Whether you want to make incredible home decor and custom clothing, dye your own materials, or even want to learn how to turn your creative passion into a business, our teachers are here to help!
The full schedule of classes is available in the 2021 Sewing & Stitchery Expo Virtual Class Catalog (link opens PDF).
2021 Teacher Biographies
| Image | Teacher | Company | Biography | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Tina Bartelmay | Brother International Corp | Tina began her sewing-crafting-embroidery journey as a young child, watching and then helping her grandmother. She learned to make patterns from existing clothes, to make clothing for herself and her family, and then home decor and quilting projects for herself and others. Machine embroidery was added to her tool kit in the late 1990s to enhance her creative options—and because it is just so much fun. Her collection has grown to include an assortment of Brother single and multi-needle machines to complete her projects with ease. She added the Scan n Cut to her studio in 2014, to expand into vinyl and other materials. Now, pretty much everything that is not moving is fair game for some sort of embellishment or upcycling. After retiring from a career in healthcare, Tina is thrilled to have her dream job focused on being creative and making things. She loves traveling across the country to share her experience and lessons learned with the sewing-embroidering-crafting community. | Website |
 | Mathew Boudreaux | Mister Domestic | Mathew Boudreaux of Mister Domestic spreads joy & positivity through sewing & crafting. Whether in the classroom or in his community, Mathew has created a truly inclusive environment where all are welcome, unless your happiness is based on the oppression of others. Keep it positive and stay safe. | Website |
 | Tammie Bowser | HowToSewArt.com | Before Tammie Bowser began making art quilts, she worked in the fashion industry as a patternmaker. She takes pleasure in creating quilting techniques that are easy and fun. She views herself as a fabric engineer. Teaching students how to make amazing museum quality art quilts is the best part of her job. As seen on TV. | Email Website |
 | Crystalyn Brennan | Crystalyn Kae Accessories | Crystalyn Brennan is an entrepreneur, designer, mentor and teacher specializing in hands-on sustainable design, marketing and sales for entrepreneurs. For the past 20 years she has run her handbag company, Crystalyn Kae Accessories, which are sold on her website: www.crystalynkae.com, and available to over 60 boutiques nationwide. | Email Website |
 | Stacy Brisbee | Pendleton Woolen Mills | Stacy Brisbee has worked for Pendleton Woolen Mill 12 years. She teaches sewing and runs the eBay store. She has three grown children, including two in the military and one still living at home. She enjors riding horses and skiing in her spare time. | Website |
 | Steve Butler | Clover Needlecraft | Steve Butler is the Director of Education for Clover Needlecraft. In that role he has lectured at all major sewing machine conventions, noted national and regional trade shows and International Quilt Market. He also authors Tool School, the popular online educational initiative by Clover. | Website |
| Amanda Carita | So Sew English Fabrics | Amanda Carita is the owner and founder of So Sew English Fabrics. She has a passion for sewing and sharing her love and knowledge of fabric. She founded her business on the dream of making beautiful, affordable fabric available to everyone. | Website |
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 | Kandi Christian | Sew Timeless | Kandi L. Christian MBA is a well-known instructor of classes both in the US and England. She is an author of 16 books on sewing and the business of sewing and teaching. She frequently writes articles for major sewing magazines. She had been a featured speaker at many sewing events throughout the US. | Website |
 | Teresa Coates | Shannon Fabrics | Teresa Coates is the National Educator for Shannon Fabrics. With 30+ years of sewing experience and more than two decades as a quilter, Teresa has an array of knowledge and skills that she uses in her workshops with both quilters and sewists alike. | Website |
 | Rae Cumbie | Fit for Art Patterns | Rae Cumbie is Creative Director at Fit for Art Patterns whose three core patterns yield one great wardrobe! Her coaching, blog posts, online classes, Threads articles and Sew News fitting columns encourage stitchers to sew successfully fun, comfortable, fabulously fitting, artful garments. | Website |
 | Pamela Damour | The Decorating Diva | The author of Pillow Talk, Cheaper by the Dozen, Got Quilts?, The Tangled Home, Hold Everything & Power Serge, Pam's broadcast studio is equipped with five cameras to give you a close-up experience. Her down to earth nature, combined with her professionalism creates a warm and creative experience. | Email Website |
