Support us on Patreon! Love to Sew Podcast

Support us on Apple Podcasts! Love to Sew Podcast

Follow Helen! Blog: Helen’s  Closet Patterns, Cedar Quilt Co., Instagram: @helens__closet, @cedarquiltco

Follow Caroline! Shop: Blackbird Fabrics, Instagram: @blackbirdfabrics, @bfpatterns

Follow the Podcast! Instagram: @lovetosew.podcast, Facebook: /LovetoSewPod

Leave us a voicemail with your questions, comments, and feedback: 1-844-SEW-WHAT (1-844-739-9428)

E-mail us: hello@lovetosewpodcast.com

Sign up for our newsletter to get weekly episode updates, special news, and even some exclusive content that you won’t find anywhere else.

Leave us a review! It will help other sewists discover us.

---

Transcript:

Helen: We are recording today on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, including Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, Musqueam, and K’ómoks first nations.

Hello and welcome to Love To Sew. I am Helen, the designer behind Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co.

Caroline: And I’m Caroline, the owner of Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns.

Helen: We’re two sewing buds who love to sew and it’s essentially all we wanna talk about.

Caroline: In this episode, we chat with Candice from Sew Bake Make. She tells us about switching from a career in law to a career in content creation, teaching, and sewing pattern design. Plus: projector sewing, personal style and organizing in-person sewing events.

Helen: If you love to sew, this is your show. Hello, Candice. Thank you so much for coming on the show today.

Candice: Thanks so much for having me.

Helen: We’re so excited to chat with you today. Can you please introduce yourself to our listeners?

Candice: Yeah. My name is Candice and my social media handles are @sewbakemake, and I’m a sewing pattern designer and content creator. And I live in Burlington, Ontario with my husband and two boys and our rescue dog, Maya.

Helen: Aw, love that. And you used to live in Vancouver, right?

Candice: I did, I lived there for about seven years. We moved back to Ontario when I had my second son.

Helen: I see. Well, it’s always nice to chat with a fellow Canadian pattern designer. Let’s take it back to the beginning. How and when did you learn to sew?

Candice: So the first time that I touched a sewing machine, I think I was about 15 and my mom got me, like, a private lesson with an older lady in town. We made a stuffed animal. I think it was a bunny, and I think it was also made out of denim, which is kind of odd. But I did not enjoy that class at all. I didn’t have any fun. And I basically had zero interest in sewing after that. And it wasn’t until I was on my first maternity leave that I picked it up again. So my son was about six months old and it was also COVID at that time and I was feeling a little antsy and wanted to pick up a new hobby. And a friend of mine that I had met in my prenatal class sewed and I was super impressed by the things that she was sewing. She sewed her own clothes. So I got a sewing machine and my first projects were baby items. My mom showed me how to thread the machine and sew some baby bibs, and then I quickly moved on to sewing garments. And that friend that had introduced me to sewing, she also introduced me to the Instagram sewing community, which I had no idea about. And that’s how I heard about all the indie designers, like you, Helen. I actually remember the first time I went fabric shopping. She took me to Spool of Thread in East Van and I overheard some people talking about your Yanta Overalls.

Helen: Oh my gosh.

Candice: I was like oh my God, this is so cool. But yeah, ever since I started, I just pretty much became obsessed with sewing and have not looked back.

Helen: So the bunny experience didn’t repeat itself.

Candice: No.

Helen: The second time around, you were like, I love this.

Candice: Yeah, and you know what? I actually, I’ve only sewn one other stuffed animal, and that was, I think, last year for my son’s birthday. And it was not a pleasant experience. And also, I’m never sewing any more stuffies again.

Caroline: That’s so funny. Helen and I actually met in person for the first time at Spool of Thread, so.

Candice: That’s awesome.

Helen: Our very first sewing date. Yeah.

Candice: I love that store. It’s so beautiful.

Caroline: I know it is. It’s great. It’s a great spot, too. Great location. Yeah. I love that you had help from a friend and from a family member. It was your mom, right, who helped you kind of thread the machine and stuff? And now you teach others to sew, both online and in-person. And I wonder, like, how the way that you learned to sew impacts how you teach sewing now?

Candice: Yeah, so I think, like, since I actually haven’t been sewing for, like, all that long, I think it’s been maybe, like, seven years. Like, I feel like I still remember what it’s like to be a beginner and I try to pull from that a lot when I teach workshops because I feel like sewing is one of those things, like, it’s a little bit scary and it’s not that approachable. Like, there’s a lot of terms you need to know and you have to have special equipment and a sewing machine and all that. So yeah, I mean, I think that I just try to remember what it was like to learn a specific thing and try to break it down to very basic and easy-to-understand terms because it can feel overwhelming to start sewing, I think.

Caroline: Yeah. It really can. What do you think were some of your, like, biggest challenges early on as a self-taught sewist?

Candice: I’m trying to remember, like, what it was like sewing the first things. Like, the first pattern I actually sewed was the, I don’t know if you guys know the Marett Pants by Seamwork. It was probably not the best pattern to start with ’cause it’s like, they are a pair of wide leg trousers with, like, pleats and a waistband and, like, an invisible zipper. Not the best beginner pattern. But I remember it was just, it was a lot of stopping and googling things because, you know, when you start, you don’t know what all the terms mean and that sort of thing. And I think a lot of the time I was very excited about making something, but I just, like, didn’t have the skills to get there. And that was a little bit frustrating. But I think the great thing about sewing is that it’s a skill that you build on. So, like, the more you do it, the more patterns you sew, the better you get at it. And I think that’s my favourite thing about it, is that you keep practicing, you keep getting better, and eventually you can make incredible things.

