Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Kurtz
Hi Jen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started sewing during the first year of COVID out of a desire to learn something new, get creative, and create clothes that fit me well. I really dove in and dedicated a lot of time to it in the last year and found myself becoming frustrated with the fabric options available to me. I wanted to see modern, beautiful apparel fabrics that were environmentally friendly, and found myself buying all of my fabrics online.
I was explaining to my partner that I felt like I had to search all these websites to curate a collection of fabrics I wanted to sew with, and he said something along the lines of “Well you should just do that.” I was already working a full-time job, so I was definitely hesitant, but I was already spending so much time and energy into this hobby I loved, so the passion and encouragement from my partner propelled me further. Fast forward to November of 2024, with a ton of research into owning and operating this business out of my home, Pincushion Fabrics was launched.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
For the most part, this has gone better than I expected. I’ve learned a ton and met with other business owners who are in similar lines of work, and it’s been really encouraging.
Logistically, it’s been difficult to learn how to operate as efficiently as possible in such a small space – my bedroom and living room are overflowing with fabric, I cut fabric on my small kitchen table so I can only measure 1 yard at a time and the roll of fabric has to sit on a chair, and I pack orders on my kitchen counter. It’s a fun challenge, and I’m incredibly grateful my roommate is so kind and understanding! It’s also been hard to predict demand – a ton of my support and buyers come from TikTok. There are so many sewists on TikTok making videos of their work, and when a video of my fabric or one of my sewing projects does well, so do my sales. I spend a lot of time making videos for TikTok as it truly has been the best advertising and little sewing community I could’ve asked for.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I sell natural fiber and deadstock fabric for sewists and quilters. Slow fashion is something I’m incredibly passionate about, and I love getting to be part of it. Sustainability is a core value I hold close, and I really want to equip home sewists with fabric that is high quality, beautiful, and better for the planet. I won’t say that I do this perfectly – I’m moving toward offering more linen, hemp, organic cotton, etc. but I know that the price point of these fabrics isn’t attainable for everyone. That’s where deadstock fabric comes in! Deadstock fabric is essentially fabric that is left over from a brand’s production run that is headed for the landfill or incinerator unless someone buys the remainders. This isn’t without its controversy, and it won’t stop the overproduction that is rampant in the fashion industry, but it does offer a place for this fabric to go that is better than the landfill and is often at a better price point. I love all of the fabrics that I buy, and I don’t buy anything I wouldn’t personally sew with!
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Sewing wasn’t my first love, creative-wise. I’ve never set out to be an expert of one thing, but rather an amateur of many. I consider myself to be self-taught (or rather, Youtube-taught) at a lot of things. I’ve been doing nail art since I was in middle school and I learned to crochet with relatively few hiccups. I started taking dance classes a few years ago with no prior experience and have never stopped. Sewing was an on-again, off-again relationship that frustrated me to no end, initially. It took years for me to cultivate the patience that sewing requires, and it did not come easily, but it has led to a beautiful practice I really enjoy. Sewing has inspired me to learn how to block print on fabric for infinite customization, to create clothes that actually fit my 6’2″ frame, and ultimately open up Pincushion Fabrics.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://PincushionFabrics.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jen.k.creations/
- Other: TikTok: @Jenkcreations