 | John Deer | The Deer's Embroidery Legacy | John Deer is an expert digitizer with over 3 decades in the industry. A fourth-generation embroiderer born into the Schiffli industry. Over the years hes continually adapted this old-school theory with todays modern software programs, creating designs that are both beautiful and machine-friendly. | Email Website |
 | Reva Flood | Quality Sewing & Vacuum | Reva has been sewing from a young age and pursued her love of sewing and design through college where she earned a BA in Apparel Design. Since then, she has been immersed in the sewing industry both as an educator, event manager and entrepreneur. | Website |
 | Melissa Galbraith | MCreativeJ | Melissa Galbraith is the fiber artist behind MCreativeJ. She was born and raised in the desert of Washington state, where her mother instilled a love of making things by hand at an early age. Melissa loves sharing her skills with others through Pattern Club and hands on workshops. | Email Website Blog |
 | Darlene Girton | Featherweight Doctor | Darlene has been working in the quilting industry for more than 24 years. First as a long-arm quilter, quilting educator and designer. Armed with her experience, she founded Featherweight Doctor, which encompasses all things Singer Featherweight, including Service, Education, Restoration. | Email Website |
 | Lois Hallock | Your Perfect Quilting Space | Lois Hallock is a quilter, Professional Engineer, and a Professional Organizer. She is author of the book Creating Your Perfect Quilting Space. She is a quilter for 25 years and lectures, teaches and consults individually with quilters on quilt studio design and organizing. | Email Website |
 | Jane Hauprich | Stitch By Stitch Custom Quilting | Jane is a self-taught longarm quilter specializing in custom free motion quilting. She is an award-winning quilter who loves sharing her knowledge of quilting with other quilters. She enjoys teaching at shows, shops and also as a Handi Quilter National Educator. | Website |
 | Heidi Hilmerson | So Sew English Fabrics | Heidi Hilmerson is an administrator and educator at So Sew English Fabrics. She is passionate about creating handmade garments sewn with soft, comfortable knit fabrics. She loves helping students, new to knit fabrics, dive in with confidence. | Website |
 | Mary Jo Hiney | Mary Jo Hiney Designs | Mary Jo is the artisan owner of Mary Jo Hiney Designs, producing a thorough line of hand-dyed silk ribbon, fabrics, kits and patterns for embroidery, ribbonwork, sewing and other categories. She designs for The French Needle and is a Craftsy "Embroidering with Ribbon" instructor. | Email Website |
 | Lindsey Johns | Inside the Hem | Lindsey is the host of the popular sewing YouTube channel, Inside The Hem. She specializes in garment sewing teaching techniques for the home sewist. Prior to her YouTube career, she owned a social media marketing company that helped small businesses succeed online. | Facebook |
 | Judith Kessinger | FitNice, LLC | Judy Kessingers business combines casual, sophisticated looks with stress free fitting. Create an entire wardrobe with two patterns, Design It Yourself and Simple Sewlutions Workbooks. She teaches that fitting makes the garments come alive and compliment the body instead of simply covering it. | Email Website |
 | Cheryl Kuczek | Paradiso Designs | Cheryl Kuczek is a passionate sewist and maker. I am happiest throwing together unexpected elements together to create bohemian accessories & fashion! Vast indie creations available in my collection of Paradiso Designs sewing patterns and fun tutorials on my blog! | Website |
 | Carmen Laponte | Quality Sewing & Vacuum | Carmen is one of the owners of Quality Sewing & Vacuum. She is passionate about all things sewing and loves introducing people to the latest sewing, quilting and embroidery innovations. | Website |
 | Susan Lazear | Cochenille Design Studio | Susan Lazear is a Professor of Fashion at San Diego Mesa College. She is a recognized author and wearable artist, specializing in mixed media. Susan owns Cochenille Design Studio which develops software and design aids for knitters, sewers, and textile artists. She has taught around the world. | Email Website |
 | Pamela Leggett | Pamela's Patterns and Palmer/Pletsch | Pamela Leggett is the owner and creator of Pamelas Patterns, a company that specializes in creating sewing patterns designed to fit and flatter women with REAL figures which means women with curves, fluff and scallops! Her classic designs and easy sewing methods are a favorite with sewists. | Email Website |
 | Amy Loh Kupser | i-bead.com / i-stitch.com | Amy Loh Kupser has been an artist all her life. For more than 20 years, Amy has shared her passion through teaching and creating bead and appliqué quilt patterns. Normally you'd find Amy traveling all over the country to stores, shows and guilds, not this year! She is venturing into the virtual world of teaching online and will have a monthly free workshop sharing my love of creating in multiple mediums from drawing, beading, quilting and more on Zoom and also be offering specific project classes. She lives in the Rocky Mountains just under Yellowstone National Park with amazing views of the Grand Teton Mountains with her husband and two pets. | Email Website |