Helen: And you do, you have some incredible makes on all of your channels and social media where you share. And I’m picturing you making those wide leg trousers. I mean, that sounds very you, wide leg trousers with a high waist and pleats.

Candice: Yes, it’s very my style, that’s for sure.

Helen: I think your content is really wonderful because you do make such exciting things and people can see what’s possible with sewing, and then you’re also explaining it in a really approachable way. So it’s the perfect place for people to fall in love with sewing.

Candice: Oh, thank you.

Helen: Let’s take a step back and talk about your career prior to becoming a content creator, because you said on some place that you “accidentally and sort of on purpose” quit your job in law and became a sewing content creator in 2023. So tell us that story.

Candice: Yeah, so I became a lawyer in, I think 2012 it was, so quite a long time ago. It makes me feel old saying that. But yeah, I graduated law school, I think, in 2012, and I worked as a lawyer for 10 years. And throughout those 10 years, I feel like I was basically always looking for some kind of escape route because law was one of those things where I just, I didn’t know what else to do. I actually had an undergraduate degree in music. And when it came time for, like, graduation, I was like, I don’t know what to do with this. So then I ended up going to law school.

Helen: That classic journey.

Candice: Yeah, and I feel like, I was 17, I think, when I graduated from university. I had no idea what I wanted to do. I didn’t even know what lawyers really did. Like, all I knew was, like, you know, what I see, I saw on TV, kind of thing. But it was, you know, it was, like, a stable career choice. And you know, my parents are immigrants, they’re from Hong Kong and, like, everything is about getting an education and a professional degree and, like, a stable job. So it seemed like a good thing to do at the time, but I never felt like it was the right fit for me and I, as I got older and as I had kids, especially, I just felt more and more that the time that I was trading for the money, right, it, it just didn’t feel worth it to me anymore and I just wasn’t enjoying my time there. And you just spend so much time at work, too, that I just felt like if there was another option for me to do something else, that I wanted to give that a chance.

Helen: Yeah. So did you go back to your job after your first maternity leave and then you decided that you wanted to switch gears and do something completely different?

Candice: Yeah, so I did go back. I had, I think, 15 months off, so I went back to work for, I guess it was about three years, and then I got pregnant with my second son, and then after my maternity leave the second time, we ended up having to move back to Ontario, just life circumstances and my husband’s job, so I had to quit my job in BC anyway. So I was like, this is kind of the perfect time to explore this, because at that time I had started a pattern company and I had one pattern on my own, I think, at that time. So, yeah, it was kind of just very new and, like, growing at that point. Like, it wasn’t one of those career switches where I, you know, had a stable thing going on the side and I could just, like, jump to that. It wasn’t there yet, but I just wanted to give it a chance.

Caroline: Yeah, it’s so amazing and such a leap of faith that you took that chance to try to pursue this. And, obviously, it has worked out. You have this very successful YouTube channel, Instagram, pattern company, so yeah. When did Sew Bake Make come into the picture? Can you tell us more about that?

Candice: So I think that my first pattern was the Nora Tank, and I believe that came out in 2021. But before that, or like just before that, I had been chatting with a friend that I met on Instagram, Lindsey, who is @thestitchfitz on social media, and we became friends really quickly and we were always kind of, like, messaging each other about what we were making and helping each other troubleshoot. And we were getting into drafting on our own. And we were just chatting one day and we were like, wouldn’t it be so fun if we, like, made a pattern? And it was kind of very casual, but we just decided to do it and we made ourselves a little pattern company. We called it Staystitch Pattern Co. We made, like, a very poor logo. And we drafted the pattern. We sent it to a grader, who was actually Sanna from Paradise Patterns. She graded our first pattern for us, which was the Lola Tank, and we learned how to use Illustrator. We both had no experience with that. We took, like, a little course on how to do that and, yeah, we just went for it.

Helen: That’s amazing. Oh, it reminds me so much of the beginning of my sewing journey, as well, and taking that leap of faith, quitting my job, trying to learn how to pattern draft and put out a pattern. And there is something to be said for that phrase “ignorance is bliss.” You know, where you’re just like, how hard could it be? I’m just gonna try. And you never know what might come of that, but sometimes it’s nice not to know how hard it actually is.

Candice: Yeah, I think that is very true and I definitely was born with the “how hard could it be” gene, because I’ll try anything and I feel like, you know, it’s so much better to be like that and to try it than sit back and like regret that you never did. So.

Helen: That’s amazing. Okay, so Staystitch Pattern Co. And now you have Sew Bake Make. So was there, like, a blog element to the Sew Bake Make? Because, clearly, the word “bake” is in there. So were you baking?

Caroline: Yeah.

Candice: So, it’s funny, I never gave my handle much thought at all, and I’m terrible at coming up with names for things, and it was literally just, I do a lot of baking, I did a lot of baking back then, and I, I don’t know exactly how that came up, but I was just like, oh, those words sound good together. I’m sewing, I’m baking, I’m making stuff. So yeah, it’s not a very interesting story. But yeah, I just needed a handle and that’s what I came up with.

