Plymouth Patchwork Originals                                                                   About us

Founded in 1981 by Carolyn Sidebottom, Plymouth Patchwork Originals is located in Plymouth, Minnesota.  Carolyn and her husband Chuck specialize in the design and production of quality patterns for quilters of all skill levels.  Carolyn's patterns have been sold primarily through quilt shops in the upper midwest.  2010 marks their first venture in direct marketing of Carolyn's unique, award-winning designs on a national scale.  Most of the patterns included in Plymouth Patchwork's online pattern store were originally created for Carolyn's workshops and seminars.

Along with designing patterns, Carolyn offers workshops and lectures on various aspects of quilting.  Click here for more information on available workshops and lectures.

CAROLYN SIDEBOTTOM began her first quilt-making project at age 10 when she helped her grandmother piece a “Rocky Road” quilt top.  Although an active seamstress and needle worker, she didn’t become seriously involved with quilting again until the mid-1970’s.

Her quilting has won first place awards in regional and national competitions including the 1981 Sweepstakes Award at the Minnesota State Fair, Judge’s Choice at the Quilting Today Show in 1984, Director’s choice in the “Baskets and More Baskets” block contest sponsored by Groves Publishing Company in 1992, and ribbons in the Snowflake Days Competitions of 1988 and 1992.

Carolyn has lectured and taught quilting and quilt related crafts in the upper Midwest.  She has also served as a judge for needlework and quilt competitions.  Her specialties are pattern drafting, hand applique, and hand quilting.  Several of Carolyn's students have gone on to achieve national recognition and have had their work featured in major quilt publications.

In addition to her teaching activities, Carolyn designs and markets quilt patterns.  Her New England Stencil Quilt  was prominently featured in Karen McTavish's Whitework Quilting – Creative Techniques for Designing Wholecloth and Adding Trapunto To Your Quilts published by On-Word Bound Books.

Carolyn is a graduate of Iowa State University with a BS Degree in Elementary Education.  She taught General Science at the middle school level and served as District Chairman of her school district’s Science Department for three years.

Since moving to Minneapolis in 1980, Carolyn has been active in Minnesota Quilters, Inc. and has held a number of offices including President for the 1984-1985 term.  Carolyn is a charter member of the Creative Spirits Needlework Guild.

Since 1984, Carolyn has conducted popular week-long quilting seminars and Chautauqua lectures on quilting for visitors to Midwest Old Threshers in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa.

Many of the patterns available through Plymouth Patchwork's online pattern store were developed for Carolyn's workshops at Midwest Old Threshers.

For more information about Midwest Old Threshers and the annual Old Threshers Reunion, visit their Web Site at http://www.oldthreshers.org/.

In addition to giving a Chautauqua lecture on quilting, Carolyn typically offers five two-hour workshops for up to 25 students with each session featuring a custom designed hand patchwork or hand applique block.  The blocks can be used singly or can be combined to create a distinictive project.  The photos at the right are typical of Carolyn's workshops.

Carolyn has developed the program for the 2013 Old Threshers Reunion.  The schedule appears on the Lectures and Workshops page. 

                                                                                 Photo montage by Melanie Fouse