We meet Susi at her shop, the MädelsKramLaden in Siegen. She runs it together with her colleagues, who are just as addicted to sewing and DIY as she is.
The shop is truly an El Dorado for DIY lovers: chalk paints, crochet yarn, Amanda's fabric corner, Franzi's wonderful dolls, clothing for children and adults, jewelry with fairies and unicorns (made by Martina Loos from Atelier Aquarellzauber), plus Annette's pacifier chains, organizers, and embroidered bibs. A dream. Before the interview, Susi invites me for a tour of the MädelsKramLaden:
Franzi's magnificent dolls - each one a work of art in itself!
These cute little birdies are handmade by Susi.
Martina paints the motifs for her jewelry pieces herself - enchanting, isn't it?
Little clouds always work!
By the way, the girls from the MädelsKramLaden also participate in charity campaigns time and again. During my visit, they were crocheting for "Christmas in a Shoebox":
And then it's time for our interview:
Susi, you're at home in various DIY areas. What do you do?
Sewing is my main DIY subject. Every now and then, I also like to experiment with different materials. Modeling clay, wire – I enjoy making jewelry and crocheting granny squares. But my favorite thing next to sewing is working with Annie Sloan's "Chalk Paint" – I love painting old furniture, such as chairs, cabinets, or picture frames, in bright colors and placing them around my home. (Ed. note: A similar chalk paint* is also available on Amazon)What do you like to sew the most? And why?
I prefer sewing clothes for women. Especially dresses – my "feel-good dresses." I like clothes for women that make you feel comfortable, feel at home, where you don't want to hide, can move around easily, and that are a little bit special.Do you have a favorite designer?
Favorite designer for patterns? Not really – I'm still experimenting a lot. I sew many clothes based on pieces I already own and change a few little details. I like the Japanese style of sewing clothes – it’s done without patterns. For that, I highly recommend the books by Yoshiko Tsukiori "Japanisches Modedesign zum Selbernähen*" (Japanese fashion design for self-sewing). Or "Kleider im japanischen Stil: 25 Projekte mit Nähanleitung*" (Dresses in Japanese style: 25 projects with sewing instructions) by Sato Watanabe.
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What inspires you?
Well – the internet, of course. But especially my trips to Morocco (Ed. note: Susi has been married to a Moroccan for over 17 years) – the very casual way that older women (who haven't been influenced by the West as much yet) wear clothes there, and the bright colors that are completely natural – that fascinates me again and again. In the wardrobes of Moroccan women, you don't find much beige, dark blue, or gray.You also deal with different styles. Boho, for example. What does Boho mean to you? And where can it be found in your sewing projects?
Boho is very hard to pin down with a definition – the style is very diverse. Boho combines many styles, such as ethnic, vintage, folklore, and Art Deco. That's why Boho is a little different for everyone. In terms of fashion, Boho stands for a casual, sometimes even eccentric style that represents self-expression. Layered looks, maxi dresses, and long skirts in a mix of prints; patterns like paisley, flowers, batik, and ethnic motifs, lots of jewelry, and lots of color – that’s the classic definition. For me, however, it also means an oversized men's shirt combined with tassel earrings and sneakers. Anything goes – what matters to me are style clashes and having fun with clothes and styling. It can also be a fabric with funny animal motifs or colorful ice cream cones. You shouldn't take it too seriously. The Boho style is casual (sometimes even sloppy!) and not sexy. It's about expressing yourself through your clothes. And that's exactly how I sew, too.By the way: Are you in the mood to try out Boho yourself? How about the pizza technique? A crazy mix of Boho and Bollywood! A dream! :)
How do you perceive the sewing scene currently?
As still huge and, unbelievably, still growing!What do you think of DaWanda, Etsy & Co?
I think DaWanda and Etsy haven't been able to live up to their promise. They are good platforms for buying and selling handmade items or materials for handmade items. Unfortunately, they have less and less significance for me.What is your favorite fabric/what are your favorite fabrics?
