The pattern companies work long and hard to come up with new designs and patterns for clothing, costumes, and crafts. Sometimes those patterns inspire us, but sometimes we need look to other sources for our creative inspiration.
In my sewing classes I encourage my students to “look beyond” the photo on the pattern. What I mean is that while the designer of that pattern had one idea for the finished project, quite often we can look at the pattern as our “blank slate” or canvas to create our own vision. We can add additional details such as trim or piping. We can change the hem on the sleeve or mix two different fabrics together to add contrast.
For some sewers, this is a difficult task. Perhaps it is difficult to visualize the end result. Were then does one go to get inspired?
Print media- There are many fashion magazines available. Magazines such as “People Style Watch” and “Style” magazine have the current fashion trends.
What if you’re looking for something other than current fashion geared for the twenty-thirtysomething crowd? Catalogs suit the bill in this case. When sewing for my daughters, I look to the “Justice for Girls” catalog (Justice is a popular clothing store for girls ages 8-13). Coldwater Creek and Lands End have catalogs for women’s clothing with a more conservative appeal.
The local newspaper, The Arizona Republic features fashion in the Living section of the paper each Friday. There are local designers featured and articles describing current fashion.
Shopping is another way to gain inspiration. Not only can you see new styles, but take a close look at the construction details. How was the zipper inserted, how is the facing attached, and many other new sewing techniques you can discover simply by peering inside the garment.
Browsing the web can give you new ideas. Etsy.com is a website that sells handmade creations and also sells supplies, fabrics, patterns, and even embroidery designs by independent designers. Ebay also has many boutique fashions featured for little girls. I love looking at these websites to see what’s popular for little girls.
A lot of the designers who feature their wares on Etsy.com and Ebay also have blogs where they promote their items and also share their skills. Firefliesandjellybeans.blogspot.com features many different craft ideas. Sewmamasew.com/blog2/ is another sewing blog that has useful information.
And finally, there’s Facebook, the newest craze on the internet. You can become a “fan” of a sewing shop or designer. For example, my studio, The Sewin’Asylum is on Facebook. I update it frequently with new photos of projects of updates in events such as classes or informing that the scissor sharpener is visiting. My students are also able to post their pictures of projects and hopefully this “sew and tell” has inspired someone else!
