Nancy Zieman. Pioneer. Sewist. Educator. She was all of this and so much more. We honor her legacy by continuing her mission – a mission to teach others the joy of sewing. We kick off 2024 by taking a moment to remember this extremely talented and amazing woman.
Nancy loved sewing education and taught the world to sew. We honor her legacy by dedicating Nancy’s Notions to sewing education. Our site is full of helpful sewing and quilting articles, inspiration, and free projects. Honestly, I like to think of it as a really cool quilting magazine. It’s just on my screen instead of in my mailbox or something I have to buy in the grocery store checkout line. Every week we add new content on sewing, quilting, free patterns, and more. We no longer sell anything on Nancy’s Notions. We are simply here to educate and share sewing ideas. All products can be purchased on our sister-site, Missouri Star Quilt Co.
My “Nancy” Story
I first saw Nancy on tv. It was the mid 80s and I was in grade school. My best friend’s mother watched her program every Saturday morning on PBS. I was intrigued because my own mother didn’t sew and everything Nancy was doing was new to me. I remember watching her and thinking that I could never sew something and run a sewing machine like that. If you would have told me then that I would grow up to be a lot like Nancy and that I could sew like that, I would not have believed you!
For the next ten years I didn’t see much of Nancy or give her much thought until… dun, dun, DUN!!! I took a quilting class! No, not with Nancy (I wish!). It was a small class at a local quilt shop in a tiny town in Southern Illinois. A friend had invited me to go with her. It sounded like fun and the shop owner assured me that a beginner could take the class. And I was the beginningest beginner that there ever was. I promptly went to Wal-Mart and bought a $99 sewing machine and some thread. I took that machine (still in the box, mind you) to my first class. There, I picked out a beautiful selection of fabric to complement what I had already bought at Walmart. My sweet friend, Emily, helped me unbox my new machine and set it up. Then she showed me how to thread it. She explained what the bobbin was and how to wind it. Twice. And by this time I had missed the instructions on the first block and the class was probably at least half over. Thank goodness they were all patient with me!
A Big Oops!
It was time to start sewing. Pedal to the metal and I was off! Except no one had told me that I had to lower the presser foot before I began! Oh geez. You can imagine what that first seam looked like. And that was when I began my close relationship with Jack the Ripper. That seam ripper and I were suddenly besties. The pattern for this class was a sampler and each block was different. Each block was also hard as heck and knowing what I know now, that quilt was definitely NOT a beginner quilt! Thankfully, I am incredibly stubborn, full of grit, and I refuse to give up. Ever. Ask my husband. He will testify that I am indeed stubborn as a mule.
Being a strong-willed woman (doesn’t that sound so much more empowering than stubborn?) is an asset though. I wasn’t going to give up on learning to quilt even though I was a beginner quilter in an intermediate class. I stuck with it. I persevered. I sewed. I unsewed. I sewed again. And I improved. I got so much better. That first quilt is still pretty messy when I look back on it, but honestly, I love it. It is a symbol of growth, goals, and perseverance. And I bet you have a quilt or sewing project like that, as well.
Continuing the Legacy
The path to greatness has to start somewhere. My sewing journey started in a little back room of a quilt shop but so many others’ started with Nancy Zieman. She loved educating others and teaching them how to sew. As Julia Child was to cooking on PBS, Nancy was to Sewing on PBS. She was a true pioneer. She began Nancy’s Notions in 1979, the same year I was born. It was a huge success and she reached so many sewists through the years. Sadly, Nancy passed away in 2017. In May 2020, Missouri Star Quilt Company took over Nancy’s Notions. Nancy left us a legacy and some pretty big shoes to fill. But that’s okay. We are always up for a challenge.
I’m glad you’re here and I hope you’ll join us as we start another year of sewing at Nancy’s Notions.
‘Til next time,
Beth
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Watched Nancy Zieman for years. She made things easy to understand. Miss her.
I too watchd Nancy on PBS when my children weere babies and I was a stay at home Mom. I learned a lot from her as I took to my sewing machine to create clothig for the kids and me. Quilting is a rather new craft for me. Although I have been at it for 30 years, I still consider myself a novice.
I gained great respect for Nancy after reading her book Seams Unlikely. My goodness! What a will to succeed that woman possessed and a very strong faith. The sewing world lost a truely great pioneer when this dear lady passed.
If you’ve sewn for years, you can handle any, and I mean any, quilting project
WOW, She’s gone? She is missed. And yes hers are pretty big shoes to fill. Ladies . . . Let’s get to it! We have been passed the baton.
