Learn To Sew: Interview with Anita By Design

Hello Friends! If you've  followed my blog from the beginning, you know I started out blogging about fashion and sewing.  It was my plan to share sewing tips and guides. Unfortunately with working full time, blogging, and the technical challenges involved, the sewing part went mostly by the wayside. Instead, I focused on another love of mine: travel.

I have been inspired to make time for sewing again, by this lovely lady: Anita of
 Anita by Design!  What an inspiration she is! Anita has only been blogging since Jan 2016, and she is becoming an internet sensation!  She is an amazing seamstress or should I say sewist: that is the buzz word now!

I connected with Anita just a few months ago. We met via a blogging campaign for women in midlife called The Fierce 50. I found out quickly, sewing is her passion. She is very blessed with an amazing talent, and loves to share it.  I immediately felt a kindred spirit, and it's been a blessing getting to know her. It was cool to find out she also learned to sew in junior high like I did. It's sad, it's a lost art at school.  Alright, enough blabbing and onto the interview!

1)Tell us a little about yourself- how long you have been sewing, and why you decided to blog about it.

I am a woman of God, a wife, mother and seamstress. I mention woman of God first because it is my faith that guides and directs my choices in life. I am married to a recently retired Los Angeles City Fire Captain. We have two adult sons, ages 19 and almost 21. Sewing is my passion and I want to share it with anyone who will take interest.

I learned how to use a sewing machine and create stitches in my 8th grade home economics class. While I enjoyed the class, I didn't pursue the craft at that time. It wasn't until my mid-twenties when I became interested in learning to sew for myself. I found a lady who had a private studio where she held sewing classes and taught me the basics of sewing. I was instantly drawn in and picked up on the techniques rather quickly. I sewed for about a year or two then quit because I got married and started raising a family.

In 2013 I started sewing again. Then in 2014 I was introduced to the Mimi G. Style Blog, and that's when I became more interested than ever to sew again. After attending her annual conference and joining her private facebook group, I started sewing more frequently.  Eventually, I found myself taking her Blogging 101 Course, watching YouTube tutorials on how to start a blog. I followed the steps I was learning and Anita by Design was launched on January 20, 2016.

2) I know that you share sewing tutorials on your blog and on youtube, tell us what has been the  most rewarding about this experience?

I'm very encouraged by the feedback I receive from people, letting me know that they're indeed learning to sew. That is enough to keep me going. When I hear women (and a few men) say that they're able to follow along with the videos and have begun creating their own garments, my heart is full.

3) Recently you became part of the team  for the Sew Sew Def Magazine that Mimi G is publishing: This is so exciting..tell us a bit aboutthe magazine and how this came about. 

Sew Sew Def Magazine is a multicultural magazine for men and women. It is the first of it's kind, and I'm beyond excited to be part of the team of contributors. Mimi contacted me and asked if I would be interested in being a contributor, and of course I quickly accepted her invitation. She assigned me to the "Beginner's" section because she saw my interest in teaching basics. I was so happy when she revealed that I would write about sewing basics, because new beginners are dear to my heart. I remember how hungry I was for information when I was a new beginner. I want to give back what I'm receiving.

4) What is your favorite piece of clothing to sew?

My favorite garment to sew is the maxi dress. I guess that's my favorite, because it's the type of garment I like wearing the most. There are so many styles and fabrics to choose from, so the possibilities are endless. If I had a closet full of maxi dresses, it wouldn't be too much for me.

5)What is your greatest sewing achievement so far?

My greatest sewing achievement by far is the Sewing 4 Haiti initiative I joined in 2016. Along with a group of other seamstresses, I was able to sew 10 dresses and send them to the coordinator of the initiative to be shipped off to the 4HNYC, who then took them to Haiti. It felt so good to sew with a mission in mind, to sew for someone in need. It doesn't get any better than that.

We are now in the second round of Sewing 4 Haiti, and this time we're sewing for the boys. In the first round most of us made dresses, so Shun Davis, the coordinator, designated this round for the boys. If anyone is interested in joining you may go to shundavis.com to get information http://www.shundavis.com/2017/03/sewing-4-haiti-boys-edition.html, or join the private facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1150537261707134/.

6) If someone has never touched a sewing machine, what is your advice to them if they want to start sewing?

(A) Know your own personal style. This will help you to sew garments that complement YOU.

(B) Take a beginner's sewing course, following someone who has a teaching style that you're able to follow along with. You may check out my free course on my blog here: http://www.anitabydesign.com/beginners-sewing-course/

(C) Be patient with yourself. Learning to sew is a process that takes time.

7) As seamstress we love to dream of designing our own patterns or collection, any plans to become a designer?

Yes, I would love to design my own patterns. I have already purchased books and watched a few YouTube tutorials to get an idea of what's involved. However, before that happens, there are other areas that I must master. I will take it slow and allow God to guide me along the way. We'll see where it all leads.

Thank you  Anita for taking time to share your story, I can't wait to see what you do next! For more sewing inspiration follow Anita on Instagram, Twitter , Facebook, and Pinterest.  I 'm sure you enjoyed hearing about this beautiful lady as much as I did.

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Do you have a creative talent you'd like to learn? Id love to hear in the comments!

Inspirational Quote: "Creativity: The more you have, the more you use" Maya Angelou

Until Next Time,