1. Where are you from and/or where do you live?

I was born in Kronoby and am now living in Vasa, Finland, in a little house with my husband.

2. What was the 1st thing you made? How did you start sewing?

My mother had a good sewing machine and I always wanted to sew something when I was younger. I think I made Barbie clothes as one of the first things I sewed. I made t-shirts for myself and tried to make pants out of my own pattern, but that did not work out. That was the last thing I sewed for years. I'm unfortunately very unpatient and if it doesn’t go my way I give up. Nowadays I'm working on my patience when it comes to sewing.

3. What role does sewing play in your life?

Right now it plays a very big role. I am on leave of absence for a year from my work as a youth leader (to be able to be a singer and a songwriter full time) and I have more time to create and sew now than before. I have found new inspiration to make my own clothes, a big reason is my pledge to wardrobe refashion that forbids me to buy anything newly manufactured. I have also been collecting and buying fabrics over the years as I love thrifting and I feel driven to sew something out of them. Planning and sewing is a source of creativity and great handicraft and I live for that creativity, I also knit and crochet even more than sewing.

4. What is your favorite and what is your least favorite thing about sewing?

I am still as stubbarn as before and do not want to follow ready made patterns but make up my own designs. As I am not that skilled in drawing patterns and sewing it takes me a whole lot longer to sew something cause I have to rip up and start over several times. But I love the learning process and figuring out how it has to be done to work, I guess that is the difference from when I was younger. But I am taking more and more help from ready made patterns.

5. If you could make something for anyone who would it be and what would you make?

I made a big bunny in patch work for my best friends newborn baby, so soft animals are a favourite and to make something for children. Right now I am making a top in my own design for a friend of mine. She liked the one I made for myself and wanted one for herself.

6. What are you looking for on our site? What do you think should be improved and what do you really like?

I really like the designs, because that is what I miss the most, trendy and original and different. I have found those designs here. I also love browsing the site for other peoples creations. I get a lot of inspiration here!

If you want to find out more about fialottajansson, check out her member profile and her blog