Sew & So...

Becky loves all aspects of quilting—from choosing the pattern to cutting the fabric, to stitching and piecing and mixing up patterns and colors. She also loves machine quilting—especially free motion quilting. Because she doesn’t have to follow a set pattern and can basically do whatever she wants, she feels that it enhances her ability to create and be artistic. She compares free motion quilting...

After hearing how the dedicated teachers at North Charleston High School created a Makerspace for their students, BERNINA and Craig Conover from Bravo TV, Southern Charm, and the owner of Sewing Down South, decided to outfit the space so that NCHS scholars could dream, create and pursue their passion. This story of creativity and hope began when Ms. Connell, an art teacher at NCHS and founder of t...

British by birth, Paul Ashworth is an avowed world traveler and has lived and worked in multiple countries. Bernina of America represents half of Bernina's business worldwide, and during his time there, he has successfully grown the business by over 65%.  When asked what brought him to Bernina, he says, “…I guess you can say it’s luck.” He shares that if someone had told him he’d one day be joinin...

Ricky began designing and making quilts in 1991 and has been named one of the 30 most distinguished quilters in the world. He was selected by the readers of Quilters Newsletter Magazine as the most influential person in the quilting industry and was profiled on CBS Sunday Morning. Ricky is passionate about sharing his creative experience and enthusiasm and encourages individuals to cultivate self-...

Leah’s passion for fashion began when she was a young girl.  When she was in the fifth grade, her mother enrolled her in a summer sewing class.  Leah loved it and begged her mom to enroll her in another class. Unfortunately, none were available, so her grandmother became her teacher.  Her first major creations were three hand-sewn A-Line dresses for herself, her sister, and their friend.  Once the...

Deanna’s love for all things sewing began when she was a young girl when she was nurtured by her mom, her grandmothers, and 4H. She talks fondly of the many memories she has of growing up among sewists, including how, every Christmas Eve she and her three sisters would listen to the hum of the sewing machine from the other room, and awaken Christmas morning to find new robes hanging on their doors...

Amanda Carita began her sewing adventures at age 5 on her grandmother’s hand-crank sewing machine, and although she prefers the modern technology of her BERNINA 850, she still has her grandmother’s machine. She talks about her those early years; her family’s history in textiles, and what it was like growing up with four generations of women in the same house, and how it created such a strong bond...

Born and raised in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, Mary Margaret is a third-generation quilter. She says that it didn’t matter if you were a boy or a girl: If your mother was a quilter you were going to learn how to quilt. What they did was a way of life and a necessity. They didn’t know what they were doing would be considered art. All that changed in the late 1990s and early 2000s when a man by the name of...

As we begin our casual conversation with Lindsey and Stacey, we learn that Lindsey has four full-time jobs, which doesn’t leave much time for sewing. Lucky for her, Lindsey’s mom Stacey comes from a long line of sewists and has been an avid quilter since 1991. The two share a charming story about an heirloom quilt Stacey made Lindsay for her 30th birthday; a quilt her dog soon discovered.  After t...

From his dorm room to his mom’s garage to a storefront workshop at the Platform in Culver City, Tristan continues to pursue his passion, with surfing and travel as his inspiration. According to Tristan, “After an hour in the water, I get out and I’m ready to create.”    Tristan launched STAN in 2019, and In March of 2020 Rowing Blazers wanted to add his designs on their website. His 18 one-of-a-ki...

Early in our conversation, Gail shares that after one class at the Manchester Sewing Machine Center in Connecticut, she was hooked. She describes it as being a transformative experience for her. “Honestly,” she says, “it was like someone pulled back a curtain on a whole new world.” She took the class right after buying a new mid-range machine that had about 50 built-in decorative stitches. It was...

In our casual conversation, Shelancia shares that her first-born, Elijah, is on the spectrum, and that much of her work since his birth has been trying to find ways to connect and create with children—especially those who are not within the standard deviation.  Located in Houston, Texas, and Rochester, New York, Creativity Shell teaches classes in sewing, textile arts, cooking, building, and other...

