It is a New Year and time to get acquainted with a new group of Members in Focus. Every other month we highlight a member, chosen by our staff, and get to know them a little better. We couldn't be more excited to bring you this month’s Member In Focus. ClaudC (Claudine) is a member like you, that makes PatternReview a thriving commonwealth for sewists! Claudine has been part of our online community for a little over a decade, watching her family grow up and her sewing skills flourish. Time to meet and learn more about this invaluable member.
Member Since: 3/24/12
PR Name: ClaudC
Full Name: Claudine Chan
Blog: No blog. I'd rather be sewing! ;D
Claudine in her self drafted Asian Dress made for the 2022 Sewing Bee - Buttonholes.
When did your love of sewing begin?
My grandmother had a Singer treadle machine (she did mostly mending) and mom taught me to knit, so the early influence was definitely there. I have always enjoyed creating with my hands and did 2 years of Home Economics in high school but am otherwise self-taught. Through the years, I have dabbled in cooking, baking, scrapbooking, jewelry making, gardening, woodworking, cross stitch, knitting, crochet, quilting. Clothes making is my current passion, I think because it is so intensely practical.
Claudine's family in 2015.
What is your background? Tell us about where you work and where you live. We would love to know more about your family.
I was born & grew up in Asia but came to the US as an adult, in 2007 with DH*, DD1 & DD2. Later, DS was added to our family. We live in IL with 2 guinea pigs. I used to work as a chemist (before kids) but am now a domestic Chief Operations Officer (aka stay at home mom). Although they are supportive, no one else in the family is interested in sewing, which is fine by me. Sewing is my creative outlet and therapy, helping me cope with life challenges.
*Dear Husband, etc.
A recent family portrait from 2022.
We definitely can not forget, Claudine's Guinea Pigs, Nugget (left) & Patches (right) "DS wanted to rename them Tuff & Buff, but as their favorite activity is eating, they are anything but tough & buff! 😆" They sure are precious!
Do you have a favorite fabric to sew with?
Natural fibers, especially wool & silk. I love the warmth, breathability & drape of these fibers. I'm newish to linen and undecided about its wrinkles. :D
Wool skirt with a silk lining: Zero Waste Wrap Skirt - Liz Haywood
Linen Overalls: Stitch Sisters - Dungarees
What are you sewing right now?
I'm in the middle of a boiled wool Waffle Patterns Yuzu cocoon coat, and a wool/silk skirt for DD1. I also have a knitting (Icelandic wool socks for DS) and cross stitch projects in progress, for doctor's office waits, road trips and times when I'm away from home.
We can't wait to read your Review!
What is your Ride or Die pattern? You've used it multiple times and never want to be without it.
It's hard to pick only one! I haven't made multiples of many patterns as I love exploring and learning new things. How about my top 3 instead? Simplicity 2886 for its flattering silhouette, Vogue 1208 for its bias cut & asymmetry and Jalie 3887 Clara leggings.
Claudine in two different renditions of Simplicity 2886
Claudine in her rendition of Vogue Patterns 1208
Claudine's long and short Clara leggings
Claudine and her daughter in Merino Clara underwear
Tell us about other PR members you are inspired by and would love to meet IRL:
I don't have in person sewing friends so it's the community on PR that's the big draw for me. The website is so BIG it's easy to get info overload, so I tend to hang out on the "30 minutes a day" thread. I consider that my PR home, we chat about our sewing but also our lives. I would love to meet the regulars there - SheBear0320, Moxie Carol, ciaraxyerra, Moodlework, Lazydaze52, Donkeygirl, Litapita, NancyGT, DTsewing stories, NZ girl, YoungRobert, 9dcx, msschiel, karentn, sewnaomi, Patricia from Rose Manor Farm, sammyowner and all those who recently joined in 2023.
I would also love to meet the friends I made in the 2022 Sewing Bee - AshwiniJ, dolorousrattus, Flabeth, Laura J Allen, LifeofJanine, Kayseri, acmena, material excess, nevereasy, Melwyk, j.am, JoMancuso, Kidnotes, Lieslp, Mel H, nevereasy, Raffey1, Raye Ann, Rosesred, Samstress, tsedai, with love Heidi. The "roller coaster" of the Bee was manageable with the encouragement, laughter, commiseration & camaraderie of this incredibly creative & talented group!
30 Minutes A Day Members
First Row: SheBear0320, Moxie Carol, ciaraxyerra, Moodlework, Lazydaze52
Second Row: Donkeygirl, Litapita, NancyGT, DTsewingstories, NZgirl
Third Row: YoungRobert, 9dcx, msschiel, karentn, sewnaomi
Fourth Row: Patricia from Rose Manor Farm, sammyowner
2022 Sewing Bee Members
First Row: AshwiniJ, dolorousrattus, Flabeth, Laura J Allen, LifeofJanine
Second Row: Kayseri, acmena, material excess, nevereasy, Melwyk
Third Row: jamSews, JoMancuso, Kidnotes, Lieslp, Mel H
Fourth Row: Raffey1, Raye Ann, Rosesred, Samstress, tsedai
Fifth Row: with love Heidi
Where do you sew? We would love to see photos of your sewing space.
My sewing area is half of our recreation room (the other half has our TV area). It has windows that face the backyard and I love watching the birds visit our birdfeeder as I sew.
My sewing space is functional but definitely not Insta-worthy with everything coordinated! It needs a big clean up before sharing pictures, which I will try to get to! The furniture is arranged in a U-shape. On one long side of the U, my sewing machines & serger sit on a desk under a pegboard where my rulers and other tools live. The short end of the U is a 4x4 Ikea Kallax storage cube that holds patterns, magazines, books, notions and some fabric. The other long side of the U is my cutting table, which is just an old dining table on bed risers. There are some storage boxes under that table, containing UFOs :P Most of my fabric stash is organized by fabric type, in overflowing bins in a nearby closet.
I recently got rid of a chair in my sewing area as I realize I want to be *alone* when I sew, LOL! To take its place, I'm planning to upcycle a changing table into an ironing station with storage.
Which is your primary sewing machine?
I'm wary of computerized sewing machines dying so I have a vintage mechanical Pfaff Hobby and a Juki MO654DE serger. My back up machine is an in-cabinet vintage Kenmore 158.
Left: Kenmore 158 Right: Pfaff Hobby and Juki Serger
Do you have any other hobbies?
My other major hobby is woodworking. When we moved into our house a few years ago, there were many home projects that needed to be done and I said, I could learn to do this. So I asked for a table saw for my birthday and taught myself Sketchup CAD (computer aided design) and woodworking from Youtube videos. After all, woodworking is a lot like sewing, turning flat material (for wood, there's also skinny & long boards) into a 3D shape.
A collage of some of the things I've made - beds, custom closet shelving, Ron Paulk style workbench, stilts for the kids, My proudest makes are a hoophouse for my raised beds and our 6 piece patio set! :D
Thank you so much for sharing, ClaudC, you are an inspiration to our community!
Connect with ClaudC on PR and see more of her reviews in her Review Gallery.
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