Sewn by Hand Interview & Giveaway

Sewn by Hand: Two Dozen Projects Stitched with Needle & Thread

Today I'm participating in the Sewn by Hand Lark book tour. The book Sewn by Hand by Susan Wasinger shares two dozen projects that can all be created without the use of a sewing machine. The book features a vast variety of projects ranging from curtains to baby bibs, there's something for everyone. Many of the projects are also eco-friendly in that the supplies are intended to come from used items for example, old men's shirts.

For those not familiar with Susan Wasinger, she's an accomplished author. She's also published Fabricate, Eco Craft, and The Feisty Stitcher. I got a chance to do an interview with her over email and find out a little more about her background and what inspires her. I really enjoyed learning more about Susan and appreciated her honest answers. I hope you'll enjoy learning more about her too.

Zakka Life: Tell us a little about yourself. how did you get started sewing?

Susan Wasinger: My Swiss grandmother taught me to sew when I was four years-old. My first project was a pair of elastic-waist pants. I was so thrilled that I could make something I could actually wear! I think if my first project had been something like a pincushion or a sachet, I might not have been so excited about sewing and maybe it wouldn't have turned into such an abiding passion. The pants were bright red, these pants were, kind of a Hawaiian print. What four-year-old wouldn't think that was the coolest thing? Oh, and by the way, my grandmother was trained as a couture seamstress, so she knew the "right way" to do things but she always encouraged me to experiment and learn by trial and error. And yes, there were lots and lots of errors.

ZL: How would you describe your sewing style?
SW: I'm definitely an "I'll-try-anything-once" kind of sewist. I love to sew things that sound impossible. I have sewn sleeping bags, guitar cases, backpacks, chairs, owl costumes, and even a few other things that I wouldn't recommend attempting.

I also really like to make regular stuff but in unusual materials, like making an apron out of an old button-down shirt or a bag for my mountain bike out of retro floral oilcloth. I also like the process to show a little, I don't mind if you can see the stitching. In fact, I encourage it! Especially in "Sewn by Hand", lots of the projects were built around the decorative charm of hand stitching. If it doesn't look handmade, then why hand make it? If its not going to look one-of-a-kind, then you might as well go down to a store and just buy it. Is "charmingly imperfect" a style?

ZL: You've published a book on machine sewing (The Feisty Stitcher) as well. Which do you prefer more, hand sewing or machine sewing? Why?
SW: When I am sewing something with a needle and thread, THAT is my favorite kind of sewing. Then when I sit down at my sewing machine, I realize how much I love to have the power at my fingertips to sew anything I want very fast. Variety is the spice of life... and of craft. I must say though that the wonderful and amazing thing about hand sewing is that you can do it anywhere. I have literally sewn an ottoman (an ottoman!!!) while watching my son's little league double-header. I can sit with my family around the kitchen table and sew things while they are doing homework or I can sit out on the sundeck and sew while looking out over the mountains of the Continental Divide. I do absolutely adore that about hand sewing.

ZL: Where do you find inspiration for your projects?
SW: Ideas often come to me out of need as in "I need storage bins, can I sew them?" Or I'm inspired by something I find, like a piece of fabric (I love printed linens from Japan) or some vintage piece of trim (I often buy "lots" that are the contents of someones old sewing box on ebay). Or I find inspiration in something I want to repurpose, like shrunken sweaters or an old vintage shirt. I like unusual juxtapositions and its usually not one individual thing that inspires me, but the odd synergy that happens when two or more things meet. Roses made from old metal zippers meet felted menswear wool meet brightly colored silk linings? Sounds weird, but with the right twists it turns into the most delectable and elegant little evening clutch. That is the kind of quirky stuff that is most inspiring to me.

ZL: What's your favorite project from your book, Sewn By Hand? Why?
SW:Uh oh, this is gonna be impossible. I have to have a big crush on anything I do or else I lose interest and I never finish it. So, I can honestly say that I adore every single project in that book. But if I have to name one... well ... I will name three: The yummy soft sherbet-colored Pilot Hat, the chic and unusual Zipper-Rose Evening Clutches, and either the Piped-edge Slippers or the Personalized Bibs...but I like the Appliqued Wool Blankets too, and the Cafe Napkins with built-in napkin rings made out of shirt plackets. See, I told you it would be impossible for me to choose just one! I'm so shameless.

ZL: What sewing project will you be working on next?
SW: I am currently obsessing over everything linen. I would love to do a book that would be nothing but 100% Linen. I 'd also like to work on a sewing book that is completely pattern-less where all the projects just require a few measurements to make them work. No printing out or untangling complicated patterns, and no fiddly cutting out. In my book Feisty Stitcher, I did some simple jackets that were made out of nothing but simple rectangles.

If you would like to learn more about Susan and her book Sewn By Hand, below is list of other sites participating in the blog tour. You'll find a variety of interviews, reviews and giveaways in the sites listed below.

Sewn By Hand Book Tour
4/4 Blog tour kickoff at LarkCrafts.com
4/6 Sew Daily blog
4/8 Click here for a free travel thread caddy project from the book!
4/11 Pink of Perfection
4/13 Artsy-Crafty Babe
4/15 MayaMade
4/19 WhipUp
4/20 CRESCENDOh Blog
4/22 MummySam
4/25 Feeling Stitchy
4/27 Zakka Life < You're Here
4/29 BurdaStyle blog

On to the giveaway. . .One lucky winner will receive Sewn by Hand along with a few other items to help you get started sewing (pictured above). To enter, please share what your favorite thing is to sew in the comments of this post. One entry per household. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win. The last day to enter the contest is Tuesday, May 3 2011. I'll announce the winner Wednesday, May 4 2011. If I do not hear back from the winner after two weeks, I will choose a new winner. Open to everyone.

Contest Closed

Congratulations to Wendy who is the winner of the giveaway!

Thank you to everyone who participated!