger generation kind of
popping in as well.
Speaker 1 (09:26):
Yeah, I agree, I think that is offered.
It's not offered enough and Istarted offering it in my studio
and I did have a lot of younger.
They've all been girls so far.
Guys.
I am not judging because myhusband is a 22-year Air Force
veteran and he sews with me.
He is wonderful.
Oh, that's so wonderful.
(09:48):
Yes, he does so.
We have two machines and he'llsew and make things and he's
always very proud of the stuffthat he does.
So it's, it's for everyone, itreally is.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
That's so cool that he sews that's that is so fun.
Yeah, because it really is justabout creating something, like
bringing, bringing something tolife.
It's another tool.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
That's all it is.
It's another tool, and fiber issuch a great medium.
I was just talking with anotherartist and entrepreneur and she
asked what my favorite mediumwas and I said fiber.
And she's like I have never hadsomeone answer that and I said
there's so much.
You can do with layering thatwithin your work.
If you're doing a collage piece, clothing and adding paint or
(10:29):
whatever, it's still a tool anda medium, and so I just love how
that translates into otherpieces of art.
And sewing isn't art and itabsolutely needs to be addressed
as a beautiful art form, and Ithink you're doing it well with
your pattern making.
I just think it's beautiful tosee all that.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Thank you.
Yes, I definitely think thatit's coming back to like just
kind of thinking about theyounger generation and, like
your classes, having youngpeople come in.
I'm seeing that like sometimesthe door for younger people to
come in through is throughupcycling, where they'll get
something at like the thriftstore and they want to re, like,
(11:09):
refashion it kind of a thing,and I love that.
I think it's such a great, it'ssuch a great entry into the
sewing world as well.
Um, cause, maybe it feelsdoable for people, because I
think it can feel reallyintimidating to make a new
garment from scratch when you'venever sewn before.
But if you can like, oh, I wantto cut the sleeves off of this.
(11:30):
Maybe it's a little bit moreapproachable.
And so I love, I love that thatyou know young, the younger
generation, but that seems to bea little bit of a trend, I see.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
Yeah, that's a great point and you're so right.
They really embrace, you know,merging textiles, merging looks,
finding ways to make itpersonalized.
I think the sewing world allowsyou to personalize and make it
unique, and that's what somebodyis always searching for.
How can this represent me?
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Yeah, it's like the kind of the pushback from fast
fashion where everyone has thesame trend, the same colors and
you just kind of end up losingthat individuality.
And also I feel like we've kindof lost the connection.
It's possible to lose theconnection to our clothes, with
(12:22):
fast fashion and everythingthat's available to buy, whereas
if you make your own clothesyou know like your fabric, you
had your fabric for a couple ofyears and you know there's just
like something that reallyspecial about that and that
sewing allows us to reconnectwith, with what we wear.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Yes, I love that.
Do you have any favoritepatterns or have you ever
investigated making your ownfabric patterns and getting your
own fabric with your designs?
Speaker 2 (13:06):
wish that I could really draw paint, um, and and
maybe I could, but maybe I justhaven't given myself the proper
time to like be really bad at it, um, but yeah, I think doing a,
a, a fabric collection somedaywould be really fun, you know,
maybe um doing I know I seepeople who draw on the iPad like
they do the paint on the iPad.
So yeah, I think that thatwould be a really fun adventure
(13:29):
someday.
Speaker 1 (13:30):
Yeah, I use Procreate on my iPad and I do pattern
design and then have it printedwith like spoon, flower or
carriage, house and I've beenwith them since 2010, using
their platform to sell fabricand wallpaper, and so it's just
investigating it, you know,trying a few of your hand marks,
getting a little swatch orderedjust to see the quality of the
(13:53):
types they offer.
So many, oh, my gosh, so many,from canvas to silk to, I mean,
cotton, you name it, everything,yeah.
So I didn't know if you had afavorite texture of fabric.
Do you have a favorite fabricthat you like to sew with?
Oh, that's such a good question.
Speaker 2 (14:10):
It's so hard to answer.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
I know it is so hard to answer Sometimes, like those
jerseys, sometimes just really,if I don't have my serger going
with it, they frustrate me.
Other times it's like I'll juststick with cotton.
They frustrate me.
Other times it's like I'll juststick with cotton.
