MEET THE INSTRUCTORS
Meet Our New Sewing Instructor: Julie!
We’re thrilled to welcome a new face to our sewing family!
Get to know Julie through this fun Q&A.
Q: What inspired you to start sewing?
A: My mother’s sewing area was located in my bedroom. While most children fell asleep to the sound of their mother’s voice, I fell asleep to the hum of her old black Singer sewing machine. That sound is music to my ears to this day. I was never allowed to sew on her machine—it was her business tool, after all—but I would sit beside her and watch as she explained her process. There’s something so special about turning fabric into something both beautiful and useful.
My first sewing machine was a second-hand, green-coloured Singer, bought from a local store with money I received from my wedding shower.
Q: How many years have you been sewing?
A: I’ve been sewing for 48 years. Now you know how long I’ve been married.
Q: Have you ever taken sewing lessons?
A: Aside from four years of Home Economics, I learned mostly through trial and error—and from my mother’s expert advice.
Q: What has been your biggest sewing accomplishment?
A: Designing and sewing my daughter’s wedding dress while we lived 350 kms apart. That was a true labour of love.
Q: What’s the most unique garment you’ve ever made?
A: My mother occasionally did sewing repairs for a downtown hotel and was offered some red velvet curtains from their dining room. I turned them into a very festive holiday dress and called it my Scarlet O’Hara dress.
Q: What is your favorite thing to sew?
A: I love garment sewing and alterations. While working full time in the corporate world, I also ran an alteration business. It was a great creative outlet. My husband called me the bag lady because I’d come home with bags of alterations from coworkers. I’ve pinned many a garment during my lunch hour in office bathrooms and stairwells!
Q: What can students expect in your classes?
A: Encouragement, patience, and a lot of fun! Whether you’re just starting out or building on what you know, I’ll meet you where you are. My goal is for everyone to leave class feeling confident and proud of what they’ve made.
Q: What’s one sewing tip you always share?
A: Start with the basic sewing tools, and build up to the bells and whistles. Don’t overwhelm yourself—enjoy the learning process.
Q: What’s something fun we might not know about you?
A: I once wore two different shoes to church and didn’t notice until halfway through the service!
We’re so excited to have Julie on board!
Beginner Sewing Classes start September 17 and run 1 night a week for 6 weeks – you’re going to love learning from her!
