Road Trip Pattern Club

Join us for a sewing adventure and travel around the country with your favorite pattern designers! The Road Trip Pattern Club is an exciting collaboration between 5 of the top sewing pattern designers in the industry. Every three weeks from late May through August, club members will receive an exclusive brand new PDF sewing pattern delivered directly to your inbox.

There are 5 travel inspired patterns that include bags, accessories and women’s clothing, ranging in skill from confident beginner to intermediate. The designs will be a mystery until they are revealed at each road trip “destination” every 3 weeks. We promise they will be worth the wait! The patterns will be exclusive to the club for the duration. Even if you join after the club begins, you will receive all patterns released to the club up until that point.

We’re so excited for you to join us!

The first pattern is being released on Tuesday May 27, followed by 4 more patterns revealed every three weeks through August. The one-time membership fee for the club is $35 for all 5 patterns.

To register for the club click on the ‘Add to Cart’ button, and you will be to purchase your membership via Paypal. Patterns are downloaded as PDF files and will include detailed instructions, illustrations/photos, and templates needed to make the project. After you complete your payment, the pattern download links are automatically sent to your email on file with Paypal, so make sure that is up to date before purchase.

About the Pattern Designers

Our journey starts with Betz White in Maryland. You’ll love the new pattern she has planned and it’s perfect for a weekend get-away. Betz is the first stop on the road trip so you won’t have to wait long to see it!



Next stop: Patty Young in Illinois. Patty of MODKID is a well established pattern and fabric designer known for her bold designs and colorful palette. Her design for the club is something that will take you from hotel to pool in style.



We’ll head north to Carla Hegeman Crim in Upstate New York. Carla, of the Scientific Seamstress, has a thriving sewing pattern business. Carla’s design for the club is something easy-breezy to get you through a long hot summer.



Next we’re bound for New York City for a visit with veteran pattern designer Liesl Gibson of Oliver + S, Liesl and Co., Lisette and Straight Stitch Society. Liesl knows it’s the little things that matter and her design will help you keep track of them.



Carolyn Friedlander in Florida is our final destination! Carolyn, a quilt and fabric designer, travels frequently to teach quilting and sewing classes. Her pattern design for the club is sure to help you sew on the go.

Don't miss out on this exciting pattern club.
Join us today!

 

Come see me!!!

Seams Unlikely Book Review

I am so honored to have been asked to participate in Nancy Zieman's Blog Tour for her new autobiographical book, Seams Unlikely. I had the pleasure of finally meeting Nancy last Fall when I went up to Wisconsin to tape a couple of episodes of her popular TV show, Sewing With Nancy, and I found her to be one of the most genuine people I have ever met... she was warm, welcoming and humble, which is something you don't usually get from high-profile people.

So, of course, I was curious to learn more about Nancy's life. Like most autobiographical books, this one begins at early age. I was fascinated to learn about farm life because it was so different from the way I grew up. Nancy really makes you feel like you were there... milking the cows, feeding the chickens and tending to the vegetable gardens. A far cry from my urban upbringing. From the very first few chapters of the book, you already start to get a sense of what shaped Nancy's personality... from the family values instilled by her parents to the health problems that plagued her since infancy. My heart broke when I read about the onset of Bell's Palsy and the myriad of knee surgeries that left her not only physically but also emotionally scarred. Nancy's writing style is so conversational, so frank, that you feel like you are sitting across the table hearing her tell you these stories over a cup of coffee.

When I was up in Beaver Dam last Fall, Nancy and I had an hour to kill during the drive down to Madison to film the TV show. At the beginning of our drive, I asked Nancy to tell me how she got started in the business. She explained how she used to travel with some of her favorite notions and people would often ask her where she got them, and how this evolved into her company, Nancy's Notions. Then she went on to tell me about how hesitant she was about appearing on TV because of her facial paralysis. Well, in the next part of her book, she goes into every detail you would ever want to know about how she started her business and grew it to what it is today.

Now, this is where I began to feel a bit more connected to her story. It was exciting to read about her husband, Rich, leaving his work to join her new endeavor (just like Jon did when he joined MODKID back in 2010). Then reading about how they moved the business from their cramped basement quarters into their first facility (just like we did a couple of years ago!). And hiring their first employees (just like we did!). And attending trade shows (helloooo?). Need I say more? I felt like this book was written just for me because I could identify with so much, but yet with every new chapter I was learning something new...something that hopefully I could apply to my own business. Nancy doesn't just tell you the good... she tells you the bad and the ugly too! The trials and tribulations of running a successful business while juggling a personal life are all spelled out right there in the pages of Seams Unlikely.

