Matching corset and bloomer set made with FS Dahlia lightweight fabric

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

I’ve been designing my colorful brand, Eda Birthing, for over a decade now. I’ve had the
pleasure of working with many talented artists around the world, but I mainly work with drag
queens. I’ve even had the chance to collaborate with some queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race! I
also have some everyday-use products that are a bit quirky. I love creating a world where my
creatures can live and roam freely. I enjoy making little animations and videos about my
fashion, which you can check out on my YouTube Channel.
When I was little, my grandma was always sewing. I’d watch her work her magic all the time.
She even gave me a tiny, broken sewing machine and put it next to her so I could pretend to
sew too. Sadly, she passed away when I was about four. But guess what? In middle school, we
had to sew pajama pants for a class, and I got totally into it! I made so many, I even sold them
all to my mom’s friends. That was the first time I realized I had a knack for sewing and loved it. I
started taking sewing lessons during the summer and even enrolled in college classes when I
was in high school. Talk about a sewing journey!

Matching corset and bloomer set made with FS Dahlia lightweight fabric

Why do you sew?

Sewing is more than just a career for me; it’s a lifeline. When I’m feeling overwhelmed or lost,
it’s my escape. It’s a way to express my emotions that words often fail me. I can create
something beautiful from my imagination and share it with others. It’s a source of immense joy
and fulfillment. Sewing also makes me feel like I can do anything. I can make almost anything I
need if I wanted to without relying on buying it from somewhere else. Plus, it’s a great way to
show my loved ones how much they mean to me by making them special gifts.

Matching corset and bloomer set made with FS Dahlia lightweight fabric

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

I’ve moved around a lot in my life. I think I’ve moved almost 15 times, including countries! I’ve
been thinking about this question a lot lately because I haven’t had a stable home for more
than two years since I lived with my family before college. But I’ve realized that anywhere could
be home for me as long as I have my creative freedom and a place to make things. If I lived in a
place and didn’t have a little studio, a place that was my own little bubble, I wouldn’t feel like
home. That’s been the only constant thing in my life for a while, even when I was living with my
parents before college. I was able to have a little space for myself just for my sewing machine
or my paintings. If I don’t have a space for my bubble, I feel like I’m suffocating and I can’t
create. I’ve also realized that city life isn’t for me. After living in a city for almost 13 years, I
finally moved to a small town by the sea and surrounded by nature. It’s the most home I’ve felt
in a while.

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

Absolutely! Clothing is like a second skin that can greatly influence our mood and self-
expression. For instance, I avoid black clothing because it makes me feel invisible and lowers my mood. On the other hand, I love wearing colorful clothes because they brighten up my day. When I do have time to make my own clothes, I try to create something that makes me feel
amazing and doesn’t follow current fashion trends. I’m lucky enough to make clothes that fit
my body well. I especially enjoy making custom items for others, as I believe that everyone is
beautiful and deserves to feel confident in their clothing. Working with different body types has
also helped me embrace and love myself more. We are all beautiful.

Matching corset and bloomer set made with FS Dahlia lightweight fabric

What are your seven favorite sewing patterns?

I don’t have a favorite premade sewing pattern because I don’t use them much. Since I’m a
pattern maker myself, I always use the patterns I create. I even sell these patterns on Etsy! I
love pattern making, especially when it’s a new pattern that no one has made before.

Matching corset and bloomer set made with FS Dahlia lightweight fabric

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

I’m mostly on my own these days, but I’m making a sewing class to create a small community
of like-minded people. I actually don’t mind being alone. I find it easier to focus as an artist, but
I also think it’s important to know how to sew because when something rips on your favorite
garment, people often throw it away. But there’s something special about knowing how to fix it.

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

I have a bunch of projects that will stay with me forever, but there’s always one that I’ll cherish
the most. Back in my senior year of college in 2015, I lost my grandpa. He had lived with us in
the same house for 18 years, and it was incredibly tough for me to cope with his passing. I felt
like I wanted to drop out of school or take a break, but instead, I decided to dedicate my senior
thesis to him. I wanted to give him a special gift, so I created my collection ‘Clem’s Revenge’. It
was like a ceremony for him, our last dance together as a family. Each character in the
collection represented a family member, even our dog at the time. Everyone dealt with the loss
differently, so I interpreted that into the garments. As they danced down the runway for our final
show, each character (family member) had their last dance with my grandpa. It was one of the
roughest time? of my life, since I never understood the feeling of losing someone that close
before this. Though, I realized I could make even the worse moments into a colorful dream.

Matching corset and bloomer set made with FS Dahlia lightweight fabric

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

Both the journey and the final product are important in their own ways. The journey is more
memorable and special because those moments are behind the scenes and no one knows
what you go through. You experience a lot of emotions and learn a lot, which helps you grow
as an artist. The final product is also important because it gives you hope that things can turn
out the way you want them to when you’re finished. Sometimes, during the process, you
question yourself and wonder if it’s worth it or if it’s going to turn out badly. But when you finish
it and it’s the way you wanted it to be, you regain your confidence in yourself. Even if it doesn’t
turn out exactly the way you want it to, you learn what to do next time.

What does success mean to you?

Before starting any business, it’s crucial to have a clear idea of what you want. I never sought
fame or wealth. I just wanted to be comfortable enough to pursue my passions. For me,
success means staying true to my values and dreams, no matter what others say. I’ve been
told countless times that I was going in the wrong direction or that I couldn’t make a living
doing what I love. But I worked hard and created my own dream job – designing colorful
garments for colorful people. A place where customers come to me and ask for my designs,
not the other way around. And most importantly, I’m happy. You can have all the money in the
world, but if you hate what you do, it’s all for nothing. For me, achieving everything means
being able to do what I love.

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

This project was a blast! It was the perfect opportunity for me to create something special for
myself. I usually don’t have time to sew for myself because I’m busy making custom costumes
for other artists. But this time, I decided to prioritize my own interests and make something I’ve
been wanting for ages. So, I whipped up a simple Bloomer set and a matching corset. This
way, I can wear it casually or dress it up for fancy occasions. I picked purple because it’s my
favorite color! I’m so happy with how everything turned out. It was so nice making something
simple because I’m usually wrestling giant costumes under the sewing machine. It was very
therapeutic for me. It reminded me that I need to make time for myself and pursue my dreams.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in our work that we forget about ourselves. This project
brought me so much joy, and I’m determined to keep making time for myself and doing things
that make me happy.

Matching corset and bloomer set made with FS Dahlia lightweight fabric

What is it like working with fabrics-store linen? 

The fabrics I got from the fabric store were amazing! I bought the ‘Handkerchief’ linen in the
Dahlia color, and it was exactly as described. The weight was perfect for my project. The
fabrics are so high-quality. I’ve never used that much linen before, since I usually work with
fabrics for crazy costumes. But now I think I’ll be using it a lot more after this.