Interview with Crea._Andrea

Andrea is a mother of two, an industrial clerk, and visited us in our studio. She came accompanied by her husband, as the two of them were in the capital for tango dancing.

Question: "When and why did you start sewing?"

Andrea: “ My grandmother sewed, my mother sewed, and somehow… it wasn’t always fun. As a child, and especially as a teenager, I wanted to buy jeans, but there were always ‘homemade’ ones.”

When I was 17, my sister got a sewing machine and then we took a sewing course at the adult education center together.

And it quickly became clear to me what I would buy with my first apprentice's wages: my very first sewing machine, a Pfaff Tipmatic.

I did a lot of sewing for a while, but at some point that slowed down because then the children and family came along – there wasn't as much time anymore.

And then, funnily enough, I rediscovered sewing through my shared hobby with my husband – tango. I wanted to sew myself a tango skirt, and that's when my first skirt from Schnittmuster Berlin was: the Grace skirt.

Question: "What do you particularly like about sewing?"

Andrea: "Well, I know that for many people the process, the production, is the main focus, but I simply find the finished unique piece so great in the end."

It is wonderful to sew clothes for myself and my family that truly fit, that are unique and special.

But somehow I also sometimes see my sewing room as a therapy center, and when I want to relax, I go in there and sew something I've already sewn several times – just to relax. A Lotta sweater, for example.”

Question: "How many patterns do you have from Schnittmuster Berlin?"

Andrea's first response to this question was a thoughtful silence, followed by a soft chuckle from her husband. Then Andrea's laughing reply: "Well, uh... I've got 5 boxes full?!"

But as soon as Andrea was back home, she counted for us: and she owns 26 patterns from Schnittmuster Berlin. The first pattern she sewed was the Tonje dress in November 2021, and the most frequently sewn pattern is – unsurprisingly – the Lotta sweater.

Question: "Do you often have to change our patterns?"

Andrea: “I have a very classic figure, but I am a little shorter than average.”

Therefore, I raise the waistline by 2cm in all patterns and adjust the length accordingly. But I have to do that with all patterns.

Question: In what format do you order the patterns from us?

I prefer the ebook. We have an A0 printer at home for work, so it's the most convenient option for me. I LOVE our A0 printer!

Question: "What do you do with all the pieces you've sewn over time?"

Andrea: "Well... I admit, I'm not very good at parting with things I've sewn myself. My daughter occasionally helps herself to things from my wardrobe, but I still have a lot of them and wear them regularly."

Sometimes, of course, I sew something that was perfect in my imagination – and then it was finished and unfortunately a disappointment.

My daughter is the best advisor in this regard. When she sticks her head into the sewing room and I show her what I'm sewing, a "well, okay" is already a reason to reconsider my plan.

A long, drawn-out "Ahhhh," with a sparkle in her eyes, tells me: "This item will soon be moving from my wardrobe to hers."

Question: "What are you doing now after this meeting here in Berlin?"

Andrea: "Buy fabric!"