Twenty something questions with......Alviana of Popolok Design

Proudly presenting the second interview in my series “Twenty something questions with...” :
 Alviana of Sewn by Alviana and Popolok Design. 

Alviana and her muse: daughter Bella

 If you have been following my blog for a while you would have recognised the name as I have tested not one – but three - pattern’s for Popolok Design in the past 4 months. Popolok Design is Alviana’s relatively new venture but her blog Sewn by Alviana has been around for quite a while, I first met Alviana on the sewing blogosphere in my pre-children days. Back then Alviana was a copious maker of garments and she has put that energy into now creating very unique designs for babies and children, releasing on average about 1 new pattern every 2.5 months. 
As well as designing patterns Alviana work’s full time and is mother to the adorable little Bella – what a woman!

Without further ado here are Alviana’s answers to the list of questions I sent her (thank’s for answering Alviana- you are one very busy lady!) :

Sewing For Sanity: Approximately how long have you been sewing for/ at what age did you learn to sew?

Alviana: I remember I started sewing my doll's clothes when I was about 10 years old. Then I made a few clothes during my teen years. Stopped for a while, when I was away from home studying. Then resumed back in 2007, the year I found out about sewing patterns. Then, I was unstoppable :) 

Sewing For Sanity: How did you learn to sew? (Are you self taught/learnt at school/learnt through private lessons/taught by a relative / a combination of these?)(If self taught what resources did you mostly use? Internet/books/instructional DVDs...?)
Alviana: I never take any formal classes. I believe everything I know now is self-taught. But I did learn a few sewing techniques from my other relatives. My mother did some sewing when I was young, but just simple projects like curtain, pillow case and some of our clothes. The Internet (blog tutorial/videos), sewing patterns and books are my main resources.


Sewing For Sanity:  What was the first machine that you sewed on? Was it yours or borrowed? If borrowed what was the first machine you owned?
Alviana: My mother's Singer sewing machine, I can't remember what model.


Sewing For Sanity: What machine(s) do you currently sew with?
Alviana: Singer Confidence 7465.

Sewing For Sanity: How often do you sew (daily/weekly/monthly etc)?
Alviana: Currently, I try to sew about 3 to 4 times a week. Which is about 10 minutes to 2 hours per one time. 

Sewing For Sanity: Do you have your own sewing room/studio?
Alviana: Yes, a temporary studio. This will be our daughter’s room in the future when she’s ready to have her own room. Meanwhile, we are still co-sleeping. And the room is still my sewing room. 



Sewing For Sanity: Is there anything (besides sewing machines and overlockers) that you use on a regular basis for sewing / blogging and could not live without?
Alviana: My fabric, sewing patterns & books are my precious collection.

 Sewing For Sanity: Sewing blogs and websites- are there any that you frequent regularly? Any that have helped you become a better sewer? 
Alviana: Sewing.patternreview.com has helped me a lot. I don’t have a specific blogs that I visit frequently. When I have time to surf for leisure, I just Google what I want and end up at any random blogs. 

Sewing For Sanity: Are you part of any sewing groups/networks?
Alviana: Sewing.patternreview.com but I am not as active as before since I haven’t made any clothing for me recently.

I have a Malaysian sewing buddies facebook group - we share everything about our latest projects. I do wish I join more network and groups, but hardly find the time to maintain my participation.  
Burda-style site seems like a great network I'd like to join.

Sewing For Sanity: How do you find combining sewing/blogging and family? How do you carve out time to write/create?
Alviana: Since having my child, I can only find time to sew late at night after she'd asleep. I usually write and blog from my office if I’m not busy, other than that is family time.  

Sewing For Sanity: Best sewing tip(s) you have picked up?
Alviana: Currently, the best tips I have is to baste the centre back seam first before stitching the centred zipper, then unpick the basting after. I really like this technique and I used to be really intimidated with zipper’s before. 

Sewing For Sanity: Craft/sewing books – any favourite titles you’d like to share?
Alviana: My favourite book among all I have: Bridal Gowns: How to Make the Wedding Dress of Your Dreams
 
Sewing For Sanity: Sewing patterns – any particular pattern house/magazine/website you prefer or tend to sew from more?

Alviana: I really do like the patterns from BurdaStyle magazine.

Sewing For Sanity: Favourite item/projects to sew? 
Alviana: Dresses, mine and for my girl
 
Sewing For Sanity: Favourite fabric/materials to sew with (if any)?
Alviana: Cotton is my favourite fabric to sew. But among all of fabrics in the world, I love satin the most.  

Sewing For Sanity: Most challenging thing you have ever sewn? 
Alviana: Our handmade baby carrier (SSC). Took me about 6 months to finish it.

