For the nervous beginner

No — not on day one. The first lessons begin with hand work: threading a needle, choosing fabric, and a few simple stitches. When you're ready, any basic machine will do (we'll help you pick one). You don't need anything fancy.

Yes. The Academy was built specifically for women who have never threaded a needle. Shonda has taught complete beginners who finished their first smocked dress in a single season. No prior craftiness required.

Most students sew two to three hours a week — often broken into small evenings at the kitchen table. Lessons are pre-recorded so you can rewatch them as many times as you need. There is no schedule to keep up with.

You will. Everyone does. Mistakes are how the fabric teaches you. There are no grades, no judgment, and a community of women cheering you on. Shonda's first rule: nothing is ever ruined.

Pricing is being finalized and will be shared the moment enrollment opens. The Stitching Circle (free) is the best way to be the first to know — and you'll receive a free welcome project in the meantime.

A small starter kit — needles, thread, a pair of good scissors, and fabric for your first project. We'll send a simple shopping list before lessons begin so nothing is wasted. Most students spend less than the cost of one store-bought heirloom dress.

It is never too late. Some of Shonda's most beloved students started sewing in their sixties and seventies, making dresses for granddaughters and great-granddaughters. The Academy moves at your pace.

Yes. Every lesson has a place to ask questions, share photos of your work, and get gentle feedback. The Stitching Circle community is part of the Academy — you will not be sewing alone.