Every time we see a new image via Simple Life Pattern Company we swoon a little. Founded by Katie Skoog in 2015, the boutique pattern company specializes in apparel patterns for women & girls. Katie now runs the company with partner Becca Plymale (also an Aurifil Artisan) — from a small town in North Dakota to Albuquerque, NM! The designs are simple and classic, made even more unique by the fabrics the women choose to showcase. So many of the patterns are modeled by Katie’s amazing girls — seriously the sweetest!
Now, you’ll likely see a slew of images featuring dresses from Katie’s West Palm fabric collection with Art Gallery Fabrics. Released in March, the collection represents everything that we love about Summer. Bright colors, soft lines, sweet illustrations… we’re in love! Check out the West Palm Lookbook!
We were thrilled to collaborate with Katie on a coordinating set of 10 small spools — 50wt & 28wt, her go-tos for all her apparel sewing projects. The colors are perfection and YES… you can use 100% Cotton threads in your apparel projects. Katie’s stunning creations are proof. <3
THREAD COLLECTION DETAILS
The Simple Life
100% Aurifil Cotton, 10 Large Spools
50wt: 1135, 2220, 4020, 2545, 2740, 2810, 2865, 6737
28wt: 2415, 2110
To view this info on our website, click here. For purchasing, please contact your local Aurifil Dealer.
GETTING TO KNOW KATIE
How did you get started in this wonderful maker’s world of ours?
I have always been into crafts and artsy kind of stuff. When I found out I was pregnant with my oldest daughter, I set out to make her a quilt. It was so exciting and fun that I became addicted to quilting instantly. Most quilts can be time consuming and one day I had an urge to start and finish something in one day. I found a little girls dress pattern and made 3 in one day. That is how I came into sewing garments.
Do you remember the very first thing that you made?
Oh goodness. I am not sure if I can remember the first thing I ever made. I did a bunch of sewing as a kid so it was most likely Barbie clothes. The first “real” thing I remember making was a patchwork pillowcase in 6th grade.
What inspired you to start designing and sewing clothing for kids?
It all started that one morning I woke up and wanted to complete a project by the end of the night. I had so many quilts started and I just didn’t want to add another quilt to my to-do list. I found a PDF pattern on Etsy (back when PDF’s were a new thing). I purchased that pattern and made my girls 3 dresses that day. After that, I started sewing more and more garments for them. I finally came to a point where I was trying to find patterns in styles that I wanted and just couldn’t find what I was looking for. I began drafting patterns for them and everyone was loving them and wanting the patterns. That is how Simple Life Pattern Company was born.
Do you have a favorite pattern to whip up?
If I only have 30 minutes to whip something up, I will for sure choose the Ayda dress. It is SUPER fast and so easy. The design is classic and has plenty of ease for playing and growing room. It’s also a great choice to make as a gift if you are a little uncertain about their size.
You just released your very first fabric collection with Art Gallery Fabrics. What have you loved most about that process?
Oh gosh! Talk about being on cloud 9 right! If you have been following me over the past few years, you know I am a hardcore AGF fan. I love their fabrics and substrates. I think it was about 2013 when I set a goal to become a fabric designer. I never actually pursued this until 2017. I took so many classes to learn the process. I would say that was my favorite part. I love learning new things and to see my artwork turn into a repeat print was so amazing.
We’ve just loved scrolling through your lookbook – do you have a favorite showcased project?
I didn’t get a sneak peek at the lookbook before it was released so I was really excited to see what the amazing makers made. I fell in love with the leaf shaped placemats that the AGF team made. I also made a quilt that has been on my bucket list for a while, a bargello quilt. I didn’t have much fabric at that time so it is pretty small and I didn’t get as much movement as I would have like but we still snuggle under it everyday. I plan on trying a much more detailed bargello next time.
How did you first discover Aurifil thread and what do you love most about it?
I found Aurifil from some Art Gallery Fabrics designers. They were posting some curated thread collections with their fabric lines. I bought a few boxes and I was hooked! Then I saw them at quilt market sample spree and bought as much as I could bring home with me. Aurifil is still one of my favorite booths to visit at QM.
Do you have a favorite color/weight?
I sew with 50 weight in white every day. I find myself using a light coral a lot too. I use 40 weight if I want the topstitching to be a little more noticeable. My favorite thread to play with though is 28 weight. It works so well in my machines for all the decorative stitches. It really helps fill out the designs to give them that extra “wow” factor.
If you had to share one tip for sewing apparel, what would it be?
Invest in yourself. Sewing apparel is so much more fun if you have the right tools. Now, you don’t need everything that is out there but having some notions that make certain tasks that you don’t care for, a little easier. I also believe that sewing your final garment in high quality fabric will not only make the finished product nicer, but you will feel like a superstar when wearing it.
THE GIVEAWAY
To enter-to-win Katie’s Simple Life Thread Collection + 1 Simple Life Pattern of your choice, click HERE to head to the Rafflecopter entry page. You do not have to complete all the options to be entered but the more options you choose, the more entries you have! Entries will be accepted from now through 11:59pm Eastern Time on Sunday, June 16! Winner will be randomly selected on Monday, June 17 and contacted via email. Good luck!
ABOUT KATIE
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Katie Skoog’s passion is designing. She is a mom to four precious girls, wife to an amazing husband, considers herself a creative soul and is most certainly a fabric hoarder. She started sewing when she was pregnant with her daughter Emma. She was determined to make her a quilt, and she did! Once she finished it, she couldn’t stop. Katie was a “hard core” quilter and quickly fabric obsessed. Initially, her search for classy and modern dress patterns didn’t turn up much so she started creating her own designs. Simple Life Pattern Company was born shortly after that. She wanted to provide beautiful designs that are practical for everyday wear.
Katie was born and raised in Arizona. A few years ago, she and her husband decided they didn’t want to raise kids in the city, so they sold everything and moved to the frigid state of North Dakota where they are now living the ‘simple life’ in a small town. As much as Katie complains about the cold (and wind), she loves where we live and is happy to raise kids in their community.
Love the bargello pattern
Such an interesting interview. I like the “can do” attitude and the honesty about taking the time to learn before being able to reap the rewards. Thank you.
Such detachment of artwork from society resulted in the counter-reaction from the form of the adventuresome movements. Avant-garde originated in the realm of Modernism, however was a type of this protesting gesture against it. Modernism, driven by the notion of the freedom of art, has considerably transformed its norms, yet it has not evolved into the critics of this establishment of art itself, and, generally speaking, didn’t break up with all the tradition, applying classical genre strategy and subjects.
Do you have a pattern available for this awesome quilt the 2 girls have over their laps. I would love to purchase
Learned a lot. Easy to fully grasp. Nice one for posting 🙂