Sewing & Quilting Instructors | Sewing Classes in Orlando & The Villages

Mary-Jeanine

Mary-Jeanine Ibarguen is one of our quilting teachers. She has been sewing since she was 5, making quilts since 1987, teaching for us since 2001! She really enjoys just about every type of quilting: machine AND hand piecing, computer aided design, improv and traditional, free-motion quilting as well as ruler work. Mary-Jeanine is constantly thinking up new designs and ideas to bring fun projects to her students, as well as for her monthly TT&T Club followers. She prides herself on adding value to every class with extra tips along the way, useful not just for the project at hand but also future endeavors. Mary-Jeanine lives in Maitland with her husband and loves to take their travel trailer out each summer in search of cooler weather and magnificent scenery.   When she’s not sewing, she’s hiking, biking and volunteering for her church.

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Howard

Howard Vincent Kurtz is Professor Emeritus of the College of Visual and Performing Arts at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, where he taught for twenty-five years. His previous work experience included several years as a pattern maker in New York City, creating theatrical costumes and fashion designs for Broadway, Hollywood films, and television. Now semi-retired and living in Florida, Howard is involved in all things costume and lectures on topics related to historical dress throughout the East Coast. At home he loves to create kitchen crafts, such as aprons, table runners, and placemats. Since 2018, he has managed the pattern inventory and taught classes at the Sewing Studio for the beginner to advanced sewer. Howard’s first sewing project was to pattern, hand stitch, and appliqué a felt eyeglass case for his mother at the age of five.

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JaneAnn

With 25 years of teaching sewing I have developed a unique way of helping students learn the techniques and tips of sewing. I don’t view learning as a fail or pass, you come, you learn, and you leave happy and full of new knowledge. I see it as a time to make something to feel good about yourself and have some fun in the process. I teach the beginning sewing classes of garments. Seeing a smile come across a student’s face when they realize they just sewed a garment for the first time is a reward.

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Connie

Meet Connie, she loves teaching students the many creative ways to use their ScanNCut machine. Whether you are a newbie or an experienced ScanNCut user, Connie offers a large variety of classes, so you will never stop learning. When you speak to Connie you can tell how passionate she is about the ScanNCut with the time she puts in creating and preparing for her classes. Each time the new class calendar comes out she keeps pulling a feather out of her hat and creates a whole new line of classes that are amazing! Connie has over 30 years experience in teaching and loves to teach while having fun with her students, there is never a dull moment! You leave classes with a smile, inspired and wanting to rush home to use your ScanNCut!!

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Pat

Pat has been sewing, painting, crafting, and creating for as long as she can remember. Her love now is embroidery and creating on her top of the line embroidery machine. She loves to share her knowledge and teach classes to her customers. Her love of sewing brought her to The Sewing Studio in 1984 where she has been ever since. In 2000, she and her husband Mark, purchased the store and later Eric and Kelsey, her son and daughter joined them. Together, they have grown the business to what it is today.

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Toni

My name is Toni Hill and I really enjoy machine embroidery. I have been embroidering for over 20 years and enjoy sharing my experience with students, customers, and friends. When I was just 7 years old, I proclaimed to my mother that I wanted to sew. She said to pick out a pattern and material. I have been sewing ever since.

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Fran

Fran has been in love with sewing since early childhood, following in the footsteps of her Mother and Aunts. She began hand sewing clothes for her dolls and then machine sewing garments for herself by 12 years old. Later, Fran became interested in Machine Embroidery and Digitizing software which led to the beginning of her teaching career in the sewing/embroidery field 20+ years ago.

Fran loves to sew garments and embellish clothing with embroidery, heat transfer vinyl and rhinestones. Her newest interest has been making handbags in and out of the hoop.

At the Sewing Studio, Fran teaches mostly Machine embroidery classes/projects that involve different “In The Hoop Embroidery” techniques. The possibilities are endless.

Fran was born and raised in RI and fell in love with Disney after performing in Magic Kingdom with her High School Band. Fran is a Clarinetist and a former Music Educator, High School Band Director, Assistant Athletic Band Director at the University of RI and Adjunct Music Professor at Salve Regina University. Fran moved to Winter Garden with her husband, Leland, 3 years ago to enjoy the warmth and Disney World.

