Curated By You: Jennifer Coombes Pairs a Zero Waste Pattern With FS Linen

Block Trouser made with FS Prestige Heavyweight Premier linen

Could you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into sewing?

I feel like it’s almost impossible to think of a time when I wasn’t doing some form of sewing or crafting. One of my earliest memories is riffling through my grandmother’s wicker sewing basket with the shell covered lid and believing that I was sewing her handkerchief and somehow making it larger. I also have fond early memories of sitting underneath my great-grandmother’s quilt stretchers with the light streaming through as she and her friends talked while they hand-stitched quilts. The fabrics were always cut up clothes from the outgrown wardrobes of children in our family. The friendship and teamwork that went into their work was a powerful example for me. It was the earliest and most meaningful example of female friendship I saw and I have carried that feeling with me throughout my making life. In my family everyone, but especially the women, valued making – whether it was sewing or crochet, cooking or ceramics. It seemed very normal to pick up one of these hobbies and it did not occur to me until much later that most of my peers did not know how to cross stitch or sew their own garments. I dabble in a lot of crafting. I am active at a pottery studio and I am a professional photojournalist. I also love to knit and have moved past square shapes and into garments.

Why do you sew?

I sew for many reasons, but perhaps the primary reason is that it gives me great pleasure and is a source of satisfying meditation. I read through the instructions, pop on an audiobook and put the pedal to the floor!

I love that I can create something that is entirely unique and creative and perfectly tailored (hopefully) to my body. My large stash of patterns also speaks to my love of aspirational work when it comes to sewing. Before actually making something, the creative process of finding a lovely piece of fabric – whether at a store or at a vintage market–and imagining what I can do with that fabric to transform it into something that makes me feel good is really satisfying. I love very minimal outfits with pops of color and style. I like defining that for myself rather than going to a store and spending way too much on fashion that is not sustainable. I love finding the perfect fabric and matching it to the perfect pattern. This can sometimes take months or years. I will also be honest, I often feel like shopping has the opposite effect on me that sewing does. I often feel like the clothes don’t fit right and the price points are frustratingly out of line with what I am willing to spend. Everyone wants to feel great in their clothes and that often doesn’t happen at stores that design their clothes to look good on only one body type. Sewing, if you have the time and resources, removes a lot from the equation when it comes to being happy with how you look in your day to day life. Feeling good and being comfortable in what you are wearing is a huge confidence and mood booster. Plus, when people ask you where you got that amazing dress you can tell them that you made it.

Block Trouser made with FS Prestige Heavyweight Premier linen

Where is home and how does it affect your creative practice?

I live in Denver, Colorado where I have a view of the downtown skyline when I look to the east and a view of the Rocky Mountains when I look to the west. I love the city, but like so many people that live in Colorado, the outdoors is a huge part of living here.

My creative practice is fueled just as much by my friends who love to talk crafting or meet and craft together as it is by my love for the land. Sewing and the outdoors have a few things in common–they both require a lot of solitary time to focus and they allow space to meditate and think through problems that need solving. One of my favorite things to do is get out on a trail or forage for mushrooms and feel a connection with the land. I am originally from the Ozarks and most of my family is from Oklahoma where we have ancestral connections to Indigenous tribes. As someone that was brought up in a small town outside of Indigenous tribal culture, my adult pursuits have been to connect to it through creative practices. I think caring about the land and spending time in nature is necessary to who I am.

As a child, what was your first encounter and memory of beauty?

Oh, I definitely recall being absolutely obsessed with Dolly Parton! It is funny because I am not a hot pink and rhinestones kind of gal, but when I was a child she had a show that my grandma watched on Sundays. I thought she was so funny, kind, beautiful and smart. I still think that. I don’t really embrace the same aesthetic, but she is a great role model for paving your own path and creating your own style. She’s also just such a caring and philanthropic example of what caring for others looks like.

Has your sewing practice changed your relationship to your body image and self- acceptance?

I think body image is something everyone probably struggles with from time to time. I am no exception. I think that sewing has allowed me to experiment with alterations and focus on what I believe specifically looks good on me, which then impacts my confidence when wearing something I have made. Nothing can replace how your sewing makes you feel on the inside when it is reflected on the outside. Learning how to sew specifically for my body has given me the confidence to approach a pattern and know where I may need to make adjustments to fit the garment to me. Having that experience and knowledge is a confidence builder in itself. There is a level of self-acceptance that happens when you know that your measurements are what they are, that is a fact, and you can work with those to make a fit that is going to look outstanding on you. I think everyone looks great in clothes that are tailored to their body and clothes that make them feel great. The added advantage of selecting fabrics and colors that elevate your look is like opening your own fashion house at home.

Block Trouser made with FS Prestige Heavyweight Premier linen

What are your seven favourite sewing patterns?

