Building Creativity, Community, and Craft—One Quilt at a Time
Some businesses are carefully mapped out years in advance. Others begin unexpectedly, shaped by resilience, creativity, and a willingness to pivot when life takes an unexpected turn. Shabby Fabrics falls into the latter category—and its story is one rooted in perseverance, passion, and doing the next right thing.
Founded more than 20 years ago, Shabby Fabrics began during a challenging moment in U.S. history. Following the September 11 attacks, the airline industry came to a sudden halt. At the time, founder Jennifer Bosworth and her husband were professional pilots whose careers were placed on furlough, with no clear timeline for when—or if—things would return to normal.
“I had always paid for my flying lessons myself,” Jennifer shared. “I did that by waitressing and doing craft shows, and I had accumulated a lot of fabric along the way.”
on hand. She began selling fabric online through eBay—well before platforms like Amazon existed—and quickly realized there was a strong demand. What started out of necessity soon turned into something more.
With the airline industry stalled and income uncertain, Jennifer turned to what she had on hand. She began selling fabric online through eBay—well before platforms like Amazon existed—and quickly realized there was a strong demand. What started out of necessity soon turned into something more.
“We didn’t plan for this to become our business,” she said. “But we saw the need, and we kept going.”
At the time, the “shabby chic” aesthetic was at the height of its popularity, defined by soft, feminine, vintage-inspired
designs. That influence shaped both the products and the name—Shabby Fabrics—a name that has endured even as the company has continued to grow and evolve.
Designing What Makes Shabby Fabrics Different
Today, Shabby Fabrics is known worldwide for its original quilt designs and thoughtfully curated quilt kits. While many fabric companies have access to the same fabric collections, Shabby Fabrics distinguishes itself through exclusive design work created in-house.
“We all see the same fabric collections,” Jennifer explained. “What makes us different is how we design with them.”
Before fabric is even printed, Shabby Fabrics begins designing quilts in a digital environment. Using specialized software, the team creates original patterns, tests color combinations, and mathematically proves that each design will come together correctly. Jennifer’s background in aeronautics plays a key role in this process.
“Quilting is very mathematical,” she said. “Everything has to line up exactly, or the quilt won’t come out right.”
Once a design is finalized digitally, fabric orders are placed—often months in advance. When the fabric arrives, the process continues with sample quilts, pattern testing, edits, and refinements until everything is just right. From there, designs move into photography, marketing, video tutorials, and ultimately into Shabby Fabrics’ showroom and online store.
This detailed process allows Shabby Fabrics to offer what they are best known for: complete quilt kits.
“Our kits take the guesswork out of quilting,” Jennifer said. “You don’t have to worry about color balance, scale, or composition. If you love what you see, the kit helps you recreate it exactly.”
A Showroom That Brings It All to Life
Recently, Shabby Fabrics opened a new in-person showroom, giving customers the opportunity to experience their designs up close. The space features nearly 900 products displayed in a carefully curated environment filled with finished quilts, warm lighting, and an inviting atmosphere.
Visitors can browse kits displayed on the walls, order from the company’s extensive catalog of over 30,000 SKUs, and see firsthand how digital designs translate into beautiful, handcrafted pieces.
Inspiring Makers Around the World
In addition to its physical products, Shabby Fabrics has built a powerful digital presence focused on education, inspiration, and creativity. Through video tutorials and social media, the company helps makers of all experience levels feel confident and excited about creating something by hand.
Shabby Fabrics’ YouTube channel is approaching 500,000 subscribers, offering guidance, tips, and techniques to quilters around the globe. On Pinterest, the company sees over 22 million monthly views, with more than 700,000 views each day.
“Our goal is to inspire people,” Jennifer said. “In a world where so much is mass-produced, crafting something by hand makes it one of one. That’s special.”
Values That Come First
While creativity and innovation drive the business, Shabby Fabrics is deeply grounded in its values—especially when it comes to people.
“Our most important values are loving our customers and loving our team members,” Jennifer shared. “Every customer is our favorite customer.”
That philosophy extends to how the company treats its employees. Shabby Fabrics is committed to being a strong, ethical employer, choosing to keep manufacturing labor in the United States—even when it would be more profitable to move operations elsewhere.
“We’ve been encouraged to outsource,” Jennifer said. “But our employees are like family. This isn’t just about making money. It’s about helping people build community.”
Shabby Fabrics also proudly employs team members with special needs, partnering with programs like Project SEARCH to provide meaningful job opportunities for individuals who may otherwise struggle to find work.
“If someone can fold fabric and seal a bag, I have a job for them,” Jennifer said. “We celebrate what people are capable of doing.”
Those moments of recognition—taking a few seconds to say “good job”—are central to the company culture and help create an environment where everyone feels valued.
Celebrating 20 Years of Growth
In September, Shabby Fabrics celebrated a major milestone: 20 years in business.
Over two decades, the company has navigated the aftermath of 9/11, the 2008 housing crisis, rapid technological change, and a global pandemic—while continuing to grow without losing sight of its mission.
“When challenges come, we don’t retreat,” Jennifer said. ”We sit down together, brainstorm ideas, and find a way forward through innovation and teamwork.”
That mindset has allowed Shabby Fabrics to grow while maintaining a focus on people, integrity, and community.
Why Shabby Fabrics Chose TPM
Shabby Fabrics became a member of Timber Products Manufacturers to better support its employees, particularly through access to benefits and resources that can be difficult for mid-sized companies to secure independently.
Beyond the practical benefits, the alignment in values stood out.
“Being part of TPM helps us take care of our people,” Jennifer shared. “That matters to us.”
Three Words That Define Shabby Fabrics
When asked to describe the company in just three words, Jennifer chose:
Creative. Authentic. Trailblazing.
“We’re not trying to be anyone else,” she said. “We innovate, we embrace technology, and we stay true to who we are.”
Those three words don’t just describe how Shabby Fabrics sees itself—they reflect how the company operates every day. Whether it’s pushing creative boundaries through original design, embracing technology without losing the heart of handcrafted work, or making people-first decisions even when they’re harder or more expensive, Shabby Fabrics continues to move forward with intention. After more than 20 years in business, the company’s success is rooted not in shortcuts or trends, but in consistency, care, and a commitment to doing the next right thing—for their employees, their customers, and the community they proudly call home.
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