Kristina started the “Auntie-Sewing Squad” as a way to connect with friends during the pandemic.  Today it’s a national network with more than 800 volunteers doing their part to help vulnerable communities. Like Kristina, many members of the Sewing Aunties are of Asian descent, and their families’ involvement in the garment industry played a role in their passage to America.  Although sewing has b...

In this enlightening and aspirational conversation with Dr. Karen Nyberg, we learn how she combines her experience in space with her passion for textile art and design—especially as it relates to conservation and sustainability.  Karen’s mom taught her to sew at the age of six, and she made her first shirt complete with interfacing before she was 10.  When she wasn’t making her own clothes, Karen...

This fascinating podcast features the individual and shared journeys of two exceptionally talented sewists who learned to sew through watching videos, reading, and attending “YouTube University.” Both love bold fabrics and prints that echo their heritage. Both create from the heart.  With roots in Ghana, South Africa, Monica was born and raised in New York City and currently lives in Dallas, Texas...

Pam grew up watching her mother sew dresses for her and her sister and was in fifth grade when she started taking sewing seriously. She recounts going to a sewing class with her mother where the teacher was a manager of a French design workshop in France, and how exciting it was to learn about the evolution of sewing. But wasn’t until Pam graduated high school and attended the MATC program that sh...

As we begin our conversation we learn about Michael’s early years and his realization that, for him, quilting isn’t about following a prescribed pattern, but rather about envisioning unlimited possibilities—the same possibilities he sees in life. Having received his degree in photojournalism from Emerson University, Michael started using photography as reference materials for his creations and lat...

Corin’s love of sewing began as a teenager when she enrolled in her high school’s fashion textiles program. It was here that she learned how to drape, draft and sew on an industrial machine. Knowing she wanted to be a fashion designer, Corin received a BA in Fashion Design at Norfolk State University. Unable to find work in the industry when she went to New York, where she went on to attend the Fa...

During a casual conversation, Margaret shares that on a Saturday morning in 2005, she happened upon an article that was the genesis of The Sewing Machine Project. The article, written by a BBC reporter, was about three women returning to their village in Southeast Asia after the Tsunami of 2004.  When asked what they hoped to find when they returned to her village, one woman’s answer really struck...

Although Craig’s love of sewing began in his 8th grade Home Economics class, it came to the forefront when, a few years ago, he and his girlfriend broke up and the only thing he was left with was his sewing machine. It was then that he taught himself to make pillows, describing it as a newly found lost hobby.  Although it took him years to realize it, Craig has an inherent drive to create.  Not on...

A mother of three and grandmother of four, Jinny starts this casual conversation by talking about how her love of family runs deep. Whether it’s her own family stories that remind her of her roots, biblical stories that help ground her in her faith,  or stories of quilters that affirm her creativity, the common thread that runs through all of her families is the power of shared stories. When woven...

Julane began sewing in middle school and loved it. “A hobby that got out of control.” is how she describes her passion for sewing in this insightful podcast.  It began when she was doing community theater; budgets were limited, so she sewed her own costumes as a hobby. Then she began to collect costumes. Before long, word of her talent spread, and she was sought out to create costumes for school t...

This casual conversation with Amanda Murphy takes us on an inspired-filled journey, from her humble beginnings as an aspiring tween sewist to a professional graphic designer to the twist and turns that led her to the career she loves and excels at today.  Although her parents weren’t in creative fields, Amanda considers them to be her greatest influencers as they were always supportive of her crea...

This episode explores Bisa Butler’s fascinating journey, which began with her getting a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting at Howard University. Realizing painting was not her passion, she went on to Montclair University to pursue a Master's in Teaching. It was there, while making a quilt in her first-ever fibers class, that she had an artistic epiphany;  she realized she could do what she loved, e...