Helen: Well, and several of your patterns do have baking-themed names as well, so I don’t think you’re that bad at naming things. I, I’m sensing a theme.

Candice: Well, actually, that, that just, I forgot when that started, but I had been doing testing for a pattern and I ask, I always ask my testers for suggestions for names, and somebody suggested using baked goods and I was like, that is so smart because I can, like, tie it in with my handle. And then it also kind of differentiates it from other designers, because I feel like most other designers kind of just use names or different things. And mine already had “bake” in it, so I was like, oh, this works well.

Helen: It does. It really does. Yeah. The Sourdough Set, the Strawberry Shortcake Dress. Oh my gosh, so cute.

Caroline: Yes. Even the Baker Pants, are the newest…

Candice: I’m trying to keep it going. It’s hard though. I find naming very hard.

Helen: There’s a lot of, like, pastries with very fancy names that are hard to spell that maybe wouldn’t work super well.

Caroline: So can you tell us a little bit more about your patterns at Sew Bake Make? What kind of patterns do you like to make, what the aesthetic is?

Candice: Yeah, so I’d love to say that I have a clear vision for the style or the types of patterns that I make, but I think it’s more honestly just what garments I’m into or, like, trends at the time. But I do think that they reflect my personal style pretty closely. There is one thing though that I do try and put into my garments, and that is that they will work for as many bodies as possible. And I love having an element of adjustability. So my Sourdough Pants and the Strawberry Shortcake Dress, they both have drawstring elements or elastic, and I like when a garment has that because, as a person who’s gone through, like, huge weight fluctuations just in life and then being pregnant and doing IVF and all that. I appreciate when a garment can, like, see you through different seasons of life. So that’s something that I kind of try to incorporate if I can. Like, it depends on the style, obviously, but that’s something that I think about with every pattern.

Helen: I love that. It makes it easier for people to sew, too, because one of the biggest challenges people have when they start is fitting and making the garment actually fit your body. And that can be challenging on so many levels. So if there’s some elastic or drawstring elements, that just makes that process so much easier.

Candice: Yeah, for sure.

Caroline: Do you have a favourite pattern in your collection?

Candice: I think my favorite pattern might be the Baker Barrel Legs that I just released. I just really like all of the details and there’s lots of top stitching and, like, fun, kind of more intermediate skills. So they’re, like, a very fun-to-sew pattern, I think.

Helen: Yeah, they’re so cute. I’m lowkey obsessed with these pants.

Caroline: I love them. Yeah, they’re so cute. I love the pockets. And you even adapted this pattern for your husband so that you guys could match, which is so cute. I wonder, like, what changes you made to the pattern to make that work?

Candice: So when I designed them, I didn’t have plans for them to be a gender-neutral pattern, but during testing we kind of found out that it worked for different body types and different genders. I had a couple trans testers and they kind of mentioned that as well, so I was like, oh, I’ll make a pair for my husband and maybe if my testers can have their partners try on their pants and, like, see if it works. And it actually worked pretty well. So what I did was, it is technically released as a gender-neutral pattern. And in the instructions I have steps on how to adjust it if you have a straighter body type than what is in the size chart. Because my size chart is based on, like, a female body, like there’s smaller waist-to-hip proportions. So I do include instructions on what to do, how to choose your size. So basically, for, like, a man’s body, you could just omit the darts and add a little bit to the waistband just to adjust for the dart not being there. But that’s basically it. Like, you don’t really have to make other changes for it to fit most other bodies.

Helen: Yeah. It’s nice when pants are more voluminous like that and then they can work for lots of different people. I would love to make these for Sam. I think he would really enjoy wearing this style.

Caroline: Yeah. These would look awesome on Sam.

Helen: So do you have any advice for our listeners out there who are thinking that they might like to try making a pattern or starting a pattern company?

Candice: Yeah, I think that, first of all, I hear a lot that people feel like they can’t start making patterns or they can’t break into the market ’cause it’s oversaturated. And I think that it is oversaturated in the sense that there are a lot of designers out there, but I don’t think that that means that you shouldn’t put your design out there, because I think that everybody has something unique to share and, like, a different point of view or a different fit or just different style. Everybody has something unique to offer, and whether that’s the way that their block is drafted, the way that their patterns fit, or different style details, I think that there’s room for everyone. And I think that if you wanna do it, you definitely should. I think what I would tell myself, my past self, starting patterns is that it is a good idea to take some kind of course or do some type of learning to use the software that you need. So I don’t think you have to use Illustrator, but that’s what I use to do my instructions. And then I know other people use different drafting software, like CAD programs or CLO 3D. I don’t think that’s entirely necessary, but I do think it’s necessary to know how to use some type of software to write the instructions. ‘Cause that’s such a huge part of it. Like, that is what the pattern is, basically. But yeah, I feel like anyone who wants to, should.

Helen: Yeah, I totally agree. And I mean, in your case, when you were working as a partnership, initially, having somebody else who maybe has the skills that you don’t have, and then you can kind of pool your knowledge, resources, in a sense, and have even more information before you start the pattern company. But I do think that there’s room out there, and like you said, everybody has different perspectives and you just never know where it’s gonna take you. Like, obviously we can’t guarantee that people will start successful businesses that they’ll be able to live off of, but you’ll learn a lot, for sure, and you’ll probably have fun along the way and you’ll end up with a pattern that you probably love making. So I think that’s a win in and of itself.

