We are continuing our series of blogs - Meet the Lamazi Makers 💕 We have so many makers in our community who are always inspiring us with their makes. We are excited to get to know them a little better!
Our next Maker is lovely Joanne aka @jorebeccasmith on Instagram. Jo’s personal story is beautiful and touching and we hope that it will inspire many.
Joanne is wearing the Friday Pattern Co Sagebrush top in double gauze gingham fabric.
How did your sewing journey begin?
I got to the point where I could no longer dress myself in ready to wear as nothing fitted. It was traumatic trying clothes on that either wouldn’t come close to fitting around my bust or if they did they would drown the rest of my much smaller frame. One tearful clothes shopping session was too much, and I decided there must be a way for me to make this happen for myself. So, I did a deep dive and learnt. It was a steep learning curve needing multiple adjustments, but the feeling when I made my first fit and flare woven dress (after 4 toiles) was incredible – I cried. It was 20+ years since I had been able to wear one. I wore it endlessly and I felt amazing. I’ve since had a reduction so don’t need to sew for myself anymore, but I was hooked!
Which is your favourite fabric to sew with - wovens or knits?
I am much more experienced sewing with knits but being curvy they were the mainstay of
my wardrobe as the fit was so much more forgiving. However, I now enjoy the challenge of
sewing with woven, learning how to navigate a body with a new shape and the fitting
techniques that I am learning along the way.
What is your favourite type of fabric to sew with? For example viscose, tencel, cotton jersey?
I really enjoy sewing with French terry. It is pretty stable and I find garments come together quickly and easily. It tends to come in lovely designs as well so a sweatshirt in French Terry is perfect for popping on with a pair of jeans.
Joanne in wearing the Jackson Tee by Helen’s Closet in our Lupine Petals French Terry.
What is your favourite type of garment to sew?
My wardrobe is full of sweatshirts and t-shirts because that’s what I tend to wear everyday,
but they are not really challenging enough for me to love making them. However I really
enjoy making trousers, especially jeans style ones which are great for work too. I adore
making dresses as I feel incredible. I love twirling in them! I definitely need to find ways of
including more dresses in my everyday as I feel great in them.
Name 3 things you love about sewing?
I love that I am not restricted by what is in the shops. I can make and wear exactly what I
want to. I don’t want to be the same as everyone else and honestly I often find clothes
shopping so uninspiring. As a woman over 50 I love that I can break the apparent ‘rules’ for dressing for my age group. So yes I will wear colour and flowers and will continue to! I’m not interested in a predominantly beige wardrobe. I love the process of creation. I find it calming and stress-relieving. Not only that, but it has an end-point of making something that I can be proud of and feel amazing in.
Who / what inspires you?
I do get some inspiration from Instagram but really my inspiration comes from combining
patterns and fabrics in my head. That’s often not something that is seen in the shops or on
Pinterest, it’s just what I fancy making. I have a good idea of what shapes look best on me
and what I enjoy wearing so I don’t care if it’s yesterday’s trend. And I am always an
absolute sucker for a statement sleeve or something with a tiger or leopard on!
Joanne in wearing the Friday Pattern Co Patina blouse in Atelier Jupe viscose.
What do you do with your fabric scraps? Do you have a favourite remnant/scrap project?
I try not to have too many scraps left over but there’s a couple of things I will do. I run sewing groups so might donate to them, and our business also resells remnant scraps and donated fabrics. Another friend has a small business on Etsy selling baby clothes so if the fabric is appropriate and there’s enough for a baby romper I will donate to her. If I keep the fabric myself, I like makes such as the Noodlehead Patterns Minimalist Wallet. It’s the perfect size for holding one credit card and a few coins for throwing in my handbag, my hiking bag or for my holiday. I also like their Sandhill Sling bag and have managed to get that out of scraps too.
Do you prefer PDF or Paper patterns?
I am team PDF all the way! Who wants to battle with those huge flimsy pattern sheets and
then trace them too? I will do it if needed but it makes me grumpy…..
You are stuck on a sewing problem… Where do you go/who do you ask for help?
If it’s a problem with a pattern I’m making, I’ll contact the designer, but Youtube is pretty good for most things. I have learnt loads from the various sew-alongs I have watched over the years.
Have you ever lost your sew-jo? How did you get it back in?
A lot of people say to go with a tried and true pattern, but for me it’s the opposite. I need
something different or something to challenge me or teach me something new. It could be a new fabric type, or new garment or even a bag or a quilt. This is what tends to teach me to love it again. I loved making this Julia sweater with teddy fleece. I had never worked with it before and it had a different construction which I enjoyed.
Joanne in wearing the Atelier Jupe Julia Sweater in Teddy fleece.
Do you have a sewing tip to share with fellow seamstresses?
One of my pet peeves is when the fabric requirements for a pattern are way over. I often
print my pattern pieces out and try to lie them out on any piece of fabric that’s smaller than the published requirement and see if it fits on. Say it’s 2.5m I will try it on 2 m, but then if it fits I will photograph what I’ve done as it’s likely to not be the same as the lay plans. Then I buy my fabric for it.
Joanne in wearing the Friday Pattern Co Sagebrush top in our Painted Foliage Sunrise viscose, which was part of our Lamazi Makers Club Inspire.
Do you have any other hobbies apart from sewing?
I love keeping as fit as possible. I do strength training and I enjoy getting out in the fresh air for a lovely long hike – preferably up a big hill or mountain with views! I’m also an avid reader. A couple of years ago I managed to finish the Popsugar Reading Challenge of 52books in one year.
Joanne is wearing our Summer Flowers Viscose Linen Crepe.
What is your profession?
I have a pharmacy degree and spent 19 years in that profession specialising in substance
misuse. I then lost both my parents just a few months apart which prompted a huge lifestyle change. I gave up work and started doing voluntary work. I now volunteer as a director of a non-profit fabric and haberdashery store in a deprived area. I also teach sewing classes – beginners, techniques, dressmaking and bag-making. The money we make from our sales and my teaching funds various free to attend groups where we gather isolated people together around crafting, especially sewing and crochet. Coupled with a café in the community building we occupy it’s a great place for people to drop in and find acceptance and friendship.
What do you like about Lamazi fabrics and shopping with us?
Lamazi has always been my favourite. There’s something about the collection of fabrics,
styles and designs that not only sit well with me, but I’m excited to buy. I find them extremely helpful if I contact them about anything such as colour matching to another fabric and the suggestions are always spot on. I love the Lamazi Makers Club packs. Although I love wearing colour my confidence in what to go with is not great. I spent so long hiding in my husband’s hoodies that colour is still a bit alien to me. I don’t think I would have chosen to buy any of the fabrics I’ve received but I have ended up loving them all. I like that I don’t know what I’m getting – it pushes the boundaries of what I believe I can wear and I am really enjoying the journey.
Joanne is wearing the Lise Tailor Mimosa skirt pattern in our Mosaics Emerald which was part of our Lamazi Makers Luxury sewing kit.
Thank you for taking part Joanne! We have loved getting to know you! Stay tuned for more makers…