It's fast, it's easy, I can getthrough it really quick.
So I you know, I don't know,maybe I'm too opinionated one
way.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
Yeah, no, I feel the same.
I, you know, sometimes I'll geta Jersey that rolls.
You know, when the edge, thecut edges roll, and that just
drives me crazy.
I had one the other day.
I was making a t-shirt, Um, butthe tip with that is, if you
ever get a knit that rolls, youcan use spray starch, um, and
you can spray the edges withspray starch and then and then
iron it and it will just give itenough of um, like a
(14:55):
stabilization yeah, that it'llsmooth out that, oh great hint
and I think you could use it onother things, like if you're
cutting bias, you know somethingon the bias, or whatever.
So that's my, my little tip forknits.
But yeah, I think if you saidokay, you could sew with
anything this afternoon, whatwould it be?
(15:17):
I think I would have to choosea Liberty of London cotton lawn.
Speaker 1 (15:23):
I think, yeah, the ultimate, yeah.
Oh my gosh, that is fabulous.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Yeah, my local fabric store has a full, you know,
Florida ceiling, like row ofLiberty of London in the cotton
lawn which is just that butterysoft.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (15:41):
All the little prints I'm so envious.
You know we're crying that ourJoanne's all closed.
And I just love hearing that Imean, I literally am, I don't
know half an hour from Amishcountry and they have some large
fabric stores, but I don'tthink that they carry that.
So I just I love that you haveaccess.
(16:01):
Oh, my goodness, yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:03):
It's special.
I I you know I I do tend to sewmore on a budget, so I'm always
looking for a little um likeI'll pick up remnants.
Speaker 1 (16:11):
Oh yeah, I'm a big first place I go.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Totally.
I love remnants and it's likefinding the kind of the um
needle in a haystack, you know,to just go through the remnant
pile and find a gem like that.
So so, yeah, it's, it's fun,fun to look.
Speaker 1 (16:28):
Yeah, oh, my goodness , I love that, so do you any?
Do you do any other type ofsewing?
Do you like to do embroidery orany hand sewing or things to
embellish some of the piecesthat you do?
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Yeah, I do I.
So when I was I don't know, Imust've been before I could
drive.
So I must've been like earlyteens.
I studied French air likeheirloom sewing oh my gosh, with
his, with like smocking andembroidery and all the like
little insertion laces andthings, oh my goodness.
Yeah, I studied with MarthaPullen.
(17:00):
She was like a big the you know, the biggest teacher during
that time and I went toHuntsville, alabama, to one of
her.
She had like a three-day likeretreat type of thing.
So I went and so I really dolove embroidery.
I actually am working on a newpattern now that I'm going to
(17:22):
include three differentbeginner-friendly embroidery
patterns that you can embroider.
On a new pattern now that I'mgoing to include three different
beginner friendly embroiderypatterns that you can embroider.
It's like a little beginnersewing top and you can embroider
here because it's getting um, I, I see a lot of crochet, a lot
of embroidery out there now and,um, and I like to use upcycled
(17:43):
linens a lot.
So I'll find like pieces ofembroidery that you know, maybe
they have a stain here and therebut I can cut around it and so
doing that kind of upcycling.
But I figured well, if youdon't have access to an older
piece, you could still embroider, embroider your own and have
you know the look.
So, so that, yeah, that's mynext project.
(18:04):
I'm going to do a sew along aswell, just to teach the three,
just three basic embroiderystitches.
Speaker 1 (18:11):
So oh, I love that.
I will definitely be lookingfor that and that was going to
be one of my questions, likewhat's coming down, you know,
the pike with new patterns ornew, new designs or some new
ideas?
So I love that combination ofdoing something you're right,
hand stitched or handmade on topof your apparel is huge, huge.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
Yeah, and I think also it can feel a little
intimidating.
If you've never embroideredbefore, you're like I don't know
how you do that Um.
So I I drew out three just um,really pretty but um, you know
beginner friendly embroidery,embroidery patterns, and it's a
little.
It's um, either a top andlittle shorts, or a top and
(18:55):
little capri pants, or a dressversion, um, and it can be like
a lounge wear.
You can wear it out as well, um, but I designed it.
I have a.
I also have a slow fashionbrand that um, that I have on
the I have as well.
