Over the past few months, a lot has taken shape here: a digital sewing pattern, instructions, photographs, and this website. With the BRIGITTE Blouse, I can now share what I’ve been working on.
Starting this new chapter with BARBARA et Co. was a conscious decision. I knew it would take my full commitment, and I wanted to feel ready for that. Getting to that point took time. Reflection helped me see how much I had missed designing and sewing. Since the beginning of 2026, I’ve been working on it alongside family life. In late July, I began putting those early ideas into practice, gradually shaping what can be seen here today. Much of it took shape at night, in the quiet hours after the house had settled down.
There is much more to a digital sewing pattern than patternmaking. Test garments are sewn, and each design is put through its paces. There are also sewing instructions, PDF files, photographs, the website, and marketing across social media platforms. Much of this happens in parallel, and each step brings a better understanding of how these areas work together.
I enjoy this variety. Tailoring and patternmaking are familiar to me; the digital side brings new tasks—from digitizing patterns and preparing the download files to building this website. I enjoy finding out how the different applications work and putting what I’ve learned into practice. The website took more time than I would have liked. At the same time, that work showed how much can be learned independently with time and curiosity. It all comes together in the finished sewing pattern.
The part I love most is seeing an idea become something you can wear. I also love coming back to something I’ve made: refining a design, checking a step again, or making an explanation clearer. For me, improving something is part of the pleasure of creating it. Often, a small change moves an idea forward or makes the sewing process easier. The same curiosity goes into the designs themselves: How does the fabric fall? Are the proportions right? Could a detail be simpler or more beautiful?
When I develop something, I start by looking closely: What is the current standard, what can today’s tools offer, and what does the person using it need? From there, I look for the next worthwhile step—a clearer explanation, a more thoughtful detail, or a simpler solution. That is how I build my own standards: through experience, curiosity, and a desire to make the sewing process a little easier.
I love details, including the ones that aren’t immediately visible. A beautiful lining can be the detail that makes me want a garment in the first place. To me, the inside deserves just as much thought as the outside.
Another reason I’m drawn to sewing patterns is the room they leave for individuality. It used to take some searching to find out where a garment someone was wearing had come from. Now, a photo and an image search can often lead straight to the same piece or something similar. That makes the chance to create something of my own even more appealing: choosing a fabric, changing a sleeve, noticing how one small decision alters the whole garment. Even when the starting point is the same pattern, the result can feel entirely your own.
As more of everyday life moves onto screens, I think making something with our hands will become even more valuable—even if it’s simply a hobby, like sewing. For someone whose working day revolves around entirely different things, it can offer a welcome change of pace. There’s something calming about focusing on fabric, a seam, and the next small step. That kind of hands-on work can bring a sense of balance. And there’s a particular satisfaction in watching a garment take shape, then holding it in your hands and being able to wear it.
BRIGITTE is the first pattern. Next, I’m planning a skirt that pairs well with the blouse. I’m also thinking about additional sleeve options—for summer or simply for a different look.
Here in the Journal, I’d like to share new designs, small steps forward, and the things that occupy my thoughts along the way. That includes observations and thoughts from everyday life, too.
