Patternmaker of the Month: Christine Camm
This month, I had the pleasure of talking with CPMG alumna Christine Camm, the designer behind the brand The Ordinary Folk, and the newly released Andi Skirt.
Q: “Hi Christine, can you introduce yourself and tell me a little about yourself?
A: Hi I’m Christine, I live on the Sapphire Coast in New South Wales, Australia. Being a mum is the biggest role in my life. I am a mum to a 1 year old, 3 year old, and 4 year old. Where we live is quite rural, and we live on some acreage, so we also have sheep and chickens. Besides being a mum, I would say sewing is the other thing that I love to do, and takes up most of my time.
Q: “Tell me about your sewing & patternmaking journey. How did you get started, and why did you want to make patterns?”
A: I learned to sew from my mum as a teenager, but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I got back to it. In the beginning I didn’t use patterns, so I self drafted everything. I made a lot of mistakes as a beginner sewist, but have learnt many things from that time. I didn’t prewash my fabric, or iron! I think my first pattern I ever used was for a pair of shorts but I can’t remember which pattern it was.. I remember following that pattern, and it came together so smoothly. I remember thinking “Can it really be this easy?”
Being a mum who is time poor, the prospect of being able to sew something up, and get a pretty spot-on result the first time is very desirable. Obviously this isn’t the case when I’m drafting the patterns because I’m sewing many samples in that process. Once the pattern is complete, having it and being able to provide it for others is a blessing. When I became a mum I started sewing clothes for my kids and drafting the patterns myself. This was where my patternmaking journey really started. , I drafted the Alfie romper and Billie overalls and I just loved the process. It wasn’t that I thought it would be a business, I was just enjoying learning the skill.
One day I had the crazy thought that maybe I could sell my pattern and possibly cover the cost of my sewing hobby. I decided to learn more seriously about patternmaking and grading for kids. So, I reached out to a woman to teach me how to grade the patterns, because I didn’t know anything about it at the time. And then, I put them up on Etsy just to see how it would go. And it went really well! That’s how it all started.
I was selling kids sewing patterns, but I still didn’t know much about women's wear drafting at the time. It was really intimidating to me. I remember seeing CPMG really early on and some of the pattermakers who had completed the course and knew it was something I wanted to do. After some time my husband and I decided we could afford it and without hesitation I signed up!CPMG was how I learned to draft women's wear and it’s where my patternmaking visions really blossomed.
Q: You have so many incredible patterns now! Can you tell me what patterns you have available to purchase and maybe a little sneak peek into what you are working on?
A: Sure! So, the kids sewing patterns I have are the Alfie romper, the Billie overalls and the Luca pants. I also had the Ren jacket and Frankie onesie, but I have archived those for updates. For women I have the Clementine dress, the Juni dress, and the newest pattern is the Andi Skirt.
And currently I am working on so much! *laughs*. I wish I could just focus on one thing, but I have so many ideas. I am working on the Bobbie overalls for Women, which is a barrel leg pair of overalls, the Ryder cape coat, a barn jacket, a new quilt coat, a pair of jeans… just a few on my list. And then for kids, I currently have a pair of double knee jeans in testing.
Q: Tell me more about the name of your company, “The Ordinary Folk.” Where did it come from?
A: I was on a walk with my mum-in-law, and we saw this historical plaque. It was talking about some group of aristocrats, but then at one point it mentioned “The ordinary folk” of the time. And it just clicked. I loved it, and the more that time has gone on, the more that name seems to be a perfect fit for my brand.
Q: I love your aesthetic and style of your patterns. How would you describe it?
A: It’s interesting because I think my style is evolving. My previous patterns, like the Juni and Clementine, are very feminine. And I love them. I wear them all the time. But going forward and the patterns I am currently working on are very different. I’m inspired by vintage workwear, and looking to “ordinary folk” throughout history and really draw on that for inspiration. I would say my style is a fusion of femininity and utility. I want my patterns to be timeless, functional, and prioritize comfort.
Q: “What is your favorite part of the patternmaking process?”
A: I love the pattern drafting, but also the iteration and refining stage. There is something about allowing a pattern time to breathe. Like with the Bobbie overalls, I did maybe 10-11 toiles initially, and I was about to put it into fit testing, but there was something that told me to wait. After giving it some time, I came back, redrafted the pattern, and refined it, and I am so happy I did. There is something so special about slowing down and allowing the pattern the time it needs. I can’t say I love making toile after toile, but it's the satisfaction of refining a design to what it is meant to be.
Q: “What is your least favorite part of the patternmaking process?”
A: Cutting layouts for sure. With my cape coat pattern - I had it graded by Genuinely Em, and also had her do the cut layouts. That was a game-changer, because it has always been such a slog for me.
Q: “ Favorites - 1 sewing/patternmaking
A: I love my steam iron. I use the Panasonic cordless one. Being a mum, the cordless iron is essential. It’s funny because earlier I said I never used to iron, and now I press at every opportunity; it’s one of my favorite parts.
Q: “Who, or what would you say inspires you?”
A: I’m very inspired by people who are in the same stage of life as me - mums who are patternmakers. Cayden Naughten comes to mind. She just had a baby a couple months ago and she is already releasing another pattern. I don’t know how she does it!
I am also inspired by books about vintage fashion. I love Avant because it has actual pictures of vintage garments, and you can see how they were repaired and patched over time. I find so much inspiration from just looking back at ordinary folk from the past.
Q: “Finally, where can people find you?”
A: You can find me on Instagram at @The.OrdinaryFolk, and my patterns are available on Etsy.
If this interview inspired you, check out our Confident Patternmaking & Grading Program where you can learn how to draft sewing patterns, and join our network of incredible alumni creating beautiful size-inclusive sewing patterns for all people.
Nat Della Selva
