A Common Thread: We Love Learning New Skills Together
By Kyle Spieker, Senior Industrial Designer
Over the years, our shared interest in sports, travel, fashion, and exploring national parks has left us curious about the development of the soft-goods products we were using. But as much as we searched, industrial sewing classes seemed to be non-existent amidst a sea of quilting workshops. While we all appreciate a cozy quilt in the thick of a Michigan winter, we were looking to gain insights around the soft-goods products we’ve grown to love and trust—like our go-to day packs or our broken-in motorcycle gloves.
We finally struck gold with an article about a new GRCC industrial sewing course and decided to reach out to Blue Marble Threads founder, Camille Metzger (the mastermind behind GRCC’s curriculum), to customize a two-day class for Tekna’s Innovation team. It wouldn’t be long before we set out for Grand Rapids to collectively broaden our understanding of soft-goods development and production.
We spent the first day following Camille’s signature “Crash Course with a Sewing Machine,” which covered the basics of working with a walking foot machine. On day two, we learned about seams/assembly methods, pattern development, and tech packs. We also gained experience with the production/prototyping process. The classes were both enlightening and a lot of fun. We left feeling comfortable working on industrial sewing machines, confident of our new skills, and excited to learn more. Thank you, Camille, for sharing your expertise with our team!
