This week on The Sewcial Hour Podcast, we’re joined by Karen Wade, founder of Bessie Pearl Binding Co. — a company that has helped thousands of quilters finally enjoy the finishing step with beautifully made, ready-to-use bias binding.
If binding is the part of quilting you dread (👀 you’re not alone), this episode is for you.
Karen shares how Bessie Pearl was born out of a very real sewing room frustration and how that one problem turned into a thriving product-based business. With a background in retail and over a decade of growth, she gives us an inside look at what it actually takes to build a business in the sewing world — and what most people get wrong about it.
In this episode, we talk about:
- The moment Karen realized there had to be a better way to finish quilts
- Why bias binding feels so intimidating for so many quilters
- How Bessie Pearl evolved from an idea into a full product line
- The realities of running a sewing-based product business
- How Karen selects fabrics and designs binding that works across quilt styles
- Tips to make binding feel less overwhelming (and maybe even enjoyable!)
Plus, we get to know Karen a little more through rapid-fire questions, hear what she’s loving right now, and chat about what’s next for Bessie Pearl — including a fun Quilt Top Maxi Skirt Sew-Along coming this summer 👗🧵
Whether you love binding, avoid it at all costs, or are somewhere in between, this conversation will give you a whole new perspective on the final step of quilting.
✨ Connect with Karen & Bessie Pearl:
Follow along on Instagram: @bessiepearlbindingco
Explore ready-made binding options, tutorials, and more to simplify your quilt finishes.
🎧 New episodes of The Sewcial Hour Podcast drop every other Tuesday on all major platforms. Be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a quilter who really needs help with their binding 😉
Next week: We’re talking about The Confidence Ladder of Making — how to build skills, trust yourself, and grow as a maker.
