A look into my lingerie studio

I have always been fascinated by other people’s studios, where they do their work, what equipment they have and what fabrics and trims do they have. Everyone’s work space will be different and depending how many years you’ve been working from your studio will determine how much stuff you have. Also bear in mind that I like to have as little as possible, too much stuff makes my mind go crazy.

For the past ten years I have been I have been working from a corner of the house, it’s been different corners in the different houses I have lived in, but now the youngest is four (and off to school in September) last year I started to do up the out door office space, it is still no finished, and in Winter I’m mainly back in the house as there is no proper heating, I thought I’d show you anyway and talk through some things that have been valuable to me whilst running a lingerie design business.

So one thing I have is cross and dot pattern paper it’s not the cheapest but mine is still going strong after fours years. If you are regularly cutting out the same pattern I would recommend tracing around your paper pattern to cardboard and storing them. I used this technique when i was soley making Vanjo lingerie, I hung them up with pattern hooks.

Now-a-days I just have digital copies and print them out when I need them.

Fabrics I keep to the minimum, with not that much space and now just sewing one-offs for people I keep a low running amount of fabrics. The only big roll I have is black mes, it’s from CSFonline, they sell as little as a meter and then full rolls. They do have a massive warehouse, but also sell their core range and extra online. So you get started with your lingerie designs simply by buying off line.

For bright colours and niche patterns, I just hold a small range of fabrics and trims.

Regarding sewing I now only have domestic machines, as I give tutorials or teaching people how to sew and I’d say all start out with a domestic machine. I have the Brother XL5500 - it’s a perfect machine if you are starting out.

The overlocker I I have is the Brother 1034D, this is a great overlocker for lingerie, if you need a narrower seam, simply take out the outer needle so it becomes a 3-needle machine.

Another things I have are sewing weights, I use to just use anything to hand but life is a lot easier to have the weights.

When you’re starting out only purchase what you need, you will soon amass everything. You have to learn by doing and seeing so research can only take you so far. If you haven’t a spare room, office, sole space to start, use what you have. I can’t stress that enough otherwise you will always be putting off starting.

I have done a quick You Tube video showing what is in my lingerie studio now.

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