 | Ellie Lum | Klum House Workshop | Ellie Lum has more than 20 years of professional bag making experience. Ellie's superpower is teaching makers to achieve professional-quality results on a home sewing machine - and have a heck of a lot of fun while doing it. She's passionate about empowering folks through sharing her craft. | Website |
 | Julie Luoma | Off The Wall Quilt | Julie teaches, lectures and creates new quilt designs and templates. Her quirky humor and relaxed attitude are reflected in her presentations and not quite perfect quilts. Youll find her online and at quilt shows. In her classes you can expect her to be patient and careful in her instructions. You are welcome to photograph her quilts and all questions are welcomed. | Email Website |
 | Jennefer Marker | Compass Moon Creations | Jennefer Marker is the owner of Compass Moon Creations. Her mission is to create beautiful, unique, functional things. Art that you use. Fiber and textiles are at the core of who we are. Why should it all look the same? She seeks to inspire by the possibilities of what you can do with them. | Email Website |
 | Patty Marty | Baby Lock, USA Tacony Corporation | Patty Marty is the Manager of Training, Education and Events for Baby Lock. While her background is in embroidery, she has quickly grown to love teaching on all machines! She is an inspired individual with an enthusiasm for fun fabrics, whimsical design and love of sewing, quilting and serging! | Website |
 | Sarah Maxwell | Designs by Sarah J | Sarah Maxwell is a Marcus Fabrics and Aurifil Thread designer. With more than 150 published designs and multiple books, Sarah focuses on handwork and on helping quilters develop confidence in using color and fabrics in quilts. She also loves helping quilters master precision techniques. | Email Website |
 | Donelle McAdams | Sew Steady | Donelle McAdams is a Gold Accredited Teacher for Westalee Design/Sew Steady. She shares her love and enthusiasm for sewing and quilting internationally. An experienced teacher, taking a class with Donelle is guaranteed to be information-packed, inspirational and FUN! She has been a quilt store owner for 37 years. | Email Website |
 | Sheila McKay | McKay Manor Musers | Sheila is just one of the owners and designers at McKay Manor Musers- the company she runs with her two daughters Kira and Kayla. We really enjoy creating patterns and projects that will be easy to make and be loved by the recipient. Our mission is to inspire creativity in others! | Email Website |
 | Trish McLaughlin | Trish Stitched | Trish, the seamstress behind the blog Trish Stitched, has been sewing for 14 years. Trish is passionate about sustainability in her sewing and repurposes fabric swatches into bags (sold on Etsy) and refashions clothing. You can find her work & DIY tutorials on Instagram! | Email Website |
 | Linda McLean | WSU Colville Reservation Extension | Linda McLean, Director/4-H Educator for Colville Reservation WSU Extension. Employed with WSU for 13 years and a 4-H alumni, she is an advocate for teaching sewing skills. She has successfully organized, planned and taught many sewing classes covering traditional Native American garments & footwear. | Website |
 | Carol Mesimer | Clover Needlecraft | Carol Mesimer is a teacher and demonstrator for Clover-USA, and a member of Piece Corps with Quilts, Inc. After teaching her first knitting class at 17, she was hooked on teaching. She believes students should have fun in class, while gaining a strong foundation in technique. An award-winning quilter, her quilts have hung in national shows and museums in the U.S. and the Netherlands. Her knit and stitched miniature animals were featured in an exhibit at the International Quilt Festival shows in Houston and Chicago. When not on the road teaching, Carol stays busy with a assortment of needlework projects, and is president and show chairman for her local Mineral & Gem Society. | Website |
 | Martha G Michell | Michell Marketing/From Marti Michell | Marti Michell is a popular quilting teacher (49 states & 26 countries.) Since 1995, she is best known for From Marti Michell acrylic tools for rotary cutting and her passion for teaching accuracy and skill. She is also a prolific author (2 million books sold) & fabric designer. Marti was a 2020 Quilter's Hall of Fame inductee. | Email Website |
 | Sandra Miller | Cutting Line Designs | Sandra Miller is the first sample maker for Cutting Line Designs, where she also writes the instructions for this independent pattern company. She teaches at sewing expos across the U.S. and writes the Stitch to Style blog. Sharing sewing skills and knowledge has been her chosen path for decades. | Email Website |
