On today’s episode of the Craft Industry Alliance podcast my guest is sewing pattern designer Christine Haynes.
Christine is a Los Angeles-based sewing author, teacher, and pattern designer with her own line of self-published vintage-inspired sewing patterns. She has written four books, How to Speak Fluent Sewing, Skirts & Dresses for First Time Sewers, The Complete Photo Guide to Clothing Construction, and Chic & Simple Sewing, and has written extensively for sewing magazines and blogs. She teaches sewing both in-person in Los Angeles and at conferences, as well as online.
We begin by talking about the sewing scene in Paris, where Christine is staying for a summer holiday. Christine tells us about her home town of Saugatuck, Michigan, going to the Art Institute of Chicago where she studied film and working in museums before starting her own business. She explains her path transitioning from creating ready-to-wear clothing and selling it at craft fairs to creating home sewing patterns.
The Emery Dress was a breakthrough pattern for Christine’s brand.
Christine shares how she got her first book deal and what it was like to run a successful Kickstarter campaign to launch her indie pattern business. We also talk about how she goes about working with pattern graders and a graphic designer to turn her designs into finished patterns that are ready to sell.
We discuss the advantages of doing your own distribution and the new opportunities that working with a wholesale distributor can bring. Christine describes her typical workday and explains how she manages her workflow while working from home as a sole proprietor. She also talks about the launch of her breakthrough pattern, the Emery Dress, and what that did for her business.
Christine explains how she works with a designer to create the beautiful illustrations that decorate the covers of her patterns.
During our chat we refer to:
- Jolie Bobbins
- Renegade
- Potter Craft
- Colette
- SewLA
- Built By Wendy books
- the Craftsy blog (don’t miss Christine’s Sassy Librarian Blouse class on Craftsy)
- Brewer and Checker
- Heather Grant and QuiltCon
And, of course, Christine and I recommend great stuff we’re loving right now.
Christine recommends:
And I recommend:
- All Points Patchwork by Diane Gilleland
You can listen to the show by clicking on the arrow below or subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and listen on the go. If you enjoy the show, tell a friend about it! Thank you so much.
Great interview! I learned hearing about how Christine started her business. I wore my Emery dress yesterday. It was funny to hear about how she was nervous about drafting such a fitted dress. I was really impressed with how well the Emery fit! Lots of darts to sew, but they are worth it.
I’m so glad to hear it. Thanks for listening Margo.
Another wonderfully interesting and absorbing spisode. I found Christine’s candour over the amount of work it can be to ensure everything is managed as it should be, the effort involved in a Kickstarter, and about the choices between doing work yourself or outsourcing it to more capable hands very useful. A great rapport between you, too – nice to hear. Thanks so much to you and Christine.