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Patty

Patty has demonstrated a strong commitment to sewing all her life. Since moving to Orlando in 1984, she has been a customer, advocate, and friend of the Sewing Studio. Patty is a member and Event Chairperson of the Orlando chapter of American Sewing Guild (ASG) and a member of a sister group, called FashionAbility. She regularly attends sewing conferences, online training courses, and conventions to brush up on her sewing skills. Additionally, she worked in the finance and data processing industry where she spent years traveling and training adults. She brings both adult training skills and an enthusiasm for sewing to the classroom. Patty believes that every person with a desire to have beautiful garments can achieve professional results after mastering a few simple techniques. She provides practical tips, clear step-by-step instructions, a welcoming classroom environment, and encourages every student to come to class with an open mind and a willingness to learn new things.

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Janet

Janet started her sewing journey when she was 9. She was lovingly taught by her Grandma, and enjoyed all the time they spent sewing together. Janet enjoys sewing garments, crafts, quilts and most of all embroidery, especially in the hoop projects.

When she’s not sewing she’s teaching, volunteering at the Central Florida Community Pet Clinic or out riding her motorcycle.
Working part time at the Sewing Studio in 2007, she noticed there were no basic sewing classes for adults and set out to change that and started the Sewing Basics class series. Janet taught Sewing Basics until her full time job called her away with more duties.

The sewing basics classes continued to be big part of the sewing studio curriculum and many of the other classes have been patterned off of the same “series” type set up.

First Noel Kohr and currently JaneAnn McMullen stepped in to teach the Sewing Basics classes. Now Janet has retired and she’s back to show her students just how easy and how much fun sewing can be.

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Mary

Mary McCarthy has taught sewing for over 30 years. Her specialty is fitting garments and couture techniques. A former professor of Fashion Design at Sanford Brown College, she has also written 3 books on sewing techniques and has been featured in Threads Magazine, Sew News, and Pattern Review.com. Her sewing and design business is located in Rockledge, Florida.

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Pamela

Pamela has been teaching at The Sewing Studio for six years, and before that was a Costume Shop Manager for seven years. She developed her love of sewing while learning on the job to create costumes from sketches including flat pattern drafting and advanced construction techniques. After leaving the theatre she decided to embrace the crafty side of sewing, learning how to construct bags and make quilts to give as gifts. Pamela teaches classes that cover modern traditional quilt piecing and bag making. She also teaches our young sewers classes and participates in our summer kid’s camp program.

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Sindy

I began sewing at the age of eight, learning on my grandmother’s treadle sewing machine. Over the years, I crafted all my own school clothing, prom dresses, and even my wedding dress, developing a deep appreciation for handmade garments. Approximately 45 years ago, I discovered quilting, which quickly became my passion. Since 2001, I have been teaching quilting at Sewing Studio, where I take great pride in sharing my expertise and inspiring others.

In addition to my work in textiles, I am actively involved in supporting animal rescue organizations and am the proud owner of several rescue Australian Shepherds. A piece of dark chocolate is always close at hand while I sew, fueling my creativity.

My personal philosophy is guided by the quote, “You never know how strong you are until STRONG is your only choice.” Outside of sewing and quilting, I enjoy cultivating my herb garden and incorporating homegrown herbs into my cooking.

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Nivia

Her love for sewing began as a child, picking up scraps from her mother’s sewing projects to make Barbie doll clothes. Soon after, she took her first sewing lessons, and that was the beginning of a long journey learning and creating with fabric and thread.

She studied with Carlota Alfaro, a world-renowned designer from Puerto Rico, where she obtained several certificates and accolades on fashion design, construction, patternmaking and Couture sewing. Since then, she has worked as a designer & seamstress for Bridal, Special Occasions and Heirloom sewing.

Nivia was also a professional ballet dancer and teacher and was always involved in dance and theatre costume making. She also completed several certificates for professional costuming classes at Tutu.com in North Carolina.

