About Us

Hi, I'm Mackenzie, and Untamed Needle is my one-woman handmade studio in Columbia, South Carolina.

It all started in the winter of 2020, when I bought a sewing machine and taught myself to sew to pass the time during the pandemic. My first projects were pet accessories for my best friends, Marbles (dog) and Mr. Opal (cat): bandanas first, then collars and bowties. That little hobby became my first shop, Craft Designs By Kenz.

The more I made, the more I wanted to learn. Next came punch needle, and then plastic canvas. While I was still learning, I posted a reel of myself making a plastic canvas bag, and it got over 4 million views. So many people wanted to make one too that I decided to teach others what I'd learned, and that's how my DIY bag kits were born.

Weaving t-shirt yarn through plastic canvas also showed me what I love making most: bags. Not pieces that sit on a shelf, but functional bags people actually carry around every day. Learning to crochet gave me even more ways to design them, and you can find my handmade woven and crochet bags at Soda City market here in Columbia.

Today Untamed Needle designs beginner-friendly plastic canvas bag kits and patterns for anyone who wants to make a purse they'll actually carry. Every kit comes with the plastic canvas, yarn, metal clasp and chain strap, plus a full video tutorial that walks you through every stitch. No experience needed, and every kit is packed by hand in Columbia.

The new name fits where I am now: untamed creativity, and a needle I want to put in your hands. Marbles and Mr. Opal are still my built-in models, but my favorite part these days is seeing someone carry a bag they made themselves.

Have a question about a kit, or stuck on a step? Send me a message and I'll help you out.