The first sewing class I ever took was open to students who were eight years old, and older. I was only seven, but my passion and my talent was enough to convince the teacher to let me in. While I was taking that class, my mom got me my first sewing machine, a Kenmore. I sewed dresses, curtains and pillows, and pants for my mom, then at age 25, I challenged my little Kenmore to marine upholstery. That Kenmore got my foot in the door. I made a wind scoop, worked briefly for Evolution Sails in Deltaville, VA, and then I set out on my own.
In Fort Pierce, Florida I repaired a pontoon boat’s cushions, and then I was offered the opportunity to replace the UV on a 51’ Formosa charter sailboat. I was living on my Columbia 26 at the time. When I told the owner I had never done such a job before, he said, “this could be the beginning of your professional career.” So I borrowed his SailRite for the job, asked Hodges Street Sail Repair (in Oriental, NC) for help, and I did the work. It was a success, and I bought my own SailRite with the money I had earned.
I sewed myself a banner, advertising myself as “The Sailing Seamstress,” and I hung it up on my boat.
I sewed my way from Fort Pierce to Key West and all the way to the Dominican Republic, building, repairing, and modifying a variety of canvas projects on charter and private vessels, including stack packs, traditional sail covers, UVs, cushions, awnings, sails, instrument covers, and more.
My workshop was aboard my Columbia 26, which I soloed from Florida to the Dominican Republic. And then my workshop moved aboard my Bristol Channel Cutter 28, which I refitted, and sailed from the Dominican Republic to Oriental, North Carolina.
Though I did have some formal sewing training, I am mostly self-taught from books and YouTube videos, with guidance and ideas from professional mentors. While I value the jobs that can be repaired and modified, I thoroughly enjoy the process of creating something from scratch.
With over four years on a sailboat, three of which solo, I know, firsthand, the importance of quality canvas work. In that way, I am the Sailor’s Seamstress. I also teach yoga, write books, and release content on YouTube and Patreon.
Sailor’s Seamstress LLC 