I notice that I am placing more and more importance on high-quality fabrics. Especially for clothing, high-quality fabrics are indispensable. Viscose, cotton, and jersey – those are what I mainly work with. And then, of course, preferably colorful!What is an indispensable sewing tool for you?
My sewing machines? Sewing machine and overlock are both from Toyota and I love them. The "Oekaki*" sewing machine goes through several layers of fabric like butter and you can even free-hand embroider with it. This is what it looks like:
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The Overlock from Toyota* is also great – threading it is very simple!
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An important sewing tool for me is my twin needles. I don't get along well with a coverlock, and the twin needles* serve the same purpose for me – they create beautiful seams and hems.
Can you be self-employed in sewing?
Of course you can. You just have to find your niche – like everywhere else. Be it with designing fabric, sewing yourself, or trading in materials. The industry is huge. You just shouldn't underestimate what it means to be self-employed. It starts with taxes and insurance and by no means ends with legal questions and CE labeling. The tax office and the legislature make no distinction between big and small – anyone who sews or produces to sell is subject to the same legal regulations as the big players.Making a living from sewing – a dream that many people in the handmade sector have – how realistic is that at all?
Many have already shown that it is possible. Although I always think that production, i.e., the actual manual work, is still the worst paid. Design, trading in materials or accessories – those are the areas where you can earn money.Do you have a favorite sewing book?
Yep - Granny Chic: Sahnestücke aus Omas bunter Vintage-Stube, neu entdeckt und selbst gemacht*. By Tif Fussell and Rachelle Blondel.
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Will you tell me something about your "MädelsKramLaden" project?
What do you like most about it?
The MädelsKramLaden is a women's cooperative – 8 of us run a shop for handmade goods in Siegen Eiserfeld. We sell our own handmade items ranging from clothing to bags, accessories, jewelry, stationery, decor, etc. Besides that, we also sell materials for DIY, such as fabrics and ribbons, buttons, and notions. We also always have a lot of fun with the workshops and sewing courses we offer. We are not just a shop, but also a meeting point for all handmade enthusiasts. I particularly like the cooperative principle. We share the shop shifts and all financial obligations, such as rent or insurance, and thus take on a relatively low risk. Together, the 8 of us have a total of 17, and soon even 18, children – every woman probably knows the problems that come with trying to balance a job and children. How rare work models are that are truly family-friendly. That's why we created our own work model with this cooperative. Children are always welcome in the MädelsKramLaden. If a child gets sick, one of the other women steps in. The opening hours, and thus our respective shifts in the shop, are based on when we are best able to work, with consideration for children and family. I think our model is a good model for starting a business in the handmade sector – not as a lone wolf, but together with shared financial risk and shared time investment. And it's even more fun together!You also sell sewing supplies in the MKL.
What are your customers particularly fond of?
Fabrics, fabrics, fabrics.
A classic from Swafing*.
Glitter, glitter, bling, bling: sweats and jerseys with unicorns* and flamingos* are ALL the rage!
If you had three sewing wishes, what would they be?
Hmm… more time, a larger sewing room, and probably a personal assistant to take the seam ripping off my hands…Do you have a pet project?
Naturally, my heart is in the MädelsKramLaden… the plan is to continue developing. Perhaps opening a branch. Getting our online shop www.maedelskramladen.com up and running and, eventually, making a full living from it. Personally, I would love to sew much more clothing. Especially for women who haven't yet discovered the fun in fashion and styling because they don't feel comfortable in their own bodies. Many try to dress as inconspicuously as possible – it’s such a shame! I’ve already received feedback several times saying: I put on your dress and it felt like it was made for me! I feel so comfortable in it! If women feel so good in my clothes that they walk out the front door and say: Hey! Bring it on! – that would be my dream!Thank you so much for the interview, Susi!
Click HERE to head to the MädelsKramLaden homepage. You'll find the online shop there too!
Do you like the interview with Susi? Then leave us a comment :) Feel free to share the article with your sewing friends too! <3
Happy simple sewing, yours, Sabine
P.S.: Have you already seen our collection of the coolest sewing hacks? P.P.S.: Here we reveal the top ten most popular sewing notions – must-have sewing accessories!
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