As a machine embroidery digitizer, Nivia is the creator of the Net Darning & Hemstitch Designs for Machine Embroidery Collection, distributed by Martha Pullen Company worldwide. Her designs were featured in several issues of Sew Beautiful Magazine.

Nivia loves to share her knowledge and experiences through this journey in her sewing and machine embroidery software classes.

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Sue

Sue started sewing at a very young age and hasn't stopped, always looking for ways to improve her art and creativity. Being self taught, she has improved her skills through various classes and Educators through the years. When Sue retired from the Mortgage Industry, she met Judy Kessinger of The Fit Nice Systems and got certified to teach both her Tops Pattern and Pants Pattern.

Always striving for the perfect fit, Sue has recently taken many classes to enhance her skills and knowledge on pattern drafting and fit. She loves to share her knowledge and enjoys teaching. Sue has lived in the Orlando area for over 30 years. She is married to Mark and has a step-son who lives in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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Kathryn
Lady Lake

Kathryn comes to us via the wonderful and crazy world of “The Theatre.” She first came to work at The Sewing Studio in 1995, having recently graduated with her BA in Theatre/Directing from UCF. She flitted in and out of the store while earning her MFA in Theatre/Directing from The Catholic University of America, and later, while globetrotting with Menopause The Musical. She finally came back to her “Happy Place” at The Sewing Studio in 2011 and joined the Machine Department several months later. When The Sewing Studio grew into The Villages, Kathryn began to direct the store in late 2018. As a young child, Kathryn learned to sew with her mother while they made costumes for the local Middle School Production of The Hobbit. Despite wanting to Direct Plays, Kathryn loved working in the costume shops while at university. We often feature Kathryn in our machine tutorial videos as her theatrical flair comes thru her teaching style. Kathryn loves sharing her special flair and passion with her students and co-workers, recognizes that everything is a “process”, and aims for her best in all that she does.

Annette
Lady Lake

Annette Reddy has been sewing since she was 6 years old. She was taught by her grandmother, who worked in the clothing industry in Miami and learned to sew on a factory machine. She started making small projects for her room and fashion accessories. In middle school with her grandmother’s guidance, she would create a new outfit every weekend for Monday morning. Most weekends were spent in the Miami Fabric District shopping for fine fabrics. Since then, she has gone on to educate herself in many aspects of the sewing industry. She is proficient with sewing of all types, machine embroidery, quilting both hand and long arming. Sashiko, and serging. She continues to take classes and attend conferences around the world to further her educational knowledge. She is a retired teacher which gives her the professional teaching background to create written lessons that are clear and concise for her students.

Kris
Lady Lake

Kris has had a fascination with sewing since she was 7 years old. In her family the best way to create something beautiful was handmade, whether it be in the sewing room, kitchen, garden or woodshop. Handmade inspires you to be creative and gives you joy in the process with the satisfaction of creating something beautiful.

Kris has been teaching quilting and sewing for over 40 years, in high schools, at Florida State University and in her own stores. She started The Quilting Patch in the back of her station wagon and successfully grew it to 3 locations in North Florida. During the peak of its 10 years, The Quilting Patch had over 60 classes a quarter, was a multiyear Top 10 dealer of Husqvarna Viking Sewing Machines, and in its later years had dealerships with Babylock, Brother, and Janome sewing machines.

Kris is an award-winning quilter. She has a degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising From FSU, as well as a certification in Human Sciences education. She is also a Certified National Educator for Pam Damour: The Decorating Diva and is a Jenny Haskins Academy of Accreditation Embroidery Teacher, and an educator for The Rhinestone Genie.

She is a patient, fun and talented instructor and her passion and enthusiasm for all things sewing is highly contagious.

Pam
Lady Lake

Pam Laba is an enthusiastic sewist, machine embroiderer and software embroidery geek.   She took her first step into the sewing world at the age of 8 and has never stopped stepping.  

Her passion for sewing led to a career as a shop owner, Sulky National Educator and many certifications including Palmer/Pletsch Certified Sewing Instructor.

Pam is honored to join the team at The Sewing Studio Fabric Superstore and looks forward to many exciting adventures along the way.