It’s time to settle in for a new What’s in Your Sewing Bag with special guest Yvonne Fuchs of Quilting Jetgirl!
Today’s guest and I go way back in my quilting journey. Yvonne’s blog was one of the first that I stumbled upon and enjoyed perusing. This explains why I was so excited to get to participate in the New Quilt Bloggers Blog Hop back in 2016, and our connection has continued to this day. One of the things I appreciate most about Yvonne is how much she shares about her learnings. She’s got an amazing creative perspective that’s paired with a sensible and practical approach, which makes for an amazing combo. If you’ve seen her work or read any of her blog posts, you’ll know what I mean.
I was super curious to see what Yvonne keeps tucked inside her sewing kit and I’m excited she agreed to share it with you too 😊.
Let’s take a peek!
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Introduction
Introduction – tell us a little about yourself! How did you get started on your quilting journey?
I started quilting in high school when my paternal grandmother told me that she would hand quilt a twin-size quilt for me to use in my dorm room. After piecing that first quilt top (which she did indeed beautifully hand quilt!), I continued to quilt as an on-and-off hobby until about 2009. In 2009, my friend group aged out of wedding invitations and into baby shower invitations, and I started making 10 or more quilts a year (instead of one or two a year). During that time, I became much more interested in learning how to quilt my own quilts and figuring out my own designs, rather than following a pattern.
In 2014 when my high-stress prototype development aerospace engineering job had me locked in a near non-stop panic attack, I left engineering and became a full-time, professional quilter. Over the years, working as a quilter in the industry has grown to include working as a part-time, freelance quilt pattern technical editor, self-publishing quilt patterns, and working as a quilting coach. I view my website, quiltingjetgirl.com, as an extension of my role as a quilting coach: it’s where I share tips, tutorials, lessons learned, and share about my current quilting processes which continue to evolve.
You do it so well, Yvonne! I’ve long enjoyed reading your blogposts and seeing what new quilty adventure you’re on. I for one appreciate your generosity in sharing your knowledge with the quilting community. As a fellow blogger, I know how much time goes into creating each post, so thank you! Also, what an epic gift to receive from your grandmother 😊.
Sewing Bag
What kind of sewing bag do you have? (e.g. did you make it? Buy it?)
While I have made a few rudimentary bags over the years, I am not a bag maker. So, for my sewing bag, I use a heavy-duty zipper bag that I was given by OLFA when I was one of their OLFA creators in 2018. It is a fantastic size (about 11″ wide by 9″ deep and 5″ tall), and it can hold a LOT of fabric and tools inside it.
Practicality for the win! If it gets the job done and done well, that’s all that matters.
Right now, I am working on populating my sewing bag for some upcoming travel. My husband and I are hoping to spend the summer of 2024 traveling in our Jeep Wrangler camper, which is pretty small, so I’m working on creating a hand-sewing kit. I am super excited to give Jen Carlton-Bailly’s tiny Curvelets and her new Squrvelet and Ovalets templates a try. I am also really excited by Samantha Krebachhuber’s Glue Stick Precision Tip that turns an ordinary glue stick into something much more useful!
What coolness is this? I haven’t seen the Glue Stick Precision Tip, I totally have to check it out. And the Curvelets are too cute! I remember your road trip and sewing in your truck. Did you get a new one? I remember you brought your sewing machine on that trip. I just love that you and your husband take time out to head out and explore! My hubs’ trying to convince me to do the same 😉.
ALL-STAR ESSENTIALS
What are your all-star essentials? Your tried-and-true must-haves that you can never run out of?
The contents inside my sewing bag changes based on what I need at the time, but I will always have a small traveling self-healing mat, clover clips, some Aurifil thread (I like 80wt for hand sewing), my needle book, and a seam roller with me. My husband made me a custom seam roller that is a bit heavier than most you can purchase commercially, which I find really helpful when pressing my seams. When I am really struggling to press seams when I am traveling, I’ll warm up a pan on the stove and use the heat from the bottom of the pan to help set my seams.
You’re reminding me about my need to get a small travelling self-healing mat! And I still need to try 80wt for hand sewing; I’ve heard mixed reviews, so I’m curious to play a little and see how it works. I love how you make it work, Yvonne! I would have worried I would burn my fabric using the bottom of a hot pot as an iron.
FAVOURITE ITEM
What is your favourite item in your kit? Why?
