Our September Member in Focus brings us across the pond to Yorkshire England. It is here in Northern England that we find LoveLucie who has honed her sewing skills over the past decade and taken herself from zero to sewing hero. Coming from a family of gifted crafters Lucie has definitely come into her own. You can definitely see her affinity for the craft in every garment she makes. Let's get to know this sewing superhero.
Sew Over It - pu### Bow Blouse
Member Since: 3/16/15
PR Name: LoveLucie
Full Name: Lucie Jones
Blog: https://lovelucie.org/
Instagram: Love_lucie
When did your love of sewing begin?
I come from a talented crafting family to sewers, painters, pottery makers. I've hand stitched from a small child, mainly embroidery and cross stitch. I've always sewn all my own home furnishings, curtains, cushions etc. for the home, making my own curtains on a sewing machine passed down from my grandma for my room at university over 30 years ago. My mum was always sewing wonderful evening dresses for herself when I was a child, and my grandma sewed her own wardrobe too.
However, my own interest in dressmaking started about 9 years ago inspired by the rise of the sewing blogs and the very start of social media at that time.
What is your background? Tell us about where you work and where you live. We would love to know more about your family.
I live with my husband and (almost) grown up daughter in Yorkshire in the UK. We live on the outskirts of the country with easy access to the city so good for all types of outdoor leisure and city culture.
Now my daughter is working my husband and I love to travel; creating memories, spending time together, providing lots of reasons to sew new outfits!
Both myself and my husband work in construction. I work full time as a Project Manager in highway construction so sewing provides me with a creative outlet. My Instagram and blog enables me to connect with people that I would never get to meet in my normal day to day life. If you look back through the years on my blog you'll see my very first garment. It takes time to develop your skill and I'm in awe of other sewists that seem to go from zero to sewing hero in just a year or so!!
Lucie and her daughter, Freya
Lucie and her husband on holiday (Lucie in Simplicity 8606 Wrap Skirt)
Look what we found On Lucie's blog.
"It is a simple nightdress, the pattern of which I copied from one of my favourites cotton ones that had been washed so much it was indecent due to its translucent properties!" - from lovelucie.org
Do you have a favorite fabric to sew with?
I'm definitely a woven fabric fan. I love using deadstock fabric, with unique textures or prints. We have a wonderful deadstock warehouse close to where I live in Yorkshire.
I think I have quite a classic style, so you'll see lots of solids among my makes and I prefer graphic prints over florals. I make a lot of office wear, as that's where I spend a lot of my time, so I love cotton for shirts but also crepe.
Cotton, Closet Core - Charlie Caftan
Crepe, Friday Pattern Company - Sagebrush Top
What are you sewing right now?
I'm sewing up more trousers (or pants) for work. Trouser fitting is mind boggling! I'm using the Itch to Stitch Mountain View Pull On Jeans Pattern with a navy bengaline to produce some slim fitting comfy cigarette pants. I've just made a couple of Closet Core Sasha Trousers in printed bengaline, I'm a newly converted bengaline fan!
Then I plan to get on with some holiday sewing for a holiday I have planned for October.
Lucie in her new Itch to Stitch Mountain View cigarette pants
Closet Core Patterns - Sasha Trousers
What is your Ride or Die pattern? You've used it multiple times and never want to be without it.
I love making shirts. I have a thing for accuracy and detail. I think that is why I find a precisely turned out collar, cuff and sleeve placket so intensely satisfying.
I once used to look with envy at other sewers' shirts and think I would never be able to achieve such garments. Cuffs and plackets just seemed mystical to me! But it is just like following a good baking recipe. If you are accurate in your cutting out and follow the construction instructions to the letter and be patient enough to unpick and redo, and use a little hand basting, you'll get a wonderful professional looking garment that will wash and wear for years.
Working in an office, I have lots of opportunity to wear shirts on a daily basis, but I also like to incorporate them into my downtime wardrobe too.
My TNT pattern is my Liesl and Co Classic Shirt. I think I've made 6 of them in cotton, crepe and viscose. Closely followed by my favourite linen shirt pattern, the Paper Theory Patterns Olya Shirt.
Lucie in her three versions of Liesl + Co - Classic Shirt
Lucie in her three versions of Paper Theory - Olyan Shirt
Tell us about other PR members you ar e inspired by and would love to meet IRL:
Active wear is something I've not delved into and it would be really useful! I'm inspired by the amazing activewear sewn by LIESLP and HPSAUCE. I would love to meet them and quiz them about all they've learnt, their favourite patterns and about where they get their technical fabrics from. I think we are a little behind in the UK for technical fabrics.
PR members: Lieslp and hpsauce
Where do you sew? We would love to see photos of your sewing space.
I sew in my garden room, just off the kitchen. Luckily it's just for me and I can have my sewing machines out all the time. Perfect for 5 minutes sewing whenever I get chance which is mostly how I fit it in with longer periods of a few hours early in the mornings at weekends. I love the light and the feeling of being surrounded by the green plants of the garden. It's a great place to take my photos too.
Which is your primary sewing machine?
My primary machine is a Pfaff Passport 3.0. I love the IDT system which is like having a permanent walking foot. It's a small portable machine that is still capable of sewing through most fabrics including denim and coating fabric.
Pfaff Passport 3.0
Do you have any other hobbies?
I am never without another craft hobby. Embroidery, knitting, crochet and I've recently started drawing with ink and water colour.
Away from craft I am a passionate cyclist. I ride with a local ladies cycle club a couple of times a week. We're a great bunch of independent strong women, always there for one another. When the weather is too foul for cycling we wrap up and walk.
Lucie and her Cycling Buddies
and Hiking with her cycling friends.
Thank you so much for sharing, LoveLucie, you are an inspiration to our community!
Connect with LoveLucie on PR and see more of her reviews in her Review Gallery.
We can all agree that this dress is made for you!
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