Linda Zokan

Linda Zokan has been sewing for as long as she can remember. She was raised in a creative family, following in the footsteps of her mother, her grandmother and her aunts. Her youthful passion turned into a lifetime love and eventually a career. Today, Linda runs her own pattern business, Thistledown & Company with over 40 published designs and counting. She says she owes much of her success to her very supportive husband, family, and her network of dear, quilty friends.  She creates quilts, bags and accessories, striving to compose clear and understandable instructions for her patterns while giving her customers the best experience possible. She is endlessly optimistic, and finds her joy in the art of creation. Her projects have been featured in McCall’s Quilting and Greencraft magazine.

Find Linda online:
Website — Blog — Etsy — Facebook

Meet Linda

Pellon: Where are you from?
Linda: I am originally from Wisconsin, land of cheese, but now live in sunny SW Florida where there is no shortage of spectacular sunsets and fresh fruit growing in our backyard. 

P: How did you get your start with sewing?
L: I have been sewing ever since I can remember. I made little clothes for my trolls and dolls by hand, and then I moved onto machine sewing in middle school. I vividly remember a red, white, and blue polka dot jumper I made for the home ec. class fashion show, not exactly Project Runway.

P: What are your favorite things to sew?
L: Can I have more than one favorite? My true stitching passion is quilt making. I started my first quilt in high school… yes, it was a long time ago. I am happiest when I’m creating something. Once an idea pops into my head I have to make it.  Whether it’s a simple little project or a more involved quilt design. I enjoy both machine and hand stitching, piecing and applique. With my busy schedule, hand stitching is becoming a guilty pleasure. Lately, I’ve been churning out yo-yo’s to relax. I have some ideas percolating for those of course. 

P: Tell us about your company and what you love most about it.
L: I started my pattern business, Thistledown & Company, in the mid ’90’s, but it wasn’t until about 2001 that I finally took the leap to display at Quilt Market. I love the process of working on a new design, choosing the colors and fabrics,and then composing the pattern. I want my customers to have a good experience when they are making one of my designs. One of the reasons we all engage in handcrafts is for relaxation and enjoyment, isn’t it? I love sharing ideas and sharing the joy of stitching.

Linda`s Projects:

Studio Caddy

This cute tool caddy can be used to hold pencils, scissors and sewing tools. Make several to use in your studio. Made with Christmas fabrics, it would be a stylish candy cane holder to decorate your home for the holidays. It would make a perfect gift for anyone on your holiday list!

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