About · Madison Stitchery
Lights on, well
before dawn.
Madison Stitchery is one person, one sewing machine, and a great many spools, in a small studio in Rio, Wisconsin. The lights go on well before dawn (my mornings are mostly fueled by coffee!) — and most days the first pouch is on the table by sunrise.
studio · 04:47Chapter one
From the scraps.
The shop started as a way to use up the leftovers. Before this I ran KinderSprouts — handmade organic baby and toddler clothing, also on Etsy. The fabric scraps were too good to throw out, so I started turning them into small zipper pouches.
“What started as a way to use all the leftovers, has expanded to included boutique fabrics from many different designers.” That's verbatim from the original About page, typo and all — I left it because I wrote it that way and it still feels right.
Now most of what comes through the studio is licensed designer cotton — Rifle Paper Co., Charley Harper, Teagan White — a few small distributors I've been ordering from for years. I'm a proud fabric snob, and I love making bags and pouches that transform a simple task of item storage into something that makes you smile every time you look at!
“I'm a proud fabric snob, and love making bags and pouches that transform a simple task of item storage into something that makes you smile every time you look at.”
— Shells, owner & sewist
Who's back there
Meet Shells.
Shells
Owner · Sewist · Reluctant shop floor sweeper
I cut, sew, lining-laminate, photograph, package, and answer your messages. There is no team. There is also no AI writing these descriptions. (Sometimes the typos are me; sometimes they're the cat walking across the keyboard at 5am.)
How a pouch happens
In four small acts.
- 01
Choose a fabric
From the wall of bolts — most days, something Rifle Paper Co.
- 02
Cut + interface
Reinforce the cotton so it holds shape after a hundred washes.
- 03
Sew the lining + zipper
YKK zipper, concealed seams, cotton loop tab. The slow part.
- 04
Wrap + ship
Polished paper pouch, jute bow, care card. USPS from Rio.
2,163
Reviews on Etsy
7,934
Pouches sewn
5/5
Average rating
Star
Seller, since 2022
Quietly principled
The things I care about, without the lecture.
Compostable wrap
Polished paper pouch, jute bow, care card. No plastic mailer.
No marketing list
I will never add you to any email list, or contact you outside fulfilling your order.
Made in Wisconsin
Closer to where you are than the alternative. Kinder to the planet, kinder to USPS.
Want to see what's on the table this week?