It started almost 10 years ago

In 2016, Katherine and Peter Olmstead brought home a used 18-foot Crownline bowrider — a beautiful, well-built boat with one small problem: the seats had seen better days. For many, that might have been the end of the story. But for Katherine, it was just the beginning.

With a background in interior design and a lifelong love of DIY projects, she rolled up her sleeves and set up her home Janome sewing machine at the kitchen table. Recovering bow and sundeck seats on a household machine? Most would have said it couldn’t be done. But stitch by stitch, panel by panel transformed those worn-out cushions into something spectacular. When the boat hit the water that summer, it didn’t just turn heads — it sparked an idea.

Living in Port Severn on beautiful Georgian Bay, boating isn’t just a pastime — it’s a way of life. Neighbours and friends soon began asking Katherine for small repairs. A torn seam here, a weathered cover there. Word spread quickly through the marina docks and cottage gatherings. What started as a simple project became a steady side hustle, fueled by passion and pride in craftsmanship.

Then in 2020, while visiting a small marine fabrication shop on 3 Mile Lake to purchase fabric, opportunity knocked. Katherine and Peter took a leap of faith and purchased the entire business. What began with one worn-out bowrider seat became Ship Shape Sewing — a full-service marine fabrication boutique serving the local boating community.

Today, Ship Shape Sewing designs and creates custom boat tops, covers, and seating tailored to each client’s vision and vessel. From weekend cruisers to cherished family runabouts, Katherine and Peter pour the same care into every project as they did into their very first boat.

Nearly ten years later, they’re still inspired by the sunsets over Georgian Bay, and the stories shared by fellow boaters. Because for them, it’s never just about fabric and thread — it’s about helping families feel proud of the boats that carry their memories.