Of course, MODKID is still at its infancy stage, so I can only hope that one day I can achieve the level of success that Nancy has accomplished with both Nancy's Notions and Sewing With Nancy. More than 30 years later, they are still going strong and have a fan base as loyal as can be! Here's a funny anecdote: when we were wrapping up the taping of my second episode for Sewing With Nancy, the floor manager, Greg, said that I was a natural and totally belong on TV. Nancy looked at me and jokingly said "Oh-uh, should I be worried?". I responded, "Hmmm... 'Sewing With Patty' does have a nice ring, doesn't it?" We all had a good chuckle!

I jest, but honestly, I can only dream of building something like what Nancy has built here. She has surrounded herself with wonderful and supportive people who believe in her because she treats everyone with utmost respect. This and so much more can be found in Nancy's book, Seams Unlikely. I urge you to run out and get your copy today... you won't be disappointed!

GIVEAWAY!! 

Nancy is giving away twenty copies of Seams Unlikely. Please leave a comment on Nancy's blog HERE to qualify for book giveaways. Twenty random winners will be announced February 18, 2014.


If you'd like to read what the other reviewers had to say, check out the full blog tour here:

February 4 Nancy Zieman http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog
February 5 Eileen Roche http://dzgns.com/blog/
February 5 Pat Sloan http://patsloan.typepad.com/
February 6 Melissa Stramel http://melissaslilaclane.blogspot.com
February 6 The Long Ladies http://www.mariemadelinestudio.typepad.com/
February 6 Tori Thompson http://totallystitchin.net
February 7 Amy Barickman http://www.indygojunction.com/blog/
February 7 Melissa Mora http://mellysews.com
February 8 Shari Butler http://www.doohikeydesignstudio.com/blog/
February 8 Vicki Christensen http://www.sewinspiredblog.com/
February 9 Carolina Moore http://alwaysexpectmoore.com
February 9 Kate Mclvor https://theconfidentstitch.squarespace.com/blog/
February 10 Amy Ellis http://amyscreativeside.com/blog/
February 10 Melissa Mortenson http://www.polkadotchair.com
February 11 Ilene Miller http://happyvalleyprimitives.blogspot.com/
February 12 Liz Hicks http://blogerisms.blogspot.com/
February 11 Julie Herman http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/
February 12 Bill Gardner http://www.quiltersnewsletter.com/blogs/insideqn/
February 12 Elizabeth Evans http://www.simplesimonandco.com
February 13 Amy Webb http://www.amylouwhosews.com/
February 13 Lindsay Wilkes http://thecottagemama.com/blog/
February 14 Gertie Hirsch http://www.blogforbettersewing.com
February 14 Veronica Philips http://cloverusa.wordpress.com/
February 15 Jenny Gabriel http://www.sewvacoutletblog.com
February 15 Laura Wasilowski http://artfabrik.com
February 16 Frieda Anderson http://www.friestyle.com
February 16 Rita Farro http://ritassewfun.blogspot.com
February 17 Cindy Cloward http://www.rileyblakedesigns.com/blog/
February 17 Joan Hawley http://www.lazygirldesigns.com/blog/
February 17 Patty Young http://modkidboutique.blogspot.com
February 18 Nancy Zieman http://www.nancyzieman.com/blog/

Fall 2013 Sale!

This is the first time we've had a sale on our website in well over 2 years, so take advantage because it might be a while before we do another one!! Coupon code FALL20 gets you 20% off your entire order! This is valid for anything on our site... paper sewing patterns, ribbons, pin tins, scrap bags, kits, etc! (psst... it works for wholesale orders too, so stock up and save!) http://modkidboutique.com/

http://modkidboutique.com

Keagan Shirt Pattern

Ask and you shall receive! And I guess I can add "better late than never" too. :) For years and years, since we started our company, people have been asking us if we'll ever do sewing patterns for boys and I always said "One of these days." Well, I am so happy to announce that the day is finally HERE! We have just released our very first boy clothing pattern, available exclusively in downloadable PDF format from our Etsy store.

Our Keagan Shirts pattern for boys comes with four different styles to choose from: Hipster, Bowling, Rocker and Cuban (Guayabera), each with its own unique set of details.
This pattern comes in sizes 2T (toddler) to 10 (boys). Get it HERE!