 | Tiffany Morehouse | The Rain Shed | Tiffany began sewing at an early age and her first project was ski boot gear bag. She quickly realized how much she enjoyed making things that can be used every day, and for outdoor use. She owns an outdoor fabric store in Washington state. | Website |
 | Krista Moser | Krista Moser, the Quilted Life | Krista Moser is a sewing enthusiast and quilt pattern designer. She has published 27 patterns since 2016 with more in development. She is the designer of the Creative Grids 60 Degree Diamond Rulers and has been teaching sewing and quilting lessons for more than 25 years. | Email Website Blog |
 | Shannon & Jason Mullett-Bowlsby | The Shibaguyz | Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby are the dynamic DIY duo known as the Shibaguyz. Their enthusiasm, quirky sense of humor, and relatable teaching style have made them best-selling teachers in local and national venues. They have over 12 books published and have just released their newest book. | Email Website |
 | Monica O'Rourke Bravo | BravoBella | Since Monica learned to sew on her grandmother's knee at 5 years old, she has been passionate about using her knowledge of math, science, and engineering to create designs and patterns. Her goal is to provide excellent instruction to empower women to create beautiful, supportive bras. | Email Website |
 | Vaune Pierce | Vaune | Vaune Pierce started smocking over 30 years ago, for her 4 children. She has attended classes at the Imperial Bordados Embroidery Factory in Madeira, Portugal, and through The Royal School of Needlework. A nationally known teacher/designer for not only smocking, but Heirloom sewing, embroidery and construction, she teaches for American Sewing Guild groups, Smocking Arts of America guilds, and seminars around the country. She is the owner/designer of the Classic Couture Pattern line, as well as Vaune, which carries Petite Piping Cord, fine fabrics, laces and Swiss embroideries. Vaune lives with her husband, John, in Moorpark, California. | Email Website Blog |
 | Rhonda Pierce | SCHMETZ Needles | Rhonda Pierce delightfully explains sewing machine needles, so you can make informed choices. With extensive sewing, quilt shop and wholesale distributor management experiences, Rhonda delivers a unique perspective as Marketing Director of Euro-notions and Spokesperson for SCHMETZneedles.com NA. | Website |
 | Janet Pray | Islander Sewing Systems | After many years of production sewing & teaching employees to do the same, Janet realized her next level of sewing passion was to teach industry techniques to home-sewers. Her mission is to teach the time-saving techniques used by fashion designers and garment factories to hobbyist and custom sewers | Email Website |
 | Jessica Rabbitt | So Sew English Fabrics | Jessica Rabbitt is a administrator, inspirer, and educator at So Sew English Fabrics. She is a mother of six and loves sewing handmade garments for her family and business. She enjoys sharing about fabric and patterns and encouraging others in making their own custom fit, handmade clothing. | Website |
 | Sheila Rolfer | Clover Needlecraft | Sheila Rolfer is the knitting and crochet educator for Clover. Sheila adds over 50 years of knitting experience originating from her English grandmother. Using a variety of tools, textiles and techniques, she is particularly adept at creating unique and fun weaving, knitting and crochet projects | Email Website |
 | Marilyn Romatka | Taproot Folk Arts, LLC | Marilyn teaches a wide variety of living folk art crafts, from painting techniques to weaving, the common thread being the techniques are all deep-rooted in a culture from around the world. You might say the techniques she teaches have all survived the test of time. Marilyn has the best job in the world; she travels to various countries gathering folk art techniques, then returns to the US to teach enthusiastic students! | Email Website Blog |
 | Connie Spurlock | Sew Wonderful Dreams | Connie Spurlock, Coeur d'Alene, ID is the owner of Sew Wonderful Dreams, a pattern design company established in 1989. SWD originally focused on craft patterns, while today the emphasis in on quilting and education. For the past 30 years, Connie has taught throughout the states and points beyond. | Website |
 | Kiffanie Stahle | the artist's J.D. LLC | Kiffanie Stahle is the friendly legal eagle behind the artist's J.D. She's also a knitter, fellow creative business owner, and lawyer living in beautiful Northern California. She firmly believes that you can protect your ass(ets) without legal confusion. And that you can have ease in the legalese. | Website |
 | Jennifer Stern-Hasemann | J Stern Designs | Jennifer has a solid background in pattern design and drafting, fit and construction. Her focus is drafting flattering patterns with easy to follow instructions and fitting techniques. She loves to share a wide variety of sewing, serging, fitting and construction techniques via her YouTube Channel. | Email Website |
