Sewing Business: Muse of the Morning by Chrissy Bernards

Sewing is a passion, a valuable skill and means of creative expression. Sound like the making of a satisfying business or side hustle? Definitely.

In our Sewing Inspiration series, we chat with different makers about their sewing business and how they’ve found a way to blend sewing into work that they love. Learn about their inspirations, insights and more.

Today, it’s all about Chrissy Bernards, owner and creative mind behind Muse of the Morning. She designs, makes and sells sewing and embroidery patterns in addition to creating soft children’s toys, among other colorful items. We love that her approach is all about inclusion and connection.

How did you first get started sewing?

I’ve always been a sewist. When I was 6 or 7, I remember bringing hand sewing projects on the bus to school with me. Even though my mother sewed a lot, she never taught me. I taught myself on her sewing machine when she wasn’t home. Which might have led to it being broken a few times (oops!).

What was the path to creating your sewing business, Muse of the Morning?

When my daughter was born, I decided to cloth diaper her. It was just as cloth diapers were becoming more mainstream and there were still not a lot of options. I discovered a really great community of cloth diaper sewists though, and I started to experiment with making my own. I designed my own pattern, and started selling it. After that I was hooked on pattern designing!

Anything my kiddo needed, I would sew. I designed all my own patterns, which other people liked a lot because the patterns were better fitting, and sewists could use the really cute fabrics that are available to make really unique clothing.

Where do you look for sewing inspiration?

Nowadays, it might be surprising that I don’t really look at other sewists or sewn items for inspiration. My focus has moved away from clothing patterns, and now I’m more into décor. My inspiration comes from nature, the drawing my kids make, my own collage art, and other collage artists and painters.

What is your advice to a beginner sewist?

I would say don’t give up and practice, practice, practice! It’s hard at first to get the lines straight and to know what your machine can handle. Sewing has so many possibilities, so just keep practicing and experimenting!

What is your favorite thing to sew/make?

Right now my favorite things to make are wall hangings. Some of them I embroider, but I really love incorporating my block printing into my wall hangings. I also love sewing felt toys, even though my kids are a little old for toys these days!

More about Chrissy

Chrissy Bernards is the owner of Muse of the Morning, where she designs sewing and embroidery patterns that are full of whimsy and charm. She loves to incorporate block printing and collage into her fiber artwork. She is currently focusing on wall-hangings and soft toys made from wool felt. Chrissy lives, works, and goes to school in Eugene, Oregon; along with her two children, two cats and lots of cozy socks. Chrissy’s work can be seen on instagram or in her Etsy shop.

Thanks for checking out another fabulous artists and sewing business with us. Be sure to check out more interviews in our Sewing Inspiration series.

Happy sewing!