Sewing For Sanity: What would you sew more of if you had the time?
Alviana: Wedding and formal dresses. I just love this kind of projects. 

Sewing For Sanity: Worst project ever (if you have one)?
Alviana: All of my UFOs.  


Sewing For Sanity: Do you have U.F.O’s (unfinished objects)?
Alviana: Oh God, yes. Countless objects. Mostly are my self-drafted clothing, home-deco projects, and refashion trials. There's a clump in the corner in my studio dedicated for them, which annoys me so much. 


Sewing For Sanity: Best time of day for you to sew?
Alviana: Late at night, when the baby’s asleep and house chores are done. 


Sewing For Sanity: Anything you would be keen to acquire sewing wise if you won lotto?
Alviana: I will invest and having my own sewing supplies shop with enormous stock of fabric and notions. I will also quit my job and dedicate my life for my family and sewing.  


Sewing For Sanity: Things you won’t sew?
Alviana: Clothing for other people which I don't have the heart or passion to do it. And there's so many people out there will ask you to sew this and that for them once they know you can sew.  


Sewing For Sanity: Sewing for others – yes/no? 
Alviana: Certain people, certain projects, certain times. Which is very few. 

 

Sewing For Sanity: Has sewing taken you anywhere unexpected (that you did not expect it to)?  
Alviana: Yes, before blogging I always kept my sewing hobby to myself because I used to feel making handmade clothing is embarrassing. But, after I found out about sewing patterns and blogs, I realized that it can actually be a cool hobby to have. I start blogging, and unexpectedly gaining many inspiring readers and friendly friends. And now having my own pattern line is one of my proudest life achievements which I never expect to have. 


Sewing For Sanity: Did you start sewing as a "hobby"/"recreational" pastime?  Do you still see it as being this way in your life? If not how do you see it now? 
Alviana: Like many other sewists, it was started as a hobby. And gradually making it as a part-time activity for our side income. I see it as my part time job right now and put a lot of my passion and love into it, until I didnt really care if I making any profit or not. 

Alviana is currently in the process of testing her latest pattern for Popolok Design, which will be available to buy in the near future.
All other Popolok Design Patterns (including the three I tested: The Lulu, The Cece and The Novo) are available for sale via electronic PDF download from: 
 
Popolok Design Etsy shop 

You Can Make This

Fairytale Frocks & Lollypops

Popolok Design's Facebook Store (for Malaysia)

 

Pink bicycles- The Novo top by Popolok design

About a month ago I said to myself "NO MORE kids clothes for a while- I want to make something for meeeee!". I decided having outfitted my offspring in several handmade items each in the last 6 months it was time to do some "selfish sewing" (who came up with that phrase?) and that I would NOT be tempted by any more new patterns that came my way made for anyone under 4 ft.
This was it - finally I might have something NEW and possibly semi-fashionable in my wardrobe!

Then on my Facebook feed Alviana's (of Popolok Design) peek of her latest pattern requiring tester's came up...

I resisted for about 5 seconds before frantically asking to please pleeeease be put on the list to test it. I mean really sweetheart illusion yoke, cap sleeve option and peplum? Too cute!
 
So here's the end result, made with TWO fabrics from my stash (yippee!):

 As I got really sick part way through making this I kept the options simple as possible- no sleeves (would love to give them a try next time) or skirt option.

Fabrics used: a musk pink damask style synthetic (blend?) and a light pink craft cotton with retro bicycle print. In hindsight the pink damasky synthetic was a big mistake- it's a pain to iron, became quite fuzzy during construction and crinkled terribly after washing. Unfortunately I cut another yoke out of the same fabric and have already partially made up another top - not sure whether to bin it or not:( 
The craft cotton is lovely and well behaved in comparison.
Instead of using bias binding as a facing for the peplum edge I used some (stashed!) cream geometric lace.

 Little Miss was quite taken with this top and happily ran around the backyard without attempting to take it off (in my books that's a WIN for toddler clothing!). 
Plus it's pink, which at the moment is her favourite colour.

You can read my review of this pattern here on sewing.patternreview.com

*Disclosure*  I received a free copy of this pattern for testing purposes but all opinions expressed here are my own. Writing a post about this pattern or reviewing it on sewing.patternreview.com was not a condition of testing.

Happy sewing!

Kate :)

A cute lil' peplum - the Cece top by Popolok Design

Alviana of Popolok Design has created another sweet confection for little girls and I was lucky enough to be in on the pattern testing :)

  

The Cece dress and top features a fitted bodice and peplum, with optional "peter pan" collar, cap sleeves and gathered skirt (if you are making the dress).