Check out these amazing photos from our testers:

Bowling Version, size 3T.  Above photo courtesy of Kelly McCall.

NOTE: This is a downloadable PDF pattern, NOT A PAPER PATTERN. Your pattern can be opened with Adobe Reader and will print on standard letter-size paper (8.5" x 11"). There are 31 pages total in this document, including full-size pattern pieces.

Again, the KEAGAN pattern is available HERE.

Modern Quilts Unlimited, Fall 2013

Today was a great mail day! Our postman brought us comp copies of the Fall 2013 issue of Modern Quilts Unlimited, which features not only a 3-page story on our company, MODKID, but also a fun Crossbody Bag pattern that Emalee designed exclusively for MQU.

Look... my name is on the cover!! :)

There are lots of great photos from their visit to our studio. Here are just a few...

Check out this gorgeous Crossbody Bag. You'll have to make one for yourself and one for your BFF! They come in two sizes... this Web Extra has instructions for the large size, which is big enough to carry a laptop!

A million thanks to Carol, Vicki and Linda for the wonderful article. Carol and Vicki actually visited our studio for a photoshoot and spent a day with us in the beautiful Historic Downtown Bloomington. Vicki flew in all the way from Colorado! So, thank you gals! It was a pleasure hanging with you! :)

Come see me TOMORROW!

If you are local to the Central Illinois area and are into sewing, crafting or fabric in general, you need to stop by the Bloomington/Normal Jo-Ann Fabrics tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 28th from 1 - 3 p.m. I will be there to give a short lecture about my newest line, Rendezvous, plus a little background info on myself and how I got into the industry. There will be tons of giveaways too!

The first 17 people there will receive a FREE copy of Generation Q magazine featuring my home and studio. Plus, the folks at Jo-Ann corporate have sent over some gift baskets and a few other goodies... not to be missed!

I will also be doing a book signing for Sewing MODKID Style. If you have a copy already, go ahead and bring it and I'd be happy to autograph it for you. Otherwise, there will be plenty of copies available for sale tomorrow, so grab one for you and one for your sewing BFF... they make great gifts! :)

Lastly, you will be among the first to see our new quilt design created for Rendezvous (below) in person, and receive a free copy of the pattern!!

Hope to see you all there!!

AVERY Dress PDF Pattern

Emalee really hit it out of the park with this new design! This adorable dress pattern for girls sizes 2T to 10 features a fitted bodice with Peter Pan collar, a super full, twirly skirt and 3 different sleeve length variations to take her through all seasons. It also comes with a couple of extra optional embellishments to change it up every time you sew it.

MODKID's newest pattern, AVERY, can be found here:

• Etsy
• Craftsy
• You Can Make This

NOTE: This is a downloadable PDF pattern, NOT A PAPER PATTERN. Your pattern can be opened with Adobe Reader and will print on standard letter-size paper (8.5" x 11"). There are 26 pages total in this document, including full-size, computer-drafted pattern pieces.

Here are a few inspiration images to get your creative juices flowing!!

P.S. The above dresses were sewn using my newest fabric line for Jo-Ann Fabrics, Rendezvous.

Introducing: Rendezvous
My newest line of premium quilting cottons, designed exclusively for Jo-Ann Fabrics

Fabric aficionados, I have a big surprise for you! I was going to wait until Labor Day weekend to reveal my BIG NEWS, but a little birdie told me that the cat was out of the bag and running around all over Instagram, so I had to speed up my announcement. ;)

I am super excited to tell you guys about my newest premium quilting fabric collection, Rendezvous, available exclusively at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores® nationwide. The collection is already available in stores and online!

Rendezvous was inspired by the Art Deco movement emanating from Paris in the 1920s.
It’s the Roaring Twenties, a decadent time for music, fashion, travel... and romance. The color palette is vibrant and retro juxtaposed against a soft cream ground, and the designs have a patina effect to evoke a nostalgic feel.

As you can probably tell already, these are all new designs and completely different from those carried exclusively in independent quilt shops. My Jo-Ann Fabrics exclusive collections will allow us to get our quality fabrics into the hands of those quilters and sewists who don't have easy access to our wonderful independent quilt shops.

And there's more! In addition to the new fabric line, we've also designed a couple of fun projects to get you started. These are FREE from us to you and are available now on the Jo-Ann website. 

There is the POPPIES APRON, featuring my Vintage Poppies Red fabric, and the CATHEDRAL WINDOWS PILLOW, featuring my Cathedral Windows fabric.