My two favorite items in my sewing bag were made for me by good friends. I have a fantastic ring pin cushion made by Meghan Callahan (@wholalacrafts) and my needle minder was made by Renee Hoffman (@quiltsnfeathers). Beyond being sentimental items, they are super functional and so far (knock on wood), they have kept me from loosing a needle while I am traveling!
I love handmade goodies from sewing friends! They really do bring a personal happy note to our sewing days and are often super practical. And thank you for sharing the makers as I didn’t know either Meghan or Renee.
I have also just discovered that they now make lighted seam rippers! That’s right, it has batteries and a small light to illuminate the threads and area you are ripping. I think it is a genius idea (why didn’t I think of it??), and I have purchased several so that I can have one in my sewing bag and one by my sewing machine.
Clever! Especially if you’re working at night.
SURPRISE ITEM
What’s one thing we’d be surprised to find in your bag?
Because I almost predominantly use solid fabrics when I am quilting, I think many quilters might be a bit surprised to learn that I keep mostly prints in my sewing bag. I love a good rainbow, and nobody does rainbow like Tula Pink. My fabric pieces are mostly scraps, but that will be plenty large enough to work with and use for the small hand sewing I have planned for next summer.
Ohhhh, so you’ll be hand-stitching with all those cute prints! That sounds like a really fun project.
QUILT KITS WILL TRAVEL
When do you find yourself using your kit the most? (Travelling, on the sofa, attending sew-ins?)
I use my sewing bag pretty much exclusively for when I travel. It came with me in 2019 when my husband and I spent 5 months driving to the Arctic Ocean on the only 2 roads in North America that cross the Arctic Circle. At that time, we were traveling in a much larger vehicle that was able to accommodate a travel sewing machine and a portion of my stash, so the sewing bag contained all of my sewing machine accessories, rotary cutter, seam rippers, and scissors.
It was a blast living vicariously through you and your husband during that trip, Yvonne! I remember reading your blog posts about the construction and then seeing the amazing photos taken. I also remember you talking about the challenges of finding a satellite phone because cell service wouldn’t be available in the remote parts you were visiting. The memories!
NEXT TRAVEL DESTINATION
When are you hoping to travel next with your sewing bag?
Since my husband and I returned from our 2019 trip, he has been dreaming, designing, and now building our next travel vehicle. We are hoping that in the summer of 2024, our custom 2020 Jeep Wrangler camper will be ready to hit the road. Our exact destination is still TBD, but we will probably head north again into Canada and Alaska.
I’m beyond excited for you two! I’ll be following along and taking notes as I know my hubs would love to do a similar trek 😉.
WHERE CAN WE FIND YOU?
Tell people where we can find you?
You can find me:
- Website: https://quiltingjetgirl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/quiltingjetgirl/
- Newsletter: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63e5d2758e06d4dae9493b33
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/quiltingjetgirl
- Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/quiltingjetgirl
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/YvonneFuchs
Anything else you’d like to share?
I just started my annual quilt along, and I am really excited about the design this year: Star Pulse. If you want to sew along with me, use coupon code WIYSB2OFF for $2 off through December 31, 2023.
What fun! I just love how that design glows. Thank you so much, Yvonne, for participating in the WIYSB series. I knew your answers would be fun to read and you didn’t disappoint 😉. I know we’ll be in touch before you head off, but I am seriously pumped for your next trip. I look forward to seeing the magic you create with your prints and those Curvelets, Squrvelet, and Ovalets.
For more What’s in Your Sewing Bag fun, check out these guests:
- Megan from Megan Collins Design
- Cristina from Ships and Violins
- Laura from PreQuilt
- Cheryl from Meadow Mist Designs
- Karen from Just Get It Done Quilts
Happy quilting!
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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Thank you so much for having me on the series, Shannon! Our next travel will be in a vehicle MUCH smaller than before, so this single bag is all the sewing I’ll be able to bring with me. Should be a fun adventure! There was no such thing as Starlink before, so I’ll be evaluating what connectivity option will work best, but I’ll also be pretty keen on unplugging a lot along the way.
That just means it will be that much cozier! I don’t blame you one bit for wanting to focus on unplugging and being in the moment while on your travels, Yvonne. Sounds like you’ve got your priorities straight!
Hi Shannon – this interview was such fun to read. I share your admiration of Yvonne’s work. Also, it is fun to read your responses to her. Makes it like viewing a regular conversation!
I’m so thrilled to hear that, Bernie! I try to make these guest posts as conversational as possible so that the responses are easy and more enjoyable to read. Thank you so much for stopping by!