It’s time for another What’s in Your Sewing Bag? with special guest: Village Bound Quilts!
Do you remember the first person you ever had an actual phone conversation with after meeting them on social media?
For me, that’s Tiffany, or Tiff as I like to call her 😉 We met on Instagram way back when I think we were both participating in the #IGQuiltFest (sew fun!) and we’ve been quilty BFFs ever since! I remember one of the first conversations we had, and we ended up gabbing for close to 3hrs – whaaa?! I hadn’t done that since I was in high school! You know you’ve found a good friend when the hours pass by without even realizing it.
In case you’re new to her work, Tiffany is the creative genius behind Village Bound Quilts, where she offers her modern quilt patterns, helpful tutorials and technical editing services for other quilt pattern designers.
She’s got a very clean modern aesthetic that often has nods to mid-century modern design. In a nutshell, I love her work!
Despite all our quilty chats, I hadn’t specifically asked her about her sewing kit. So, I was super excited when she agreed to participate in the What’s In Your Sewing Bag series and give us all a little sneak peek at her most used essential notions 😊
Let’s check it out!
*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?
Hi, I’m Tiffany, the pattern designer and maker behind Village Bound Quilts. I’m an Arizona native currently living in New York with my husband, son, and dog, Lemon. I made my first quilt in 2012 and quilted minimally as a hobby until 2015 when a cross-country move prompted me to ditch my corporate job for stay-at-home-parenting, and I decided to make quilting a more substantial part of my life. I wrote my first quilt pattern in 2018 and have enjoyed making and designing as a part-time gig ever since!
I’m so happy you decided to explore quilt pattern writing, Tiff! You’ve come up with so many clever modern designs that offer the quilter so much opportunity to bring their own quilty flare – love that about a pattern!
SEWING BAG
What kind of sewing bag do you have? (e.g. did you make it? Buy it?)
Honestly, until this post, I was just gathering all of my hand sewing supplies and carrying them from one space to another! I’m glad I was invited to share what supplies I use, though, because it encouraged me to dig out a boxy pouch that I had sewn up several years ago. I’m happy to not only be using a bag now (instead of letting it collect dust on the shelf) but also to have a little tote to make moving my supplies much more manageable!
I can’t believe this cutie of a sewing bag was hidden in storage. She’s too adorable not to be used! Thrilled this series encouraged you to bust her out and make good use of her. Plus, having your hand stitching essentials all corralled in one handy pouch is super practical!
ALL-STAR ESSENTIALS
What are your all-star essentials? Your tried-and-true must-haves that you can never run out of?
Because I use my sewing kit primarily for hand quilting or hand binding sessions, some of my very favorite notions, like a *Hera marker and my rotary cutter, aren’t included. But for hand stitching, I can never be without a *leather thimble for guiding, a *silicone thimble for pulling, embroidery needles (which I prefer over sharps), and a small pair of snips or embroidery scissors for thread cutting. I’ll always toss in whichever perle thread I’m quilting with or the cotton thread I’m binding with – I’ll often use from the bobbin instead of the spool. Sometimes I’ll have a few *Wonder Clips available too, but typically I use only my thimbles and hands to work with fabric and thread while stitching.
I love that idea to use the thread from a bobbin, I think I’ve done that one, but I love how smoothly it unravels from the bobbin! I normally work with thread off the spool and boy can that get messy in your sewing bag.
FAVOURITE ITEM
What is your favourite item in your kit? Why?
Probably my *AirPods! Technically, I don’t keep them in my sewing kit because I use them so much, but I absolutely LOVE listening to *audiobooks, so I’m never without them! Also, my leather thimble – though after several years of use it’s nearly worn through, and it might be time to order a replacement.
Aren’t wire-free earbuds the best?! Such freedom comes without those wires getting in the way! I need to get more into audiobooks, I tend to listen to podcasts while I’m hand stitching, but I can see audiobooks being genius for catching up on your reading! I see you sharing the books you’ve read in your IG stories, and I’m amazed at how many books you get through in a month!
As for thimbles, I love my *leather thimble too and dread the day I have to replace her and break in a new one – ha!
SURPRISE ITEM
What’s one thing we’d be surprised to find in your bag?
People would probably be more surprised at what is not in my bag – I keep most of my quilting supplies, like shears, pins, and threads, in my desk, not my kit. And I’ve never used thread conditioner, which I know is a really popular notion for many sewists.
A minimal sewing kit, I love it, Tiff! I don’t keep pins and sheers and such in my kit either, I like to keep it to the essentials. Although, I do keep thread conditioner in there for when I’m hand binding or doing needle turn appliqué 😊
QUILT KITS WILL TRAVEL
When do you find yourself using your kit the most? (Travelling, on the sofa, attending sew-ins?)
Definitely the couch! I typically only use my kit while hand binding, or hand quilting, both of which I get snuggled up with a good audiobook or movie to tackle. I love keeping cozy under the quilt I’m working on, and the sofa makes it extra comfy.
I’m right there with you, Tiff! Hand binding or quilting on the sofa all snuggled under your quilt is the best! What quilty dreams are made of!!
TRAVEL MEMORY
What’s your favourite travel memory with your sewing bag?
The farthest it travels is from my sewing space upstairs to the couch downstairs! 😉
LOL – but I bet it’s made that trek countless times!
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?
Tell people where we can find you?
You can find me on Instagram @villageboundquilts and on my website.
Anything else you’d like to share?
In 2022 I’ve started tech editing! After years of pattern testing, I’ve discovered how much I enjoy helping others with their patterns and am excited to now offer technical editing services to pattern designers.
I’ve got a pattern coming soon in Make Modern Magazine issue 45!
Thanks so much, Shannon, for including me in Season 3 of WIYSB!
I’m so excited that you’re offering your tech editing expertise to other quilters, Tiff! I’ve loved having you as a tech editor for my own quilt patterns and can’t release one without having your eagle eyes review 😉
Thank you for sharing more about your quilting journey and giving us a peek inside your sewing kit! I love how practical your kit is and that it really focuses on the key essentials to get the quilty job done! A reminder that we don’t need all the bells and whistles to create gorgeous quilts.
For more What’s in Your Sewing Bag fun, check out these guests:
- Ali from Arabesque Scissors
- Michelle from Michelle Bartholomew
- Krista from Poppyprint
- Cheri from Tinkerellen
- Lisa from Sew Curated
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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