 
If you live in the Central Illinois area, don't miss my appearance on Saturday, September 28th from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. at the Bloomington Jo-Ann store. I would love to see you there! Below is the flyer for it:

The first 17 people to come by and see me on the 28th will receive a FREE copy of Generation Q magazine (the issue that features my studio!), compliments of my friends at GenQ!

Back to School goodies!

My girls' first day of school was yesterday and with it came a new milestone for our family. My oldest, Sophie (or Sophia, as she likes to be called now... sniff, sniff), started Junior High! I can't believe my baby (don't tell her I called her that) is a BIG GIRL now.

To commemorate the grand event, I shot these pictures before they left for school yesterday. The girls wore the newest MODKID knit patterns, The BREEANN Top and the MELANIE Dress (available now in our Etsy shop), which were actually named after their BFFs.

When I posted these pics on Facebook, I got tons of questions about how I did those giant numbers the girls are holding. I just made them up real quick in Illustrator and cut them onto card stock on my Silhouette Cameo machine. Since a few of you requested I made these available, I have these now live on my Silhouette store:

But, now onto the patterns...

A few weeks ago I sneaked peeked our BACK TO SCHOOL collection on Facebook, and both pattern designs were met with lots of "oooh's and ahhh's" and "when can we get these?".

Well, your wait is finally over!! We have just released the BREEANN and MELANIE patterns. And here's a little bit of info about each...

MELANIE

This adorable and comfy dress is designed to be sewn with knits, and features a sweet A-line silhouette and some oversized side pockets for all her treasures. Our pattern includes three sleeve length options so it can take your girl from the warm Summer months through the chilly Winter days.

  
BREEANN

For the tween/teen crowd, we've designed this hip hooded top that features two sleeve variations -- fitted and flutter. We paired that with an oversized kangaroo pocket and a yoga waistband, for the perfect top.

See lots more photos of both patterns in the shop listings.
Again, both patterns are available NOW in our Etsy shop.

MODKID Studio Featured in Homespun Australia

We are so honored to be featured in the August 2013 Issue of Homespun Australia, in stores now.

This is probably the most beautifully-written article about us ever written, and I know you probably can't read it from these little snapshots so, with Homespun's permission, I have uploaded a PDF of the article if you'd like to check it out.

See it HERE.

It talks about our journey from crowded basement studio to our 2,800 sq. feet Historic Downtown location, and how we furnished and decorated this large empty space. I also give some tips and tricks on how to set up a studio on a budget (because, believe me, I know all about that!).

I would like to thank the folks at Homespun Australia for the beautiful feature and urge all our Aussie friends to run to the store and grab this beautiful magazine!

2013 Scrap Lab #1

Who doesn't like playing with scraps and seeing what awesome creation they can come up with? Last year I was honored to be asked to be a lead designer in a feature column called SCRAP LAB, in the magazine Quilts and More (a Better Homes and Gardens publication). For the next four issues of Quilts and More, I will be working closely with the amazing Carrie Nelson, of Miss Rosie's Quilts, and choosing a guest star each time to create fun projects using different scraps of fabric.

In the first installment of Scrap Lab, we chose to work with the awesome Julie Herman, of Jaybird Quilts, and my newest fabric collection, Textured Basics. I was thrilled to see the super cool projects those two designers came up with... and even more thrilled when I saw the cover featuring our pillow design in the top right corner!! Wooohooo!

The Summer 2013 issue of Quilts and More is available NOW in news stands and features adorable projects by Carrie, Julie and yours truly. You can even find Julie's table setting pattern for free online HERE!

If you would like to try your hand at sewing up one of our Scrap Lab projects, we are offering a FABRIC KIT, so you can make any of the projects featured in the magazine!

The Scrap Lab Kit includes:

• 1/2 yard of Natural Texture
• Fat Eighth of the 6 fabric prints shown from above Textured Basics

It sells for $15.00 including shipping within the US.
(Magazine not included)

Want to win a free copy of this magazine? Leave us a comment below and we will draw a winner this Friday, May 10th. Best of luck!!

Spring/Summer 2012 Releases

Heaven & Helsinki and 5 new patterns!

We are gearing up to exhibit at the International Quilt Market next week (May 17 - 20) in Kansas City and are just so excited to show all of our new goodies! In addition to the Sewing MODKID Style book and the Andalucia reprint, we are also showcasing a brand new fabric collection and five brand new sewing patterns! So without much further ado, let's get started...

