WHO ARE YOU, WHERE ARE YOU FROM, & WHAT DO YOU DO?
My name is Brittany McCrea. Although I’m currently living in Brunswick, GA, Augusta has a very special place in my heart. During my husband’s 10 year military service, we have lived in Augusta on two separate occasions. It was our first home together and where we came back to after an overseas station in Germany. I’ve always been a crafter since I can remember, but when I found myself bored and alone with a fresh 2 month old baby boy in a country I was unfamiliar with and a husband that had to go away on missions and field exercises, my mom surprised me with a sewing machine for Christmas. I spent every naptime trying to learn. My baby was a drooler, and my first *successful* sewing project was a bandana bib for him. And I was hooked. I sewed up countless adorable bandana bibs for him and they were his trademark fashion piece. Friends started asking me to make some bibs for their babies, so I decided to try my hand at the little craft markets the army base had every few months. Over time I grew my skills from simple projects, and our family grew with another beautiful baby boy so I felt motivated to sew clothing for my boys. After 3 years in Germany, we moved back to Augusta and I officially opened up Romp & Roam. I love children. And it fills my heart with so much joy to be able to pour my love into every piece of clothing I make and to see kiddos and their parents enjoy a truly handmade with love outfit.

DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS.
Sewing is pretty straightforward. Luckily, I was able to teach myself everything I know from Pinterest, YouTube, blogs, and especially sewing community groups on Facebook. I utilize a projector that’s mounted on my ceiling pointing down onto a table with a cutting mat to project the pattern pieces onto my fabric and cut. I have to make sure the projector is calibrated correctly to ensure my cuts are accurate.
Then I follow the sewing pattern instructions and construct the clothing! I stick with stretchy fabrics like cotton jersey, knits, brushed poly…etc. All the clothing I make are modern, stylish, yet easy to play in.
I also love to add extra details to my items like hand cut appliqués. These appliqués are made with fabric and adds the perfect handmade touch, something you truly cannot buy from a big name fast fashion store.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
My boys inspire me of course! They are currently 6 and 4. I started sewing clothes for them because it’s frustrating walking into a clothing store and the boys section is small and not very exciting. Now that they are older, I love that I can make them shirts with their favorite animals or colors. And they always reach for their mommy made joggers when it’s time to get comfy. I’m also inspired from an ethical standpoint. Fast fashion is marketed to us everywhere we look and it has many negative implications associated with it. Our current culture of throwaway clothing is accelerating climate change from rising carbon emissions, promoting forced and child labor in other countries, and creating an exponential amount of textile and toxic waste. I source my fabrics from small shop printers in the USA, as well as organic European cotton suppliers. My children’s clothing is sewn with quality to last far longer than fast fashion brands. My hope is that if we choose “slow” fashion over fast fashion, we can cut down the waste, pollution, and unethical labor practices that plague our current fashion culture.

FUN FACT ABOUT YOU.
Sewing usually is my fun fact haha. I worked at Walt Disney World right out of high school! That was a very fun and exciting experience that I will always look back fondly on.

FAVORITE THING ABOUT DOWNTOWN AUGUSTA.
I love (and miss!) the Riverwalk! My husband and I would walk it often when I was big and pregnant with our first kiddo.

WHY DO YOU LOVE TO DESIGN, CREATE + MAKE?
Sewing is my “me time.” When the kids are napping/at school/asleep at night, it’s my time to put on my podcasts or shows and sew away! I’m always keeping my hands busy and making things. To be able to hold something tangible and say “look what my years of practice and research and mistakes and pushing myself to be better has brought.” It’s exhilarating to look back and see what all I have done and how far I’ve come.

WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD SHARE WITH OTHER ARTISTS + MAKERS?
Give yourself grace! You’ll make mistakes. I know I still do! But every mistake is an opportunity to learn. And if you’re wanting to sew, my biggest piece of advice is to keep sewing, and sewing, and sewing. The first projects aren’t going to be the prettiest, I cringe when I look at the picture of my very first bandana bib I attempted. But the more you sew, the more you master and perfect your skills.