And we’re back with another giveaway and discount code AND the 12th post in the Canadian Online Fabric Store series! Today I’m interviewing Judy from Sew Sisters – an Ontario-based brick and mortar shop with international online shipping. She and her sister Karen started Sew Sisters together in 2000. I’ve visited their booth at the Creativ Festival and I always find something new and fun to purchase!
I am super excited about their monthly fabric clubs – they have 3 of them! A Kona Club, a Bargain Lover’s Club and a Batik Lover’s Club. As if the cute graphics were not enough – you can get fabric shipped to your door every month, hooray! I’ve been meaning to sign up for the 1/2 yard Kona Club for a while now and I have finally done it. I don’t stash enough solids to go with my projects and now I’ll have them. I love the surprise factor too – it’s lots of fun checking out which colours came in the mail!
Before we get too far – here’s a little preview of a few of my favorites from their shop:
Want to know more about Sew Sisters in 3 sentences? Carol has written up a tidy summary for you:
Sew Sisters Quilt Shop is A Canadian Source for Top Quality Quilt Fabric at Fair prices. Whether shopping online or in person at 3961 Chesswood Drive in North Toronto our goal is to provide you with great service and offer top quality products at the lowest possible price. Sew-Sisters have a large selection of quilting fabric and classes, patterns, books and notions – everything you need to complete your unique quilts!
Thread Riding Hood: Why did you decide to start Sew Sisters?
Judy: In 2000, I made an “I spy” quilt for my son that required almost 500 different pieces of fabric. I had to do a lot of shopping, trading and searching to amass the collection and when it was finished, I had both a lovely quilt and a massive amount of leftovers!
Figuring that other people making I Spy quilts would have the same problems I had finding enough fabric, I decided to sell packets of my leftover fabric online. The fabric square kits did very well, so much so that I began to think about continuing to make and sell them. I did so, and as the square packets became more popular, my sister joined me. Karen took over the shipping end of the business and soon we were able to expand the number of products we carried.
After many successful sales, we realized that our hobby had grown into a business! We registered a name, got a tax number and hired someone to do our books – our Dad, a retired accountant. Local quilt shops became interested in our square packets so we started supplying them as well. Soon we started selling at local guild shows and larger craft shows such as the Creativ Festival. Each year we continued to dramatically expand our product line until eventually we outgrew our house.
In September 2007, we opened a retail store at 3961 Chesswood Drive in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Our shop is loaded with fabric, notions, patterns and books that inspire quilters to create quilts to treasure. We are constantly growing and stretching to provide our customers with a larger selection, more projects and greater service. My passion for quilting and serving the public know no bounds and we aspire to provide the best customer service and the best prices possible in the market place!
Thread Riding Hood: What are a few favorite sewing projects you can share with us?
Judy: We had a week long Sew-a-thon a few months ago and made some great projects with Tim Holtz’s Eclectic Elements, Jenny Pedigo’s Quick Curve Ruler and Northcott’s Stonehenge Oh Canada fabric. It was such fun! (You can see the projects here!)
Thread Riding Hood: What is something coming up in the near future that you are especially excited about?
Judy: We’re having a 3 day Free Shipping in Canada event this week! This is always fun for our online customers.
Thread Riding Hood: Thanks Judy! I really like how your quilts took you from a hobby to a brick and mortar shop. Such a unique beginning!
Sew Sisters has decided to give away an amazing 10 fat quarter bundle of Tim Holtz’s Eclectic Elements! WOW!
This giveaway is open to everyone, internationally from today (Jan 7th) until midnight on Tuesday evening, January 13, 2015. Use the Rafflecopter widget below to enter – and if you don’t have Facebook to sign in with, just use your name and email address. There’s a “click to enter” no social media login entry too!
All ready to get some fabric? Sew Sisters has generously offered you a discount! Use the code “THREAD1015” to get 10% off your purchase from January 7-13th, 2015! Here are a few more fabrics to get you started. And don’t forget about the free shipping (within Canada) offer from the 9th-11th this weekend!
Disclosure and Privacy Policy: I asked Sew Sisters Quilt Shop to be a part of this series. I will never recommend or highlight a shop that I do not love, and my opinions will and have always been my own. Thanks for reading!
I love that postage is included in the price, not an added cost. Thanks!
love the Preppy the Whale quilt kit, it looks really fun. x
I love that they have 1930s repro fabric!!
Love the great line up of fabrics, a mixture for everyone. Thanks.
I love eclectic elements!
I love the Tim Holtz eclectic elements!
