Welcome to Jodie’s Sewing Studio, home of Friday’s Kuspuk pattern among other things. This site is always in progress so (sew) hang in there with me…
I, Jodie, am a former Home Economics teacher who LOVES to sew and LOVES to inspire others to do so! I created this web page in 2015 with great plans to blog, design patterns and “sew” forth! By the end of 2016 I FAILED retirement and found myself behind the cutting counter of a fabric store that I had just purchased!!! (www.raintreequilting.com) is the website for my brick and mortar shop!) THIS website sat unattended for quite a while during that time of transition. All blog questions went straight to my email and were promptly answered though! Questions still do and I still answer too.
Now, I am taking the time to update the page and start the journey of sharing my sewing insights with you! Exciting things are ahead!
Kuspuk Patterns
The Children’s Pattern made it’s “debut” In Tenakee Springs and at Raintree Quilting the Friday following Thanksgiving of 2015. The first hundred were hand folded and sold within days. This has been a fabulous journey in pattern work. Some artists capture glimpses of history through writing; I like to do it through flat pattern design.
The Adult Pattern
The Friday’s Kuspuk Adult pattern was completed the first week of May in 2015. It was quite a process and was fun too. I tested the pattern extensively and am pleased how well the pieces work together. There is much more information about this in the drop-down menu above. Please select, “About Friday’s Kuspuk” to learn more.
The 12″ Doll Kuspuk pattern and 18″ doll patterns are available too. You can locate the information for those patterns under the”Kuspuk drop down menu; click on 12″ Doll Kuspuk or 18″ doll pattern. A PDF slide show of the 18″ doll construction process is available as a free download on this site. Color pictures certainly make instructions more user-friendly! A PDF slide show of the adult pattern is available too.
Please understand, I do not sell kuspuks. There is a growing number of fabulous Alaska Native artisans creating kuspuks for sale. Some of these artists create kuspuks using traditional methods and others use more modern garment crafting techniques and patterns. Support these artisans. Many can be found through their Facebook pages.
Friday’s Kuspuk Pattern from Jodie’s Sewing Studio:
What is Jodie’s Sewing Studio?
Jodie’s Sewing Studio is simply a room in my Tenakee Springs home where I create.
My cabin (home) studio is splendidly inspiring. It overlooks the inlet of Tenakee Springs, Alaska.
It is 11 1/2′ by 33′ and houses by Kaffe BERNINA 770 Plus, an Quilters Edition BERNINA L890 Overlocker, a Q24 Longarm with Q-matic. A Kaffe BERNINA 570 for friends and my old Singer Featherweights, although one lives on my boat now. I also have a Sailrite Fabricator out there for my personal boat canvas work. My desktop computer lives in that space. I travel to Tenakee from Juneau by boat (8 1/2 hour trip) or by float plane. Tenakee is a quaint ocean side town in Southeast Alaska that is accessible ONLY by boat or float plane. There are no “roads” there; there is a pathway for foot traffic and slow moving 4-wheelers or side by sides. No vehicles are allowed there except the pickup sized fire truck and the pickup-oil truck that delivers fuel oil. It is perfectly inspiring.
The Blue Heron Fabric Collage Pattern
I created this collage quilt probably in 2021 while working from my studio on shop samples. As a shop owner it is critical that I offer a variety of fabrics, even fabrics that do not necessarily inspire me! I was stitching out quilt samples that did not particularly inspire me…. I needed a BREAK, a creative break! Did I say, “sewing should be fun?”
So, I pulled out my fabric collage pieces. What are fabric collage pieces? I collect fabrics with fabulous motifs. I then, fuse Steam-a-Seam 2 to the back of these pieces and start cutting out the motifs. I essentially create a pallet of color, sorting colors onto paper plates that are then stored in zipped plastic bags. Over time, I accumulate a great assortment of motifs, colors and fabulous shapes. I have been inspired by the Blue Herons that frequent our beach and community. They are quiet, majestic birds. I wanted to create a piece of fabric art featuring the Blue Heron. So, I sketched the simple shape of the bird, surrounded myself with my pallet (plates of color) and began creating. It was a fabulous experience and a much needed break from sewing projects that did not inspire me! I published the pattern for this quilt in August of 2025. The pattern is currently available at http://www.raintreequilting.com. It is also available wholesale to shops. Shop owners just need to email me to inquire about the pattern.
YouTube of Wearable Art: Legacy
Did I say, “Sewing should be fun!”
The Octopus Quilt!
I have yet to name this piece. I created a pattern first then pieced the quilt from the pattern essentially to “test” the pattern. The quilt utilizes 30 Hoffman 1895 fabrics: 25 for the octopus and 5 for the water. This quilt measures 96” by 98” and beautifully fits a King sized bed!
I pulled a large variety of reds, oranges and blues from the store’s Hoffman 1895 collection. This particular batik collection is timeless and always available. It is the PERFECT pallet for this sort of design work.
