About us
Welcome to tintofmintPATTERNS
My name is Karolina and I'm the person behind the screen. Since I can remember I've always been interested in fashion and I'm happy to be able to share that love with you.
Brand motto describes best what we stand for. ”Buy less, Make more”. I hope to inspire everyone to make their own clothes and create their unique wardrobe and discover your creative side with me.
The process
There is no rule on how the idea comes to my mind. It could be something I saw on the streets or fabric I found or a movie that I watched. First, I start by sketching the idea in my sketchbook, the thing I start with is usually very different from the finished product.
Once I have the sketch I'll go fabric hunting, which can take a very long time as some of you might know. I like to drape on the mannequin first with my final fabric so I can get an idea of what it'll look like while making amends to my sketch and notes on how I would finish the garment.
Next is the drafting pattern process which I LOVE doing.
Then is the sampling, which usually takes the most time. Sometimes it takes as much as 4 samples/ pattern adjustments before I get the desired fit and look. The next step is to record a sew-along video using my final pattern and fabric. Then is the process of digitizing and grading patterns, followed by creating a booklet with illustrations and instructions and many other little things.
From my love of photography, the last step of photographing finished garments is one of my favorite things. I hope that by sharing this process with you, you'll get an idea of how much work goes into creating each pattern.
About me
As I mentioned, I've gained interest in sewing at a young age, probably around 10 years old. Sewing clothes for my dolls on my grandma's sewing machine is my favorite memory from that time. I still can remember how hard it was to reach the machine pedal and how difficult it was to stop it once I got it going.
Then moving on to my teenage years I loved scouting vintage shops and remaking the clothes. My father bought me my first sewing machine ( second hand ) and I remember being soo happy and proud about it. This machine wouldn't make straight stitches for longer than 30 seconds, but this is where my creativity just kept on giving with some of the weirdest yet still unique outfits I wore in my life.
After I finished high school, I decided to move abroad and study Fashion Design in Manchester. Quickly I found out which area I love the most, which was pattern cutting and digital media. In my sewing classes we had a tutor that probably has no idea how much of an impact she made on me. Her sewing was perfect, and when I mean perfect I'm talking about clean finish, straight stitch line like from a ruler. When anyone gave her messed up work she was able to undo it and make it back so neatly I couldn't believe it. I aspired to sew like her and I always watched her steps very closely.
After that I studied International Fashion Practice at Manchester Metropolitan University where I gained knowledge in terms of the fashion business and management as well as continuing my sewing and pattern cutting skills.
After graduating, I got a job as a handbag designer for a wholesale brand in which I designed Women's bags and prints for Children's backpacks.
Lastly, I worked as an E-commerce Assistant / Assistant to Fashion Designer in a Women's wear brand. I designed many collections myself there, including sportswear, loungewear, trousers and many more including creating artwork for T-shirts and Sweatshirts.
Through this whole process, I had my fashion blog on the side on which I would share my makes. It wasn't until someone asked me if I'm selling a sewing pattern of a top I made, that I started considering releasing my first pattern.
Since then everything snowballed into creating my own sewing pattern brand tintofmintPATTERNS which I couldn't be happier to share with you!
