KWIK SEW history
Founded in 1967 with only four sewing patterns for knit and stretch fabrics, KWIK SEW has grown to a current product line of more than 800 patterns and numerous books. Our pattern line now features wovens, as well as knits, and we offer the largest selection of patterns for children, men, lingerie, swimwear, active wear, and polar fleece.
Our Founder
KWIK SEW's long-term success can be credited to its founder, Kerstin Martensson. From her beginnings as a ready-to-wear manufacturing pattern maker, to developing patterns for new sewing technologies, to a renown international business owner, Kerstin endeavored to make sewing quick and easy for everyone. It was her life-long passion for sewing, coupled with her dedication to creating quality patterns for sewers of all skill levels, that set the foundation for KWIK SEW Patterns' success and made Kerstin Martensson an innovative industry leader.
Kerstin Martensson was born in Gothenborg, Sweden and educated in clothing construction, pattern design, and fashion, completing studies in both Sweden and England. Originally, Kerstin used her knowledge and skills in the ready-to-wear industry, which required quick and easy patterns to reduce labor time for manufacturers. She then obtained employment as a pattern maker with Viking Sewing Machine Company. In the mid-1960s, her position with Viking evolved into an international representative. Kerstin traveled extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, and Europe, sharing her methods for making sewing faster, easier and more fun.
During the same time period that Kerstin was earning international recognition, leading sewing machine companies were introducing "reverse cycle machines" for home sewing. These machines had stretch stitches. The stitches could be used for sewing strong seams on knit and stretch fabrics—these seams would not break when the fabric was stretched! Initially, Viking's revolutionary new sewing machine did not sell well because people didn't know what to do with the new unique stitches. In addition, at that time, there were no patterns or instructions available to home sewers for stretch fabrics. In fact, stretch fabrics were not even available to purchase in retail stores.
Viking called upon Kerstin to design "demonstration" patterns using instructions that would highlight the reverse cycle machines' capability. Kerstin designed four sweater patterns that used sweaterbodies (knitted fabric with finished edges) to create custom sewn sweaters in less than thirty minutes. Kerstin also contacted some of the large ready-to-wear manufacturers that used stretch fabrics. She purchased large quantities of their surplus fabrics, cut them into small piece goods, and made them available to stockists to sell to home sewers. Her efforts paid off. The patterns were a hit and the new sewing machines gained popularity!
Sew Knit and Stretch (and expansion)
In 1967, Kerstin founded the Sew Knit and Stretch company in Minneapolis, Minnesota and wrote her first instruction book, "How to Sew Knit and Stretch Fabric", which was published in 1968. Kerstin continued to distribute stretch fabrics to stockists and to travel internationally sharing her sewing methods. The sales of her book and patterns were tremendous. Home sewers wanted more patterns designed for stretch fabrics, but they also wanted patterns for woven fabrics that would use her same easy-to-use sewing techniques.
In 1974, the company name was changed to KWIK SEW Pattern Company and it issued its first pattern designs for woven fabrics. It was also at that time that stretch fabrics were available to stockists through multiple resources. Accordingly, KWIK SEW discontinued handling fabrics to concentrate efforts on patterns and sewing instruction books. Subsequently, KWIK SEW purchased a local printing company which allowed it to print all patterns, books, catalogues and other materials in-house, establishing quality control and consistency.
The success of KWIK SEW grew steadily and business operations, as well as product distribution, went international, first in Canada and Europe. In 1979, the business expanded to Australia, opening an office and warehouse in Brisbane, Queensland. To accommodate KWIK SEW's growing success, it had a new headquarters building constructed in Minneapolis in 1984. The building included a state-of-the-art design studio as well as printing, bindery, warehouse and shipping operations. However, it wasn't long before KWIK SEW outgrew the facility and in 1993 an addition was made to the building. During that same time, KWIK SEW added a subsidiary in New Zealand. In 2005 the design studio in the Minneapolis facility was expanded. Also in 2005, KWIK SEW Europe AB was created to better support stockists in Europe.
KWIK SEW lost Kerstin Martensson in 2002 after she endured a long battle with breast cancer. Kerstin's son, Eric McMaster, took over the reins in the late 1990s and Eric is the current President for the KWIK SEW family of companies. In fact, it is Kerstin's exact words, "We strive to be best by always being better," that continually inspire KWIK SEW's ongoing efforts.
Today and Tomorrow
Styles and designs may have changed dramatically in the last four decades, but KWIK SEW's commitment to providing quality sewing patterns has remained the same. Kerstin Martensson's distinct sewing methods are still applied to every new KWIK SEW design. The process of product development established by Kerstin, with its attention to quality and consistency, is still maintained. For that reason, KWIK SEW does not license outside designs. From the initial design concept to the final printing, everything is done within KWIK SEW's Minneapolis facility to ensure Kerstin's standards are upheld. KWIK SEW retains its in-house design studio so that each pattern is generated with the consistent sizing and the easy-to-follow sewing instructions that KWIK SEW patterns are known for. All new garment designs are tried on real people and extensively tested for comfort and fit. Furthermore, each new design is sewn by KWIK SEW using standard home sewing machines and overlockers to ensure ease of construction. These are just some of the ways KWIK SEW Pattern Company endeavors to be better in order to provide sewers of all skill levels the best in home-sewing patterns.