Jennifer Long of Sew A Story is a fabric designer for Riley Blake Designs, as well as a quilt & doll pattern writer, machine embroidery digitizer, and online educator. Jennifer’s passion for all things fabric, imagination, and design can be seen and felt through her beautiful patterns and fabrics. Her personal creative journey has inspired Jennifer to make a positive difference by designing dolls, quilt patterns, and fabric for others to be EMPOWERED to sew themselves!

Her newest fabric collection, Little Witch, explores the spellbinding world of Halloween magic! This fabric is more spooky than scary, featuring whimsical pumpkins, potions, spiders, cats, witches, and more! The fabric features rich jewel tones with striking black-and-white prints for colors that balance a modern fall palette with a traditional Halloween palette.

The Little Witch Fabric Collection is inspired for ANY fairy tale or story lover who wants to “Sew A Story”. This collection is so much MORE than seasonal! In this collection, the sewists can use their imagination to join Little Witch and all of her friends, as they explore the whimsy and magic around children’s literature. From hats, to bats, to pumpkins, potions, and cats, to a witch’s iconic striped leggings. This collection is truly a fabric adventure for the imagination!

The Little Witch collection is full of so many possibilities! The accompanying quilt patterns are fun and unique! From Little Witch herself, to the Bubbling Brew to the popular Witch’s Hat with applique florals to the sampler quilt! But don’t stop the fun there! This collection is supported by a wonderful assortment of seasonal sewing craft patterns! Pumpkin Trick or Treat Bags, Rolled Lollipops, machine embroidery in-the-hoop doll patterns and so much more! Don’t forget to play with the EASY and popular, Sew a Story Felt Panel. The felt panel that supports this collection is the Little Witch Party Panel. Create everything you need for 4 guests at your next witchy party. Use the elements for an activity at the party, and let the guests take home their place settings they made as their “treat bags!”

Learn more about Jennifer as she answers a few fun questions:

What was your inspiration to get into fabric design?

1. I always dreamed I wanted to design fabric, but also really enjoyed working behind the scenes, supporting other fabric designers and fabric companies with pattern design and ghost writing! It wasn’t until our youngest was in school that I decided I wanted to put all my energy into creating a design brand that was unique, whimsical and playful, and license my art and designs through my favorite fabric company, Riley Blake Designs!!!

How were you introduced to quilting?

I began sewing as a child, learning from my mother and grandmother, who owned a sewing and knitting store. I started by learning to make dolls and doll clothes, and then quickly took classes as a teen to learn how to sew stretchy fabrics and dance costuming! When I was pregnant with our first child, I felt a strong urge to create and sew as much as I could for our new baby - and really dove deep into the world of quilting! While my children were young, I designed and wrote patterns for fabric companies and designers, but also designed and created many custom memory quilts and dolls! I owned a longarm machine and could never get enough of all things fabric and design!!!

Tell us a little about what summer on your farm in the prairies and what you have planned for summer activities with your family?

Summers on the Canadian prairies are long and beautiful days, with temperatures in the 100s and sunlight from 4am through to 11pm!!! Our (4) children are now teens and adults, but we all still love an annual camping trip with hiking, biking and kayaking! We have a half acre garden that produces all sorts of wonderful fruits and vegetables!!! There is nothing like garden fresh food!!!

This June we are celebrating all things travel. What is your must have item when traveling?

My must-have item when traveling is a notebook! Even more so when I am traveling, I find inspiration is EVERYWHERE! Often times I can’t write the ideas down fast enough that are flying through my head when we are away! It is truly a blessing and something that fills my cup so deeply!!!