Karyn Valino at the workroom

Kona Colour Society : Nocturne is now available Hello Reader, It's been a week of non-stop fabric cutting here in Sprucedale. Not only have we been cutting up all the new Jacquard, coloured denims and Weekender Project kits, but we've also received a shipment of Kona Solids and Select batting. We've got to catch up on cutting some solid bundles this weekend, but I was able to build a batch of our newest Kona Colour Society release - the Nocturne bundle. This was one of my personal favourite...

Hello Reader, Our first Merchant & Mills Community Preorder for 2026 is officially in Sprucedale and we're starting to chip away at cutting and prepping your orders. The new colourful jacquards and denims are truly special, sometimes the original photos don't do them justice. Take a peek at my unboxing video and stay tuned for more detailed shots and videos so you can really see the qualities up close. We wrapped up a very special Handmade Getaway last weekend, our first of the year, a custom...

My latest class project - the Merchant & Mills Florence (my 4th one) Hello Reader, Something has been coming up again and again with my current students, especially the ones who are newer to garment sewing and ready to work with patterns for the first time. They have a lot of questions about the beginning. Not the construction. Not the sewing. The part that comes before all of that. Reading a size chart properly. Understanding what finished garment measurements actually tell you. Preparing a...

Currently living in my new Esme Cardigan Hello Reader, I’m not sure how many times I’ve taught our popular Sewing Machine Essentials workshop over the years, but I do know this: every single time, every student has had at least one light bulb moment. That moment where something truly clicks and makes sense. Last year I created my Sewing Machine Essentials ebook so you’d always have a clear, thoughtful reference at your fingertips. But I’ve also been wanting to expand our original three-hour...

Hello Reader, Here are a few things I didn’t expect when I began teaching workshops online. I didn’t expect that I’d actually be able to demonstrate more clearly than in person, but I can. With three camera views that I switch between (work table, close-up at the sewing machine or serger, and front-facing), you see every step and detail of the project as it happens. And I’m not just teaching the pattern. You’re seeing my personal approach to sewing - how I think through each detail, how I...

Hello Reader, You’re receiving this because you’ve shown interest in Merchant & Mills - welcome to our unofficial M&M Club. It’s where we share updates, community preorders, and first peeks just for fellow fans. Happy Sunday! Just popping in with a quick note to update you on our Community Preorder that will close tonight (Sunday February 8th) at midnight. We have had such a great response to our Sew Along for the Merchant & Mills Weekender Bag. If this project has caught your eye, all you...

Hello Reader, Earlier this week we sent out a note to our Merchant & Mills Club list giving them early access to our first Community Preorder of the year. (If you’re wondering how to get on that list, just click this link and you’ll be added right away.) With so many upcoming workshops on the calendar and even more in the planning stages for spring, we couldn’t resist the new colourful denims from Merchant & Mills - (hello - Harlene Overalls!), along with their very fun, very joyful new woven...

Hello Reader, You’re receiving this because you’ve shown interest in Merchant & Mills - welcome to our unofficial M&M Club. It’s where we share updates, community preorders, and first peeks just for fellow fans. We are really excited to give you early access to our first Merchant & Mills Community Preorder of the year! We are loading this one up with some bright & colourful options, including the brand new Woven Jacquards and coloured denims. These are dreamy fabrics that will be perfect for...

Hello Reader, Did you get a fun package from the workroom this week?! We loaded up the car and drove down to Toronto (yes - during that Sunday snowstorm) to do a big round of bulk shipping for our final Kona Colour Society bundles, Merchant & Mills preorders, and local A0 pattern pickups headed to Parkdale. By the end of this week, we’ve shipped well over a hundred packages, which is no small feat for our tiny team and it felt really good to send so many soft, colourful supplies out into the...

Still some Jacquard left after all the community preorders were cut Hello Reader, We’ve had a steady snowfall all week here in Sprucedale, the snowbanks are starting to tower over us and just getting in and out of the shop has become a bit of a workout. Even still, I actually love this time of year up north. It is unbelievably beautiful in this winter wonderland. It’s been a full one behind the scenes as well. We’re getting the Kona Colour Society Bundle #6 ready to ship this weekend, and our...