Candice: Yeah, definitely. I feel like the cons of it and, like, the risk is pretty small. So if you wanna do it, I feel like, yeah, you should. But yeah, as you said, though, I feel like I’ve seen on social media the kind of… it’s being sold to you that, like, you can make six figures doing pattern design and it’s, it’s super easy, but it definitely isn’t. But that’s not to say you shouldn’t, you know, release a pattern if you want to.

Caroline: Yeah. yeah. And also, like, just speaking to the, like, saturation of the market, like, sewing is on the rise. Like, interest in sewing is growing. It’s a huge, huge industry. And sewing patterns are this, like, really accessible thing that you can buy online and it’s, you know, fairly affordable in the, in the scheme of, like, the things that you’re buying for sewing. So I just feel like there’s so much room for pattern designers out there and for different perspectives. Just like you said, getting a little bit of training and giving it a go, there’s really no harm in it. ‘Cause, yeah, there’s cool new pattern companies popping up all the time.

Helen: Totally. Yeah. With amazing, cool patterns. I’m like, wow, I wish I’d thought of that.

Caroline: We also wanted to ask you about being a lawyer, and I know I’m jumping back a little bit, but I didn’t wanna skip this question of, like, your lawyer skills transferring to your job now. Like, is there anything that you feel like was transferable?

Candice: Yeah so, actually, it’s funny, I feel like I think about this fairly often and it’s because I have this, like, one memory. I met a judge when I was working on cruise ships, so I took a gap year between undergrad and law school when I was 21 and I worked as a youth staff in the fun factory of celebrity cruises. Yeah, it’s like a whole other thing. But he was dropping his kid off for programming and we just started chatting and I think I mentioned that I was going to law school after my contract. And he said to me, he’s like, there’s only one thing you need to know and, like, the most important skill that you need to develop as a lawyer is being able to take a lot of information and boil it down to a single sentence. And I dunno, that really, like, stuck with me. And I think that actually has become a skill that I’ve really honed over the years, through law and then also through doing sewing pattern design. And I think the ability to distill a lot of information into something very concise is really important in sewing because a sewing pattern could involve 50 steps and multiple views and all kinds of different techniques. And as a sewing pattern designer, you need to be able to convey only the information that’s important to the user at the moment because it can easily get very confusing and overwhelming if you aren’t able to do that.

Helen: Oh, totally. That’s really cool. I love that answer.

Caroline: Okay, let’s switch gears and talk a little bit about the content creation side of your work, because we love seeing your videos and pictures on social media, and we’re kind of always wondering how you do all of this, both pattern design and content creation. So how do you balance that? And do you do everything yourself? Do you have help? Tell us more about that.

Candice: So I, I actually feel like I don’t balance anything well. I just feel like, when you’re a mom, especially, you just feel like you’re lacking in all areas at all times. But for content, I don’t have any help with that. I do all the editing and filming myself. I feel like I’ve kind of gotten a rhythm in how I do things over the years. So it doesn’t take me super long to make a piece of content, but it does take quite a while. ‘Cause, as you know, sewing a garment takes a long time and then when you try to film it, it takes twice as long. But I feel like I’ve kind of gotten it down to a science where I can do it as fast as possible. But it is, it’s tough. It’s definitely tough.

Helen: And how do you decide what kind of content you’re gonna work on and create each week for your channels?

Candice: I feel like I should plan more, but I’m very type B and I don’t plan much, and I kind of just go with the flow and work on what I feel needs to be worked on. But generally, I’m usually working on one pattern, at least. So these days I mostly do content based on that, like, whatever patterns I’m working on. And then I think the other things would be like if I take some time to make clothes for, like, a vacation or something, or I make a gift, then I’ll do content on that. But I’m really not very strategic about my content. I just do what I feel is right.

Helen: Yeah, I mean, honestly, that’s what’s making your content feel so authentic and real. It’s not, you’re not forcing it. And I think that that comes across with your content. Like, you just look like you’re having fun making stuff in your sewing room, and that’s why it’s so fun to watch.

Candice: Thank you. I am, I am having a lot of fun.

Caroline: You’ve also mentioned that a good portion of your income actually comes from content creation, and I was curious how you monetize your content.

Candice: So I actually, things have kind of shifted. So I think the first year that I started most of my income was content creation. I had some really big collabs with big brands. But collabs and brand deals are very up and down. Like, you never know what you’re gonna get, kind of thing, and how much you’re gonna be paid on a certain month or if you’ll get any inbounds at all. So the first year, the majority of my income was brand deals, but the second year it was not much. And then, now, this year, I’m actually hoping to do less brand deals because I actually don’t love using my platform to sell things. And what I really wanna do with my platform is teach people how to sew. I’m happy to do a brand deal if it’s something that aligns with my content and also, like, my life and who I am. But I do find brand deals a bit tricky because, depending on the brand you’re working with, they can have different requirements on, like, what they want you to say and that sort of thing. And I would prefer if I could just do my patterns instead, which, I think that that’s kind of where it’s headed, which I’m very grateful for. So I’m, I’m hoping one day I won’t have to do any or, you know, I can just do a few if I would like to, sort of thing.

