Hello friends!
My name is Beth. I love math. I love puzzles. And I love sewing. I love figuring out a formula for a really simple pattern. I love devising a technique that makes sewing more simple. This Substack newsletter is dedicated to sharing ways that you can use math to draft, design or alter your own sewing patterns.
My plan is to keep things straightforward and uncomplicated. After all, when projects go well, we're more likely to keep trying new things and to try more challenging ideas.
I started blogging about my sewing and crafting projects in 2006 and started my pattern making business in 2014. Inevitably, 18 years after I started my first blog, I started to feel disenchanted and bored with the content I’ve been creating.
And one day it occurred to me, "What if I could inspire someone (maybe YOU) to LOVE using math?". There are so many fun ways that we can express our creativity through crafts and math helps get us there. I'm really excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at how I go about designing sewing patterns and I hope that it inspires you too.
Every 6 to 8 weeks, Sewing With Numbers will feature a different "Project". I'll have a few posts about drafting and designing certain elements of the project, and then conclude with how to draft the full pattern and project variations. Occasionally, I'll also share an essay on sewing, design and small business. And, maybe a Q&A here and there. You can expect an email once a week or less.
If you are looking for sewing, design, or even life advice, let me know. I love giving solicited advice and helping solve a problem, especially if we can do a little math.
On paid subscriptions: For the first few projects, I will leave the newsletter free for all. But in the future I may offer paid subscriptions. As I'm sure you can understand, writing and designing is a lot of work and I'm bringing 30 years of knowledge and practice along with me.
In the meantime, you can support the newsletter by subscribing and sharing with your friends.
Before I sign off, a little about me:
In college, I majored in math with a minor in studio art. I struggled to select a major (19 is way too young to making big life decisions!) and midway through my college years, I realized that what really fired me up and got me excited was solving problems and making new things.
Thus, math and art. For me, the feeling of solving a problem was a million times more fun than reading and analyzing something. That realization (along with a love for visual arts) led me to pursue a degree and career in graphic design.
Along with my pursuits in math and graphic design, I've been a devoted sewist since the age of 15 (or so). Mostly, I sew my own clothing but I also enjoy making quilts. (I even have an online class about how to use your fabric scraps to make improvisational quilts.I also dabble in knitting and crochet.
I started blogging about sewing in 2006 and in 2014 I started a new blog and pattern design business called Sew DIY Patterns. While the business does not fully support me financially, it's been a great way to share my own designs and knowledge of sewing as well as give me the freedom to make design decisions without client input. (If you know, you know.) Over the years, I've really appreciated being able to express myself through this design business. Because I have this personal outlet, when I do client work, I'm able to separate myself more fully and not take feedback too personally.
Even though I love sewing and designing, recently, I've struggled to feel inspired and motivated. You might say that I've lost my sew-jo. I think it's a combination of a lot of things. The pandemic, the changing social media landscape, the fact that I work from home 100% of the time and wear sweat pants 95% of the time. I've also been struggling with chronic migraines for the last three years and my energy is different than it used to be.
But when I started thinking about sharing about math, design and sewing, I started to feel excited, inspired and motivated again. The math and design principles are fairly simple and I hope that it will inspire you to design and draft your own patterns. And, maybe, even love and embrace math a little more.
P.S. You can see more of my work and check out my sewing pattern shop at SewDIY.com.
Why subscribe?
As a subscriber, you’ll get full access to the newsletter, comments section and publication archives.
Stay up-to-date
Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.
Join the crew
Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section, or support this work with a subscription.
To learn more about the tech platform that powers this publication, visit Substack.com.
