Meet Mijke, Our Star of the Month

I’d like to introduce our latest star of the month, Mijke! You may have spotted her on Instagram as @sewitcurly. I first came across Mijke when she posted this video of herself dancing in a Tulip field wearing an @inthefolds Peplum Top, using one of our fabrics. It was the first time I’d seen anyone wearing something from our shop and honestly I was blown away. Her top was incredibly beautiful, the scenery was perfect and her dancing was mesmerising and joyful. This post was the best thing I’d ever seen!

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So I was thinking about this #littlelawnparty Mel from @handmadebyditsytulip and Atia from @thebrightblooms are organising and I thought a little tulip dance would be a nice idea for a party! Can you see those tulips are dancing with me in the wind! Haha… 🌷😉😁🌷 Rose and I had lots of fun in the flower fields today. They are just one village away from where we live and they are so incredibly pretty! I made a #peplumtop with a gorgeous #riflepapercofabric from @sistermintaka! #inthefoldspeplumtop @inthefolds #flowerfields #dancing #sewing #sewersofinstagtam

A post shared by Mijke (@sewitcurly) on Apr 22, 2018 at 1:10pm PDT

I began to follow Mijke’s sewing journey on Instagram and every time she posted, I was in awe. Every single one of her makes looks perfect. You can really see that she has taken so much care when making her clothes. I’d highly recommend taking a look through her Instagram feed as it’s all so lovely.

Meet Mijke

Would you like to start by introducing yourself? 

I live in the Netherlands with my husband and two kids.
I am a child and family health nurse by trade, have studied Child Development at university and have been modelling as a side job since I was 19. 
I have even worked as a model and a nurse sort of together one year. I’d be in Paris walking a show one weekend and the next week I was telling moms all about feeding and raising their kids. 
Crazy combination!! 
Then I met my husband and when we got married we moved to Australia for 6 years for his work. Both our kids were born there.
Living in Australia was wonderful!! I’ve learned a lot from living in a different country and having to build a whole new life! My hubby and I were only married two weeks before we left for Australia, so we actually had a 6 year honeymoon! Hahaha…
I also had a small business in Australia selling my handmade clothing. It was called ‘Little Rose’ and I was selling little girls outfits via boutiques in Sydney and in some small towns.

How long have you been sewing and how did you learn to sew?

My mom taught me how to sew when I was about 9 years old and I have always been very creative. Mom used to tell me I should have chosen a creative trade instead of nursing 😉

I decided to quit nursing to become a stay at home mum when our daughter Rose was born 11 years ago and that’s when I picked up sewing again! So I wouldn’t go crazy at home.

What was the first thing you made?

I think the first thing I made must have been something for my dolls.

Who inspires you?  

The great fashion houses like Chanel, Valentino, Chloé, Isabel Marent and Philosophy inspire me. I love to keep up with their shows and get inspired by their way of using fabric, colours and design.

I’m also inspired by lots of people on Instagram! I love watching what people make and how they make it. I’m inspired by the difference of people’s styles and approaches towards making their own clothes!

What do you do when you’re not sewing?

Next to being a stay at home mum now, I still work as a model about once or twice a month.

I love the clothes that you make for your family. Do they sew too?

Yes, my mom still sews for herself and she makes presents for new born babies.

My daughter sews as well and she loves to makes clothing for her dolls and when we have some sewing time together she likes to make things for herself like gathered skirts and simple tops.

Can we have a sneak peak at your sewing space? Are there any special tools, or things you can’t live without? 

I don’t think I use a lot of special tools. I’m very old school but I have, like I guess every other sewist, a love-hate relationship with my seam ripper, but I couldn’t live without one! Oh and I received a present the other day, a button spacing device and I love using that!!

Why do you sew? 

I make my clothes, because I love being creative, but I also make my clothes, because I don’t want to wear clothes that make me feel uncomfortable of who has made them and in what conditions they had to work, for the sole purpose that I could be dressed.

I like that I know that the clothes I’m wearing are made by me and not by someone who might be working in poor conditions.

What’s your proudest sewing achievement?

I’m very proud of my latest blouse.

There was a lot if hand stitching involved and I love to make my clothing pretty on the inside as well. It’s always a lot of work, but in the end it makes me proud of the result.

What’s your next big sewing goal? 

Sewing pants! 

What’s the best piece of sewing advice you can share?

I think my advice would be, don’t be afraid to make something you haven’t tried before. Just dig in and when you get stuck find help on Instagram, YouTube or Blogs.

There are so many people willing to help you out or have written a blog about something you might struggle with.

Can you give us any top tips for modelling our makes? Your photos and videos are always so beautiful. 

Oh thank you!

I guess I try to pay a lot of attention to the background and lighting.

And when it’s to cold outside we use a white wall in our house that has natural light coming from the windows opposite. That usually works very well.

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Thank you Mijke! It has been so lovely getting to know you better.

You can find Mijke on Instagram @sewitcurly.