A skill to last a lifetime at Sew It Seams

To sew or not to sew? What a silly question!

Like rising from the ashes, sewing is once again fast becoming a popular craft in today’s modern society, with both men and women taking to the pedal.

From the clothes on the back of your every day commuter, to the space suits that stand between Astronauts and the vastness of space, sewing brings beautiful things together one stitch at a time.

Passed down generation after generation, many people have inherited their sewing skills, but others are starting from the very beginning.

Tanya van Wyk of Sew It Seams Academy in Salt Rock has opened her doors to both beginners and experts, as she shares her love for sewing with the Dolphin Coast community.

Passionate about sewing for as long she can remember, Tanya’s self-taught approach is what makes her a master of her craft.

The fun, energetic and bubbly seamstress is all about self-expression and encourages her students to explore themselves and tackle their fears through the art of sewing.

“The feeling of victory and accomplishment always overrides the fear my students experience when they first begin their classes,” said Tanya.

“Sewing can restore one’s confidence and really be such a personal achievement!”

Tanya opened the doors to her academy in January this year with the idea of teaching young children, as home economics is no longer offered as a subject in many schools.

But when word spread, Tanya soon welcomed students of all ages and genders, from eight-year-old kids, to new moms and domestic workers.

“I’m always so excited for my classes and my students are always so keen to start their next project.”

“Often, they want to jump straight into sewing clothes before tackling the basics, like sewing a straight line or taking on the dreaded task of threading a bobbin!”

Ballito resident Melinda Pretorius, who recently took part in three private sewing lessons with Tanya after winning a Facebook competition with the Courier, said the whole experience was wonderful and she will definitely be back for more.

“I had so much fun in my one-on-one lessons with Tanya. She is such a lovely lady full of life and we had such a good time.

“She is so passionate about sewing and I learned so much in my three lessons, and each time we completed a design to take home.

“She is so calm and patient, I felt so at ease. While I was there I thought about nothing else except my design. It was such relaxing “me” time!

“I would recommend Tanya to anyone interested in sewing!”

To find out more about Sew It Seams Academy and how you can join their eight-week course or take part in private lessons with Tanya, give her a call on 074 516 4378 or visit her Facebook page or website.

Tanya will also be hosting her next Sewing Camp for Kids from April 3 – April 6. For more info click HERE.