Tilden House Studio
About
Tilden House Studio, the private workshop of sewing instructor Allison Lince-Bentley. At my home in Brentwood, Maryland (on the border of Washington, DC) I offer small group sewing classes and private lessons for children and adults, with a focus on garment construction. I have been teaching sewing for over a decade, working with individuals, schools, community centers, emerging designers, and organizations, spreading a love for this age-old craft whereever I can.
The opportunity to teach is an honor. What I enjoy most about teaching is the chance to get to know my students and nurture their love for this wonderful craft.
In my years as an instructor, I have helped students of all levels and ages — from complete beginners to aspiring designers — grow their skills and creative potential. I have experience working with people with disabilities and learning differences, and enjoy the process of understanding what each person needs most on their own sewing adventure. Areas of expertise include:
Garment sewing (using a commercial pattern or patternmaking from scratch)
Understanding and improving fit
Developing prototypes for design ideas, including clothing and other sewn products
Following trends in garment production technology
More information of what I teach can be found on my website, www.tildenhousestudio.com. If you have a specific question or want to be sure I can help you with a particular project or goal, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
We discuss your interests and goals and I work with you to design a lesson (or series of lessons) that help you build your skills or complete a specific project. I enjoy a challenge and no project is too basic or out there; whether your goal is to create a few wardrobe staples or design an outfit for Burning Man with built in LED lights, I’m there to guide you through the process. I’ve helped students create evening wear, reversible jackets, rock climbing gear, handbags, an array of sewn product inventions, a surf board cover… and many more items.
Time can be booked in increments of one hour, 1.5 hours, or 2 hours. The minimum lesson time is one hour.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I started sewing with my mom at age 7, but stumbled into it as a career path in my twenties, when I began volunteering as a sewing instructor for kids at the Sitar Center for the Arts in Washington, DC. At that time there were few resources in DC for people who wanted to learn how to sew, and a friend and I started a community program called the DC Threads Sewing Lounge (now a Facebook group) to encourage more people to gain exposure to the craft.
One thing led to another, and eventually I opened my own sewing teaching practice, the Bits of Thread Sewing Studio, a place where thousands of people learned to sew during its eight years in operation. I now have a family with two young children, so in 2017 I made the decision to close Bits and open a new studio in my home in Brentwood, MD to better support my family and spend more time with them.