My newest collection for Michael Miller Fabrics is titled Heaven & Helsinki:



As the name and logo imply, it is a Scandinavian collection with a nod to Mid Century Modern design. Those two things, by the way, have been an obsession of mine for most of my life. I grew up in a very "Mod" home designed by my own father, who at one point studied under a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright's. The furnishings and décor in my childhood home were also very "Mid-Century Modern"in style... we had a Danish dining room table and some pretty funky Mod lamps throughout the house. I clearly remember our family room sofa, low profile, straight lines and with that wide wooden frame around the cushions, a style typical of Scandinavian design.

So I drew inspiration from all of this plus from some of my current furniture pieces and décor, and sprinkled in some current trends in fashion and design, to bring to you this collection, which makes my heart go pitter-patter every time I gaze upon it.

The collection is made up of 31 prints, divided into two colorways, Retro and Metro, printed on premium quality quilting cotton.





We have had a blast creating pieces with these prints and I simply cannot wait to show these off...



Let's begin with the garments, which are always my favorite part. Here you see from left to right: a Gretchen dress, a Julia skirt with a piece of fabric wrapped around the torso (for lack of time to make another top), a Hannah 2-pc short set (new Summer pattern), a Natalie & Nate girl romper, and finally an adorable Claudia dress (another Summer 2012 pattern).



Here are some close ups. Don't you just love those Puffy Birds?!



The little houses, which I call City Block, are so fun to use for borders and skirting like this...



And of course, we have Tulips galore!!!



Check out this chair Emalee covered in my Loves Me Not (Metro) fabric. The pillows are from our newest mini-pattern...



Of course, my mom has made some AMAZING purses for us to take to Market. That woman never ceases to amaze me! Check these out!! We will be making patterns for future releases out of these, for sure!



Here are a couple of close-ups...





We also made an AWESOME quilt, of which I'm only showing you a tiny portion, because it really deserves a post all its own. It involves the Central Illinois Modern Quilt Guild again.... you guys are gonna LOVE this one!!



Finally, we will have 5 new patterns at Quilt Market, and these are so new they're not even up on our site yet. You are seeing these here first! :) And I promise to do a full write up of each of these when I return from Market.

CLAUDIA
Claudia is a sweet dress with a paper-bag-style skirt, a Peter Pan collar and side-seam rounded pockets. The pattern includes options for 3 sleeve lengths, all with ruffled trims, plus a long sash-style belt. Zipper closure at center back for easy dressing. Mix and match designer fabrics for a boutique look! Sizes 2T - 10 (Girls)



HANNAH
Hannah is a set of adorable flat-fronted shorts and capri pants with inset pockets, contrast cuffs and a flared hem reminiscent of nautical sailing pants. Pair them up with our easy-to-sew Carefree Cropped Top and she will be the cutest girl at her next beach or pool party.  Sizes 2T - 10 (Girls)


MORGAN
Morgan is a playful, color-blocked dress with a very Mod style for knit fabrics only. It features side inset pockets, a contrast hem band and inverted box pleats in the center front and back. Mix and match designer fabrics for a boutique look! Sizes 2T - 10 (Girls)



MINI-ADDISON
Here by popular demand!!! Dolly version of our very popular Addison dress, with the same vintage style as the girl's version. For 18" and 15" dolls.



NORDIC SNOWFLAKE PILLOW
Our newest "LITE" pattern! Pieced and quilted pillow cover. Fits any standard 18" square pillow form.



So there you have it! There is one more reveal (for the Heaven & Helsinki knits) coming up next Friday, the 18th, but I would LOVE to hear what you guys think of the new goodies! And for those of you attending Quilt Market next week, here is the schedule of events again:

Thursday, May 17:

Schoolhouse at 12:45 - 1:15 p.m., Room 2503B

We will preview all the new fabrics and patterns,
then show a MODKID Fashion Show video (first time ever shown!)

4 books will be given away at the end, courtesy of Wiley,

and EVERY attendee will receive a free pattern from our Summer 2012 line!

Friday, May 18:

Book signing at 11:00 a.m. at the MODKID booth, Booth #3024-26

The first 20 books are free, so be sure to get there on time.
After that, books will be available for purchase at wholesale price.

Saturday, May 19:

Book Signing at United Notions, 3:00 p.m., Booth #110-117

Sunday, May 20:

Book Signing at Brewer, 11:15 a.m., Booth #2824-2833