[2] Zieman was always open about her condition; she wrote about it, was interviewed by journalists, and hosted a segment on her television show with medical professionals.
"[2] Zieman wrote that "sewing became my outlet, passion, and eventual career" because "winning a ribbon at the county fair, or a prize through the Make It Yourself with Wool contest, required skill not looks.
In the early years, Zieman ran a one-woman show, developing the scripts, making the samples, and taping the programs.
Zieman was the host and executive producer since its inauguration, until her retirement due to ill health in September 2017.
On September 2, 2017, Zieman announced on her blog that after 910 shows of Sewing with Nancy, she was retiring, explaining that one of her cancers had metastasized and that "additional treatments would not be helpful.
[1] Zieman received the National 4-H Alumni Award in 1991 and in 2014 the University of Wisconsin-Extension 4-H Youth Development Program inducted her in the Wisconsin 4-H Hall of Fame.