Meet Kelsey Reynolds | Chainstitch Embroidery Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kelsey Reynolds and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kelsey, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind my success so far is honesty. I genuinely believe that any issue, no matter how complex, can be approached and resolved with pure honesty. Growing up, I struggled to find a hobby or skill that felt like a true reflection of who I am. I tried just about everything. Sewing, especially chain stitching, just came naturally to me.

When people ask how long I’ve been chain stitching, I tell them the truth: it’s only been about a year. I often feel like I don’t fully know what I’m doing, but I’ve come to accept that. I don’t try to control every outcome. Instead, I run my business based on what feels true to me and what I believe others can connect with. That honesty with myself and with others, has made all the difference.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’ve never been someone who was particularly good at school, and I sort of always knew college wasn’t the path I wanted to take. My parents didn’t go to college either, so there was never pressure to follow that traditional route. That freedom gave me room to explore other options.

I did briefly go to college, and while I was there, I took a costume design class. I loved the process of sewing and creating costumes, but I knew it wasn’t the long-term path for me. So I started looking for any opportunity that involved sewing — anything, really, just to get my foot in the door.

I ended up working at Allen Community Theatre in Allen, Texas, while also working at a Levi’s store. At Levi’s, I split my time between retail and apprenticing in the tailor shop. That’s where I was first introduced to chain stitching. I had never seen a chain stitch machine in real life and was fascinated by them. The machine we had was a newly manufactured one, and the other tailors had a lot more experience than I did. Because I was so new, there wasn’t much incentive for anyone to teach me how to use it. I eventually I got tired of it and I knew I wanted to do more.

This was during COVID, when everything felt uncertain, and that made me feel crazy enough to make a change. I took a break and started working at a tattoo shop. Even though I didn’t want to become a tattoo artist, being in that creative environment helped me figure out what I really wanted. That’s when I decided I wanted to seriously pursue chain stitching.

With help from my boss at the time, I was able to get a chain stitch machine. It took me over a year to figure out how to set it up, how to use it, and it sat in storage for almost 2 years. While there are some resources online, most of it came down to trial and error. I can honestly say I taught myself how to chain stitch.

There are fewer than 5,000 people in the U.S. who chain stitch, and being part of such a small, niche community really speaks to me. I love how people are genuinely shocked when they see what these machines can do. I’ve never believed in gatekeeping… if anything, I want to make this art form feel more accessible to others. I felt like I had been welcomed into the community regardless of how much experience I had when I started.

Every single time I do a private event, a market, or a Saturday at Beatnik Fine Goods, I learn something new. Once I realized there’s no “right” way to do this, I stopped waiting for perfect conditions and just used what I had. I figured out how to transport my machine, how to adapt to new spaces — I basically MacGyvered my way into making it work for me.

If there’s one thing I want people to take away from what I do, it’s that if you want something badly enough, you can make it happen. With honesty about your process and a few people who believe in you, you can do damn near anything. That being said, you have to also believe in others or else you’ll get nowhere.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
When I was living in Oak lawn, I really tried to soak up the fact that I was living in the heart of the gayborhood. I absolutely loved going to round up saloon, even though I’m not much of a drinker. That bar is the best, especially on a weekday. We would definitely have to hit up the Salvation Army on Harry Hines and probably grab some burgers from Alamo club on Greenville. And probably end our day by taking a dip at the FOE in east Dallas my literal favorite place during the summertime.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
For the last four years, I worked at a tattoo shop — even though I had no intention of becoming a tattoo artist. I’ve always loved the art and the people, but tattooing wasn’t something I wanted to pursue myself. Still, being surrounded by tattoo artists deeply influenced the way I think about art and creativity. In many ways, chain stitching and tattooing share similarities, some might even say I’m tattooing on fabric. I’m normally stitching on items that are deeply personal to people. Just like tattooing, I hope to create a memory and heirloom they can have forever. That environment helped me appreciate the value of creating meaningful, lasting work for others.

One person in particular who deserves a huge shoutout is Lindsey, the owner of Beatnik Fine Goods, a boutique in the Bishop Arts District. Her colleague, Amanda discovered me at a vintage expo, and ever since, I’ve had steady work through her shop. The community around Beatnik, from Lindsey herself to the loyal customers she’s cultivated over the years has been one of the biggest shifts in my journey. If it weren’t for her and the village she has built, I’d probably still be stitching under a tent at a flea market every weekend. She gave me a space, believed in what I do, and opened the door to so many opportunities. I’m incredibly grateful.

Website: https://evilwickedmeannasty.myshopify.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evil.wicked.mean/