+ A Homespun way of life

“Who else gets to solve problems, be creative and help people all at the same time? We love what we do!” -Lydia

Thor and I bought this shop in 2005 and it has been quite a journey since then! From fabric to patterns, yarn and sewing machines, we have changed and evolved over the years.
In Summer 2025, we focused in on sewing machine repair and sale of Bernina and Bernette sewing machines, paired with a fine selection of accessories such as thread, needles, and presser feet for all brands!

We believe that a caring and friendly neighborhood sewing machine shop provides both excellent supplies and quality interactions to improve your day.

We are lucky to have such a wonderful community to work for, and are always thankful for your support…

The Shop Keepers, Lydia + Thor Sorenson

+ Lydia

Before the shop, I was a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Port Townsend. When Thor and I moved to Astoria, I became a Certified Veterinary Technician and worked at Bayshore Animal Hospital. After several years caring for animals, I stayed at home to take care of our two wonderful daughters until they were driving and old enough to take care of themselves.

You may get a laugh out of this: I started quilting against my will. A good friend at the time talked me into taking a class with her. I was terrible, couldn’t cut straight, couldn’t sew straight, I sewed pieces wrong side to right side. Our teacher swore I would quit. Instead I got addicted.

With a new passion and a desire to run a business, and some luck (or fate) the quilt shop here came up for sale. In the beginning, Thor and I knew less about running a shop than quilting and sewing, but with the help of family, friends, and all of you, our skills and knowledge quickly improved.

When I’m not working at the shop, I enjoy spending time working in my garden, watching horror movies, and when the sun is finally shining reading mystery and suspense novels on the deck that my husband Thor and daughter Hannah built.

I also love exploring new crafting ideas, such as painting wood signs, using my Cameo cutting machine to custom machine designs (being how I make our iron-on salmon and Sasquatch applique), and recently added custom vinyl heat pressing.

When we have the time, we venture out with the family to the great outdoors to see what we can find, be it puffins at the beach, or secrets in the mountains, or anything in between! We always make a special trip as a family when our daughter Hannah comes to visit from Portland, and take our little dog, Pixie the Pug, too!

+ Thor

In Port Townsend I managed environmental compliance at the old paper mill overlooking the bay. Our family moved to Astoria when I took a position at the Taylorville (Wauna) tissue mill. I worked there until I retired in the Spring of 2016.

When I’m not busy at the shop, I can be found working on the yacht club boats as captain or crew, helping out Grace Church as part of the vestry, or maintaining our 1892 Victorian home. Sailing is one of my passions, having always lived by the water and growing up sailing small boats with my family.

I also love to travel and explore with my family. Throughout the years, we have been on many adventures to new places, from camping along the Oregon Trail, to road tripping to San Francisco (for a Bernina convention!), and flying to Denmark to visit our ancestral home. 

As the shop has expanded, so has my own own crafting skills. I was able to woodwork, engineer, and repair, and now I can also quilt and knit! I love the work that I do for the shop and working alongside my wife Lydia, and we’re looking forward to have a little more family time with our granddaughter after our change in shop life!