Winter, you either hate it or love it. Our March Member in Focus embraces the season in all its glory! hpsauce (Heather) was thrown into the PR spotlight after winning the 2020 Sewing Bee Grand Prize. Heather proved to our community she could make amazing activewear, especially a winter jacket. She is a professional when it comes to technical fabric sewing and geniusly drafting her own renditions to already complicated projects. Let's get to know more about this Canadian Island girl.
Member Since: 4/3/09
PR Name: hpsauce
Full Name: Heather Pennie
Instagram: @manitoulinthreads
Petite Stitchery - Kirby Blazer
When did your love of sewing begin?
My mother taught me to sew from a very young age, but I really didn't appreciate it at the time. I still remember a particularly horrible bubble-gum pink button-up over-sized to that I somehow managed to mix up the sleeves and front pieces. Fast-forward many years, and when I was at home on maternity leave with my youngest (who is now 14 years old!) I began sewing activewear for wilderness camping for my two kiddos by cutting down some old shirts of mine to toddler sizes. My love for sewing was born and I haven't looked back. I still make my kids activewear on a regular basis.
Left: Heather "Wearing a ribbon skirt I sewed. My husband and children are Ojibwe from the fish clan."
Right: "My son Dane and I spent a lot of summer days at our cottage on Manitoulin Island chasing monster pike."
What is your background? Tell us about where you work and where you live. We would love to know more about your family.
I am an elementary school principal by day, and I live on beautiful Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada. My husband, two teenagers and I spend our summers at our cottage on the water, wilderness tripping and enjoying everything outdoors. Our winters are spent driving our kids to various sports and include a lot of time in arenas watching their hockey games. Family ski trips are a favourite pastime when we can squeeze them in. Board games and card games are year- round family activities and we all get a little bit (too) competitive.
Heather's beautiful family. "My husband Mark, son Dane and daughter Brooke have become reluctant models for many sewing projects, pattern tests and fabric ambassador sewing projects."
"Standing on the shore at our cottage, taking pattern testing photos (daisy print jacket is a pattern from Petite Stitchery)"
Do you have a favorite fabric to sew with?
I LOVE sewing with any and all activewear fabrics. Softshells, wicking knits, technical fleeces - I love the challenge to create sport-specific clothing that fits and moves the way that it should.
Softshell Fabric: Meine Herzenswelt - Carry Softshell Coat
Wicking Knit: McCall's 7026
Technical fleece - Meine Herzenswelt - Pedro Fleece Jacket
What are you sewing right now?
Right now I am working on a couple of pattern tests for companies, but they are top secret for the time being. I am also working on ski pants and a jacket for cross-country skiing. I haven't picked patterns yet, but I can't wait to dive in and hack them to give me the details that I want.
Heather won the 2021 Activewear Contest with her cross-country ski outfit
Ski Jacket: Meine Herzenswelt - Pablo Jacket
Skipants: Moldes Unicose
What is your Ride or Die pattern? You've used it multiple times and never want to be without it.
Jalie Marie Claude. I make tops for everything from this pattern and have hacked it too many times to remember. Rashguards for summer, ski base layers for winter, and dressy work tops for all year round.
Tell us about other PR members you ar e inspired by and would love to meet IRL:
I am inspired by so many PR members, and many of whom I got to get to know better through the threads during Sewing Bee. GeoP writes some amazingly detailed reviews and I love her style. Raffey1 uses some really advanced techniques that I really admire. SheBear0320 has posted some great info about sewing swimwear that I use regularly, and Raye Ann, Lieslp and MVi14 are members that I stalk their reviews for all the great details. There are SO many people I would love to meet - I guess one day I will have to try and make my way to a PR gathering!
First Row: GeoP, Raffey1, SheBear0320
Second Row: Raye Ann, Lieslp, MVi14
Where do you sew? We would love to see photos of your sewing space.
I have a small, windowless sewing room in the basement, but I happily "explode" into the adjacent exercise room to store all the extra things that don't quite fit in my space. My husband is very handy and built the room and everything in it for me. I have a ceiling-mounted projector which I LOVE for projecting and cutting patterns.
"Sewing room- built by my husband. My prized possessions are my Bernina 550, my Juki industrial serger and my projector in the ceiling over my cutting table." - Heather Pennie
Which is your primary sewing machine?
My main sewing machine is my Bernina 550. I love the power it has and though I own several other machines, it is definitely my favourite. A close second is my Juki industrial serger. It can power through EVERYTHING.
Left: Bernina 550 Right: Juki Industrial Serger
Do you have any other hobbies?
I love sports, and being in the outdoors is my favourite place, next to my sewing room of course. I love to paddle - canoes, kayaks, SUPS - I love them all. Card making is another hobby that I have, and during any downtime, I love to read. I have also found that audiobooks are a great way to spend time sewing and having the best of both worlds, for sure!
"Reading at the lake is another favourite summer activity. Paddling and time at the lake are my happiest places next to my sewing room." - Heather Pennie
Thank you so much for sharing, hpsauce, you are an inspiration to our community!
Connect with hpsauce on PR and see more of her reviews in her Review Gallery.
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