Personal Background
Sandy, as we dive into your story, could you provide a snapshot of who you are and take us on the journey that led you to where you are today?
I’m Sandy Saengsuk, the maker and pattern designer behind Thai Charm. I was born and raised in Thailand and now call Minnesota home, where I live with my husband and our two daughters.
I ended up in Minnesota after meeting my husband and spending about three years dating between Bangkok and Minneapolis, with quite a few trips across the world in between. But that’s a story for another day! Let’s just say trading Bangkok for Minnesota winters was quite the adjustment. 😆
Quilting Journey
When and how did you start quilting? What drew you to quilting as a form of expression?
My background actually isn’t in textiles or design. My mom has sewn garments for as long as I can remember, so sewing was always around me, but quilting didn’t come into my life until 2020.
It started as a way to connect my mom with my mother-in-law, who is a quilter. Somehow, I ended up falling in love with quilting too. Within months, I had opened a little fabric shop, designed my first quilt pattern, and found myself heading down a completely unexpected creative path.
Today, I’m a quilt pattern designer, longarm quilter, and author, all from my little corner of Minnesota. It’s definitely not where I thought I’d end up, but I wouldn’t change the path that got me here.
Pattern Designing
What inspired you to start designing quilt patterns?
It happened pretty naturally after I started quilting. Once I learned the basics, I immediately wanted to play with them and see what else I could make. I’ve always been someone who looks at something and thinks, “What if I did it this way instead?” Designing patterns became a way for me to turn those little what-if ideas into something real.
I also really loved the idea that someone else could take my pattern, choose completely different fabrics and colors, and make it their own. Seeing all those different versions is still one of my favorite parts of being a pattern designer.
How do you approach the creative process of designing a new pattern?
There really isn’t one formula for me. Sometimes an idea starts with a block or shape, sometimes with a fabric collection or color combination, and sometimes it comes from seeing something completely unrelated to quilting.
I usually start by playing with shapes and layouts in Adobe Illustrator. There’s a lot of moving things around, changing colors, trying something, deciding I don’t like it, and trying again. 😆 Once I find a direction I love, I start thinking about how it will actually be constructed.
That part is just as important to me as how the quilt looks. I want my patterns to feel interesting to make, but still approachable. I’m always looking for ways to simplify the construction, make the steps flow naturally, and hopefully give quilters a little something new to try along the way.
And sometimes the final quilt looks nothing like the idea I started with. That’s part of the fun!
Style and Aesthetics
How would you define your pattern style?
This is always a hard question for me! I’d say my style is modern and playful, but with a strong connection to traditional patchwork. I love taking familiar shapes and techniques and finding a fresh way to use them. My designs tend to have clean, graphic lines, plenty of color, and just enough repetition to make the sewing enjoyable without feeling boring.
I also want my quilts to look like there might be a lot going on, but when you break them down, they’re actually very doable. I love that little “Oh! That’s how you made it!” moment.
Are there specific themes or elements that consistently appear in your designs?
Color is probably the biggest constant. I love rich colors, unexpected combinations, and prints, and I’m definitely not afraid to mix them!
You’ll also see a lot of geometric shapes and traditional patchwork units in my work, but I like to play with scale, placement, and repetition so they feel a little different. I don’t know that I have one specific element that has to show up in every design. I’d rather give myself room to play and see where each idea takes me.
Color
How does color play a role in your pattern designing?
Color is a huge part of the process for me. I can spend way too much time changing one little color in a mockup, changing it back, and then deciding I liked the first one better. Color can completely change the personality of a quilt, so I love seeing how the same pattern can feel bold and playful in one palette and soft and calm in another.
Do you have a favorite color?
I don’t think I could pick just one! I’m much more drawn to combinations of colors than a single favorite. I grew up in Thailand, and my grandmother especially loved wearing beautiful, bold colors and prints when she went to the temple. I think some of that love of color definitely rubbed off on me.
Are there certain color combinations you find particularly appealing?
I tend to gravitate toward rich, warm colors. I love earthy tones, deep greens, warm reds and pinks, and golden yellows.
I’m also a big fan of prints. Give me a pile of colorful prints and low volumes, and I’ll happily play with combinations all day. For me, the best palettes don’t have to be perfectly matched. I like when they feel collected over time, with lots of color, texture, and personality.
