• Home
  • About
  • Meet the Team
  • Get Involved
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
Previous Post
Next Post
Sep 11
in Craft, Interview, Learn 0 comments

Lauren Guthrie – Interview

Dressmaker and sewing Queen Lauren Guthrie followed her dreams to open her own fabric emporium and sewing school, Guthrie & Ghani. She became a finalist on BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee, and her book Learn to Sew with Lauren is a treasure trove of tailor-made treats. We caught up with the savvy seamstress who seems to have things all sewn up in the craft world.

 

Lauren Guthrie (2)

 

1. What’s your first sewing memory/experience of sewing?

As I was growing up my mum was a dressmaker and worked from home so there was always a sewing area set up in the house. I used to play with the scraps of the things she made. I can remember coming home from lunch in my first year of school and working on a stitch sampler. I’ve still got it today!

 

2. You recently set up your own fabric emporium and sewing school; Guthrie & Ghani. Tell us more about how that came about.

Sewing and being creative has always been my passion, but I was pushed more academically at school and ended up studying Physiotherapy at University. I worked in the NHS for over 5 years but in the end I knew where my true passion laid and I decided I wanted to work for myself and run my own business doing what I loved. Together with my husband we renovated a 19th century Mock Tudor building over the course of a year to be the home of our new business. That was almost 2 and a half years ago now and it’s been an amazing roller coaster ever since!

 

Guthrie & Garnie (40) copy

Guthrie & Garnie 17 04 2015 (7)

 

3. What 5 things can’t you live without?

My family

My sewing machine

Coffee

(Sadly) my phone

Exercising

 

4. Who are your favourite fabric designers?

Orla Kiely and April Rhodes

 

Guthrie & Garnie 17 04 2015 (21)

 

5. Tell us something about yourself that might surprise people.

I love being by the coast but I hate going in the water unless it’s just for a shallow paddle. I’ve got one of those irrational fears of actually being in the sea!

 

6. Are there any crafters/blogs you always keep an eye on?

I use blog lovin’ to follow all my favourite blogs including Cupcakes and Cashmere, World of Wanderlust, Handmade Jane, Tilly and the Buttons, House of Pinherio, A stitching Oddessy, The Purl Bee, Lladybird and Coletterie.

 

LaurenGuthrie_01

 

7. Do you have time for personal craft projects, if so, what are you making right now?

I mostly do dressmaking and I’m always working on something. At the moment it’s a cotton embroidered layered boxy style top. I love to knit as well and have two many WIP’s to list!

 

8. When are you happiest?

When the sun in shining on me.

 

LaurenGuthrie_02

 

9. You were a finalist on BBC’s Two’s “The Great British Sewing Bee”. What were your favourite challenges and the best sewing tips you’ve learned from being a contestant?

My favourite challenges were the mens trousers and the tailored jacket. I had never sewn anything like that before but I managed it! It showed me that you can achieve what you think you couldn’t if you just give it a try!

 

Sewing Bee

 

10. What advice would you give to aspiring crafters wanting to start their own businesses?

Don’t under estimate how much work it will be. Running your own business is a lifestyle, not a job.

 

 

Lauren Guthrie

www.guthrie-ghani.co.uk

 

 

Chloë Owens

 

Share this:
2759
2

  • Oh! You Pretty Things
    Each peach pear… pineapple! We've come over all fruity this Spring, so we've Read more
    in Fashion, Oh! You Pretty Things, Shop 0 comments
    2
  • Wise Words From Musicians – Jimi Hendrix

    Read more

    in Music, Positivity, Uncategorized 0 comments
    2
  • Miffy
    Read more
    in Craft 0 comments
    2

Leave a Comment! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Categories
  • Art
  • Beauty
  • Bibelot Jukebox
  • Birds
  • Competition
  • Craft
  • Creative
  • Drink
  • Eat
  • Ethical
  • Events
  • Fashion
  • Food
  • Guests
  • Inside The Artists Studio
  • Instagrammer of the week
  • Interview
  • Learn
  • Listen
  • Lists
  • Make
  • Music
  • Oh! You Pretty Things
  • Pets
  • Positivity
  • Read
  • Reviews
  • Shop
  • Silver Screen Suppers
  • Story
  • Travel
  • Treat Yourself
  • Uncategorized
  • Vintage
  • Watch
Recent Posts
  • Silver Screen Suppers: Cooking With Colombo – Book Review
  • Luna Beam – Sinead Yau – Interview
  • Hello! Hooray! – Retro Floral Felt Hoop Tutorial
  • Fairytale Collars – Emma Morgenthaler – Interview
  • Harley and J – Interview
What is Bibelot?
Bibelot is about more than craft projects; it represents an imaginative and sustainable way of life. Readers will feel stimulated, uplifted and motivated. Bibelot will begin its life as a blog, an online hub bringing artistic, original and innovative people together. It’s a space for sharing ideas, learning and sparking inspiration!
Tags
60s 70s Book Books Ceramics Children's Books Chloe Owens Christmas Clare Albans Competition Craft Book Creative Spaces Decorate DIY Embroidery Exhibition Fiction Floral Flowers Flying Eye Books Giveaway Handmade Hello Hooray Illustration Interior Design Jeremy Fox Learn Music Nobrow On Vegetables Paper pattern Photography Playlist Quote recipe Recipe Book Retro Sew Sewing Tutorial Up-cycle Vegan vegetarian Vintage
Copyright © 2015 Bibelot. All Rights Reserved.
astropay astropay kart astropay al ucuz astropaysakaryada kız yurduastropay kartastropay alsakaryada kız yurdusakarya kız yurtları