Janet Clare likes to create inspirational and lively designs for quilts and stitcheries that combine her unique jointed appliqué templates and free motion machine drawing technique. Much of her work is inspired by children and their purity of thought, their innocence and the joy they find in the mundane.
As an experienced speaker and teacher, Janet regularly hosts talks and workshops focusing on the design process and the creative techniques she uses. So far Janet has written five books – and has no plans to stop! Janet designs for Moda Fabrics. She also trained to be an infant school teacher. Janet lives with her husband and two young sons in Hampshire where her studio is based.
Who/what inspired you to take up sewing and how old were you?
I can’t actually remember what age I was as the whole family were very creative – my mum and aunts were all very creative and very domestic; they all sewed, cooked, embroidered, made costumes for school and did alternations and my Dad paints. I think I just learned new skills by hanging around and watching how things were made. I loved to paint and design clothes for my Sindy doll and I was always sketching. As I grew older I wanted to make items for the house, not only to be thrifty but also to be unique. I have a textiles degree which psychologically helps me in the business now as I feel I was taught to do things properly at Uni. My sons aged 14 and 17 also both know how to sew and did textiles at school and to them it is very normal to sew. We are just a very hands on family with a passion for being creative and making things.
Who can you remember doing your first sewing with?
My Mum and aunts and I was lucky enough to be taught dress making at school – and I recall making an apron during the lesson – which I loved.
What is the first thing you made?
I made a patchwork quilt from silky, upholstery style left overs during a school Easter holiday in Ireland. I made a quilt aged 13. I also have a degree in knitwear and I have knitted teddies and embroidered cushions, I was always, as a teenager sewing and dress making something unique. On my 18th birthday I received my first sewing machine as a present.
What is your favourite type of stitch?
Free motion – I like to draw with the sewing machine.
What type of sewing do you like to do?
Patchwork and quilting and applique. I like to make pictures with it on the fabric and it is what I am most known for.
What do you consider your best piece of work?
Well – I never really consider anything I make to be perfect, however I have a wall hanging – Beauty of Nature a quilt that I made and probably the 1st piece of work that I made in my own style – and that made me happy.
What is your very favourite thing that you have made?
I am very proud of my Artisan Apron. When the boys were little, and I was still working from home I got very distracted by chores. My work is sewing and drawing and designing so I made the apron deliberately in very expensive linen and it is heavily embroidered so that I wouldn’t wear it to cook or walk the dog in. It is my uniform for work. I wear it in the studio. I am very well known for wearing this cross-backed apron during exhibitions – it helps me to be in work mode. Eclectic Maker have some of these patterns in stock and people are buying them and embellishing them in their own way and wearing them in the same way – to sew in.
What is your favourite tool or gadget?
Well I have a Pfaff sewing machine, but I am currently saving up for JUKI, a semi industrial type sewing machine. It doesn’t take as much space as an industrial machine but has the same motors and is fast. I am also a fan of traditional fountain pens and my favourite way to draw is with pen dipped in ink.
Do you have a favourite colour to work in?
I use a lot of indigo which sort of links back to the ink drawing. All the fabric collections I designed with Moda Fabrics have indigo featured heavily in them and this has become almost my signature colour. I like them mixed with cream as they look neutral and elegant.
What type of fabric would you choose to work with?
I am most happy when I am in charity shops and find vintage fabrics which are most unique, and I love it if I find a little treasure.
Do you prefer hand work or machine work?
Prefer to work by hand as it is more relaxing – need to be able to do both though.
What’s your dream sewing machine?
JUKI –I’m saving up !!
My advice to a newbie would be …?
People always ask, ‘what’s a good project for a beginner?’ My advice would be to find something you actually want to make or need to make and go from there. I feel there is no point in learning to make something you don’t want to make or even like. I would advise you to find something easy to start with – a simple skirt or a top and be patient. Be prepared to make mistakes and learn as you go. Once made – don’t point out your mistakes to everyone – keep them quiet!
What is the piece of work that has driven you mad or been a disaster and drove you to tears?
There are so many of them and I don’t tend to unpick them if they go wrong – I just throw them in the bin where I can. If it’s a piece of patchwork, then that is usually ok to sort, but zips – zips are always a disaster for me, especially invisible ones. Sometimes I can try to put them in several times before it will suddenly easily go in and I wonder what I did that was so different!
Do you make things for other people?
No, I used to for presents but discovered that not everyone wants the things you’re making or sees the work in it – I don’t do commissions either, but I may make something for one or two of my friends.
Who (famous person alive or historical) would you love to create something for?
I would love to hang around a famous art studio and be in the background of some famous fashion designers show – like a fly on the wall. There is a painting by David Hockney – Mr & Mrs Clark and Percy it depicts the fashion designer Ossie Clark and the textile designer Celia Birtwell shortly after their wedding at which Hockney was Clark’s best man, both were really big in the 70s. I liked how she (Celia) designed her fabric and how she lives such a creative life – I would like to perhaps create something for her.
What’s your best sewing background music?
Depends what I am doing. If I am just making and have finished designing, then I will have music and I have a couple of playlists on Spotify that I occasionally ask my sons to add some more, up-to-date music onto, so I can broaden my musical horizons. I also listen to pod casts. If I am designing, then I need silence and no interruptions as I need to think.
Are you an early riser or a night bird – when is the best time for you to sew?
I am permanently exhausted and don’t feel that I am either; however I am definitely not a night owl and seem to be more productive in the mornings after my coffee.
What other hobbies or interests do you enjoy?
My husband and I go to Pottery classes on Thursdays. I am shocking at it but it is great fun learning something different. I also walk the dogs and read and watch rubbish Netflix. I do a lot of knitting and I am trying to be a gardener but that’s not going so well…!
Who in the sewing or crafting world do you most admire?
I don’t follow any other designers as I am so worried about accidentally plagiarising someone. I don’t follow trends. I used to have trends sent to me, but I don’t want to follow other designers because then I know my work is my art and not influenced by another designer.
I most admire Kaffe Fassett who is a great knitter and designer and still paints. He is well into his 80s and still travels around showing. I love vintage quilts and enjoyed a recent exhibition at the V & A and I also visited an Orla Kiely exhibition recently.