Barcelona, Shoes, and Ribbon Foreword

Markita loved to travel and to share her experiences. Even though she is no longer with us we wanted to share this last post that she wrote for us.

Barcelona, Shoes, and Ribbon

by Markita Hall-Gumble

My friend Kim – @quiltaholicsanonymous and I have been on a shoe adventure.  Kim the amazing quilter didn’t stop with 2 pairs of SneakerKit shoes. … Read the rest

The World of Sewing Literature

The Dress Diary of Mrs. Anne Sykes

by Melanie Kindrachuk, Librarian & Sewist

If you are interested in history, clothing, textiles, and material culture, you’ll love this one. The author was given an unusual scrapbook, which was full of snippets of fabrics from across the lifetime of Mrs. Anne Sykes, stretching from her wedding day in 1838 onwards.… Read the rest

The World of Sewing Literature

The Pattern Artist

by Nancy Moser

Can a lowly housemaid realize
her own American dream?

Born into a life of hard work, English housemaid Annie Wood arrives in New York City in 1911 with her wealthy mistress. Wide-eyed with the possibilities America has to offer, Annie wonders if there’s more for her than a life of service.… Read the rest

The World of Sewing Literature

Sundressed: Natural Fabrics and the Future of Clothing by Lucianne Tonti

For conscious consumers, buying clothes has never been more complicated. Even as fashion brands tout their sustainability, the industry is plagued by pollution, waste, and poor working conditions. In fact, fashion may account for as much as 10% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

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The World of Sewing Literature

The Last Telegram by Liz Trenow. Decades ago, as Nazi planes dominated the sky, Lily Verner made a terrible choice. She’s tried to forget, but now an unexpected event pulls her back to the 1940s British countryside. She finds herself remembering the brilliant colors of the silk she helped to weave at her family’s mill, the relentless pressure of the worsening war, and the kind of heartbreaking loss that stops time.

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The World of Sewing Literature – Part III


Looking for something to read?  There are many fascinating books revolving around sewing.  Here are a few to whet your appetite.

Add a comment below if you have another book to suggest.

My Name Is Resolute by Nancy E. Turner. The year is 1729, and Resolute Talbot and her siblings are captured by pirates, taken from their family in Jamaica and brought to the New World.… Read the rest

The World of Sewing Literature – Part II

Looking for something to read?  There are many fascinating books revolving around sewing.  Here are a few to whet your appetite.

Add a comment below if you have another book to suggest.

The Golden Thread by Kassia St. Clair.
From colorful threads found on the floor of an ancient Georgian cave to the Indian calicoes that fueled the Industrial Revolution, The Golden Thread illuminates the myriad and fascinating histories behind the cloths that came to define human civilization―the fabric, for example, that allowed mankind to shatter athletic records, and the textile technology that granted us the power to survive in space.… Read the rest

The World of Sewing Fiction

Looking for something to read?  There are over 30 fictional novels revolving around sewing.  Here are a few to whet your appetite.

Add a comment below if you have another book to suggest.

Hardcover Elm Creek Quilts  (I, II, & III) Book

Jennifer Chiaverini is a historical fiction bestselling New York Times author best known for the “Elm Creek Quilts” series in addition to several collections of quilt patterns that were inspired by her novels.… Read the rest

Fireside Chat with Kimberly Jolly of the Fat Quarter Shop

We recently had the pleasure of doing this 20 minute interview with Kimberly Jolly. Kimberly is the owner of the Fat Quarter Shop and It’s Sew Emma. Between those two companies, she covers all sorts of quilting and cross stitching fabrics, supplies, and patterns. It was great fun to hear how this accountant turned creative and made her journey to where she is today.… Read the rest

What’s on Your Bookshelf?

We asked our members to share their favorite sewing books and it was so much fun to see what they had to say.  Some sent reference books and some novels about sewing.  Regardless of what you are in the mood to read or learn, there just might be some new ideas for you in the list.… Read the rest

Fireside Chat with Suzy Furrer of Apparel Arts

Suzy Furrer is the star of our next fireside chat and she is another delight you won’t want to miss. Suzy is the founder/director of the Bay area fashion design school, Apparel Arts where she teaches classes on pattern making, textiles, sewing, design principles and tailoring.  In addition to teaching at her own school, Suzy teaches at conferences, guilds, and schools around the country, online on Blueprint, and has even taught for big name companies like GAP, Pixar, and Lucas Films.… Read the rest

Fireside Chat with Gail Yellen and her Serge Magic

Join me for a 25 minute fireside chat with Gail Yellen of Gail Patrice Designs and hear all about her serger magic. Gail offers a collection of patterns, teaches a wide range of classes and workshops, authored the book, Serger Essentials, and has a YouTube channel where she offers a wide range of videos called Serger Tip Clips.… Read the rest