We’re excited to welcome another new sponsor to Indie Pattern Month for 2018 – Alina Sewing + Design Co. Her modern patterns are an instant classic for any wardrobe and surely to be made over and over. Kyla caught up with Alina to learn a little more!
**Use code IndiePatternMonth2018 for 10% off all Alina Sewing + Design Co. patterns through the entire month of October**
Tell us a bit about your designs. How would you describe your style/aesthetic?
The design aesthetic of my patterns are long-lasting, classic, and timeless with a modern look. I feel passionate about creating a handmade wardrobe that will be “in style” for many, many years.
How did you come up with the name for your label?
When trying to come up with a name, I also wanted something that would stand the test of time, and what better way than to use my actual (uncommon) name?
We’d love to know the story behind your business. What inspired you to create and sell patterns? How did it all start?
I have a degree in advertising, but always dreamed of being a mom. I am *extremely* fortunate in that I now have three kids, ranging in age from 8 months to almost five years. I homeschool our oldest son and stay at home with the kids full-time. Having made that decision, I still wanted something to work on and call my own. My love of sewing, combined with owning creative businesses over the years, led me to the indie sewing pattern design business. It’s something I can work on using any spare moments (hint: I don’t have many lately!), but there are no real deadlines, so it’s a job that I enjoy and don’t find very stressful, yet can still help contribute to our family’s income.
Looking ahead, where would you like your business to be in five years time?
Oh, good question! I would like to remain consistent in releasing patterns that are timeless and beautiful with instructions that are thoughtful and thorough. Other than that, I guess we’ll see where life takes us as our family continues to grow and move around the world.
Where do you do all of your work? May we have a sneak peek at your workspace?
My husband is in the US Navy and we move often, but he believes in me and supports my business ideas, so he is always on board to give me a room in our house if possible. Right now, our family of five lives in a 1,400-square-foot house in Southern California, but I still have the entire dining room to use. It’s quite open to the rest of the house, but a space is a space and I’m grateful for it. I dream of having a separate work space (outside of my house), and maybe that will happen someday, but this works well for right now.
What is your favorite part of releasing a new design?
Honestly, the initial brainstorming, building inspiration boards, sketching my vision, writing the pattern description, and beginning to draft. Getting my vision on paper and into words is a great exercise for me to hone in on what exactly my goal is as I begin to draft. An incredible amount of work goes into a sewing pattern, and not all of it “feels” fun, but that initial session of designing and creating is very exciting. Releasing a finished product is a definitely close second. 🙂
Thinking of your gorgeous designs, what is your favorite of all your designs so far, and why?
Eek, that’s like asking me to choose between my children! I have thus far released patterns that work well as a capsule wardrobe, so they all play very different parts and fulfill different roles. If I had to choose, though, I think I would pick the Hampton Jean Jacket. It has all of the details you would find on an expensive denim jacket, but the fit is better than I have ever been able to find in ready-to-wear. Plus, how empowering is it to wear a denim jacket that your hands made??
Who or what inspires you, either with your designs or with your business (or both)?
Sometimes it’s an article of clothing on a person walking down the street, the way a certain fabric moves, or simply just a hole in my wardrobe.
Do you have any new patterns in the works? Any hints you can give us?
Yes! I have three new patterns drafted. I am working on them during any spare time I have and hoping to release all three between this month and the Spring. 🙂 Shameless plug: I announce all releases and send out a coupon code to my newsletter subscribers, so if you are interested in hearing first (and getting a discount), make sure to sign up on my site!
The Monthly Stitch 