And so a lot of times what I'lldo is I'll use the pattern
because I've developed, you know, I've done all the fittings and
(19:18):
done all the development of itand then I'll I'll make ready to
wear a certain amount of unitsto sell in my slow fashion.
Speaker 1 (19:28):
Yeah, I love that.
That's a great reminder.
I want to make sure that peopledo know that they can maybe
grab a piece that's pre-made byyou.
I love that.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Oh, yeah, yeah.
So I designed the patternbecause in my slow fashion brand
I use a lot of vintage linen,so pieces that maybe they would
end up in the landfill or in youknow some forgotten corner of
the, of the thrift store orwherever, and so I, I I use
those, and so this pattern Idesigned in mind with using
(19:59):
smaller pieces of thoseembroidered linens.
So yeah, you'll see it, you'llsee the pattern and you can
embroider your own, or I'll haveyou know, some available as
well for sale.
Speaker 1 (20:12):
Oh, that's wonderful.
Oh my gosh, it's so fun.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
It is.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
It is so fun.
I absolutely love that you'remaking it your own.
I would love to go back to whenyou shared that you started
selling at five, so what was thefirst thing that you got to
make when you were five yearsold?
Do you remember what you weremaking?
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, oh, I don't remember the exact first thing,
but I definitely know veryquickly I went right into
cabbage patch doll clothes, doyou?
Speaker 1 (20:36):
remember.
Yes, oh my gosh, yes, that'sthe cutest.
That's better than Barbie,because Barbie clothes are so
tiny Cabbage patch is perfectyeah.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
Yeah, I think I did do some some Barbie stuff, but I
was really more of a cabbagepatch doll girl and I think I
was still little enough thatthey yeah, and I had.
I had quite a few of the dollsso they all had their full
outfits.
Yeah, I remember I had.
I had a book.
My parents must've bought me abook with all these patterns
inside with all the differentstyles, and that was really fun.
(21:14):
I think those experiences were.
I mean, I'm basically stilldoing the same thing now and you
know, just making outfits forreal people, yeah.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
I love that.
I remember making my dollclothes out of.
I had Priscilla curtains in myroom and I cut them up and I
didn't tell my mother.
They were like the ones thathung behind my bed, so she never
knew for a long time that thosecurtains were cut at the bottom
because they were the skirtsfor my dolls.
Yeah, so I was.
Oh wow, that was the onlyfabric I thought I could find.
Speaker 2 (21:45):
I know.
Speaker 1 (21:49):
Again hand sewing at first because I wasn't allowed
to use the machine, but I wasdetermined, but that is so funny
.
So it always seems like westarted with our dolls.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
That is such a fun story.
Oh, my goodness, I know so bad,yeah, but I think about sewing
and like what it brought methroughout my you know, those
early years, and it's thingslike that where you know your,
your biggest thing was how can Imake more clothes for my dolls?
And there's something just sogreat of that.
That.
That's the focus and and Ithink it's so great to have even
now, to have a creative outletwhere you can put your energy
(22:29):
into and it keeps you motivatedand focused on something really
positive.
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:35):
So how long does it take you to make a pattern?
Speaker 2 (22:38):
Oh, it really depends on the complexity and how many
rounds of fittings that we needto go through to get it perfect.
Okay, so it could be, um, couldbe maybe five or six samples
that I'll go through indifferent sizes.
Um, just to make sureeverything's fitting, fitting
correctly.
(22:58):
Um, so, normally it's it's liketwo to three months Wow.
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Okay, yeah.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Um, so it it takes time, but I I could probably do
it faster.
Um, but that's just I don't knowany reason why.
I mean sometimes I wish it wenta little faster, but just cause
you want it to be done, but um,but yeah, I think I, my first,
my whole first career was infashion, working in a corporate
environment that was very highstress, high pressure, and so I
(23:31):
that was really superchallenging for me.
I burnt out, and so I thinkI've kind of consciously chosen
a rhythm that allows me to workat my own pace and not max out
my creativity and everything, asI'm developing a pattern.
I'm also, you know, doing otherthings, like my YouTube channel
and stuff like that.
So, yeah, it's a good rhythm.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
That's good.
I love to hear that and I lovethat you specifically said
fittings.
You didn't say increaseeverything by like two inches or
whatever.
You're very conscientious abouthow it fits per size and I
think that that is a reflectionof your eye detail and how, like
I said, how well the patterncomes across when you print it
(24:12):
and the instructions, and justit's wonderful.
