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Photo of the month, May
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A sea of silk from Grandma's trunk
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When she says that her sewing abilities are "not yet very good", Gwendolyn Schumacher is being much too modest. The results of her creative hobby amazed us. We talked to this 16-year-old school-girl from Germany's Rhön area about her passion for sewing.
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Gwendolyn, you've given your sewn garments poetic titles such as "Sea of silk", "Autumn apple" or "I love my headphone". Isn't that overdoing it a little for things to wear?
I don't think so. I invested a lot of love in the dresses, skirts, and other garments. Each finished piece has its own character and deserves to have an especially nice name. I try to choose names which reflect the way I think and feel and the ideas that I have when I'm designing and sewing each garment.
In your profile for the burda community, you write that you have been sewing for the past three or four years. What made you begin sewing at such an early age?
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My mama, of course. She always sewed for me – or had to sew for me because I was so thin... and still am. I always watched her sew and also began to help. When I was eleven or twelve, I began to change clothes to fit my taste and my size. Finally, when I was 14, I bought my first "easy fashion", which I still love today. Since then, I have been sewing myself.
What do you like to sew best?
It varies. Of course, mostly I sew clothing for myself, since I'm still very slender and petite. But I have also "improved" T-shirts for my boyfriend and my brother. Mostly I use fabric remnants that I find "lying around" home. For example, I love looking through my grandmother's trunk - there are wonderful fabrics there. My dress "Sea of silk" was made from one of my grandmother's old skirts. I have also used old bed or table linens. I still go to school and can't often afford expensive fabrics. That helps you learn to be creative.
And where do you get the ideas for your hobby?
Everywhere, really – from films and magazines or from shops where I see lovely things, which are too expensive for me to buy. I usually find the patterns in my mother's stash – and I often combine several patterns to fit my ideas. Then when I'm sewing, I get lots of ideas and think of many variations. I just love to turn my ideas into reality, from beginning to end. I especially think that "easy fashion" is just perfect for me. The instructions are simple and detailed, and the garments are still really chic.
I do have one wish, though. I think it would be wonderful if more patterns were offered in smaller sizes – beginning at size 32. Then I could finally sew someting from burda World of Fashion.
Eva Schiwarth talked with Gwendolyn Schumacher
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| Three different sleeveless shirts – views ABC for women and DEF for men. Wear ... |
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