I love all the batik bundles!
allisonpogany@gmail.com
Thanks for showcasing Canadian shops… I am more comfortable ordering from these 🙂
Hooray! I’m so glad Nicole 🙂 It’s great to know that it is helping you out!
this is a fabulous shop tucked away in North York. You must see the sale section.
I am loving the Brights – 10 Fat Quarters…..love the bright colors
I like the Night Blooms!
NIce!!!
I love the bargain lovers bundle club– fits me perfectly! Kona solid club would also be nice- I never buy solids (too easily swayed by cute prints, I guess).
Moon Shine – Dear Me Strawberry by Tula Pink
I would like to someday belong to the Kona Club.
So hard to pick a favourite. I’ve already got my eye on one of the prints from Eclectic Elements for my next purchase, but also some Painter’s Canvas and Kona solids.
All the Urban Zoologie prints are adorable! Good thing there are a lot of babies in my life so I have an excuse to get it.
Love Lazy Daisy Baskets
Lovely fabrics. especially the giveaway bundle
love those new “tulip pins”
I like the 1930 Reproductions in the 10 fat quarter set.
I need the new Kona Solids colors. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
I love the clearance section. There is always a great selection on sale.
Gnome City White would be so fun for a quilt back, or a I spy quilt, or pillowcase…lots of ideas, thanks
I have been wanting to get some Tim Holtz’s fabric, it would be so awesome if I won, that’s what I would pick from her shop anyway!
I love the Batavian Batiks in your shop. So intense and beautiful.
I love Aviatrix Medallion Quilt kit.
I love the Doe fat quarter bundle.
great giveaway Thank you My favorite thing is Tula Pink – Needlepoint Tapestry Kit – Parisville Sky….. love love it I know its not fabric or quilt related well kinda is its Tula and I have not done needle point in such a long time.
What don’t I like from Sew Sisters???? I love it all. I especially love the botanics line from Carolyn Friedlander.
I love the hazel the hedgehog pattern…and it’s colour way.
Thanks for the chance to win.
Wendy
i love all the batiks!!!
Thx for the giveaway. I love Tim Holtz!!!!
Great shop. The Kona bundle club is such a great idea.
Would love to make the “Crazy Eights – Dori” Quilt Kit!! My Grangirlie would loooove it!
What a gorgeous selection of fabric! I love the Cherie Memorandum Lune texty print!
I love the Eclectic Elements French Script, my husband being French Canadian I love these type fabrics. I love to shop the Canadian shops too.
Lots of cool items on this site! One of my favorites is the Urban Beads quilt pattern. It’s very modern, yet simple and perfect for my young-adult kids!
I love the fabric!
silverthimble@shaw.ca
I love the indelible, and haven’t seen it in that colourway yet!
I like Batavian Batiks – Large Floral Mix Orange fabric and so many others!
The Tiny Town Block-of-the-Month club looks like a project I would absolutely love to do!
I would love to have Aviatrix Medallion – 80″ X 80″ Quilt Kit. It appeals to me.
I love their Ecco fabrics.
Thanks for the giveaway! My current favorite is Eclectic Elements – French Script Taupe. Although, Winter Room 2014 has me thinking about next season.
Bazaar Style – Moroccan Streets Day. Thank you!
I love the half yard bundle of 32 New kona solids! Thanks so much!
tdkcarpenoctem@hotmail.com
Love Tim Holtz products and now in Quilty fabric, lucky us.
Love the Rocket Age and Treasure Map flannels. Wouldn’t they make great charity quilts for boys? Or book bags for my DIL’s book project (she’s a reading specialist in an elem. school)?
Love Urban Zoologie – Flamingos Black. So cute!
My favourite item is the Preppy the Whale quilt kit.
The lovey dovey collection is adorable, and has me thinking of some valentines projects 🙂
I love the rocket age flannel
Sew Sisters has such a great selection of quilt books! I didn’t know that GE Designs has a new book called Stripology, I would love to have a book that gives patterns for minis, baby quilts and table runners. Thanks for the chance to win the awesome fabric! jacklynnsteven at netzero dot com
savor each stitch book has been on my wish list.
I like the Eclectic Elements and the Artisian Spirit Shimmer.
Love the Dots. Nice. Thanks.
i like the Green – 10 Fat Quarters
I love supporting Canadian shops 🙂
http://store.sew-sisters.com/stores_app/Browse_Item_Details.asp?Shopper_id=74781131123517478&Store_id=807&page_id=23&Item_ID=14838
The foxes are just too cute!
Thanks for the giveaway, and continuing to find and promote Canadian shops for us:)
I love that they have Free Patterns and that postage is included!!
I like the Batik Lover’s Club.