🧵 meet the makers behind homesewn

homesewn isn’t just a shop — it’s a whole crew of creative humans who make this place what it is. every class, every fabric reorder, every laugh over the sound of a sewing machine happens because of these people.

here’s who’s behind the magic:

🪡 joey (she/her)

founder, owner, occasional chaos coordinator. i started homesewn because i wanted a space that made fiber arts feel modern, welcoming, and actually fun. i’m the one moving displays around between classes, answering emails at 2am, and reminding you that you absolutely can make that sweater. my vibe: cozy, a little neon, always handmade.

✂️ karen wilson

the shop mom extraordinaire. karen’s the reason anything here runs smoothly — she’s organized, calm, and somehow knows where everything is (even the missing bobbin case). she keeps us laughing, hydrated, and grounded. every shop needs a karen, and we hit the jackpot.

✂️ nicolle valencia

nicolle’s been sewing, embroidering, and making art since she was a kid. she’s one of those teachers who makes you feel instantly calm and capable. when she’s not at homesewn, she’s working with sanctuary farm phila, growing community in all kinds of ways. her classes are part creative therapy, part art class, and always inspiring.

🧶 ashleigh havermann

ashleigh grew up in her mom’s sewing studio, which explains why she’s so natural at teaching. she’s obsessed with crochet (especially tunisian) and recently got into embroidery after taking one of our classes. she’s fun, patient, and just the right amount of chaos — the best kind of teacher.

🪡 kate barmes

kate’s crochet story started with her grandma and came full circle right here when she took a refresher class in 2023. now she runs threads by kate and teaches beginner and intermediate crochet classes at homesewn. she used to teach high school math and physics, which probably explains her love of structure and those satisfying “wait, i get it now” moments.

🎧 joe ward

joe’s been sewing for five years and is working toward becoming a fashion designer. he’s also learning to knit and has an incredible taste in music — seriously, the playlists are next level. he’s creative, funny, and full of good energy — one of those people who makes everyone feel more confident in their work.

💻 shanise barona gonzalez

shanise wears a lot of hats here — she runs our social media, helps customers in the shop, and somehow still finds time to make. she sews, crochets, quilts, and mends clothes with sashiko stitching, plus she’s learning to knit and chainstitch on a 100-year-old hand-cranked machine. outside the fiber world, she’s into web design, illustration, and thrifting for her next idea.

at the end of the day, homesewn works because of the people in it. we’re a mix of teachers, makers, fabric nerds, and friends who really love what we do — and we’re so glad you’re part of it, too.