Meet Our Instructors

Arlene

A passionate sewist from a young age, inspired and taught by the best Dressmaker Mom Mentor, Arlene has been expanding her creative skills, sewing techniques and love of teaching young and old at Sew Happy since May 2017. She is a Mother of four, Grandmother of one and Dog Mom to Sherlock. Life is wonderful and full of creative surprises!

Donna

Donna has enjoyed a vibrant career in the fashion industry as designer of men's and women's sleepwear, loungewear and lingerie. She's was first inspired by her grandmother sewing in a bridal shop and was forever changed by colorful fabrics and sparkling trims. She loves sharing her passion for creativity and design with her young students and aspiring designers.

Beth & Sal

Are twin sisters! Beth became part of the Sew Happy team in 2017, following retirement from a career in Social Work. Her interest in sewing and quilting seemed like a perfect match with her love for children, and teaching them to sew.
Sal loves being part of the Sew Happy team because helping children learn, grow, share and create is the most rewarding experience she has ever had. Seeing the Sew Happy Smiles is a joy! Thank you!

Lois E.

Lois has been designing, sewing and drawing since she was about 6 years old. She loves working with kids and fostering their creativity, especially the shy ones! She lives in NYC with her sweet cat, StormyGirl.

Reeni

Reeni has enjoyed sewing by hand and machine since she was 7 -- clothes and costumes for herself, her family, and others, as well as bags. Also a pastry chef Instructor, she loves sharing creativity with students of all ages, and her favorite part is fostering their pride at crafting something all their own.

Michelle

Michelle’s been sewing since high school and teaching for the last 3 years. I live in port Chester NY since 2010. She loves learning and teaching new projects to the kids. Michelle has two girls and two boy cats named waffles and pancake.

Lois

Lois can’t ever remember a time that she didn’t have a knitting needle, sewing/embroidery needle, or rug hook in her hands. She learned to machine sew in 7th grade but relearned as a student at Sew Happy. She is a retired educator with 37 years of classroom and administrative experience in the NYC Public Schools.She lives in New Rochelle and has been an instructor at Sew Happy for 2 years.

Karen

Karen lives in White Plains and has been sewing for over 30 years. She started out hand sewing quilts and hand quilting them and moved quickly to machine piecing and machine quilting. Now she also does machine embroidery and sit-down long-arm quilting.

Jenni

Jenni is a fashion designer and stylist based in New York City. She discovered her love for sewing in Girl Scouts and refined her skills studying design in London. On weekends, you’ll find her exploring local flea markets or strolling through Central Park with her dog. Jenni’s greatest joy is empowering kids to have fun and express themselves through sewing!

Felicity

5 years ago she began doing voluntary work with New York Cares - doing art with underprivileged children in Brooklyn, tutoring kids for their SATs in the Bronx and took part in play time for children living in a Women's shelter in Queens. She has been a lifelong painter and sewer and was delighted to join Sew Happy in 2024 combining her passion for sewing with her enjoyment for teaching children. She loves working as an Instructor at Sew Happy where she can engage with children in after school clubs sharing her sewing skills with the younger generations.

Marianna

Marianna has been sewing since she was 8 years old. She was inspired by her mom and grandma. She has been part of Sew Happy for the last 3 years. The favorite thing about teaching is seeing the smiles and the joy on the kids faces when they achieve their goals and finish a project. She loves helping them to believe in themselves and that they can achieve anything they want to. Her favorite projects have been the Lama Drama and My Doll Dress. At home she loves to cook and bake for her kids and family.

Brittany

Brittany grew up learning the art of sewing from her mother and grandmother, sparking her lifelong passion for creativity. She loves transforming old garments into reworked designs, blending craftsmanship with sustainability - so much so that she has started a small business for her creations. She finds joy in watching her students bring their unique visions to life through their projects.

Amanda

Amanda attends SUNY Purchase and has been sewing for almost 2 years. She enjoys teaching kids how to thread a needle and loves to see their smiles when they've made progress. Amanda is passionate about art, such as drawing, crocheting, and graphic design.

Amalia

Amalia lives in the Bronx and had been sewing for 10+ years. She loves sewing her own clothes and accessories. She is inspired by 50’s era silhouettes & her favorite fabric is denim. Fun fact Amalia has two french bulldogs named Coco Roo & Luna Roo!

Marion

Marion, a retired art teacher with 31 years of experience, has a lifelong passion for sewing. She enjoys designing outfits for dolls, teaching kids to sew, and has a special love for the hedgehog house. Marion is also an enthusiastic fan of Sew Happy.

Kristina

KP grew up with her mom and grandmother both sewing. She worked in corporate fashion for 6 years and wanted to learn how to sew, which is when she found Sew Happy. She the began teaching at after school clubs and I loved it so much that she became a teacher’s aide working with kids.

Alyssa

Alyssa has over 15 years of experience in the art of sewing with a love a fashion, everything from everyday clothing to intricate costumes and vintage attire, her passion for sewing is matched only by her desire to inspire others. She believes in the power of creativity and is dedicated to teaching others how to bring their own sewing visions to life. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned seamstress, she's here to guide you on your journey and help you discover the joy of creating with fabric!

Christina

Christina's love of fashion began while watching her grandfather sew, he was a tailor for a French designer in the garment center. He created beautiful coats and suits for elegant women.
After graduating from FIT and working in the garment center for many years, she took time off to have a family and work in the Mamaroneck school district. She is delighted to be able to get back to sewing & Fashion by teaching classes at Sew Happy!!