About Topatopa Sewing Studio
Hi, I’m Kathleen!
I started Topatopa Sewing Studio because I want to share my love of sewing and the power it has to transform, connect, and sustain.
I’m an educator, home sewist, and proud member of the sewing community! I’ve sewn my own clothes my entire life, and for much of that time, it was a solo endeavor. When the Internet came along, I found a sewing community that started with online forums and has evolved to a thriving network on social media. This passionate, connected sewing community offers so much in terms of design, materials, and support for improving one another’s craft. It’s my honor to be part of this constant flow of ideas and support.
To teach others how to sew in my studio in Ojai is to expand this community, to impart my love of creating a handmade wardrobe, and to guide others as they pick up the passion. It’s what I love to do.
Besides sewing, I am grateful to be living the dream in Ojai, California, nurtured by the beauty and variety of Ventura County, my corgi, and my husband of nearly 45 years. My three grown children and their families are spread across several states but are always close by in my heart.
Why learn how to sew our own clothes?
Sewing our own clothing is multidimensional satisfaction. When we learn to sew, we can:
Make clothes for our unique, beautiful bodies. We’re all different, and that’s amazing! Our clothes should fit us, not the other way around. Sewing our own clothes and making fit adjustments is one step on a path to loving and embracing our bodies.
Find new, practical, and fun ways to express our creativity.
Select sustainable, quality textiles that make getting dressed a daily pleasure.
Challenge our minds and hands with problem-solving processes that have beautiful and useful end results.
And not least of all, connect with a community of folks who love all the above!
Topatopa Sewing Studio offers group workshops, both single-day and multi-day, as well as one-on-one instruction in Ojai, California—just 30 to 45 minutes from Ventura, Carpinteria, and Santa Barbara and a weekend trip from Los Angeles.