I opted to make the Cece top with sleeves and collar. Little Miss has heaps of sleeveless tops (no good for daycare's sun protection policy) and I love the retro cuteness a peter pan collar can give, so this pattern was already a winner in my mind! 

 I used a scant fat quarter (approx) of a pink/red strawberry cotton print for the body and some deep pink broadcloth for the collar.

 As DD is very petite (premmie smaller twin- otherwise very healthy!) for her age I cut a size 1 in width and added about an inch to the torso length. The finished garment fit perfectly :)

The bodice called for lining and as I am trying to "stash bust" I decided to reuse some fabric from an old sheet that I had put aside for sewing. 

The pattern says to hand stitch the bottom edge of the lining to the waist seam but being the impatient sewer that I am (not to mention awful hand stitcher) I just turned it up, pinned, then "stitched in the ditch" from the right side all around the waist seam.

This method worked but as you can see did not give as even a finish on the inside that hand stitching would (note lining mismatched at bottom of zip). Little Miss however I am sure wont mind ;)

Another fluff I made was to mix up the front and back pieces- cutting the front in two by accident. Luckily I had just enough fabric left to squeeze out another bodice front, albeit in the wrong direction. Luckily with the print it is not overly noticeable, unless you are looking out for it (or a keen sewer).

 

 Also my invisible zip insertion was a bit rusty so there are two wonky bits, one at the collar back top...

...and a section at the centre back waistline where I didn't manage to get close enough to the zipper coil.

 

Despite this Little Miss was very proud of her new strawberry top made by mummy and I got several compliments on it at her daycare- yay!! 

I can see DD wearing many versions of this top and dress in the years to come (well as long as she will let me sew for her!), I'm hoping to make the dress version up as soon as my current pattern-testing commitments are finished.

Sewing with Alviana's "Popolok Design" patterns have so far been a very pleasant experience. Each one I have tried has been well drafted and all the assembly steps were explained clearly with lots of photos. Makes it kind of hard to go back to the "big 4" tissue paper print patterns...

Popolok Design will be releasing a new skirt/top pattern soon - the "Nova". I've thrown my hat in the ring to be a pattern tester again so stayed tuned ! 

...And more LuLu pics...

Ok this is the last of them I promise! Am currently trying to re-aquaint myself with the wonders of paint.net, this is the sum total of my efforts at 10pm at night:

This pic is my favourite:

Photo sessions with toddlers, always interesting!

More shots of the LuLu Dress

DD Millie during a day out in her new LuLu dress! (Taken on the iPhone so excuse the quality):

Who's that behind the door?

                   Pressing buttons on a (limited edition) Elvis jukebox: 

Let's check out what's going on outside:

 

What a fun dress! and what a great day- thankyou "Auntie" Amy for letting us visit!

Wow that was fun!

My Size 1 LuLu dress is finished and boy did I enjoy this one :D 

I put my hand up to be a pattern tester for Popolok Design and am so glad I did, I haven't had this much fun sewing up a project in ages.
This dress is beautifully easy to make and would be a very satisfying beginner sewing project for a new. Thanks to excellent drafting all the pieces line up darn near perfectly and the step-by-step instructions (with colour photos!) make assembling it a breeze.
With three different style variations and a size range from 1 to 8, you will find plenty of ways to use and adapt this pattern to whatever fashion pallette (or fabrics you have on hand) as your child grows.
I am so stoked that a fellow sewing blogger has released a pattern line. I have followed Alviana's blog for several years and honestly I dont know HOW she manages to do all that she does, what with working fulltime AND being a mother.. She is one very determined home sewing mama!

As I seem to have (hopefully) temporarily misplaced my camera I am relying on my iPhone for photography :(    
Here is a rather basic shot of the finished product on DD :
 

I am hoping for a much better photo-shoot once my camera turns up. 
In the meantime....

Happy Sewing!

New W.I.P - Lulu Block dress (Popolok design )

Recently Alviana from Popolok Design asked for testers for her latest children's pattern "The Lulu dress". 

I was one of the lucky facebook followers who put her hand up in time and now I am currently in the process of sewing up the "block" version of the Lulu dress.

Here's where I'm at right now:

As you can see I haven't strayed far from the original colour design. In fact freakily enough the yellow and aqua cotton drill seems almost a perfect match to the original. I say "freaky" because as far as I know my fabric was brought in Australia and I think Alviana would have gotten hers in Malaysia....

This is a fun pattern to make up, it goes together really easily and the choices for fabrics are endless. I'm really enjoying making this after the rush of Christmas sewing and just look at those colours- how can you not feel happy sewing with that. My scrap basket looks like a bubblegum flavoured icecream hee hee :D

Stay posted for more pics of the end product!

Kate :)