The Five Favs Series with: Sammy of Sonder Quilt Studio
Episode 13
The Story behind Five Favs
This series developed out of my love of movies, and specifically, movie lists. Critics and film geeks alike spend hours pouring over lists, ranking everything from best movies of the year (pretty standard fare) to top five music documentaries (getting a little more granular) to top five movie characters that shaped who you are (pretty personal and specific!). I thought it would be fun to play with this idea in the quilting world. Since we spend so much time in our sewing spaces, they contain interesting snapshots of who we are as creators, and can offer a sneak peek into other aspects of our lives, too. And so- the creation of The Five Favs Blog. This is a top five of the guests favorite items in their sewing space.
I’m so so excited to introduce this month’s guest: Sammy from Sonder Quilt Studio! I initially met Sammy through some very dear mutual quilt friends. I was immediately drawn to her amazing sense of color and the shapes she creates in her designs (it turns out we have many of the same sources of inspiration- architecture, art, and movies!!). But I also kept hearing about how amazing a person she is, and about the wonderful support and guidance she gives to other creatives. And this is so true- Sammy helps guide quilters to finding success through tech editing, coaching, and so much more. It’s been a joy getting to know more about her and her gorgeous work.
Welcome Sammy!
About Sammy
“Hi there! I'm Sammy - modern quilter, tech editor, pattern designer, and owner of Sonder Quilt Studio. I started quilting in 2018 after watching YouTube videos and dusting off my old sewing machine from high school and quickly fell in love with the practicality of the medium. I find inspiration in architecture, movies and TV, modern art, and woven textiles. I love supporting other small business owners and have found the most beautiful, non-judgmental, and uplifting community in the world of modern quilting.”
Where Sammy Works
“My studio space is in the lower level of my home on the northwest side of Chicago. I'm fortunate to have one level dedicated entirely to work - for my work-from-home day job in corporate, quilt pattern design and tech editing, and, of course, sewing. Having physical separation between work space and living space is a game-changer. On the wall right when you walk into my studio are my Kona swatches, magnetized and displayed in color order on a whiteboard. Other than that, I try to keep my work space fairly minimal so it feels like a blank canvas where anything's possible. I have ADHD, and visual clutter can be overwhelming. A design wall and lots of storage bins keep me focused on one or two things at a time… though sometimes I get too busy to keep it tidy! Kallax shelves from Ikea are my favorite for storing bolts, backings, solid scraps, and finished tops waiting to be quilted. I hope that my studio continues to evolve as I develop my signature style.”
Fav 1 - 6 Color Gel Pen
“My first-ever paying job was proofreading. My mom, a graphic designer, designed catalogs for her clients and my superpower was comparing the grainy, faxed cut-and-paste mockups her clients sent against the polished output she'd made to identify errors in pricing and stock numbers. As a tech editor, I use those same skills to search and destroy typos and inconsistencies in my clients' patterns - which I always print out. Red can be such an overwhelming color, though - and when you make too many notes in the same place, they can start to blend together. Enter this 6-color gel pen! I can quickly and easily move through a pattern, reserving red only for the most critical of errors. Just don't ask to see a marked-up copy with my terrible handwriting - I return all my notes typed and organized via PDF!”
Fav 2 - ArtBin Super Satchel One Compartment Translucent Box
“I'd describe myself as Type A-Minus… I'm organized, but not a stickler about it. I can confidently say that I love a good organization system, AND that my studio is usually a bit chaotic. I like to have 5-6 works in progress that I can pick up at any given time, depending on my mood. Enter ArtBin Super Satchels. Though they may have been designed with scrapbook paper in mind, I find they are the PERFECT size to store a work in progress. (Bonus: they're big enough to fit paper plates, another favorite organizational tool for multi-step projects.)”
Fav 3 - Adobe Suite
“Every single one of my quilt designs starts as a digital sketch. I find pure joy through playing with shapes and colors on my screen, rather than handling fabric or pencils, as I much prefer an Undo button over a seam ripper or eraser. I liberally iterate designs with pixels - it's much faster and less expensive than iterating with fabric. As I've grown my quilting skills, I now know that if I can make it on the computer, I can bring it to life with fabric. Adobe Illustrator and InDesign are as much a part of my toolkit as my rotary cutter or sewing machine.”
Fav 4 - Arrow Sewing Chair
“My only regret in buying a chair designed specifically for sewing was how long it took me to make the investment in my own comfort! As I've gotten a bit older, I've learned the hard way how critical it is to take care of my body so that I can continue to do the work of quilting. This chair hits all the right places for ultimate lumbar support, even for my tall frame. Bonus: if you're working on hard floors, upgrade to rollerblade wheels for easy maneuvering!”
Fav 5 - iPad Stand
“I have a long and growing list that I call ‘quilts on film,’ and I love when family and friends help me add to it! While I'm sewing, I always have a movie or tv show streaming. I love this iPad stand - I can easily pick up what I'm watching and move it from my sewing machine to my ironing board to my cutting table, while keeping it stable. Being able to angle the screen to avoid glare is so clutch in my space. I also like that it minimizes the footprint of my iPad so that there's more room on my work surface for the project I'm engaged in.”
Thank you all so much for checking out this series and learning a little bit more about Sammy and her sewing space! I’ll have a new guest talking about their favs next month!
Where To Find Sammy and Sonder Quilt Studio:
You can follow Sammy on Instagram, Pinterest, and be sure to check out her website!