I met Nancy numerous times when she visited the Puyallup Sewing Expo (which I’ve been attending since 1996), and always watched her show on PBS. My husband even enjoyed watching her, even though he has no interest in sewing! He said her teaching was easy to understand and interesting to watch. She got a kick out of that when I told her. When I bought her autobiography, I asked her to sign it to both of us, and she did! (And when I read her autobiography, it turned out we had many similarities in our backgrounds–growing up in farming communities, learning to sew in 4H, active in church, etc.)
I watch PBS the Saturdays Nancy is on. I see her at 230 pm central time. She was great
I did the same! I loved her love of sewing, and I hope she knows how many people she blessed as she shared her knowledge!
Watched Nancy for years and have also did a lot of your classes, I enjoy sewing so much but want get to do it in a few year. Don’t know how long I have maclergeneraton, it a blindness, I have enjoyed you both so very much.
I love watching Nancy even to this day she is a favorite for my husband and myself. I save every video of her that i can find. One day soon i will begin teaching my grandaughter to sew and i will be sure she watches all of Nancy’s shows. I would have so enjoyed meeting her. I’m very glad to hear Missouri Star Quilt Co is carrying Nancy’s Notions and still honoring her legacy.
Yes I watched her also for many many years. She is missed. I really wish PBS in Iowa would put her shoes back on.
I entered my email 3times and it kept saying enter again
Rarely missed a Saturday episode aired on PBS. Nancy was a wonder when it came to a sewing machine and a star with pattern alterations.
I remember her, so nice & sweet & smart. I
Beth, loved the story about Nancy.
My mom sowed like a champ..made many outfits during ’50 & ’60
As a young mom,,I made a few things for my toddlers. ☺
Glad to find your site ♥
I loved watching Nancy on PBS. I have been sewing on and off for years. I am a huge fan of Missouri Star Quilt Co. videos on YouTube. I love that thanks to you Nancy’s legacy will live on. Thanks for sharing your Nancy story!
Thank you for the tribute to Nancy. I enjoyed her show and enjoy watching MSQ on YouTube.
I too watched Nancy when I was a kid. She taught me a lot. My grandmother had a peddle sewing machine and that is what I first used. I think for about my 13 or 14 birthday, my mom bought me a new sewing machine from Sears. I threw it away 10 years ago when I moved because it didn’t work right. I wish I had kept it. I’m almost 68 now. But I’ve moved on and have 3 machines. Regular sewing, a serger, and I just bought an embroidery machine last year. I want to get it out now since my husband passed away not long after I bought it. I didn’t have time then caring for him, but I do now. I just need the motivation. Happy sewing everyone, and thank you Nancy!
I loved Nancy and watched her also for years before I went to work in evening shift.
I have watch Nancy for years really miss her dearly
Also watched Nancy on pbs Saturday mornings. Still use the fabulous trick of hers to hem jeans and keep the original bottom seam. Genius hack! I was unaware she had passed in 2017… Rest In Peace, Nancy! But I know you’re still buzzing away on that machine!! Jane Glotzer, Boulder, Colorado
Oh, my…..I did not know she had passed away…….
What a loss…… she was awesome…
I also watched Nancy faithfully every Saturday morning. I didn’t discover that she had passed until 2 years afterward. I was SO sad, I felt like I had lost a friend. But I know heaven now has beautiful quilts, and all the angels have brand new beautiful robes. 🙂
I loved Nancy’s Notions. I learned so much from her. I still use her books all the time.
My daughter and I worked with Nancy at Nancy’s Notions for 7 years here in Beaver Dam. She was an amazing woman! She knew everyone that worked there by name and would personally hand us Birthday cards. We all got together with our departments and had pictures taken of us and made a huge framed collage for Nancy and presented it to her at a restaurant. She was so happy! Truly an asset to everyone she touched whether in person, her products or media. My granddaughter was even a model for her in the catalog 🥰. So happy her legacy is living on, especially being started in the basement of her house how many years ago!! 🥰
I’ve been watching her for years; just tbis afternoon. Didn’t know that she had passed. I’ve learned so much from her. My deepest condolences, though late. I’ll continue to watch for as long as it’s broadcast.
I enjoyed Nancy for years! I had the pleasure of meeting her in Wisconsin and buying my sewing machine from Nancy’s Notions before she passed. She leaves a great legacy,
I used to her shows too loved them I learned a lot from her ! Even after her show I watched the other one on Saturdays
I went to college with Nancy at the University of Wisconsin Stout in the 1970s.
I have her autographed “Seams Unlikely” remarkable overcoming perseverance inspirational book. I would like to find the beautiful evergreen ring & necklace she wore.