The Marilyn Johnson Sewing Design Studio, LLC

The Marilyn Johnson Sewing Design Studio, LLC

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About

I offer both Private and Group lessons. I work with each student to help them achieve whatever their sewing goals are. Students have full access to my professional equipment including sewing machines and sergers and I provide all the fabric and notions required to learn and perfect each stitching function. Students move at their own pace on projects of their choice which become the teaching tools for moving skills forward.

I have been a teacher most of my life and for the past 14 years my teaching has focused on sharing and passing on my sewing and design skills to my peers as well as the next generation.

I love bringing people into my world of color, texture and creativity! I believe each of us is an artist and I help my students and clients find it in themselves.

My favorite moments with students are those when I see the grasp of understanding light up their faces. I call them light bulb moments and I love them!


Highlights

7 employees
26 years in business
Serves Laurel , MD

No reviews (yet)

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Frequently asked questions

With each new student I explore what their past experience with sewing may have been.  From there we move on to discussing what their goals are...some students just want to be able to hem their jeans and mend their clothes, others want to create their own clothes to express their personal sense of style and yet others want to be the next big designer. 

Once I understand experience, goals and motivation I tailor lessons for that student to reach the goals.

I actually have a B.S.E. degree and have been teaching most of my adult life.  In 1998 I decided to change careers and began what is now The Marilyn Johnson Sewing Design Studio.  Once I moved the studio into a larger, commercial location I was able to offer the sewing lessons so many of my clients had asked for. 

Early on in my "studio" career I supplemented my self-taught sewing skills with college classes in Fashion Design and with Master Classes taught by the biggest names in my industry.

My Private lessons are $55/hr with a one hour minimum and two hour maximum.  These lessons can be scheduled Monday thru Saturday at mutual scheduling convenience.

The Group lessons are on Saturdays from 2 to 4pm.  Group students purchase a Class Card that has 4 classes on it (a total of 8 hours instruction time) for $275.  Attendance does NOT have to be 4 consecutive weeks, once the card is purchased it is good till all 4 classes have been punched out.  Renewal cards can be purchased as many times as you like.

I love to share my excitement about creating something unique and personal! There's such a sense of satisfaction in saying "I made this."  When I began my Studio I was often asked about sewing lessons but didn't have the space to do so.  When I moved the Studio from home to a commercial location I had the space to begin offering sewing lessons and have been teaching for the past 14 years.

Some of my students have gone on to Fashion Design programs around the country, taken over costume shops or started their own businesses or find pleasure in making their own unique and personal fashion statements.

I have taught children as young as 8 and as mature as 70.  I mentor both high school and college interns in my workroom where they earn class credits.  Each student is a new opportunity to pass on the joy of sewing.

Last week a private student who has been with me for about 8 months finished a jacket she has been working on in her lessons.  It fit perfectly, was just the color and style she wanted and reflected her personality.  When she stood in front of the mirrors in the Salon and saw herself wearing this beautiful labor of lessons her face just lit up!

Tomorrow I will have the same experience with one of my Group lesson students who has been working on creating a wrap dress.  She is at the point that tomorrow will be her first fitting and I know she's excited!

Look at the quality of the work the teacher has produced.  Go to the teacher's work space....does it seem well equipped, is it neat, clean, organized?  Do you know any of this teacher's former or current students?  If so, what do they say about the lessons they took.  Is the teacher able to teach not only the basics of stitching a straight line and making a pair of pajama pants but take you beyond that to how to work with commerical patterns making fitting adjustments and design changes?

Think about your own personal goals for taking sewing lessons.  Does this teacher have the knowledge and experience to help you all the way to reaching those goals?  Are these lessons you're anticipating a stepping stone to taking college level classes and/or your own business or for your personal satisfaction.


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