Helen: Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. It’s also challenging when you have the pressure of having to make content for a specific thing or having to post in a certain timeline. I know I struggle with that. I like to just have creative control and do it when I wanna do it.

Candice: Yeah, for sure. Deadlines are hard.

Helen: Yeah. And you’ve mentioned a few times that you’re, like, wanting to share more of your life on social media or sometimes, you know, you go through phases of sharing more of your travels or more of your baking. How do you kind of balance sewing versus all your other interests and sharing your life on social media?

Candice: So I actually did want to share more and I made a video about it and how I wanted to share different things, that I didn’t wanna share just sewing. But I actually didn’t end up doing that at all. I think I did, like, one video on, like, a recipe, and I think it’s just, I would love to share more. And I am interested in other things, baking and DIY stuff, but I have come to realize that I just don’t have enough hours in the day to do that because, doing what I do, the amount that I do for sewing already takes up the majority of my time. So I haven’t figured out a way to do that yet. But it’s hard with little kids. My youngest just turned four, so I feel like it’s getting easier, but it’s still busy.

Helen: Yeah, I can only imagine. That’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself, to be sharing your whole life.

Candice: Yeah, think sometimes with social media, and if you’re in, like, a very niche area, like, I feel like sewing is very niche. I was always kind of wondering if people wanted to see it or if it would be well received if I shared anything else. But that’s also something I feel like, over the last year or so, I’ve just come to realize it’s, it’s not that important. And like, if I wanna share something else, I can share it. It’s not a big deal. Like, I’ve come to be a lot more chill about it, I think.

Helen: Yeah, exactly. I mean, all that stuff is always welcome when you share outside of just the sewing, I’m sure people are interested, but they’re not expecting anything from you.

Caroline: Yeah. I find, too, with like, hobbies, like, when you take sewing and it was a hobby, it becomes your career. I’ve become kind of, like, protective of my other hobbies almost, of like, you know, these are just for me. I don’t have to share everything, you know? So it’s, it’s always that battle of like, well, I’m more than just sewing and I want people to know that I’m more than just sewing. But at the same time, like, I don’t always wanna share everything.

Candice: Yeah, that’s true. That’s, that’s a good point.

Caroline: Yeah. Yeah. What would you, what advice would you give to listeners who want to share their sewing online?

Candice: I would say you should just go for it. Kind of similar to what I would say about making a pattern. And I feel like social media can feel a little scary when you start and posting yourself on the internet feels cringey a lot of the time. And I, honestly, I feel cringe a lot of the time, still, and I’m a very awkward person. So it’s hilarious, I guess, that this is what I do now. But I think that the things that you can gain from sharing on social media are just amazing because that’s how I found a lot of my close friends, now, are like, I made through Instagram or social media. And the sewing community is like one of the nicest communities online. And I think that it’s really cool to be able to share what you make and share it with other people and have, you know, other people to ask questions to, and get advice from. And it’s a really cool community to be part of.

Helen: Yeah, definitely. And you don’t have to use the major social media platforms. There’s also places like Threadloop where you can share more, kind of, of your project process and get feedback from people over there. So you just have to find the right place for you.

Candice: Yeah, for sure. I love Threadloop, actually. I don’t use it enough. I should.

Helen: It’s so cool. You have such amazing content. We’ve mentioned already that people seem to really resonate with your content and your teaching, and we are wondering what you love about getting people hooked on sewing.

Candice: So I feel like it’s just so cool to be able to help someone at the beginning of their sewing journey, and I feel like the feeling of sewing a garment, it never gets old, really. But it’s, it’s especially cool when you first start because you can take just, like, pieces of fabric and make them into something wearable. And I, I just love seeing how proud people are of themselves and, you know, how excited they are about sewing. And I, I just love being part of someone’s journey, getting into it.

Helen: Yeah, that must feel so gratifying. Have you ever heard back from people who have learned how to sew from your videos or where you’re their kind of first point of contact with the sewing community?

Candice: I do sometimes get, like, emails or DMs from people telling me that they, you know, learned to sew watching my YouTube series or they used my tote pattern as their first project. And I think that’s really cool because it’s kind of a funny thing, being a content creator, like, you’re by yourself filming videos and, like, posting them into what can feel like a void, sometimes. So, like, getting feedback is really cool and, like, it just makes my day if somebody emails me to tell me stuff like that. So it’s awesome.

Caroline: Oh yeah. It’s so nice to hear from people. Let’s talk about the flip side of that, like, isolation in sewing, because you also teach workshops in real life and you host cool events. So, yeah. One of the events that you host is called Sew Club. Can you tell us what that is?

Candice: So that’s basically just a very informal gathering of, like, people local to me. And we all just get together and sew. And I’d wanted to start some kind of club like that for a while, but my biggest roadblock or hurdle was trying to find a space, but I was able to find I, I think it’s called a community hub in Burlington. So they have a bunch of different locations in the city and you can rent them for free if you are not charging anything for your event, which is incredible. And the one that I have been booking is a really beautiful, large space with lots of tables and chairs. There’s, like, a little kitchenette and, like, a projector. So yeah, we just meet there. It hasn’t happened recently just because I’ve been pretty busy, but we come, we all help set up the tables and chairs and some people bring extension cords and we just play music and sew and hang out and it’s, it’s a super lovely, like, chill time.