 | Coleen Swettman | Brother International Corp | Website |
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 | Monica Tetteh | That's Sew Monica | Monica Monyo-Tetteh is known in the sewing community as Thats Sew Monica. Born and raised in New York City with roots from Ghana, West Africa, she took up sewing to connect to her late mother, who also sewed. She is one of the owners of Sewrority Wear, LLC a sewing apparel company that provides paraphernalia and novelty items to the sewing community. She hosts a virtual and in-person sew-a-longs. Her YouTube channel called On the Road with Thats Sew Monica highlights the Dallas area fashion district, home sewers and designers. In addition, in June 2020, Monicas leadership lead her to form Black Makers Matter, a coalition of black makers united to bring about and implement cultural transformation in the sewing and crafting industry. Black Makers Matter envisions a creative landscape that lovingly reflects black makers, voices and their diversity within the maker community. | Website |
 | Connie Tkach | The Sewing Project | Connie Tkach loves to sew and teach. She has sewn for more than 30 years, and it is her passion and her heart. She started The Sewing Project sewing school in 2018 and is living her dream job. She enjoys watching her students fall in love with sewing and fashion. They inspire her! She has been a Clothing & Textile Advisor since 2007. | Website |
 | Michelle Umlauf | Clover Needlecraft | Michelle Umlauf is a freelance National Educator representing Clover, Sulky and Pam Damour - the Decorating Diva. She is a licensed Martha Pullen Teacher and a Certified Burda Teacher. Join her for UFO Friday on her Facebook page, Sewing Machine Artistry at 3pm Eastern Time. | Website |
 | Annie Unrein | ByAnnie.com LLC | Annie Unrein of ByAnnie.com has been designing patterns since 2000. Her very thorough patterns focus on practical and useful projects. Annie's made hundreds of bags and loves sharing her knowledge and experience. You will love her easy but smart techniques that produce quality, professional results. | Website |
 | Joe Vecchiarelli | French European Inc | Joe Vecchiarelli has worked in the fashion industry for over 40 years. He has ventured in television production with shows like Dancing with the Stars, The X Factor, and Fashion Star. Presently, Mr. Vecchiarelli is helping fashion students and enthusiasts grasp their dreams and become successful. | Email Website |
 | Sue Wachter | Local Art Class | Sue Wachter is a popular watercolor, acrylic and wearable art instructor. She has a unique teaching ability to observe and grow each students individual artistic potential. Her favorite students to create with are those of any age who consider themselves beginners. Sue has taught through the Centralia College Continuing Education Department for more than 15 years. She continues to teach through Centralia College and at a variety of venues in southwest Washington. Her memberships in the arts community include: SW Washington Artrails, and the 2019-20 Teaching Artist Training Lab Cohort. Her work can be seen at the Rectangle Gallery in Centralia, Wash. | Email |
 | Katrina Walker | Katrina Walker LLC | Katrina Walker is known for her expertise in construction techniques, textiles, sergers, and machine embroidery. She is the author of the newly released A Field Guide: Serger 101. Her work is regularly featured in sewing magazines and her popular online classes have enrolled thousands worldwide. Katrina is very excited to bring her classes to Virtual Sew Expo. Teaching online gives the unique opportunity to include sewing enthusiasts who might not normally be able to attend Sew Expo. | Email Website |
 | Anne Whalley | Anne Whalley | Anne is a public speaker to the international sewing community. Her mission is to educate, empower and entertain. Anne is a sewing mentor to sewists around the world, facilitated workshops in Europe, America, and Australia, and judges at the annual Royal Melbourne Agricultural show. She is an ASG member and friend of Bernina. | Email Website |
 | Angela Wolf | Angela Wolf Patterns | Angela Wolf, entrepreneur, fashion and pattern designer, anchor of the PBS series Its Sew Easy and Host of Behind the Scenes and At Your Side Virtually LIVE weekly Facebook shows. Founder of Angela Wolf Patterns & Online Academy. Online Instructor, Author, Blogger, Vlogger, and Brand Ambassador | Email Website |
 | Gail Yellen | Gail Patrice Design | Gail teaches serger classes in person and online around the world. Author of "Serger Essentials Master the Basics & Beyond," Gail will unlock the mysteries of your serger and help you maximize its amazing construction and decorative stitches. Prepare to expand your serging/coverstitch potential! | Website |