The team at Cate’s Sew Modern comes from so many different artistic backgrounds but we are all connected by our love of fabric and design!
Name: Cate
Your Specialty in the Shop: modern quilting, improv quilting, foundation paper piecing quilts, collage art quilts, color theory, auditioning fabrics, substrate expert, pinch-hitting
Sewing Level: consistent!
Favorite Thing to Sew: the two extremes: total improv and foundation paper piecing.
How did you Learn to Sew: 4-H: Hands Head Health Heart *I think* in rural Maine.
What is your most recent project: A new demo for a class on quilting.
What are you working on now: A wall hanging that says #SavetheUSPS.
What would you like to learn next: Anything except English Paper Piecing just because I’m not fastidious enough!
What is your favorite thing to do around the Shop: Teach in an animated fashion.
Fun Fact about You: I paid my own way through undergrad school by running a 160-head dairy farm work study program; (my MBA was gratis thanks to Dad <3).
Name: Faith
Your Specialty in the Shop: Cutting & organizing fabrics, working with customers.
Favorite Thing to Sew: Projects which are creative intuitive adventures.
How did you Learn to Sew: From my mother on my grandmother’s threadle sewing machine.
What is your most recent project: Visible mending pants & face masks.
What are you working on now: A quilt & visual/experiential sewing & mending of clothing.
What would you like to learn next: More about finer finishing.
What is your favorite thing to do around the Shop: Helping customers when they are choosing their fabrics, seeing and discovering new fabrics and patterns. Working with my wonderful co-workers!
Fun Fact about You: I am a fine artist/painter
Name: Hayley
Your Specialty in the Shop: Etsy and curation (help pick out and curate fabrics).
Sewing Level: Total beginner — I can sew masks and clothes, I hope to begin quilting.
Favorite Thing to Sew: the only thing I feel confident is masks at the moment, but I’m learning to work with garments because I feel like they are less particular than quilting.
How did you Learn to Sew: I took a class here a few years ago, but most of what I know I have worked on by myself, my mom also sews and has been a big help.
What is your most recent project: I’m currently in the middle of making a flannel shirt, but as of now, it is half finished and still needs sleeves (unfinished projects are a common problem for me).
What are you working on now: I have picked out a pattern for a quilt, and I have started collecting fabrics, and I hope to start working on it the next few weeks.
What would you like to learn next: I want to get better at quilting and continue to make my own clothes, I am very into fashion, so I would love to design my own clothes.
What is your favorite thing to do around the Shop: my favorite thing to do in the shop is open and process the new orders of fabric that come in every week, I love to be the first person to see and open them.
Fun Fact about You: I have been into art for as long as I can remember, I mostly work with collage or with oil paint, but I’m looking forward to learning new skills while working here.
Name: Nishi
Your Specialty in the Shop: Marketing! I’m the one who’s behind all of the Social Media posts and other behind the scenes Marketing projects.
Sewing Level: Advanced Beginner.
Favorite Thing to Sew: I love to sew clothes! There’s something so satisfying about finishing a garment and then being able to wear it.
How did you Learn to Sew: My mom and grandma both sewed, and so it was natural that when I wanted new clothing for my teddy bears that I was taught how to make it. I remember sitting with my grandma as she taught me how to hand sew the button nose of my favorite bunny rabbit back on, or listening to my mom as she demonstrated why you sew right side to right side. I even still use my mom’s old Bernina 830 machine!
What is your most recent project: I just sewed myself a laptop bag with a slip pocket out of some canvas and old fleece I had.
What are you working on now: I always suffer from wanting to do too many things at once. I just bought the pattern for the Range backpack, and will probably start working on that soon. I also just drew up a design for a hooded cape that I really want to make for myself for the winter, so we’ll see which one I start first.
What would you like to learn next: I’d love to learn how to properly draft, block, and drape!
What is your favorite thing to do around the Shop: I love to talk to people around the store. It’s always so much fun to hear about what amazing crafts and creations people are working on! Speaking of which, if you’re making something fun, I’d love to see it. Be sure to tag @catessewmodern in your photos or bring it into the store and we can photograph it!
Fun Fact about You: I come from a musical theatre background, so my drive to and from work is always full of singing and music!
Name: Jill
Your Specialty in the Shop: Love to teach beginners!
Sewing Level: Intermediate.
Favorite Thing to Sew: Clothing.
How did you Learn to Sew: YouTube!
What is your most recent project: Range backpack, still in progress, with adorable meerkat canvas from the shop.
What are you working on now: Flannel pajamas for my sons!
What would you like to learn next: Pants fitting.
What is your favorite thing to do around the Shop: Organize!
Fun Fact about You: I raise Nigerian Dwarf goats for milk (and because they are hilarious).
Name: Sarah
Your Specialty in the Shop: Website and Marketing.
Sewing Level: Never touched a sewing needle.
Favorite Thing to Sew: Not sure yet!
How did you Learn to Sew: I did not.
What is your most recent project: I theoretically would like to sew a scarf.
What are you working on now: Thinking about scarves.
What would you like to learn next: How to make a scarf.
What is your favorite thing to do around the Shop: Website design! It’s fun.
Fun Fact about You: My favorite food is key lime pie.
