Street Cred

Those of you reading my sewing workshop posts on Facebook may wonder how having a sewing business qualifies me to teach a good workshop.

Short answer: it doesn't!

My graduate degree in Education does.

Betcha didn't see that coming, did ya?

After several years in biotech research, I switched gears, went to William and Mary, and taught high school Biology in Virginia Beach. Moving to Rhode Island and having children forced me to think "flexible," and Dancing Threads RI eventually followed. 

I started sewing on a machine at age 8 and haven't stopped since. Summer shorts were my first project. Doll clothes. Cross stitch. Family gifts. Formal dresses for high school. I even made a dress for a friend for our Junior year ring ceremony in high school.

After that I outfitted college apartments with no money: pillows, curtains; I even slip covered a futon with a canvas painter's drop cloth.

How all of this lead to my current business is explained further in this post.

Needlepoint done by my great-grandmother, hanging in my studio.

Sewing is in my blood. I learned the basics from my mother, who learned both from her mother and a home ec class.

My great-grandmother was a seamstress for one of the big downtown Baltimore department stores before there was ever such a thing as "ready-wear clothing."

I treasure this beauty that sits in my studio.

Thank goodness my husband had the sense to make the movers put it on the second floor, where my studio is now. It weighs something like 600 pounds.

This antique Singer treadle machine belonged to my grandmother. I vividly remember sewing bean bags with her on this machine one summer when I was little.

Right now, the belt that connects the treadle to the wheel mechanism is broken. Dry rot and snapped from age, really. One day I plan to get her up and running again.

I wish I knew her exact age!

My work speaks for itself as to my sewing skills. At least I hope it does! My past teaching experience should be proof that I can teach a sewing workshop.

I'm a firm believer in project-based learning. I give you some basic instructions, materials, then help as you sew the project. No blah blah lecturing from me, I'm all about hands-on learning which is why you will bring your own sewing machine to one of my lessons or workshops. 

While I'm throwing out seemingly unrelated personal details, for the past four years or so, I also facilitate an online course at Hopkins for Maryland teachers pursuing continuing education credits. It's a fabulous work-from-home opportunity that also allows me to keep my resume current. 

If I can teach high schoolers reproduction in a Biology class, help teachers maintain their certification from 5 states away, then I should be able to teach motivated grown ups how to properly insert a zipper. Feel free to ask participants who have had a lesson from me!

Email me at karenkatin@yahoo.com if you are local and would like to learn some new sewing skills or sharpen your current ones!