I just I can't say that enough.
I really hope people experiencewhat you've created, because it
is just phenomenal.
Speaker 2 (24:24):
Thank you, thank you, yeah, thank you, thank you.
Yeah, fit is a big, a big thingalso, um, because we all have
different shaped bodies, so it'slike one.
You know, I have to use one,one set of proportions to
develop a pattern, because you,you have to have something to
(24:45):
start, um.
But then, uh, I do teachclasses, um, I have a live
program that I run called fitclinic, where I help, I help
people understand how to do thepattern adjustments.
Like if you have um, if apattern is cut for a person with
, like, a C cup, but you have aD cup, um, you, you, you know
(25:07):
there's a certain way to do itso that it fits around the top
part but also fits around yourbust, and you know all, all the
things.
Or some people have a shorterwaist, or you know larger hips
than than the waist, like adifferent um proportion between
waist and hips, and so all thoselittle things are really easy
(25:28):
adjustments that you can make toget things to fit your body.
Speaker 1 (25:32):
Yeah so, but just knowing that that's available, I
love that you offer that.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Yeah, yeah and I do it, we do it live on zoom and so
cause there's something aboutyou know, being alone in our own
house and with your mirror butyou're like what do I do?
It's cooling here and coolinghere.
I don't know what to do, and soit's nice to have a.
I do it in a group setting, sothere's usually, you know, a
handful of us on zoom, and soyou get to learn from other
(25:59):
people as well.
Speaker 1 (26:01):
Yes, and that's that's wonderful, that community
, that sense of I'm not in thisalone, I'm not the only one
having this issue.
I think that that's reallyimportant for people to remember
.
You're not in your creativespace alone.
Please know that there arepeople out here like us that
want to encourage you to exploreways to find what you need, and
(26:21):
we're here with those answers.
And so I think that that's yeahvery important to remember.
Yeah, exactly yeah, veryimportant to remember.
Yeah, exactly so.
Is there a pro?
Is there a project that youhaven't tackled yet, that you
would like to create a patternfor?
Is there something you haven'tdone something?
Speaker 2 (26:39):
Oh, I'm telling you, I have this little itch that
just it won't go away.
So I know it's one of thosethings that will probably
eventually come come to life.
Um, I'm doing some children'spatterns.
Oh my gosh, I know, it's sorandom.
Um, but I just I made a, uh, acouple of little pieces for um a
(27:00):
friend who's having twins andit just ignited this spark Cause
I couldn't find what I wantedto sew for her?
Um, of course not.
Oh, I know, and yes, just spent.
I really spent a long time justgoing through all the available
patterns and it's like I just Ireally want to make some
children's patterns, but I needto stay focused.
(27:22):
Right now I have, you know,with sewing in the city with my
slow fashion brand.
That's only a year, just alittle over a year old, so I
really need to give it more timeto grow and get get going.
So, um, so I'm not, I can't doit yet, but like any good
creative, you know we've got alist of ideas.
Speaker 1 (27:43):
I love that.
I sew all the time for mygrandchildren.
So I love that that's on thehorizon or in your the back of
your mind, because I think thatthat would be terrific.
I tend to make a lot of thingsthat match their mother.
Oh, because my kids grew up Ihave three daughters and we I
would make our clothes and theirclothes and they would match
and they were such 90s babiesand they just cringe now when
(28:06):
they look back at those pictures.
But I don't care, I just thinkit's so fun.
Their dolls match them.
And just the other day theysent me a meme and it was like,
where these girls werephotographed with dolls that
match their clothes and I sentthem back a picture of them.
I'm like, yeah, I know, I didthe same thing, you forgot.
Speaker 2 (28:24):
That's amazing.
Oh, I, I love, love, love thatthere's.
There's just something that youlike.
You can't replicate that kindof like love and detail that
goes into the whole process ofchoosing the fabric and patterns
and putting it all together andhaving the photograph.
(28:44):
It's just, it's really, reallyspecial and when they were
little they would go to thefabric store with me and then
we're like pick your dress out.
Speaker 1 (28:48):
You know, really special, and when they were
little they would go to thefabric store with me and then
would like pick your dress out.
