Quilt Designer Penny Layman

Penny Layman

Penny Layman I have been sewing since I was about 6 or 7 when my mom taught me how to sew a straight line. When I took some home-ec classes in middle school, I started sewing clothing. In my late teens and early 20s, I took several years away from sewing, mainly because I didn't have a machine. Then in my late 20s, I purchased a machine and my love for sewing has grown stronger and stronger. Honestly, I can't remember the last day that went by without me doing some sort of stitching. Sewing is definitely my #1 creative outlet.

When I started my blog, sewtakeahike, my projects consisted of crafts and clothing. And that's how I wanted it to stay. When a friend of mine started talking to me about getting into quilting, I was strongly against it. I had heard too many testimonials from women that once they got into quilting, all other sewing ceased and quilting took over. I didn't want that to happen to me since I love all kinds of sewing. I'm happy to say that since I started quilting, I still do the occasional clothing or craft project. Quilting is my main obsession now, but if a clothing or craft pattern catches my eye, I don't think twice about sewing it up!

As far as quilting style, I love patchwork and a good ole scrappy quilt. I rarely use more than a couple of fabrics from a line in a quilt, and I tend to like and make quirky, off-beat patterns.

Besides sewing and quilting, I spend a lot of time with my husband whitewater kayaking, backpacking, camping, hiking, and backcountry skiing.