One of my favorite dopamine darlings is the OG of dopamine sewing, Inanna Solveig. A sewist from the San Francisco Bay Area, she never fails to make me smile with her color and style. Even on a low-key day, she brings joy to the art of sewing and making.  

---

How did you learn your craft?

I learned sewing in an eighth grade home economics class. We learned the basics of sewing such as sewing buttons, how to operate a sewing machine, and the importance of pressing your fabrics while you sew. I am so thankful for that class and the techniques I picked up in my youth, which I use almost everyday now. My Mom is a sewist, and I grew up around her sewing our Halloween and recital costumes. In 2018, I went home to New Jersey to learn how to sew clothing from patterns. We spent a week sewing a Simplicity jumpsuit from start to finish. When I got home, I started sewing multiple garments a month, and my sewing journey really took off.

What is your favorite project you’ve made?

There’s definitely a bit of recency bias here, but I think my neon sheer organza 35th birthday dress from this June is my favorite so far. This dress has a simple short bodice, slightly ruffled short sleeves, and a GORGEOUS gathered skirt. If you know me, you know I’m beyond obsessed with colors and fun prints. My Mom found this metallic neon floral organza brocade at Mood Fabrics. I think it was the most expensive fabric I’ve ever bought, so it was fit for a birthday dress. My goal was to sew organza this year for the first time. I’m happy to say I tackled it, and with the correct needle and French seams, it was totally manageable and fun. 

How do you handle mistakes or setbacks when working on a project?

Sewing is a creative and self-care process for me, so I don’t have the emotional space to get stressed out over sewing. I expect mistakes because I’m human. I do my best to learn from my sewing mistakes so that they don’t repeat and I can keep enjoying my sewing. My goal with sewing is to create garments that bring me joy, to learn new patterns and sewing skills, and to release my creative energy. If I massively mess up a sewing project, I will sometimes put it aside with the hopes that I will come back to it. But usually, I will try to upcycle or rework the garment so that it becomes wearable. 

What are you currently making?

One of my favorite pattern brands is Stitch Witch Patterns. Madeline (the designer and founder) does really dreamy, vintage-inspired patterns. I’m finishing up the Capulet Dress in a neon yellow-and-white deadstock fabric from Stonemountain & Daughter. Once I’m finished with that, I’m going to make a Barbie-inspired outfit. I’m so excited for the Barbie movie and such a lover of pink!! I’m thinking of using my Zandra Rhodes fabric (collaboration with Ikea) to make a big, ruffled flowy dress. I have two prints in pink from the same fabric collection, so I am going to have fun with power clashing. The dress will have a collar, puff sleeves, a button down aesthetic on the bodice, and a huge amount of gathered ruffles. 

If you could have anything in the world to support your craft, what would it be?

My home is small so my sewing studio is packed in like a sardine. I’m hoping to afford a sewing studio in the next few years. 

---

All photos courtesy of https://linktr.ee/inannasolveig

---

For more of the most followed and admired sewers on Instagram, check out the Threads  Sewing Influencers collection.