In September of 2017, I went through training with Bill and Leonie West. I am now a Westalee Design Accredited Teacher. I love to teach and spend my time doing so at Quilt Shows and Shops around the country. Contact me if you’d like to have a Westalee Event in your town.

I love to sew.  It’s my happy time.  I love to learn and I love to teach.  I’m not one of those people who have been sewing since forever.  I grew up listening to my mom’s sewing machine as she made magic, but she wasn’t what anyone would call a good teacher.  I also went to high school in the early 70’s.  Women were burning their bras so teaching Home Economics to the next generation seemed counter productive.

I never lost my desire to learn this craft, and would stop and look at sewing machines whenever I could.  I found out my best friend had a machine, knew how to use it, and was willing to get me started.  We got together after work one Friday and by the end of the night, I had a new pair of shorts……that I had made! I was thrilled and the next day went on a quest to buy my first sewing book.

I now do most of my sewing on a Bernina 830.  It is one of those super duper computerized machines that also embroiders.  I LOVE IT!  No matter what the challenge, my Bernina always comes through.

You should also know:

I hate to press.  I have learned that one must press to produce a good quality product.  So I press……a lot. I have a good quality iron. Was it a necessary expense? Probably not, but it makes the job easier.  (ok, maybe not easier. I do like my iron, so I use it and that’s a good thing.)

I hate to pin.  I used to pin….all the time.  I sewed through pins; this is not wise.  Not only can you damage your pins and needles, but when one of them breaks it can fly into your eye.  NOT GOOD.   I do use pins, when I think it’s necessary.  I have friends that pin every seam they sew.  They think I’m nuts; I think they’re nuts.

Lastly, I hate hand sewing. I respect those that do.  I’m not any good at it and doing so hurts my hands.  I will spend hours trying to figure out how to do something on the machine to save myself from threading a hand needle.  Probably not the most productive way to spend my time, but it sure is fun trying.

I think that covers all you need to know.

Pam