Helen: Oh, I can imagine. I want to go. It sounds so nice.

Candice: We’d love to have you if you’re over here.

Caroline: Tell us about the Toronto Fabric Swap. How did you organize that and how, how does that work?

Candice: So, for a couple years, my friend Abby, whose handle is @_abbymakes on Instagram, she’s a friend that I met through Instagram, as well. So I’ve known her for a few years and we decided to just do, like, a very informal kind of fabric swap. I think three years ago was the first one, and that one was pretty small. I think there was maybe 15 to 20 people. And we just met up at a park in Toronto and set out picnic blankets and brought our fabric and just chatted. And it was really like a small, like, lovely little get together. And then the next year we did another one, and that one was a bit bigger, like we had started to grow, like, a bigger email list. So we decided to host it at her husband’s gym in Toronto. So that was really nice ’cause it was a big space and we had tables and chairs and that sort of thing, and I think there was probably 40 or so people there. And then we wanted to do another one. And yeah, I had met Charlotte on TikTok. I think, actually, her handle is @oh.charlotte.rose on social media. She’s another Toronto sewist and pattern designer. We had just been chatting a little bit and we were starting to become friends, so I suggested that we kind of all band together and plan another one. And then this one we thought was gonna be a little bit bigger, so we started looking for venues, and Abby found, like, a neighborhood center, kind of like a community center, to rent. So we rented that space out and then that one we actually decided to do tickets for, ’cause we had to pay for the venue space. But we got a bakery to sponsor treats for it. And it was actually a really big turnout. I think we had over 80 people show up. Yeah. So It was really fun and it was cool to see that many sewists in one room and there was lots of cool fabric and it was just a really, a really cool event.

Helen: Did you have, like, strategies or rules, I guess, for how the fabric swap works? I’m always curious about how people approach that. Like is it a take one, leave one, or are there limits or is it just a free-for-all?

Candice: Well, the only rule that we set for all of them actually was that you had to bring at least one meter of fabric. And from the prior two that we had done, we always had fabric left over. So we didn’t wanna impose any kind of rule on how much you could take. Like, it wasn’t one for one. So basically, we just asked that you bring the minimum and then you can take whatever you want, and it worked out well.

Helen: Yeah, I bet. I mean, people are always kind of looking to de-stash and so I’m sure most people bring more than one meter.

Candice: And they don’t wanna take more.

Helen: Yeah, they’re trying to leave with less, which is never what happens to me, but.

Caroline: But it’s so great for beginner sewists, too, because sewing can be so expensive, especially early on, when you’re buying all the tools and supplies. So to be able to go to a fabric swap and get cool fabrics for free, like, that’s awesome. That’s a great place to…and also socialize with people? Like, yeah. Really cool. Yeah. Have you learned anything from hosting in-person events that you would like to share?

Candice: I feel like I’m very casual about it. It hasn’t really been anything, like, too involved. I think the biggest hurdle, for me, has always been trying to find the venue. But other than that, I run them very casually, so I just collect emails and put them into a google form and email details and, yeah, it’s pretty easy and casual, I would say.

Helen: Ah, that’s awesome. I’m really impressed that you’re organizing in-person events and making patterns and parenting.

Caroline: Yeah.

Candice: Thank you. I feel like it seems like I’m doing much more than I actually am, but…

Helen: Okay, we definitely need to talk about your personal sewing practice, because you are a projector sewist, and Caroline and I have both outed ourselves as not projector sewists on the podcast. And we tried.

Caroline: We’re not anti-projector.

Helen: No, no, we’re not anti, we just haven’t done it. We haven’t experienced it. We did an episode about it. We tried our best, but we’ve got you here now. So tell us how you got into projector sewing and what you love about it.

Candice: So I started hearing about it just on Instagram and that sort of thing. I feel like I’ve had my projector, I think, for three years now. But the first time I actually ever used a projector was with the Ditto projector, and that was also my first, like, real brand deal or collab. But it’s interesting, because that whole collab, I really had no idea what it was, going into it. And we signed contracts and stuff before even seeing the product, which maybe wasn’t the smartest thing. But the actual product, like, when I worked with it, it, it was pretty cool. And the software that they used for, like, calibration and that sort of thing, like, it was very easy to use. And I really liked the idea of it from working with that. But their software and, like, the patterns that they had, they didn’t work the best. So after I was done working with them, I bought my own projector. I got one off of eBay, because I was in that Facebook Projectors for Sewing group. It’s like, I’m, I’m sure you guys have heard of it. It’s really big. So yeah, I brought myself an ultra-short throw projector from the same eBay seller that I think everybody in that group buys from. And yeah, I, I really like projector sewing, and maybe that’s because I’m just like, I like to do things very quickly and I’m very limited on time, also. Especially, like, a couple years ago when I, my kids were still really small, it just saved me so much time. But yeah, I really like it, but I know that there are definitely, like, pros and cons to it.

Helen: Mm-hmm. I mean, it seems really cool for, like you said, getting things done really quickly and just, like, once you have it set up, like of course you’re gonna wanna use your projector. It’s right there, it’s so easy.

Candice: Mm-hmm. Yeah. I, like, really hate cutting and tiling paper, like, printed patterns. It just takes so long. So it’s nice to be able to just, like, turn on my computer and, like, project it and cut it right away.

