Sad news out of the sewing world – legendary educator, TV host, pattern designer, author, producer, and entrepreneur Nancy Zieman has passed away after battling cancer.
While I did not personally know Nancy, my heart is broken knowing one of our own is gone.
It is wonderful people like Nancy Zieman who encourage and inspire new sewists every day. Let’s not forget these fearless and brave women (and men) who paved the way for such a fun and ever growing diverse community.
PRESS RELEASE FROM WISCONSIN PUBLIC TELEVISION:
Wisconsin Public Television (WPT) is saddened by the death of Nancy Zieman, longtime host of Sewing With Nancy.
Zieman passed away at her home in Beaver Dam Tuesday morning after a long battle with cancer.
An educator, author, pattern maker, television producer, entrepreneur and innovator, Zieman inspired millions of sewing and quilting enthusiasts throughout her career. She hosted Sewing With Nancy, the longest-running sewing series on television, since 1982. The program continues to air on public television stations across the United States.
A careful, kind and generous presence, Zieman presented each of her programs in an engaging how-to format that empowered people of all skill levels to explore their own talents.
In addition to her TV program, Zieman was the founder of Nancy’s Notions, a Tacony Corporation company. Grown from her own kitchen table into a nationwide name trusted by sewers and quilters, the company offers thousands of products including sewing books, notions, videos and DVDs, fabrics and quilting products and embroidery designs through its website, retail store and Nancy’s Notions catalog.
In 2005, Zieman helped develop Quilt Expo with WPT in Madison. The event is a vibrant example of Zieman’s inspiration, now drawing more than 20,000 people from across the United States to celebrate the art and craft of quilting.
Zieman is survived by her husband, Richard, their two sons, Ted and Tom, and her beloved grandchildren.
“Nancy was an entrepreneur, a talented television host, a dear friend to so many people at Wisconsin Public Television, and a true Wisconsin treasure,” WPT’s Director of Television Jon Miskowski said. “During the time that she produced her series Sewing With Nancy with WPT, she made hundreds of hours of programs sharing her love of sewing and quilting – work that reflects the essence of Nancy’s legacy in passing the love of sewing, a passion she held very dear, on to the next generation. It was an honor for WPT to be a part of her story. We will all miss Nancy and share our condolences with her family and friends as we remember a life well-lived and a legacy that will continue to inspire for years to come.”
“I am proud to have worked with Nancy on Sewing With Nancy for more than 25 years,” Laurie Gorman, WPT’s producer of Sewing With Nancy, said. “She had the rare ability to take her passion – the love of sewing – and share it with a national audience through the medium of television. Nancy was a savvy entrepreneur, talented colleague, and dear friend. She will be greatly missed by the staff at WPT and her many viewers and fans across the country.”
Zieman’s work on Sewing With Nancy lives on in the hundreds of hours of television that she created, much of which is available online at wpt.org/SewingWithNancy as a lasting resource that is still used by sewing and quilting enthusiasts around the world.
A private funeral service will be held. Fans and friends hoping to share their memories of Nancy’s life and inspiration are welcome to leave comments at NancyZieman.com/blog.
WPT is a service of the Educational Communications Board and University of Wisconsin-Extension.
Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV, Madison; WPNE-TV, Green Bay; WHRM-TV, Wausau; WLEF-TV, Park Falls; WHLA-TV, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV, Menomonie-Eau Claire.
I’ve watched so many of Nancy’s videos online I lost count. She inspired, encouraged and nudged thousands (maybe millions worldwide!) sewists to learn and grow with their craft. I was sad to read this news of her passing. She’ll be missed. Thank you for including this tribute to her on your blog 🙂
Nancy was a very special and beloved person in the sewing community – hopefully we can carry on in her memory!
Thank-you for sharing. I was not aware of her battle and am so sad to hear this news. I am still new-ish and her presence on YouTube is a welcome surety to know she will guide me to do something right. I am grateful to have benefited from her teachings and talent. Thank-you to her family for sharing her time with the world, and thank-you Nancy for being strong and brave enough to follow your dream. Bless her family and may she continue to live on in all she left behind. She will be greatly missed.
There is so much sewing experts like Nancy had to share with the world. While I am glad to see sewing take a modern turn, we have to remember the origins of sewing and how we got here.