More ways to Learn
Book a Private Lesson
We’re excited to now offer one-on-one private sewing! Whether you’re brand new to sewing, need help with a specific project, or want focused guidance to grow your skills, our private lessons are customized just for you.
Sharon specializes in quilting, home décor, and novelty projects
Ally is your go-to for apparel sewing
Julia is the master of creative quilting and hand quilting
Scroll down to read our full teacher bios below and choose who best fits your needs!
You’re welcome to bring your own sewing machine or use one of the studio machines—whatever makes you most comfortable. All studio tools are available for your use, too.
When you book, you’ll complete a short intake form to help your teacher prepare for your specific needs ahead of time, ensuring your lesson is smooth, productive, and tailored to your goals.
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Sharon Whitmer brings over 35 years of sewing experience and has taught at the university level. She specializes in quilting, home décor, and novelty projects.
Sharon offers one-on-one private lessons for both beginners and intermediate sewists. Each session is tailored to the individual—whether you’re brand new to sewing and need help with machine setup and basic care, or you’re a more experienced sewist looking to refine your skills, learn specific techniques, or troubleshoot a project.
If you have a project in mind, Sharon can help you plan your approach and get started. Follow-up appointments are available to review your progress, answer questions, and guide you toward a successful finish.
Fun fact: Sharon recently purchased a used long-arm quilting machine and is teaching herself how to use it. She’s already begun quilting donated tops for local charities and is loving the process!
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Ally has always loved to make things and has been a creator in one form or another for over 20 years. She began sewing in college, teaching herself the basics through small, quick projects on her beginner machine. After having her son, sewing became her primary hobby. It became a way to carve out time for herself and create something just for the joy of it. She now specializes in apparel sewing, quilting, and still delights in those fast, satisfying projects that first sparked her interest.
Ally was once a student of Hillary’s, and those classes helped her build confidence with a sewing machine and dive deeper into apparel sewing. Now, she is excited to share the knowledge she has gained over the years, whether you are a true beginner, looking for help on a larger project, or wanting to practice a new skill!
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Julia Triman is a quilter and quilting teacher fascinated with the creative process. She dreamed of making a quilt for a long time, and when she made a quilted Christmas tree skirt for her family, her passion for quilting took off! Julia has taught students of all ages for many years in many capacities, and is thrilled to be combining her decades of teaching experience with her deep love of making quilts.
Julia’s creative quilting workshops invite you to explore your inner knowing and intuition to create projects that have a unique and personal feel. In a private lesson, we can adapt ideas from one of Julia’s workshops for a personalized experience (such as making a story quilt, stitching the city, or upcycling garments to quilt blocks, for example), focus on a particular skill you’d like to acquire like hand quilting or learning how to bind a quilt (among others), or create a custom experience based on the quilt(s) you want to make.
Julia is offering private 1:1 lessons as well as semi-private (1:2) lessons if you’d prefer to learn with a friend or family member. If you are interested in a private lesson but don't see a date that works for you, please email quiltingjulia@gmail.com to see if we can find a fit.
Sign up for Open Studio
Are you looking for community and fun space to sew? Join us for Open Studio from 6-8:30 p.m.! This is a flexible drop-in style session, where you can work on a project and utilize the studio’s tools and equipment.
You’re welcome to bring your own machine or use a studio machine, and you’ll have access to all tools in the studio during your session. We also have sergers and a coverstitch available for use.
Open Studio is great for:
Using one of our sewing machines if you don’t have one or yours is acting up
A dedicated space and time to sew with friends or others in the sewing community
Using our cutting tables and tools if space is limited at home
Available resources at the studio:
Sewing machines, sergers, cover stitch (first come first serve)
Cutting tables, mats, rulers, rotary cutters, scissors
Clips/pins/etc.
Irons and ironing boards
Other misc. sewing tools as needed and available
Great sewing books and references
Because it’s a shared group environment, one-on-one attention is limited. If you need in-depth instruction or dedicated support, please schedule a private lesson or workshop.
Someone will be available to show you how to thread the machine and show you which buttons to push if you’re unsure!