Meet Your Instructor​
Each summer my mom would take me to the fabric store to pick out patterns & fabric for my school clothes. In the beginning I wasn’t thrilled about wearing “homemade” clothes.  I really wanted what other girls wore from the mall.  But that started to change as I saw girls showing up in the same outfits.  I started to ask for gauchos (they were a thing) & tops in certain colors & sometimes brought fabric home for mom to make me something. 
 
One day when I was in my early teens, mom took a pattern & fabric I'd gotten & handed them to me. I asked her why she was giving them to me. She said she was going to teach me how to sew, to which I quickly said, “no thank you.”  She said she was still going to teach me because she had things she wanted to sew for herself.  She had me rip out many wonky seams, but that was an invaluable part of my sewing education. 
 
In high school I was making a big portion of my wardrobe. I had a pattern for a blazer, straight skirt that buttoned up the side & a long, sleeved blouse that I made REPEATEDLY.  I made it in black & white & had the blouse in hot pink to go with each. 
 
As I entered the work field, I would occasionally make dresses or suits. I made my best friend’s wedding gown & headpiece while I was working full time. The train had 150 beaded lace appliqués. I got chills when she came down the aisle, she was stunning.
 
Over the years that followed, my mom & I dyed silk fabric that we sold. I taught teen, beginner, & special techniques at G-Street fabrics in Virginia, & I had an embroidery business for several years.  When my son was little, I sewed many of his clothes, Halloween costumes, etc.  I have sewn shirts for my husband & masks during COVID.  Currently I am sewing a garment a month based on each month’s birthstone.  
 
I’m comfortable laughing at my mistakes & readily share them so new sewers don’t have trial by fire experiences.  Kim