Behind the Seams: A Chat with Karlee & Dee

At The Purple Wagon, every stitch tells a story, and at the heart of it all is the mother-daughter duo, Karlee and Dee. From sewing childhood outfits to running a thriving boutique, their journey is one of creativity, collaboration, and, let’s be honest—an impressive fabric stash. We sat down with them to talk about all things sewing, small business life, and why their pieces are as special as the little ones who wear them.

Learning the Ropes (or Threads, in This Case)

Dee’s sewing journey started young. “My best friend’s mom was a seamstress. When we were about 12 she told us that she would teach us how to sew. I’d go over to their house and started making clothes.” Little did she know, those early stitches would weave into something much bigger.

Fast forward to when Karlee suggested, “You need to start making bloomers,” and just like that, Dee’s handmade pieces became a core part of The Purple Wagon. What started with headbands, bows, and blankets quickly evolved into custom kids' wear that people can’t get enough of.

Sewing, But Make It Fun

So what’s the most exciting part of creating these adorable pieces? “The shorties and little shirts,” says Dee. She shares the workload with their small but mighty team of local sewists, reserving the basics for others while she tackles the unique, more intricate items.

And when it comes to inspiration, Karlee and Dee’s process is all about teamwork. “We send a lot of messages back and forth,” Karlee explains. “If we see something online or from another creator we follow that we love, just sharing that inspiration. Or pattern designs—this would be cute as a two-piece set or this would be cute as pants.”

Small Batches, Big Creativity

The beauty of The Purple Wagon’s approach is that they keep things fresh. “We started selling out online so we upped the quantities,” Karlee recalls. “But my mom was like, ‘I don’t want to keep the same thing on my machine all day long, I want to be creative and switch it up.’”

That mindset led them back to their signature small-batch model. “We aren’t into mass production, and it creates a little urgency, too,” says Dee. “People realize if they see it, they better get it because it's going to be gone.”

Family First (and Business Second... Kind Of)

Running a business together has been a bonding experience. “Karlee is the youngest. My two oldest were out of the house, so I feel like there were a lot of years that it was kind of like she was an only child,” Dee shares. Now, business keeps them constantly connected—sometimes a little too much. “Not great at drawing the line, the business is always in our conversations,” Dee admits.

Karlee agrees but wouldn’t change it. “I think that’s because we love it so much. It’s just always been very easy, like she said, we both know our roles, and we most of the time stay in that lane and it works out great!" Family dinners often become business conversations in between chasing kids and grilling out — “We are really great at multitasking!”

Made with Love (and Local Hands)

If you’re wondering which pieces in the shop are made in-house, just look for the Purple Wagon tag. “Any pants, shorts, bloomers, all of the bows, some of the new sweatshirts, and two-piece sets all have the Purple Wagon tag,” Karlee explains.

And Dee? She’s hands-on with every piece but is very particular about quality. “Karlee has a lot more ideas on what we should make than we actually do because I have to weigh in, like, it’s not going to be worth our time and effort,” she laughs. But when it comes to fabric selection, Dee is the ultimate judge. “She’s very adamant on what she wants for certain weights of fabric, how much stretch and recovery it has.”

The Fabric Stash Confession

So, just how much fabric does Dee have stored up for future projects? “Oh, hundreds [of yards]!” she confesses. And Karlee? She’s just as guilty. “She sends me ideas or options constantly, and so it’s like, ‘yeah, that’s adorable, we should probably go ahead and get it.’”

Safe to say, they’ll never run out of things to sew!

A Special Kind of Small Business

The Purple Wagon isn’t just a brand; it’s a labor of love. From handpicked fabrics to unique designs, every piece carries the creativity and care of a close-knit team. And for customers, it means finding something truly special—because when it’s gone, it’s gone!

So next time you’re in The Purple Wagon, look for that special tag, and know that behind every stitch is a story of family, passion, and a whole lot of fun.