Kristl Pelz: July 2009 Archives
What did you do in your former life to bring you to the world of sewing patterns for the home sewer?
Well I actually started sewing at about the age of 14...I was (still am!) fashion obsessed, and I started off, as most of us do, with a few Big 4 patterns. But I'm afraid that my fashion obsession soon outgrew what was on offer, and so I started to draft my own patterns, and make my own clothes. I wasn't always very good at it, but I kept on learning and improving. And quite honestly, I couldn't imagine doing anything else career-wise. After Fashion college, I had various design jobs in the UK rag trade. I ended up with my own couture bridalwear business in London, but throughout it all I kept on sewing and making my own clothing. When we emigrated to the USA we decided that the time was right for us to launch our own pattern business...and we did! And I'll admit, I'm pretty self-indulgent...I do patterns for all the fabulous clothes I see (but can't afford or fit into!) and I'm so lucky to have such an enjoyable job. So it's really come full circle for me, from sewing patterns to sewing patterns.
Where does your inspiration for the smokin'
hot pattern styles come from?
Truthfully, inspiration
for our pattern styles comes from everywhere. Obviously I do a lot of trends
research and I'm constantly looking at fashion mags, but I also love to check
out what people are wearing on the street, the beach or out at night. But I have
to say, the internet is a constant source of inspiration...as well as the
obvious runway collections, I love to check out street-style, crafting
and off-the-wall lifestyle blogs. I think the day you stop being excited by
fashion, clothing and style, or you're no longer inspired by anything and
everything, you may as well hang up your designing shoes for good...but I don't
see that happening anytime soon!
Do you sew for yourself? If so, what do you
like to sew the most?
I sew for myself all
the time-I'd say that I make about 85% of my everyday clothing, which is a
good thing as I'm very very greedy for new clothes! If I bought the same
amount of clothes that I make I'd be bankrupt in a very short space of
time.
I make all sorts of things, and I do tend to make lots of knit tops and T-shirts...with 2 small children in the house I go through those very quickly!...but I also like to make pants and skirts, because that's the only way I can make them fit. It's true, I'm blessed with some major fitting issues, but rather than sit in the corner and cry about them I prefer to just make myself something fabulous that fits and looks great.
And frankly making new clothes is waaaaay more fun than doing laundry.
What is your favorite Hot Pattern and why?
Oooooh, do I have to pick just one? Well I can tell you what
I make over and over and over again...Weekender Sunshine Tops and Deco Vibe
Cigarette Pants. I love these because they just work on me so well, worn
together as an outfit or mixed with other pieces. But my new favorite is the
Wong-Singh-Jones Shangri-La Jacket, especially the shirt-jacket version we did
for our YouTube clips....that one is going to get used a lot in the next few
months!
Tell us about the You Tube videos. What will
we see and learn?
We started doing little clips on YouTube
to show details of our new patterns...sewers are visual people and our customers
have really found it helpful to watch a clip that, say, shows how to do a
particular trim or fit a certain garment. Usually, we make a sample 'as is'
straight out of the envelope, then we have some fun making different variations.
It's amazing how totally different the same pattern can look just by changing
the fabric or the print or by adding a few trims! If you want to check out our
YouTube clips, here's the link...
What is the number one question your receive
most often about Hot Patterns, and what is your answer?
The
number one question would be...what styles to choose for a particular body
shape. And this is a little complex to give a straight answer to...partly
because the person isn't standing in front of you, partly because what you
may think is a problem area may not be such a problem, and partly
because there's no real formula! I will say, though, that we do have some
pattern styles that suit pretty much every body shape and size. If you're stuck,
or just a little unsure, choose any of these because they will work for
you.
What is the number one figure issue most of
your customers seem to work through?
It's not so much a
figure issue as a fitting issue, and it's dealing with...pants! From my own
experience I know that finding off-the-rack pants that fit well-actually, that
even just fit OK-is really really tricky for a lot of women. So we do get lots
of emails asking, how do I make this pants pattern fit my body? How do I make
this pants style work on my physique? And quite honestly, I'd love to be able to
answer all the queries we get in-depth, but until there's another 24 hours in
the day that won't happen. But we are working on a Pants-fitting DVD,
because then we can go into greater detail, with visuals, than we ever could via
emails.
What are your favorite fabrics and why?
I do try not to be a fabric snob but honestly, I really do prefer
natural fibers, and living in hot-and-steamy Florida means that most man-made
fabrics are a bad choice for me anyway. I love-love-love linen, sheer cottons,
drapey knits and good denim, and I have a real thing for cotton sateen and
tencel...especially jaquard tencel.
Do you have a favorite color or motif that you
favor?
Much as I do try to use different colors and
palettes, I always seem to end up choosing green...anything clean and
yellow-toned like cilantro, chartreuse or leaf. Which is a huge step for me as,
being a total child of the 80's and working in fashion for so long, I've always
worn black, teamed with black and accessorised with black. My new black,
however, is white...more specifically, just off-white. So, green! and white! And
anything sparkly, especially silver tones and anything with square
sequins.
As for motifs, I do have my favorites...paisley, big splashy roses, toile du joie, Chinese-style dragons...honestly, I have many many favorites, my problem is always editing out what doesn't work for that particular garment!
What's your favorite British phrase (translate for the Yanks if necessary)?
"Blimey!"...which,
roughly translated, sort-of, kind-of means 'good grief" or "oh my" or something
similar!
Do you have a favorite American phrase or
word?
Hmmm, good question! I think what I really find
hilarious is the disparity between 'English' English and 'American' English,
especially when it comes to clothing terms. I'm juvenile enough to find the
terms 'Pants' to be amusing when referring to 'Trousers'...in the UK, 'pants'
are underwear, or even a kind of slang insult, like saying, "that restaurant was
awful, the food was total pants".
Now that you know Trudy better, get to know her patterns!
I have been on a buying spree on your behalf! We have added many types of notions and supplies recently, and we will continue to add new categories of items this year. Recently, I added notions and supplies for making purses and handbags. You will find two sizes and three colors of feet for the reinforced bottom of a handbag. We have four styles of metal purse frames with ''kiss'' clasps. They look Victorian or early 20th century to me. We have faux croc purse straps and the little metal purse handle hooks that elegantly connect your straps to the handbag. We have also added lots of different styles of handbag handles - plastic, suede, wooden and rattan. 
I will continue to update you on the new notions and pattern we add. Next time I will show off a creation I made from The Sewing Workshop line of pattern. It's got some needlefelting embellishment, too!
