Shop Spotlight: Linda Z’s Sewing Center

We're excited to share our Q&A series featuring exemplary quilt and fabric shops all around the country that sell Shannon Fabrics products. To nominate a shop in your area, please let us know in the comment section below. #shoplocal

What began 55 years ago as a lingerie sewing class, Linda Z’s has grown into a three-story sewing center that’s paradise for the modern quilter or sewist!

Besides the wide selection of fabrics, notions and accessories, they also offer sewing and embroidery machines from most of the major manufacturers (and have a team of on-site technicians ready to fix or maintain your machine). Linda Z’s offers both virtual and in-store classes as well, including everything from a kids’ camp to beginning and intermediate sewing classes.

Our National Educator Teresa Coates (and Hawke, of course) will be stopping by for the fourth episode of Season 10 of Sew Together Tuesday to broadcast LIVE from the Linda Z’s Sewing Center shop floor (she’ll be teaching a couple workshops, too)! Click here for more details and information about our Sew Together Tuesday series.

To learn more about and see the latest from Linda Z’s Sewing Center, visit their website, stop by their shop in Arlington Heights, IL, give them a call at 847-394-4590 or email owner Linda Zachman at support@lindazs.com. 

Shop Spotlight: Linda Z’s Sewing Center

SF: What is the history of your shop?

LZ: Linda Z’s opened in 1967. At that time the need for sewing education was filled as Linda taught lingerie making classes from her shop. Soon she took on sewing machine sales as the first female Bernina dealer in North America.

SF: How has your shop evolved over the years? What caused the evolution?

LZ: Linda Z’s has grown physically throughout the years from a small store-front shop, to a larger single building, and now, today, to a three-story destination store with machines, fabric, notions and accessories. We offer classes, workshops and events in our own large event center, and we have an on-premise team of five trained technicians to fix and maintain any machine brand or style.

SF: Tell us one thing people might not know about your shop.

LZ: Linda Z's is "family!" Not only are we a close sewing community and "family" for the many customers and friends we have coming to the store, through our website and in-store and virtual classes, but Linda Z's is a family-run organization!

Linda's daughters, Debbie and Tracy, are actively engaged and poised to continue running the store. Linda's brother, Tom, is the Lead Machine Technician, and Linda's grandson, Nicholas (Debbie's son) is the Marketing and Film Studio Head. 

SF: What is your best-selling Shannon Fabrics product? 

LZ: The Shannon Fabrics kits are very popular here with Linda Z’s customers. Kits contain precut pieces and instructions for quick and easy assembly.

SF: Do you sell online? If so, how long have you been selling online and what have you learned?

LZ: Yes, we do sell online. We started with online registration for our classes and events. Online merchandise sales increased when stores were closed in 2020 due to COVID-19.

SF: What do you love most about creating (or seeing customers create) DIY projects with the fabrics you sell?

LZ: We love it when customers bring their finished projects in to show us the beautiful works they’ve accomplished – often they are the projects they’ve completed after taking a class or attending a workshop. We are always extremely happy and proud when they show us other projects they’ve accomplished after having been inspired by Linda’s many videos and Facebook LIVE tutorials.

SF: What current quilting, sewing or crafting trends inspires you? Where do you get your inspiration?

LZ: With so many new and innovative machines on the market, we often use one of the amazing features on a machine to demonstrate how easy it has become to create art.

SF: What’s next for your shop?

LZ: We continue to provide myriad opportunities for people to enrich their sewing and crafting potential – in new classes, workshops, clubs and shows, either in-store or virtually through videos or webinars.

If you have any questions about Cuddle® minky plush fabrics or any of our Cuddle® Kits, feel free to contact our friendly, no-pressure customer service team at 866-624-5252.

Ready to start creating with Cuddle® minky fabric? Use our store locator to find a selection of Cuddle® minky fabric online or near you.