You know, pick the fabric outor help me pick a pattern, and
oh yeah, and then by the timethe second oldest got into high
school, she was self-designingher homecoming dresses, so she
would draw them.
Then I would have to make upthe pattern to match her drawing
, to make her dress, and so theywere very creative alongside
(29:09):
with me and I just love that andit's such great memories.
So I love what you're doing,because that foundation to offer
this tool for making somethingtogether or making a gift like
you were doing it's justtremendous and I think that it
goes far beyond just doingsomething for ourselves.
It's putting so much goodnessout in the world.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Totally yeah, and sometimes I think you know it's
like it's not.
It's not necessarily aboutmaking another dress or you know
something, cause I thinkprobably everyone in in our
circles have enough clothes Like.
If you know it's not like wereally need anything but it's.
There's so much more that goesinto the, the sewing.
(29:50):
You know it's very creativewhen I sew, when I get in kind
of the flow state like hours canearn.
You know good hours go by.
Speaker 1 (29:59):
I have to tell Alexa to set alarms.
I totally will forget where I'mat and what I'm doing, and then
time just flies.
Yeah, you totally get lost, andwhat.
I'm doing and the time justflies.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
Yeah, you totally get lost and it's great.
Agree more, yeah, like if you,if I have something that you
know, like like a decision Ineed to make or something that's
just kind of, um, yeah, like achallenge, or just something I'm
trying to kind of figure out, Ican, I can sew and I can.
Just the answers just kind ofcome because you're relaxed a
little bit.
Yeah, oh, I totally agree, Ilove that I know it's so good,
(30:38):
it's a really good I mean anyhobby.
I feel like whatever it is thatyou do to express your
creativity is really.
You know, it's something Ithink a lot of people are
getting back to now too.
You know, after the last coupleof years, so I think it's great
.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
Yeah, making time to, you know, find those, what they
were calling grandma crafts arecoming back.
But it's true, I see it in myshop and I see it online, and I
am here to promote every bit ofit as much as I can because I
think it's wonderful.
Yes, it really is.
(31:17):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
So you're running your businesses, are you doing
that alone?
Do you have help?
Yeah, so I have.
I have part-time help, so, andI have someone who, for example,
when I like the, theinstruction booklet that you had
for, like all those drawingsand things, those, someone does
those for me.
I love that.
Yeah, so that.
And then I have someone whohelps me with, you know, social
(31:40):
media and just kind oforganizing things, emails and
such.
So so yeah, but but yeah, forthe, for the most part, I'm, you
know, I'm doing a lot of thewell, all the filming I do all
the editing of my videos.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Wow, yeah, yeah, on top of making your patterns and
sewing and all of that.
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Wow, it's funny.
There's so many little thingsthat go into the day to day that
you know.
Even when I said, oh, it takesabout two to three months to do
a pattern, it's like, wow, thattakes so long.
But then you figure all thelittle things that are happening
along with that.
That it's.
It's yeah, but luckily I reallylove it.
So it's fun, that's great.
Speaker 1 (32:23):
Oh, my goodness.
I just think that it's awonderful, unique process and I
love that you're doing it insuch a public way and sharing
especially these ups and downson this episode, and then we're
going to be able to share allyour social media and places
where everyone can find you.
So can you share a little bit,like where everyone can find
(32:45):
what you're doing and if youhave different social medias for
your slow fashion brand and,yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (32:51):
So, um, I think the main place to go is my, my
Instagram, and it's uh, sewingand the city, um, and from there
you'll find all the the linksto the Manhattan pattern, which
is my, my free pattern, um, andthen, and you'll find links to
my shop and all the things.
And then my slow fashion brandis also Instagram and it's at
(33:14):
lindylindyshop and Lindy Lindyis, it's a play, it's actually
the nickname that we used tocall my grandfather because of
our.
Our last name is Linda back,which can get a little tricky to
say, and so he people wouldcall him Lindy and I always knew
him as grandpa, grandma andgrandpa Lindy.
(33:34):
Oh, so, when it came time tolook for the name, I I didn't
want it to just be like my name,you know.
That just seemed toostraightforward.
So, um, I put two, two of thenickname together and Lindy,
lindy it is.
Speaker 1 (33:50):
That's wonderful.
I love that, oh my gosh.