Caroline: And you have some skills in Illustrator, obviously. You’re drafting patterns in there. So do you ever use those to make adjustments to patterns before projecting them?

Candice: Yeah, I do. So it depends on, like, if I’m using another sewing pattern, designer’s pattern, like, if their pattern is open, like if I can import the pattern lines into Illustrator, I’ll do it. Sometimes it’s a little bit more tricky, if it’s like password protected or something like that. But if I do need to make adjustments, I do do them digitally because I find that, once you are projecting, you can’t really do much. Like, you can sort of lengthen and shorten fairly easily, but you kind of have to have the changes made first.

Caroline: Right. And are you exclusively a projector sewist, or do you ever use paper anymore?

Candice: Lately I have not, like, I don’t think I’ve used a paper pattern for at least a year or maybe two.

Helen: Wow. Okay. Humble brag.

Candice: I, I, do, I do miss paper though, because I like being able to pin it on the fabric and I feel like it’s more accurate. Like, it’s definitely more accurate.

Helen: Wait. Tell us more about that.

Candice: So I feel like, with the projector sewing, like, first, if you don’t have a level floor or a level table, you won’t be able to get the calibration, like, a hundred percent perfect. So that means that the projection will be, like, skewed just slightly depending on what kind of differences you have in the levels. And then, also, if you’re using a fabric that is thicker, for example, my quilted jacket, I pretty much can’t cut it with a projector because I know that it’s not quite the right size because of the height of the fabric. It makes the lines not exactly where they’re supposed to be.

Helen: Right. Okay. That makes sense. And I’m sure for some projects it’s less of a big deal, like if it’s oversized or stretchy, you can just kind of, like, pray for the best.

Candice: Yeah. I mean, that’s kind of the way that I sew in general, like I’m not too fussed if like I’m a 16th of an inch or an eighth of an inch off. Like, bodies are soft and fabric moves and drapes. Like, it’s not like it has to be exactly on the lines. Maybe that’s gonna make some people mad, but.

Caroline: Okay. Well, this actually leads us perfectly into our next question, which is that you’ve described yourself as a type B sewist. So can we talk about that? Like, what does that mean to you, exactly?

Candice: So, yeah, I think mostly that means that I’m not a perfectionist, and if my seam allowance, like, wobbles in and out like a tiny bit, like, I’m not gonna be that upset about it. There are certain things that I do care about. Like if it’s topstitching, I have to make sure it’s perfect because it’s very visible. But I feel like, for the majority of the types of garments I’m making, they’re not super fitted, firstly. So it’s not, I don’t think it’s as important that your seam allowances are exactly what they’re supposed to be. And yeah, in general as a person, I’m just more type B, more, like, easygoing with things. And I go with the flow for most things in life. And that’s kind of how I sew, too.

Helen: I can relate. I think I’m a type B sewist, also.

Candice: You know what, Helen, I feel like I remember a podcast interview you did, like, way back. Like, I feel like I listened to it when I was, like, driving to work. ‘Cause I used to listen to your podcast on my commute. But you said something about gathers and it was like, I think you said “You get what you get and you don’t get upset.”

Caroline: Yeah. That’s something that Helen would say.

Candice: And yeah, that’s exactly how I feel about gathers and, like a lot of things in sewing, you know, I don’t think it’s super important to be so, so accurate with it.

Helen: Yeah. Unless it pleases you. A lot of people get a lot of satisfaction from being very accurate, which is amazing. I just know, for me, it does nothing for me and I’m never gonna think about it again.

Candice: Yeah. I feel like you should just sew the way that you want to, and that’s, like, the beauty of sewing, especially sewing your own clothes. Like, you’re making it for yourself, so you can do it however you like.

Helen: Exactly.

Caroline: Oh my gosh. It’s so true. And so many different approaches can get beautiful results. Like, you don’t have to be a perfectionist to have an amazing finished garment that you’re gonna wanna wear. You know? It’s so, It’s so subjective. I love it. You have really amazing personal style. We’ve mentioned this already. We love your style. We’ve done this before with other guests, but if you could describe your style in one phrase, what would that phrase be?

Candice: Okay. So, I feel like I had a little bit of difficulty trying to think about this because I feel like I like a lot of different styles and I, you know, I, I like boho things, but I also like, you know, sort of edgier styles. But I think the thing that sticks out to me is like, I love big pants, bold shoes. And yeah, my, I feel like the phrase would be like, “big pants, bold shoes, cool mom.” Like, that’s what I’m going for.

Caroline: Okay. I love this.

Helen: It’s very descriptive.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: That’s great. Oh my gosh. It, when we were prepping for your episode with our assistant Lisa, the three of us were just, like, oohing and ahhing over everything you’ve made. It’s a fun process.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: And we were all commenting on how elegant your style is. Like, there’s something very elevated about your pieces, especially sometimes you like working with some fancier fabrics. You’ve made some evening wear and gowns and stuff, which I know you’re not wearing in your everyday life, but there is something very elevated about a lot of your pieces, and it just takes it away from the casual space, but still looks very comfortable.

Caroline: Yeah.

Candice: Oh, thank you so much.

Caroline: What are some of your favourite fabrics to work with right now?