Business Activities
Apart from designing patterns, what other activities are integral to your quilting business? (Membership, notions, courses, etc)
Pattern designing is at the heart of Thai Charm, but my quilting business has grown into quite a few different things over the years. I also offer longarm quilting, create tutorials and educational content, collaborate with fabric and quilting companies, and most recently became an author with The Patchwork Companion.
One thing I’m especially excited to explore more is creating opportunities for quilters to sew together. I’m working on my first Block of the Month program, and while I love designing the quilt itself, I’m just as excited about the community side of it. I want it to feel like a place where we can work on something together, share our progress, learn from each other, and cheer each other on.
I spend so much of my time creating behind a screen or sewing machine, so finding more ways to actually connect with the people making my patterns feels like a really natural next step for Thai Charm.
Online Presence
Where can people find your work online?
You can find me at Thai Charm on my website,
thaicharmllc.com, and on Instagram at
@thaicharmllc. I’m also on Facebook, Pinterest, Threads, and Etsy.
But my newsletter is probably the best way to stay connected with me. That’s where I share new patterns and projects, tutorials, things I’m currently working on, and little bits of inspiration along the way. You can join my newsletter here:
thaicharmllc.myflodesk.com/creative.
How do you use online platforms to connect with your audience and fellow quilters?
Social media has been such a big part of building Thai Charm and, even more importantly, finding my quilting community. I love sharing what I’m working on, little tips and techniques, behind-the-scenes moments, and sometimes the things that don’t go quite as planned.
But my favorite part is the conversation that comes from it. I love seeing what other quilters are making, exchanging ideas, and especially seeing someone take one of my patterns and make it completely their own.
Quilting can be something we do quietly at home by ourselves, but online it suddenly feels like we’re all sewing together. That sense of connection is probably my favorite part of sharing online.
Upcoming Projects
Can you provide a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or designs you’re working on? Any exciting collaborations or events?
Can you provide a sneak peek into any upcoming projects or designs you're working on?
There are a couple of things I’m really excited about! I’m currently working on my first Block of the Month program, Cottage Garden, which will begin in January. I’m imagining it as a cozy afternoon spent sewing together with friends, one block at a time. There will be a mix of techniques throughout the quilt, along with videos so you can sew along with me. I really want it to be as much about enjoying the process and connecting with each other as it is about finishing the quilt.
Early Bird registration will be opening soon, so if Cottage Garden sounds like your kind of sewing afternoon, be sure to sign up for early access. You’ll be the first to know when registration opens and, of course, get a special Early Bird discount!
I also have a new pattern coming next month called Double Darling. I love decorating for the holidays, but I sometimes struggle with all the stuff that has to be stored afterward. So I started thinking, what if one decoration could change right along with the seasons?
Double Darling is a double-layered bow with a smaller patchwork bow layered over an oversized fabric bow. Both bows are double-sided and interchangeable, so you can flip them, mix and match them, or swap one out for a completely different look. Change the fabrics with the seasons or holidays, and suddenly one decoration gives you lots of possibilities without needing another bin of holiday decor.
What can people expect from your work in the near future? Any exciting collaborations or events?
More patterns, more tutorials, and hopefully more opportunities for us to actually make things together. I also have some fun collaborations with quilting and sewing brands in the works, including a few tied into Double Darling that I’m especially excited to share.
I think the direction I’m heading is a little less about simply putting another pattern out into the world and a little more about creating projects that give us a reason to slow down, make something we love, and enjoy doing it together.
QuiltInk Experience
How has QuiltInk contributed to your quilt pattern design business? Could you share your experience with the platform and how it has influenced your creative process and connected you with fellow quilters?
QuiltInk has become such a fun and useful part of sharing my patterns. Choosing fabric and color is such a personal part of making a quilt, and I love that quilters can play with different possibilities and see their quilt come to life before ever cutting into their fabric.
One of my favorite parts is seeing the mockups people create. Sometimes I’ll see a color combination and think, “I never would have put those together, but I LOVE that!” It inspires me too and lets me see my own designs from a completely different perspective.
It’s also another lovely way to connect. We can share mockups, exchange ideas, and get excited about a project together before the first stitch is even sewn. We can all start with the same pattern, but the finished quilts still tell our own stories.
