It’s time for another sneaky peeky in the latest stop in the What’s in Your Sewing Bag series!
You know those people you meet and instantly feel a connection with them?
That’s how I felt when I first met Krista from Poppyprint.
Our path’s crossed when we were both invited to join the Canadian Virtual Trunk Show. Through that quilty journey, I not only discovered how amazingly talented Krista is, but what a wonderful teacher she is and just how generous she is with her knowledge. Plus, she’s just a hoot!
If you have the chance to take a class with Krista, I highly encourage you to do so! She’s super inspiring and is beyond patient. You’re sure to pick up a quilty trick or two 😉
In the meantime, Krista is popping in to share more about her quilt journey and give you a peek at the goodies she keeps stocked in her sewing bag!
*This post contains affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, if you click through and make a purchase, I may receive a commission.
INTRODUCTION
Introduction – tell us a little about yourself! How did you get started on your quilting journey?
I love to say that I started quilting at the turn of the century. Truthfully, I took my first quilting class in the fall of 2000. We’d moved into a home without a garage or space for me to continue my new hobby of woodwork, so I signed up for a row-by-row weekly quilting workshop when I discovered there was a quilt shop nearby. I’d always loved fabric and was comfortable using a sewing machine after learning to sew years before, in middle school home-ec classes. Throughout my teens and early 20’s, I sewed simple costumes, curtains and a summer dress or two. By 2000, I had two toddlers, a husband who traveled a lot for work and my late mother-in-law’s Pfaff 1212 to call my own. The perfect recipe for late night quilting!
I find it fascinating that you went from woodworking to quilting, Krista! While I realize they’re entirely different crafts, they seem to have some similarities in thinking through the construction of a piece!
SEWING BAG
What kind of sewing bag do you have? (e.g. did you make it? Buy it?)
I have so many that I’ve made and also been gifted by friends. Not only do I travel to teach, I also run a local day-retreat business and attend multi-day retreats at least 3 or 4 times per year. Now that my kids are young adults, I have a lot more freedom to travel. When traveling to teach, I keep all of my essentials in the super popular *Sew Together Bag that I made from fun Japanese Linen. When I travel to my day- or weekend retreats, I upsize to a rolling toolcart purchased at a big box hardware store.
Gosh, I just adore linen and I’ve yet to play with Japanese linen – I need to change that ASAP! Plus, I’ve been wanting to make a Sew Together Bag for ages. Another thing I need to change – ha! And, OMG, a rolling tool cart?! You’ve taken preparation for sewing retreats to the next level!!
ALL-STAR ESSENTIALS
What are your all-star essentials? Your tried-and-true must haves that you can never run out of?
Seam ripper, Bohin 3-colour mechanical chalk pencil, extra rotary blades in 28mm and 45 mm size, sharp to the tip embroidery scissors, Gingher snips on a lanyard, gold-eye self-threading needles, binding needles, 80/12 sewing and topstitch machine needles, *Purple Thang, *ByAnnie stiletto, *Aurifil 50 wt piecing thread, *Clover white wax pen, *1” x 6” ruler, *Clover latex thimble, 6 Wonderclips and a small tin of fine glass-head patchwork pins.
So smart to pack extra rotary blades, this is something I don’t normally stock in my sewing bag. Ok, I’m curious about several of your items, but first and foremost I want to hear more about the Clover White Wax Pen – what’s thaaaat??? Also, I need to schedule a phone call with you so we can discuss all your needle options.
FAVOURITE ITEM
What is your favourite item in your kit? Why?
My full size *SeamFix seam ripper. It is sharp and lightweight but comfortably large to hold and has a handy rubber top to gently pull small cut threads out of the fabric.
I think this is a first that a seam ripper has been shared as the favourite item, but let’s face it, we ALL have to bust ours out at some point and having one that gets the job done efficiently and comfortably is super important. I do love the idea of the rubber top to grab stray threads!
SURPRISE ITEM
What’s one thing we’d be surprised to find in your bag?
A tiny Songster needle tin dredged from the bottom of the Thames River. Turntable needles came in these cute little tins. I bought this little souvenir at a Greenwich market stall when I went to the UK on a teaching trip a few years ago. It holds about 10 fine patchwork pins that are too sharp to keep safely in the wool pin cushion inside the bag.
That’s so cool!! I love keepsakes that are picked up during travels. It always instantly transports me back to those memories 😊
QUILT KITS WILL TRAVEL
When do you find yourself using your kit the most? (Travelling, on the sofa, attending sew-ins?)
All the time! Because there are a few key items I do not have duplicates of, my kit typically sits open to the right side of my sewing machine at all times. It comes along anytime I leave home to sew (at retreats, sew-ins and workshops that I take or teach). I don’t typically sew in other places around the house unless I’m binding a quilt and in that case I have a special “over the couch arm” sewing organizer made by a sweet friend that I use for my binding clips, snips and thread.
Used equally as often is my favourite sewing needle: a Fons and Porter gold-eye self-threading needle for burying threads.
I need to get on the self-threading needle bandwagon!
TRAVEL MEMORY
What’s your favourite travel memory with your sewing bag?
I think making it while on a small retreat with two long-time sewing sisters!
Oh, happy memories!! Now we just gotta create some of our own 😉
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?
Tell people where we can find you?
- Instagram: @poppyprint
- Blog: poppyprintcreates.blogspot.com
- Email: poppyprintcreates@gmail.com
- Etsy Shop
- Facebook: Krista Hennebury
- Guilds: Lions Gate Quilter’s Guild (North Vancouver, B.C.) and Vancouver Modern Quilt Guild
Anything else you’d like to share?
Once the world becomes a safer place to travel, I hope to resume my international teaching practice, but until then, I offer a few Zoom workshops and lectures (details on my blog). I’m also very proud to be a certified Aurifilosopher, able to lecture on the origin, manufacturing and uses of Aurifil thread in quilt making.
Thank you, thank you for being such an inspiration, Krista! I have so loved reading your responses and hearing more about your quilting journey. You always spark new areas of interest for me to dive into! Keep up your creative pursuits; I can’t wait to see where they lead you next 😉
For more What’s in Your Sewing Bag fun, check out these guests:
- Shelagh from Stuart Moores Textiles
- Xanthe from Wife Made
- Amy from nanaCompany
- Ali from Arabesque Scissors
- Michelle from Michelle Bartholomew
Happy stitching!
xo,
Shannon
PS don’t forget to sign up for the weekly newsletter so you don’t miss out on any future WIYSB guests!
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