Yeah, all of those links willbe in our show notes and I love
the pictures that you sent to me, so I'm going to have those on
a little slideshow for theYouTube channel, because I
always like to, you know, havesome visuals so people can see
about what we're talking aboutto see you, people can see about
(34:14):
what we're talking about to seeyou, and I again had a blast
making your pattern and makingmy blouse, and so I highly
encourage that everyone signs upfor your newsletter so you can
keep in touch.
Is that a monthly piece orquarterly?
Speaker 2 (34:23):
Yeah, I try.
Speaker 1 (34:24):
I try to do it weekly oh wow, weekly Okay, but like I
haven't, I've been it.
Weekly.
Weekly is what I aim for.
Speaker 2 (34:29):
But like I haven't, I've been, it's been a little
crazy the last couple of weeks,so but yeah, so weekly with with
not a lot of consistency.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Weekly with some grace.
We're good with that.
I love that.
Weekly with some grace.
We're all about that aroundhere.
Speaker 2 (34:44):
Trust me, I love it, I love it and usually, like I'll
do it, I'll have links to likemy YouTube on there and then
I'll do.
I love scouring the internetfor different fabric finds, so I
usually include a couple onwhether it's like a really good
bargain that I find or somethingreally pretty and I give like
different pattern suggestionsthat would work with it, and
(35:06):
then I highlight someone who'smade something with one of my
patterns and then any likeupdates.
So that's kind of what I do inmy in my newsletter.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
That's all great information, though, because
again we're out here looking forfabric now, in any place that
we can find and so sharing thoseresources, that that's
tremendous.
So I don't want to leavewithout thinking is there
anything that you'd want to talkabout that I've missed or that
you're doing, or any, any showscoming up or any, any education
(35:36):
opportunities that are comingthat would be coming up that you
want to share?
Speaker 2 (35:40):
Yeah, I mean, I think the biggest thing that's
upcoming is is I'm reopening thefit clinic program again, so
and that's live.
So it's kind of a fun, a funprogram.
I know I've had several womencome through who've kind of
given up sewing for themselvesat some point and then they got
into quilting or like sewing fortheir grandkids kind of a thing
(36:04):
, and and so just you know,passing on that message that you
can get a good fit in yourclothes, and if you've tried and
it hasn't worked, um, you know,it's I, I love helping people
get a good fit and you know, ifyou're ready to maybe experiment
with sewing your own clothes,it's, it's a good, good place.
(36:25):
So, um, I'm excited to openthat again.
It's really fun.
I love getting on, zoom withpeople, with people and
commiserating around aroundsewing and seeing, seeing at the
start like you know somethingtotally not fitting, and then,
week after week, we refine itand then they come and it's like
a perfect fitting garment,which is really fun.
Speaker 1 (36:46):
That's terrific.
I love that you get so much outof it.
Speaker 2 (36:52):
And I know they are.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
You make it feel so approachable and that they can
ask any question, and noquestion is too silly.
So I love your attitude towardsit and your kindness that
you're displaying.
Speaker 2 (37:04):
Oh, thanks.
Yeah, it's such a complimentwhen people say that it's that
it's, I make it approachablebecause it it that's one of the
things that's so important to mebecause, um, you know, some
like, I learned to sew so longago that I don't remember what
it was like to learn, and so,sometimes yeah, I'm like I
(37:25):
sometimes it's hard for me to tolike get in the mind of someone
who's never sewn before, and soI never want it to feel like,
oh, she's sewn forever, so she,you know, it's easy for you,
kind of a kind of a thing.
But I don't know, and so Ialways just try to want to be
like encouraging and help makeit look easy as well, cause it's
(37:47):
you know, it's not, it doesn'thave to be such as a struggle.
It takes a lot of practice, youknow, to learn to sew, but so,
yeah, I love, I am like thebiggest proponent, like learn to
sew, learn to sew, it's great.
Speaker 1 (38:02):
Oh well, thank you for creating that space
virtually, offering the patterns, offering the newsletter and
offering your talent to everyone.
I really am so happy that youreached out to be on the program
because I love discovering youand all of your work and I will
be a big fan forever.
Thank you, tracy.
Speaker 2 (38:23):
Likewise.
Thank you, christine.
Yes, thanks for having me.
Bye-bye.
Speaker 1 (38:29):
Bye.
Speaker 2 (38:29):
thank you, christine yes, thanks for having me bye,
bye.
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