Meet the Team - Ingrid!

IngridLaShawn

 

Thank you so much for having a chat with us, Ingrid! To start, could you please tell us a bit about yourself?

My name is Ingrid LaShawnda Adams and I'm from Birmingham Alabama. I'm 43 years old, married with three children (2 biological) and (1 adopted) and I am the Customer Service Representative for Mrs H/ Swoon Team. I'm the person you email when your password isn't working or you can't find your downloads! ;)

 

How did you get into sewing? And, from there, what drew you to bagmaking?

I purchased my first sewing machine in March 2016 for $100 and it was a Brother ce1100prw Edition that I found on eBay (brand new) and I loved it. I initially started out wanting to sew garments after watching Project Runway (Lol)! After sewing a couple of garments, I realized the garment thing wasn't for me. When scrolling through Facebook one day, I stumbled upon a handbag making group and I've been hooked ever since!

I purchased my first bag pattern which was a sling backpack (dove in head first) and the turn out wasn't what I quite expected. After sewing the sling bag and turning the bag, I realized the top of the bag was crooked, the strap wasn't centered and the half the lining wasn't sewn to the exterior (what a bust!!) I guess I could've unpicked everything but let's just say the sling bag did not get a makeover!

After sewing a few handbags, I realized my machine could not handle all the layers that come with bag making (poor machine). I did some research and found the perfect sewing machine for me. I now sew with a Brother pq1500SL and it's a BEAST and I love it.

 

Ingrid's Sewing Space

 

What are you sewing at the moment?

At the moment I'm probably sewing a handbag or two but I would love to learn Quilting :)

 

Do you have a favourite thing about bagmaking?

My favorite part of bag making is if a handbag calls for a gusset piece (additional piece of fabric that helps the bag expand and not be flat) and the gusset fits perfectly around the curves of the bag. It's like a breath of fresh air and you can take it all in!

 

How about a least favourite thing?

My least favorite part of bag making is choosing fabrics for my projects. I don't know about anyone else but it takes me so long to pick fabric, even if it's for a smaller project like a pouch or wallet (UGH!!) It's definitely worth the headache once you turn your bag right side out and it looks perfect.

 

What advice would you give to someone who's new to bag making?

As a bag maker I would tell a beginner or someone who's interested in handbag making to research as much as possible. The internet can be very helpful along with different social media groups don't be afraid to ask questions when working on a project.

 

Some of Ingrid's beautiful handcrafted bags

 

What are your favourite places to find fabric and bag hardware?

I purchase fabric from a few known craft stores such as Joanns, Hobby Lobby and Michael's. I purchase my hardware from online shops such as Emmaline Bags, My Handmade Space, Etsy, Ebay, Amazon and some of the custom online groups on Facebook :)

 

Tell us four fun facts about yourself!

  1. I weighed 2lbs and 13oz when I was born.
  2. My favorite ice cream is Butter Pecan
  3. My favorite musician is Prince and I would've loved to see him in concert
  4. I drink a cup of coffee every morning

 

If our readers would like to get to know you better, can they follow you on social media?

Yes. I am on Instagram as @ingridlashawn, on Facebook as @Ingrid.Adams.526, and on YouTube as A Bit of Sewing.

 

Thank you, Ingrid, for letting us get to know you a bit better! And, thank you for all the support you give to our lovely bagineers!