Candice: I really have been enjoying working with cotton twill, just, I made a lot of Baker Barrel Leg pants and it’s just such a nice fabric to work with ’cause it presses well and it’s easy to sew. I also really like denim. The other fabric that I love, but I kind of, like, love to hate, is satin, because I love how it looks, but I hate sewing it because it’s so slippery. But I feel like you can make really beautiful garments with it.

Caroline: Yeah. Satin is so lovely, but man.

Helen: Not fun to sew.

Caroline: Yeah.

Helen: Fun to wear, not fun to sew. I’m also loving cotton twill right now. I love how it comes in so many colours and, like, slightly different variations in weight and finish, like brushed or flat, like, they’re all so beautiful.

Candice: Mm-hmm.

Helen: Do you have any fashion trends that you have your eye on right now? Because you seem to have a very fashion-forward sense of style. So is there anything that you’re looking to right now for fall/winter 2026/2027 that you wanna try for yourself?

Candice: I saw recently, like, I like to browse just ready to wear stores and, you know, look at the Vogue articles and stuff, and I saw something that was saying the utilitarian kind of style is coming back and I really like that. Like the Baker Barrel, like the cargo-esque type garments. I would love to do some kind of utilitarian jacket this fall. I haven’t sewn too many jackets, so I’d love to do that.

Helen: I could see that, like, almost like a jacket version of the Baker Pants.

Candice: Kind of. Yeah, I was thinking like a stand collar and like some similar pockets and oversized…

Helen: Ooh. Mm-hmm. Love it, love it, love it. Well, that leads us to our next question, which is: what’s on your sewing table right now? We’re recording mid-July, for our listeners, for context. So what are you working on?

Candice: Well, right now I am working on a tube top pattern. So, I have been wanting to do a free pattern for a while, and I can say this, ’cause this will come out later. But it’s gonna be my first free pattern. It’s just a very simple tube top with a built-in bralette. It’s designed for, like, really stretchy jerseys or rib knits. So yeah, I’m hoping to put that into testing, like, this week.

Helen: Ooh!

Caroline: I love all the knit tops you make. I feel like they pair so well with your big pants energy.

Candice: I love the tiny top…

Caroline: Tiny top, big pants.

Candice: Yeah, definitely, like, one of the go-to outfits for me.

Helen: I’m wearing that outfit right now.

Caroline: Yeah. It’s such a good formula. Tiny top, big pants. What was it? Bold shoes. Yeah.

Candice: Yeah. I just bought myself a pair of Merrell sandals. I haven’t bought anything from that brand forever. I feel like I thought of them as like, you know, kids’ boots for a long time. But I just bought a pair of, like, super bright orange platform sandals from there, and I love them so much.

Helen: Amazing. And aside from your tube top and your jacket, what’s next on the horizon for Sew Bake Make? Is there anything else you’ve got cookin’?

Candice: I actually do have a couple dress patterns that I wanna work on, because I really love sewing summer dresses. I love summer sewing, like, the best out of all the seasons, but I’m not sure if I’m gonna be able to release them in time. ‘Cause that’s, like, a lot to take on. But I might save them for, like, one or maybe both, we’ll see, for next summer.

Helen: That’s the problem with being a pattern designer. You’re always like, I have such a good idea. Can I get it out now? No, I have to wait a year.

Candice: I know. ‘Cause if the timing isn’t right, then, like, you have to wait a whole year. But I, yeah, it takes a long time to release a pattern.

Helen: It does.

Caroline: Yeah. It’s hard, working out of season, for sure. Oh, well this is so fun. Candice, thank you so much for chatting with us today. Can you tell our listeners where they can find you online?

Candice: You can find me on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, all with the same handle: @sewbakemake.

Helen: Yeah, definitely go give Candice a follow. Your content is so fun. As I’ve already said. I love the YouTube stuff, too. Longer-form kind of lifestyle stuff is so fun and just chatting about fabrics and patterns and it really does feel like you’re just someone’s sewing bestie. You’re all of our sewing besties.

Candice: Thank you. I would love to do more YouTube at some point. I’m not the greatest with uploading there, but I do love YouTube.

Caroline: Awesome. Well, thank you so much again. This was such a good chat.

Candice: Thank you. It was so fun to chat with you both.

Caroline: Okay, bye.

Helen: Bye.

Candice: Bye.

Helen: That’s it for today’s episode of Love to Sew. You can find me, Helen, at Helen’s Closet Patterns and Cedar Quilt Co. and Caroline at Blackbird Fabrics and BF Patterns. We’re recording in beautiful British Columbia, Canada.

Caroline: You can support Love to Sew and get access to bonus content by subscribing on Patreon or Apple Podcasts. You even get access to the back catalog of bonus episodes. That’s over 100 hours of Love to Sew. Go to patreon.com/lovetosew or check out our podcast page on Apple Podcasts for more info.

Helen: Head to lovetosewpodcast.com to find our show notes. They’re filled with links and pictures from this episode. And if you’d like to get in touch with us, leave us a message at 1-844-SEW-WHAT. That’s 1-844-739-9428. Or send us an email at hello@lovetosewpodcast.com.

Caroline: Thanks to our amazing podcast team. Lisa Ruiz is our creative assistant and Jordan Moore of The Pod Cabin is our editor. And thank you for listening. We’ll talk to you next week.

Helen: Bye.

 

Related Episodes