Melissa Quaal

Favorite Craft: Garment sewing, accessories sewing, bag making, sewing for boys, sewing for the home, print-making and dyeing.

I live in New Jersey and am a sewist, a sewing instructor and run a blog called a happy stitch. I have two kids, age 7 and 9, and am married to an Irishman. I have been sewing since I was little, my entire female lineage are all sewers. For the past two years, I have sworn off fast fashion completely and have dedicated to either sewing my own clothes or buying secondhand. I also organize the occasional clothing swap with friends. It’s been a great experience and I’m fully planning to continue it for a long time. It’s expanded my garment sewing a good deal, as well. I’m finding that by sewing with attention to what I will wear on a daily basis, I’m also defining my own sense of style. It’s been an unexpectedly joyful journey. I also sew for my kids, my husband (a little) and for our 100 year old home. I delight in making all things and love trying new things such as printmaking and dyeing; basket-making and jewelry-making

I have had the great opportunity to work within many different facets of the sewing and crafting world including a collaboration with Michael Miller Fabrics and contributions to Sew Mama Sew, Selfish Sewing Week, Betz White’s Sewing collective and the enormously popular blog Andrea’s Notebook and Skip to My Lou.

My Website: www.ahappystitch.com

View My Projects