I imported my drawing into Electric Quilt 8. The software is not really designed for a block of approximately 1000 pieces. However, it proved to be very useful as I transformed my sketch to an intentional collection of half square triangles, squares and rectangles. EQ8 also allows you to import your fabrics. I imported probably 60 fabrics and experimented with color placement over a period of about 3 months. Most of this phase occurred in the aquatic environment of the Fair Lady.
A couple of intense weeks in my studio resulted in carefully drafted instructions. I want to publish the pattern.
Enjoy!
Jodie's Sewing Studio 
Congratulations Jodie. Can’t wait to make a new kuspuk!
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Send me pictures! … with permission to post here…
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I can’t wait to see the kuspuks people make! I’m hoping you all can send pictures…
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Just finished my kuspuk and love it! I made it out of rayon batiks, so it’s soft and has a wonderful drape.
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I used your photo…. Look under the Kuspuk for Adults tab….
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Looks good Jody. I glad you posted it , so I could see it. I have a question for u ou. Is it possible to make the Kuspuk shirt with different pockets, instead of the one in pictuer , if so , what kind? I still want pockets .
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I would suggest looking a photos of Kuspuks in general. They are different all over the State. A woman in a recent Kupsuk class explained that you can identify the village by the pocket type. Do a search for images and see what you find. When you redraft the pattern remember to include seam or hem allowances. I’ll try to post photo’s of pocket ideas in a week or so.
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I had my boyfriend pick up your Friday’s Kuspuk pattern… Waiting on my serger to arrive and try this pattern out.
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That’s exciting! I’ll email you a PDF of a PowerPoint presentation I have. Take time to study the pattern and instructions while you are waiting for your serger. Also, I update the instructions periodically and post them to the website. You can find the most current under the tab for Friday’s Kuspuk Adult Pattern… Happy Sewing!
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Good day, I’m
Interested in making my own kuspuk,
How may I purchase an adult pattern?
Thank you
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Hi Rondell,
Look at the list of stores on my website. If one is not close to you, I can send you one.
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I purchased your pattern. I am wondering if you will ever post a video of how to make a kuspuk? I don’t do too well with patterns. Thank you
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I will eventually… go to my Facebook page. There are a few video tips there. I’ll email you a PDF of a PowerPoint that should help you immensely! Happy sewing!
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Live in Fairbanks, have your Friday’s pattern but cannot find the very large rick rack as shown for accent in any local stores.
Any suggestions or ideas?
Thank you.
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Have you checked your local fabric stores? If they don’t have it, you can call Raintree Quilting in Juneau: 907-789-7900. They will gladly ship to you.
Also, I love to make trim out of fabric. You can make trim with bias strips or cross-grain strips. Good luck!
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I need to know how to put the hood on the dress. I can’t figure out from the pictures on the pattern or your web site.
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Hi Jody, with the Adult Pattern what is an XL, 1XL & 2XL thanks Sharon
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That depends on the person’s measurements. While XL, for example, is a common size…. There is no “standard” size. For a sewing pattern it is very important to follow measurements for a proper fit.
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Thank you miss Jodie for rekindling my love of sewing. I haven’t sewed in over 30 years and my best friend got me into your class making Kuspuks, saying how great of teacher you are, and promised I could make one, which I have always felt to do. She was right I did make one! You both blessed me so much!
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Thank you miss Jodie for rekindling my love of sewing. I haven’t sewed in over 30 years and my best friend got me into your class making Kuspuks. She said how great of teacher you are, and promised I could make one. I have always wanted to make one and she was right. I did make one! You both blessed me so much!
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Is there a certain way to lay down the pattern onto the fabric? Thank you
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Yes! Make sure you follow the layout instructions on the pattern. The grain of fabric is very important for a comfortable fit.
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Kuspuk children pattern is very cute. I made it into a parka. I don’t see a way to send it to you or I would share it. I went to make an adult Kuspuk and I’m missing the first page. I wonder if it’s possible to have another one sent to me? Thanks.
Denina
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Email me your address and we will mail it to you. I am so, SEW, sorry!
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I just opened my front Friday’s cuss book size 2 through 32. I have never worked so hard to get a pattern ever in my life. I’ve seen a lot of cuss books, but I thought I’d try a new pattern. Totally confusing to have all those sizes in one pattern cause then I have to transfer it to something else and then have to transfer it to something else and by then I get to finally cut out some fabric totally disappointed, but that’s just me
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Margaret, did you have a chance to look at the full color slide show on this site. It contains 50 slides.
The cost of printing is very high. The most affordable way to offer the pattern is with the vast array of sizes. It helps to mark your cutting lines with a color pencil or fine tipped marker first. I do not suggest tracing as your tracing medium can slide resulting in a distorted pattern piece. I strongly suggest marking then cutting the pieces.
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The pictures inside the pattern of Friday’s cuss buck Jodi’s sewing studio is black and white, and un appealing nothing like the front cover very attractive. Hard to follow the instructions when you can’t see the picture clearly
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Yes, you are correct. The cost of printing in full color is extremely high and would result in a pattern costing about $40 plus. This is why I have a full color 50 slide PowerPoint PDF in this site. Download that and you will see the same images in full color. Thank you for commenting!
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