Infrequently Asked Questions

Chalk it up to shyness, fear, or simple lack of curiousity, but it's rare that MPB readers ask me questions about myself.   Today, however, I have decided to answer a few questions I have been asked, with a few more added by Michael.

In no particular order...

 1. What did you major in in college?

It makes no sense to me now, but I was a Spanish major.  Actually, I still love languages to this day.  I also studied Italian for many years. 

 2. What is Cathy up to next?

Cathy's next project is her Halloween Scheherazade costume.  I envision a Fifties-era wiggle dress sometime after that.  Then who knows?

3. Do you prefer sewing men's clothes or women's clothes?

Most of the time I enjoy my women's projects more than my men's projects.  There are so many more interesting old patterns to choose from, so many more possibilities, as well as variables that exist for a women's clothing project like drape of fabric, that really don't factor (much) in my men's projects.  There's very little variety to the kind of men's clothes I'm interested in sewing, which are limited to the types of clothes I'm likely to wear. 

4. What one piece of advice would you give to someone just starting to sew today?

My advice would be to keep at it and find some sewing friends or an online sewing community. It's not much fun sewing in isolation, especially if you're a beginner.  Even if you don't need help (which is unlikely), you'll want encouragement -- and a little validation too!

5. What's the favorite thing you ever sewed?  What's your biggest sewing mistake?

The favorite thing I ever sewed is probably my linen jacket, my toile pants and the border print linen shirt I sewed for Michael this summer.  My biggest mistake is probably my harem pants. They just don't fit my style (though I have seen similar things on others).

My drop-crotch trousers (also known as harem pants)

The Commes des Garcons version ain't much better.

6. What pattern is not out there that you think should be? 

I would like to see Vogue or Simplicity put out some vintage bathing suit patterns from the Forties and Fifties. People are paying ridiculously high prices for those and they're not terribly complicated, pattern-wise.  I would also like to see some more fashion-forward mens outerwear, a true designer pattern that's a little unusual, as opposed to a classic trenchcoat or overcoat.

Pattern, please.

7. Why do you choose to be a hobby sewer rather than a professional one?

With only three years of sewing experience under my belt, I'm not sure in what capacity I would be a professional sewer.  I do enjoy writing about sewing, however, and have contributed a handful of articles to Vogue Patterns Magazine.  Writing MPB is so satisfying, the feedback I receive so immediate (and gratifying), that I can't see how I could top it.  Honestly, I like to run the show, so it's not fun for me to me to work for others unless I'm given a very long leash.

8. Who are your biggest influences as a sewer?

Classic Hollywood films are my greatest influence.  The Forties and Fifties film wardrobes of Rita Hayworth, Lana Turner, and Doris Day by Jean Louis, the color palettes of costumer Dorothy Jeakins, inspire me in particular.  I also enjoy looking at old magazines from the period.

Dorothy Jeakins designed the costumes for You-Know-What.

9. Where do you see yourself in five years?

Hopefully alive and still sewing.

10.  What is your biggest sewing wish you hope to achieve?

At the moment I have no big wishes: I enjoy my day-to-day creative existence as-is and I know, inevitably, something fun and exciting will happen.  Surprise me!

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In closing, readers, I hope you have found this post informative.  If you have any other infrequently asked questions you wish to pose, please do.  I just might answer them.

Have a great day, everybody!