Sewing Inspiration: Alabama Chanin: Grown To Sewn In The USA

I may be a little late to the party in discovering Alabama’s work but better late than never ! Isn’t is funny when you think you find something really cool and then you find out people have been doing it for years? Ah, well….

The past week I have been obsessing over the work of Natalie Chanin.  Her use of hand stitching, reverse appliques, beading , and stenciling are jaw dropping gorgeous. And her philosophy for doing business is good for the soul and our planet. Recently, her company started actually growing their own organic cotton to turn into the organic knit yardage used for the hand stitched creations. As well as having a couture clothing line and being a DIY book author, Natalie Chanin conducts sewing workshops out of her studio in Alabama. Maybe I’ll go one day….

Last year I won her book Alabama Studio Style in a book giveaway. It sat on my shelf for awhile and the other day I picked it up and was mesmerized. I must have been busy with other projects when it came in the mail . My sewing ADD tends to ebb and flow. Natalie Chanin, the author, actually has three books out, and I’m tempted to but them all, but first I’ve decided I’m going to make a project from the tank top pattern and instructions from the book I already have. It’s easy to get carried away and go overboard buying books and patterns when something excites me, and I’m trying to be more frugal.

So what am I planning to make from the book. A simple tank top!

But first I want to share some of the beautiful projects from the Alabama Couture Chanin line and books:

I am totally inspired and I hope you will be, too.

Handmade corset from her collectionTank Top

DetailMore from The Collection

Garden Corset – A DIY Kit for sale on her site

I also did a little search to find projects made by sewists inspired from Alabama Stitch style and DIY booksTank top @ Pacific Rain

Baby dress at Disdressed

Stripe Tank from Caila Made

Now go make something!