Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Elin Tegels. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Elin, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. If you could go back in time do you wish you had started your creative career sooner or later?

I feel as though my “career” and my creativity ended up merging together at the perfect time. I always had the creativity in me, and when it came down to picking a career I chose to do it in fashion. So no, I do not wish I had started it any sooner or later. I do wish I had allowed myself the freedom to express myself outside of my 9-5 sooner. But like anyone just starting a career out of college you’re often hyper-focused and can get burnt out and not want to do anything for yourself. Allowing a few years for a break after college to get back into sewing for myself was perfect!

I now have the knowledge and experience to create clothing for myself that I’m proud of. And while I feel as though my style is ever evolving, I am so happy to have this creative sewing outlet to express myself!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. From the age of 5 I was put into dance lessons. Between the ages of 5-18 I was a dancer, taking classes Sunday through Saturday every week for years.

It wasn’t until high school when people started asking me what I was going to do after/ what I wanted to study that I realized I did not see myself as a professional dancer and didn’t know what else to do!

While watching tv one day in the 8th grade, I saw a stunning black and white coat that struck me as something that I could learn how to make! This coat aside, I had only ever had a few failed attempts at scrapping together pieces of fabric and making one crooked tote bag.

Little did I know how much work sewing really was. Not to mention, finding the perfect fabric in Des Moines left me with little option but to make a flocked felt fabric work for an outerwear garment.

While the coat neared completion, the hem of the sleeves and bottom of the coat remained unfinished when my grandma lost her battle with cancer.

Even with the finishing touches incomplete this coat granted me the opportunity of attending Des Moines’ Central Campus during my junior and senior year of high school. This is where I learned how to read a sewing pattern and was taught the importance of slowing down and sewing the right way. (Little did I know how much better pressing your seams would make any handmade garment look!)

With a few years of sewing under my belt, and some college credit to show for it, I found my passion in sewing! This opportunity opened the door to me attending Iowa State Universities’ Apparel Design program where I learned how to make my own sewing patterns.

This new trend of being an “entrepreneur” and having side jobs is something that can be very intimidating and make people feel inadequate. While I do have an ambitious side, I find that my “side job” fulfills me much more to do it for myself than to do it for other people.

While some may call this selfish, I find that I am able to share my talents with others through teaching rather than making products to sell. It can be hard to walk the line of doing something that makes you happy versus doing something that adds to your income. I feel as though putting your happiness first is a sign of strength, not selfishness!

Through my YouTube channel and sewing blog at ElinEstelle.com I have found that I can share my passion with others and make connections through something that we love! The best feeling is sharing your handmade garments with others who sew and understand the passion that goes into making clothing.

I love sharing this feeling of empowerment with other men and women and I have always felt as though women should feel a sense of empowerment and pride with whatever they do! So if you feel as though you want to start making your own clothes, please follow me and join the sewing community! The easiest way to to start is by going on Instagram and searching for hashtags like #handmadeclothing and to connect with others within your local community, you can search for hashtags like #twincitiessewist #minneapolissewist or #chicagosewist

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I have had many experiences while living in NYC where one freelance job didn’t pan out or a full time position didn’t meet my expectations. After graduating from college, I was bound and determined to get my foot in the door with a designer and land a full time job as an Assistant Designer. When that opportunity did eventually come, I found that working for a corporation was less than fulfilling in expressing my skills and creativity. In fact, I found myself stuck in a no-win situation with poor management all around me.

With no options for transferring, I found myself quitting in hopes of finding my dream job somewhere else. While that leap of faith was scary, I am so glad I put myself first. It was after this experience that I started my blog! Not even 3 months later, I had made my first dress and was photographing it at the Rosé Mansion popup in NYC.

This experience was what spearheaded my desire to focus on what makes me happy. That in turn meant looking for positions at companies that were not corporate. Which ended up bringing me here to Minneapolis to work with a small business as a Chief Operating Officer.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

While not only in the pursuit of happiness, I find that teaching has been driving my creative journey on ElinEstelle.com

I have found that making the connection with people through understanding their challenges or triumphs in sewing creates a closer connection. This is why I love following sewers on social media platforms like Instagram. Understanding the level of detail or time it took for someone to finish a coat, or to match up their seams perfectly not only creates a closer connection, it can also be rewarding as the sewer to be recognized for your efforts.

This is why I am always striving to bring more people into the sewing community. Even starting out new, having social media to share your work with can be the motivation you need to keep learning. Which is why I have dedicated my YouTube channel to walking newer sewers through using a sewing pattern. Sewing one garment that you are proud to wear is all it takes to get hooked!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.elinestelle.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elinestelle/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElinEstelle/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elinestelle/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ElinEstelle