Inside the Industry Archives - Right Sides Together

Hey, Cristy Fincher! What’s in Your Sewing Kit?

If there was ever anyone who totally exudes the love of quilting, it’s Cristy Fincher. This woman is busy. From her blog to her Craftsy class to her online shop to her many teaching engagements (including QuiltCon), on top of all of the sewing she does, Cristy is a huge presence in the quilting industry. Quilting is in her blood, and she’s completely set on keeping it there.

And while the industry is generally a nice place to hang out anyway, Cristy is perhaps the kindest person in it. You know that sweet kindergarten teacher you know? That person is a JERK compared to Cristy Fincher. One look at her blog and you’ll see that she is always willing to share what she knows, and she really wants to inspire creative excellence in other people. So with her wealth of experience in quilting and her generous spirit, I just had to ask her:

What are your top five sewing tools?

Elmer’s Washable School Glue with a Micro Fine tip is my top sewing tool. I use it to glue baste just about anything that I’m going to sew together. Glue basting is a game changer for piecing: it’s easy, fast, and with the Micro Fine tips it’s very tidy.

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Field Trip: Behind the Scenes at Craftsy!

After college, I spent a few years sitting in ergonomic chairs in front of desktop screens under fluorescent lights, and I could feel my life slipping away. I mean, it’s not some uniquely sad story, right? David Foster Wallace says that this experience is one of the hallmarks of adulthood: MONOTONY! I eventually traded in the monotony of non-profit communications for the monotony of grading papers, which I then interspersed with the monotony of arranging meals, negotiating clothing choices, and entertaining a tiny yet despotic overlord. AND PEOPLE WONDER WHY I QUILT.

It’s always fun to consider what the world would be like, though, if creative people were in charge. I’d imagine the average workplace would look something like Craftsy’s offices, which are located not far from me in Denver. At the generous invitation of my section editor, Kourtney, I drove down for a tour a couple of weeks ago. I had zero idea of what to expect; in the crafting circles, Craftsy has a reputation for folks who work hard and play hard. I was not there, but apparently their stamina for beer and 80’s music at QuiltCon 2013 was epic. In the middle of the workday, would employees be hunkered down in their cubicles like me circa 2004? Or would I wander the halls and see pandemonium: the video editors doing shots, or Angela Walters arm wrestling between takes with Eleanor Burns?

Behind the Scenes at Craftsy | Right Sides Together

What I actually saw, while not quite as revelatory as the above thought experiments, is pretty much an argument for maintaining a functional and productive workspace for creative people. (more…)

Inside the Industry: Allie Olson of Indiesew

Steve Herschleb and Allie Olson of Indiesew!

It’s our pleasure today to feature Allie Olson, the creative force behind pattern distribution website Indiesew. Since its launch in May, Indiesew has taken the garment-sewing world by storm. It’s a delightfully simple premise: provide a hub to shop for independent patterns so that folks don’t have spend hours Googling to try to find them, and then offer a bit of community space for sewists to share and offer tips/details about their creations. It’s awesome.

I started following Indiesew shortly after we started our respective sites, and it was only in the last couple of months that I learned that Allie is a fellow Boulderite. I knew I had to meet up with her and see if she would be willing to come on RST to share her story and insights into the online pattern world. (Bonus: it was really nice to meet her in person, and we’ll definitely have to get together again soon for some sew-time. Local sewists FTW!)

What’s your background, Allie?

I grew up in Montana and learned how to sew at a young age. My mom is a quilting artist, so I grew up with it! I went to college at Portland State University for Finance, and after I graduated I went into accounting for public agencies. I ended up deciding that I had a hard time working for other people (ha!) and so I ended up getting my MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of Colorado. (more…)

Industry Spotlight – Kokka Fabric Japan

Kokka Fabric is a lifestyle brand one of the most iconic Japanese textile companies in the industry. Japanese import fabrics used to be difficult to find and had a sort of cult following. Their fabric is getting more accessible and they have some fabulous substrates to sew with to get outside of the quilt cotton box. Here is a glimpse of what they have to offer and a peek at their awesome and unique aesthetic (it goes way beyond Hello Kitty, but yes, they have that too!).

Double Gauze

Double gauze is two fine layers of lightweight cotton, woven on a loom at the same time (double weave), with individual threads that join together at intervals to form a two ply cloth. The finished fabric is lightweight and drapey, but still substantial enough to incorporate into quilts, garments and fashion accessories. Lauren has a great post on sewing with double gauze here.

Nani Iro is a Japanese label for Kokka designed by Naomi Ito. Her prints have a beautiful watercolor quality that look like pieces of artwork that don’t need to be assembled into a finished sewing project. They lend well to simple design and minimal structure, which means easy sewing with a lot of gratification!

Nani Iro Double Gauze (All photos via Kokka Japan)

Cotton/Linen Canvas

Cotton/Linen Canvas is another substrate that Kokka has mastered. Cotton is easy to work with and the addition of linen adds texture and makes for a sturdy fabric. This blend is great for bags and home decor projects.

The Echino label by Etsuko Furuya features vibrant colors and graphic natural elements. Her aesthetic is very modern and artsy. Her prints also work well together in each consecutive line making Echino a great stash fabric for enthusiastic bag sewists!

Cotton Sateen

Cotton sateen is one of the newest substrates I have worked with from Kokka. Sateen has a silky polished surface that is created in the weaving process. It is a smooth, drapey fabric that sews like quilt cotton but looks absolutely delicious sewn into special garments.

The Echino label has a large selection of cotton sateen prints. I can’t wait to see what comes out next with this fabric!

Inside the Industry (+ Giveaway!) with Jacqueline Sava of Soak

Jacqueline Sava of Soak | Right Sides Together

If you’ve been knitting or sewing in the last five years and you don’t live under a rock or in the farthest reaches of Siberia, you’ve probably heard of Soak. A presence at the last few Quilt Markets and at the MQG Sewdowns, Soak is the company that produces Soak fiber wash (a glorious detergent for hand-washing knits and delicates), Flatter smoothing spray for fabrics (finally, a pressing spray that won’t fry your lungs!), Handmaid hand cream, yarn, fun nail polish, and more. Soak is the creation of “Director of Possibilities” Jacqueline Sava, who studied Industrial Design at the Rhode Island School of Design and then earned her MBA in Strategic Management and Marketing from the Schulich School of Business at York University in Toronto. Eight years after first launching Soak in 2006, Jacqueline is an inspiring model for those of us who aspire to transform a love of craft into a successful business.

The really special thing about Jacqueline, though, is how she’s committed to using her education and experience to teach others about the craft business. She leads a series of workshops called “From Maker to Making a Living,” helping artists learn how to succeed financially while doing what they love. Jacqueline was kind enough to take time between business trips to chat with me about the success she’s gained and the lessons she’s learned.

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