Winnie from Scruffy Badger Time on Sewing & Style

Today in my series of interviews with sewing bloggers on their connection between sewing & style, I’m delighted to feature Winnie of the Scruffy Badger Time. I’m a fan of hers because her spunky attitude is visible in her blogging and her clothing. She makes beautiful feminine outfits that are never too girly, and she’s clearly having a blast as what she does!

I’m Winnie from Scruffy Badger Time. I’ve always loved making things, & loved clothes & if you listen to my Mum you’d find out that apparently I was always hogging the camera as a toddler.  So it’s sewing that really is my obsession, & blogging about what I sew allows me to let out some fun & play round in front of the camera!  And I run.  Kind of.  I’ve avoided running until my recent years but have been sewing since I was old enough to thread a needle.

Describe your style.
In general I have a fave set of colours & prints: reds, blues & purples in florals, stripes & dots.  I think I tend to the “vintage”- but this can be such a wide category!  I love the 50s silhouette with nipped in waists, but also enjoy a lovely 60s shift dress, throw in some sewing details & a sprinkling of nautical/ floral & that could be me.  I guess that leads to rather a schizophrenic style, especially as I make for work & for play & only a few things can I wear for both occasions.  My work colleagues have benefited from my growing sense of individuality that I think I have become more confident since blogging….I try to stretch the boundaries in what is a traditionally corporate environment & love the ability to mix up pin stripes with scallops, a smart shirt with a fun print, & release piping into the office!

Describe what you sew.
Everything I can!  I do not buy anything with the exception of tights/ socks & bras, but even the latter I will attempt at some point.

What inspires or influences your style?
Other bloggers are a massive influence & catch me altering any sense of sewing direction I may have been trying to focus on.  I do love looking at old pictures, fashion shoots etc and I think I experienced genuine relief when I realised the difference between style & fashion.

I look at every day as a chance to play dress-up. How do you play dress-up?
Wigs.  Lipstick and heels.  Silly poses.  Definitely for my blog.

How does your passion for sewing influence your style? 
I like that I can see details on clothes people are wearing, & mentally store them away as a puzzle to complete a garment I make in the future.  I like the ability to add details to something that anyone in the sewing blogosphere could make that makes it unique & my version.  Ric rac & piping are my personal gold medalists in this instance!

Does your passion for sewing influence the style of those around you?
I have influenced people to notice what I wear & recognise that it might not be High Street fashion, & it might be bright & loud, but that’s because I made it & that’s who I am.  I even have male work colleagues promoting my sewing, with “she makes all her own clothes you know” (said positively)

What about over time: Has your style changed with time? Have your sewing abilities changed with time? 
Style changes with all sorts of influences & what you are doing.  If I stop working in an office I will dress very differently during the week.  But that is an opportunity to create.  I am sure like everyone else, my sewing skills are in continual improvement as I stretch & challenge myself in what I make.

What about in the beginning: Did you learn to sew so that you could have a certain style?
I learnt to sew when I was a child, having my first sewing machine when I was about 8 years old.  I was far more interested in making dolls’ clothes than anything for me!  My Mum did all of that.  Although I do remember the very first outfit I made for myself – a mandarin collared sleeveless top with a circle skirt!  Plenty of help from my Mum though :-)

Does your style require that you are able to sew?
I would say yes as I would not be able to afford any of the clothes that I like on the High Street.

Anything else you would like to say about sewing and style?
I’d never really thought about it like this before – thank you for the opportunity!!