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NATALIE CHANIN
Very high on my “do when I have some time for myself” project list is a skirt from the Alabama Stitch Book. From the moment I saw Natalie Chanin’s beautiful first book, I was captivated by her wonderful hand stitching, earthy colours and casual, elegant style. Today we are lucky enough to be a stop on her worldwide blog tour, and we chat about her sewing, her books and her inspirations.
When did you first start sewing? Was there a family member who taught you? Do you remember your first project?
In Alabama Stitch Book – our first book – I wrote about a sunny afternoon when I was about seven years old where my grandmother and I sat on her screened-in porch and stitched while she shared sewing tips and tales. This is really my first memory of sewing although I had been surrounded by it my whole life.
There was always a project at both of my grandmother’s tables and one in the basket to come next. Both of my grandmother’s raised three girls and I know from hearing it that they “sewed every dress those girls ever wore.” However, I was really a child of the 70’s and was not really that in-to sewing per se. I loved making small projects and crafting items for my own wardrobe – I was upcycling, embellishing and rebuilding at an early age!
It wasn’t until much later (and design school) that I grew into my full appreciation of sewing. I guess that my grandmother’s planted those seeds.
How did Alabama Chanin start?
The old story of me cutting apart a t-shirt and sewing it back together again for a party is really the basis of the company I own and run today. After almost a decade as a stylist and designer in Vienna, Austria, I found myself back in the states, and in search of something to wear to an event in New York City. In a moment of haste (and inspired by a vintage corset from the flea market), I deconstructed a t-shirt and hand stitched it back together with the seams on the outside and some appliqués on the front. This was the beginning of a new life...
I woke up the next morning wanting to sew another. And the next day another…
After producing as many I could on my own, I realized that the garments were constructed using the same quilting techniques that my grandmothers taught me as a child. So, I packed up and came home to Florence, Alabama, to set up shop and make a film, Stitch, about the southern quilting tradition and the ladies who helped it thrive. A few newspaper ads resulted in hundreds of interested seamstresses, some formerly employed in northern Alabama’s once thriving textile industry.
That was in the year 2000 and I have been here (home) ever since.
Your business mainly focuses on clothing, do you enjoy other kinds of sewing as well?
We have really developed into a lifestyle company over the years and I have learned to sew just about anything from wood and metal to pillows and coffee cozies! I learned along the way that just about anything can be sewn. Right now, I spend so much time running the business that I don’t really get to sew that much. However, when I do get a chance to sit down, I love to make or embellish t-shirts for my daughter Maggie –who is four years old now. I love to hear her squeal when she sees a t-shirt reworked or a dress that is “Mommy’s.”
The colours in your books are so wonderful, and particularly the beautiful palettes in Alabama Studio Style. Where do you find your inspirations for colours and patterns?
You know the creation of Alabama Studio Style was really like a page from my own life. In fact, most of the book was shot in my home. The colors are ones that I use in my personal life and are part of a style that had developed over many years.
The patterns are ones that have been used in our couture collection. Angie’s Fall being one of my all time favorites, and included in the book, is named for my dear friend Angie Mosier – who also collaborated with us on the recipes for the book. In stencils, I normally look for something that has elements that can be appealing on many levels from viewing far away to smaller details that only emerge once you come close. I like elements of surprise and intricate detail at once.
Stencils and colors (well, sewing too) are really at the core of my work with Alabama Chanin and this is really my favorite part of my job – smile.
re there other designers, artists etc you find inspiring?
Dries Van Noten (http://www.driesvannoten.be/movie.html) , Ann Demeulemeester (http://www.anndemeulemeester.be/) , Pippilotte Rist, Margaret Kilgallen (http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/kilgallen/index.html) , Butch Anthony (my partner) http://orangehillart.com/ArtistDetail.asp?ArtistID=1004 , Judith Eisler (http://www.juditheisler.com/) , my grandmothers, Lisa Eisner (http://www.artnet.com/artist/164625/lisa-eisner.html) , Ira Glass (story crafter) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7KQ4vkiNUk , Maira Kalman (http://www.mairakalman.com/) , Samuel Mockbee (http://architecturalrecord.construction.com/features/aiaAwards/04mockbee-1.asp) , Lillian Bassman (http://www.artnet.com/artist/18855/lillian-bassman.html) , Agnes Martin (http://www.ndoylefineart.com/martin.html) , Diane Arbus (http://diane-arbus-photography.com/) , Cathy and Robin @ HEATH Ceramics (http://www.heathceramics.com/go/heath/) , Sabrina Gschwandtner (http://www.knitknit.net/sabrina) , Alice Waters, Disfarmer (http://www.disfarmer.com/) , Li Edelkoort (http://www.designboom.com/eng/interview/liedelkoort.html) , Hella Jongerius (http://www.jongeriuslab.com/) , E.V. Day (http://www.evday.net/) … I could continue on for the rest of the day… my grandmothers too, of course.
To read a review of Alabama Studio Style, click here. Natalie’s blog tour continues! Go back and read some of her interviews and then follow along to the next stop. You can also win a copy of Alabama Studio Style at http://www.melaniefalickbooks.com/.
Feb. 9: http://www.burdastyle.com/blog Inspiration Contest Launch
Feb 12: http://eco-chick.com Fan Love
Feb 15: http://www.ecostiletto.com Eco-Luxe Story
Feb 17: http://houseonhillroad.typepad.com Projects and Palettes
Feb 18: http://rainakattelson.blogspot.com
Feb 24: http://www.trueup.net Sourcing Sustainability
Feb 25: http://oliverands.com/blog Review/ Q&A
Feb 26: http://whipup.net Launching Your Own Line
March 1: http://www.purlbee.com Quilts That Tell a Story
March 3: http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com Design Process
March 5: http://heatherross.squarespace.com Sweet Home Alabama
March 8: http://www.ecosalon.com Review
March 9: http://www.etsy.com/storque How-To Tuesday
March 10: http://www.ecofabulous.com Running an Eco-Business
March 11: http://sewmamasew.com Review/ Q&A
March 11: http://www.etsy.com/storque Craft Night Preview
March 15: http://www.sewn.net.au Review/ Q&A
March 17: http://www.stylelist.com Modern Women's Wear
March 18: http://www.makegrowgather.com Show and Tell
March 19: http://www.cathyofcalifornia.typepad.com Review/ Q&A
March 22: http://www.melaniefalickbooks.com Special Post
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