For many, stepping up to a sewing machine can feel intimidating—a maze of presser feet, bobbins, tension settings, and whirring needles. But for Gwen, the creative force behind The Sew and Tell Club, sewing is a way to create, experiment, become more self-reliant, and bring people together.
With a family history rooted in sewing and a natural love for making things by hand, Gwen has turned her passion into a growing community. Now, she is taking that vision one step further with a new sewing studio where aspiring sewists can learn, experiment, and get comfortable with tools they may not otherwise have access to.
Threading the Family Needle
Gwen’s relationship with sewing began long before she had a machine of her own. Her earliest memories come from her grandmother, who made curtains and bedding while working in Saudi Arabia and continued sewing after returning to the Philippines. Creativity runs deep in Gwen’s family, with many of her grandmother’s relatives also sewing and her great-grandmother having worked as a fashion designer.
Growing up around that creative environment, Gwen began experimenting with clothes herself. She would take pieces from her existing wardrobe and transform them into something completely different. “My mom would sometimes get mad at me because I was basically destroying my clothes just to experiment!” she recalls.
Without a sewing machine or a dedicated fabric stash, Gwen simply worked with what she had. She hand-sewed, shared her creations on YouTube, and taught herself to crochet, making everything from tops and cardigans to stuffed toys for friends.
Those early experiments taught her an important lesson: creativity doesn't necessarily require the best tools or materials. “I realized that I didn't necessarily need to have the best tools or materials to make something,” Gwen says. “I just needed to be resourceful and willing to experiment.”
That mindset was reinforced when her father surprised her with her first sewing machine—a full-metal surplus machine from Rizal. He carried it home on a motorcycle with one hand, just to make sure she had it. For Gwen, the gesture meant much more than simply receiving a new machine. It was, in her words, his way of saying, “I see this creativity in you, and I'm behind it 100 percent.”
From One Machine to a Community
Teaching has always come naturally to Gwen. She remembers playing teacher-teacher-an as an eight-year-old and teaching neighborhood children their ABCs, but she never set out with a grand plan to create a sewing community.
The Sew and Tell Club began almost by accident. After meeting people through Threads who wanted to build a community in Marikina, Gwen suggested something simple: “Do you guys want to learn how to sew?”
Everyone agreed, and the first gathering took place at a local coffee shop. With only one sewing machine between them, everyone had to take turns—and what was supposed to be a casual session stretched from around 5 PM to 11 PM. They spent the evening sewing, talking, eating, and getting to know one another.
That first gathering also shaped Gwen’s approach to teaching. She understands that a sewing machine can look overwhelming to someone encountering one for the first time, with its buttons, stitches, settings, bobbins, tension, and needles. Rather than expecting beginners to get everything right immediately, she focuses on helping them become comfortable with the machine and reminds them that mistakes are part of the process.
“The goal isn't to be perfect,” she explains. “It's to become comfortable enough to keep going.”
For Gwen, one of the most rewarding moments comes when students finally realize they are capable of creating something themselves. “It's seeing the moment when they realize, ‘I actually made this,’” she says.
That realization can extend beyond the sewing table. Once students understand the basics, Gwen notices that they begin looking at everyday objects differently, wondering whether they could make, modify, or repair them themselves. “You start thinking, ‘Could I make that?’ or ‘Could I change this?’”
Making Space for Creativity
As Gwen’s sewing projects grew, so did her collection of fabrics, machines, materials, and finished pieces. Eventually, her home began to feel more like a warehouse. While her mother had always been supportive, Gwen knew she needed a dedicated space for her work.
That need eventually sparked an even bigger idea: a studio that could serve not only as her workspace, but as a place where other people could learn and experiment.
Sewing machines and specialty equipment can be a significant investment, particularly for beginners who are still figuring out whether sewing is something they want to pursue. Gwen wanted to change that by giving people the opportunity to try before they buy. “I had machines and tools that people might want to try,” she explains. “So I thought, why not create a space where people can try them first?”
Her new studio will offer workshops, structured classes, and machine rental access. One of the pieces of equipment she's particularly excited to share is her four-thread serger, which can give projects a professional finish while helping prevent fabric from fraying.
A serger can cost around ₱30,000, making it a significant investment for someone just starting out. Gwen's own machine is especially meaningful because it was gifted to her by her grandmother. At the studio, students will be able to try it for themselves and decide whether it is something they eventually want to invest in.
For Gwen, however, the studio is about more than access to equipment. She sees sewing as a practical and empowering skill. “Sewing can sometimes feel like a luxury, but I really believe it's such a valuable home skill,” she says. “Knowing how to sew gives you a kind of independence and creativity that is incredibly useful.”
It is also an opportunity to create connections. One of Gwen’s favorite parts of teaching has been watching strangers become friends during a sewing session—people who arrive not knowing one another and leave chatting as though they have known each other for years.
Taking the First Stitch
For anyone with a sewing machine sitting unused at home, Gwen’s advice is simple: start with something that genuinely excites you.
“Find a reason to sew that actually excites you,” she suggests. It could be clothes that don't fit quite right, bedding in a fabric you can't find anywhere, or a bag you've been imagining.
For Gwen, that's where the real value of sewing begins. It isn't about producing something perfect on the first try. It's about giving yourself the ability to solve everyday problems creatively.
“Use what you have. Make something you're genuinely excited about. Make mistakes. Take it apart. Try again.”
And perhaps that is what makes sewing so meaningful for Gwen. A sewing machine may begin as a simple tool, but with a little curiosity and confidence, it can become a way to create, solve problems, and connect with others.
Sometimes, the most valuable thing it makes isn't a perfect seam or finished garment. It's the confidence to think, I can make this myself.
Connect with Gwen & The Sew and Tell Club
Want to learn more about Gwen’s studio, upcoming sewing classes, and the projects happening inside The Sew and Tell Club? Follow Gwen and the club on social media for studio updates, class announcements, and a peek at what their growing community is creating.
I think this version is noticeably smoother because Gwen's voice becomes part of the narrative rather than appearing as separate interview excerpts. It also lets you use more of her personality without making the article feel too long or quote-heavy.