I love this dress! I need to make a new one because I sadly had a mishap and stained my make beyond saving. If you like a bit of whimsy in your wardrobe, I feel like this dress is just as it is named…it gives Mia Farrow vibes. The construction is kind of interesting and somehow takes a complicated dress and makes it easy.

If you need a basic top that will go with nearly anything, this pattern is simple and really rewarding to make. The construction is so well done and the pattern is very easy to follow. Just a total win.

I found the instructions for these pants to be really easy. I also really liked the style since they are stylish enough to be a nice wardrobe addition but also timeless in a way that makes them a great staple to keep around.

SO EASY! Four pattern pieces and a deep amazing pockets. This is super easy to make in a few hours and a great project for a funky fabric.

I love the versatility of this pattern and how it can be a day to day dress or a very fancy night out dress depending on your fabric and pattern choices. Plus, everyone looks fantastic in a wrap dress. https://closetcorepatterns.com/products/elodie-wrap-dress-pattern?srsltid=AfmBOooRBI4Ul9SnXe-fSArh9c-mFApkl72G2-Ev2OWMiQfaZKYDZH_a&variant=39419157512326

Out of print but I LOVE the Wiksten shift dress pattern. I love it so much that I bought a second pattern I found online because mine is so delicate and used. Now I have a backup and know that I will trace rather than cut next time!

Whether you are into a vintage look or not, I made the dress on the cover of this book with ¾ sleeves and have never gotten more use out of a dress in my life! It is my go to dress for nicer events like weddings. This dress has a gusset armpit and is fitted to make anyone look like a million bucks and is fairly glamorous and timeless in the right fabric. Even better, it was super easy to make.

Admittedly, this is in progress but I have had the fabric for ages and need to just finish this. It’s a great jacket for lounging and cozy moments or as an actual coat on chillier days and nights. I like the silhouette on this one, which I think sets it apart from other patterns.

Do you have a community of makers around you or do you find you are on your own?

Like a lot of people, the COVID-19 pandemic really changed things when it came to meet ups. In some ways it made it so much easier. I have a group of friends that I have known since college but we all live in different cities, states and even continents. We gather online for a craft and book club chat once a month and in person once a year. It is really comforting to have my own version of my great-grandma’s quilting ladies gathered up to talk and connect. I also really value the creative folks I see each week at the pottery studio. They keep me grounded as I sling some mud, both literally and figuratively! There are also several weekly gatherings at my library and craft store down the street that I try to engage in when I can. I also like to sign up for a class sometimes. You can meet new people and learn a new skill while creating something in a new environment.

Block Trouser made with FS Prestige Heavyweight Premier linen

How important is it to make something with your hands?

I cannot imagine life without making. It’s a daily practice that probably keeps me sane! I love making for others. Sometimes I think that I don’t really have any evidence that I like to sew or make because it generally goes out the door and is gifted to someone else. I have only recently started to focus more on myself and projects that I have always wanted to do for myself. I think making and giving that handmade item to someone is probably the ultimate sign of affection. A handmade gift means that I have sat down for hours with you in my heart while I make something that I can only picture in your hands. After it is gifted, I let it go. I have learned the hard way that folks are human and they may put that wool hat in their dryer. Or think it’s too precious to wear at all and make that item live in a drawer for 20 years. On the other hand, dresses I have made for my nieces have been passed down and worn over and over and that is so lovely.

What has been the most rewarding sewing project you’ve completed so far and why?

I recently attended a public media journalism awards night that was considered semi-formal. I knew what I wanted to wear but the dress was outrageously expensive. It’s construction also appeared to be super simple. I watched a video of someone wearing the dress and looked over photos of the dress to get a basic idea of its construction. Then I made it myself. I sketched and mathed out the simple pattern and got more compliments than I could count. A few weeks later I wore it to a nice dinner out and a complete stranger walked up to me and raved about my dress. I have always wanted to draft my own patterns and this was the first time I had tried. It was really rewarding to find out I could do it successfully and perhaps pursue more complicated projects in the future. At no point did anyone want to know if I made the dress. They wanted to know where I had bought it. Technically the fabric was from a thrift store and I made it for $6 instead of the $300 it was selling for online.

Block Trouser made with FS Prestige Heavyweight Premier linen

What is more important to you – the process or the final product (ie your garment)?

I feel like I should say the process because that is where all of the learning and thinking happens. That is also when the hard work and years of experience come into play. I do think there is a sense of accomplishment and mastery if I have tried something completely new and acquired a new skill. But honestly, I find it incredibly rewarding when I put on my new garment and it makes me feel like a million bucks. There is nothing more frustrating than a finished project that just doesn’t work out and is relegated to the recycled fabric bin.

FS Prestige Heavyweight Premier linen

What have you chosen to make out of FS linen and why?