Linda Jobson has been teaching stretch sewing techniques since 1980, firstly under the Knitwit banner, then under her own business name, Linda’s Lingerie.  In 1993, she added Bra Making to the list of sewing classes, both demonstration and hands on.  After a few years in 1996, she started her business, as she could see that some students had problems with fitting their bras.  Linda’s Lingerie offers custom-made bras for individual clients, repairs and alterations to existing bras, prototype bras for designers, plus Bra Making Workshops.

As a passionate sewer who enjoys creating and teaching, Kate has enjoyed many years of creative exploration which began when she fell in love with dressmaking in high school. Her sewing passion has always been driven by overlocking/serging and she loves working with the different stitches you can achieve on an overlocker/serger.

After an extensive career in the sewing industry, she became the Founder and Head Teacher of Sew into Overlocking. Through her classes, she has been able to travel across Australia and educate fellow creatives about how to get the most out of their machines. 

Gaylene trained with Elizabeth Bence School of Fashion in Sydney and at the American Paris Academy. She has been teaching professional and home sewers at her North Shore sewing school since 2013. Passionate about couture and high-end sewing techniques, she loves exploring thoughtful details and finishing touches that can elevate any garment —regardless of the maker’s skill level. With qualifications in fashion, law and accountancy, and more than 20 years' experience spanning fashion retail, design, garment construction, business strategy and organisational leadership, Gaylene brings both technical expertise and practical insight to her teaching.

Lucy Merchant, owner of Sonny and Scout, is a Newcastle-based sewing teacher with over 25 years’ experience creating clothing, bags, homewares and gifts. She is a Sewcialist - a person who enjoys sewing, and loves connecting with like-minded others. 

With a nerd-like enthusiasm and passion for all things sewing, she runs a range of courses, workshops and private lessons in a fun and supportive environment. Lucy teaches classes for all ages and skill levels: from creative people keen to learn sewing basics, to experienced sewists looking to hone their skills or seeking creative inspiration.

April Moylan studied Fashion Technology in Newcastle before moving to Sydney in 1986 to complete her final and third year studying ‘Higher Fashion Technology’ at East Sydney Technical College.  She is fully qualified as a ‘Couture Level Fashion Designer’. April worked in Sydney as head pattern maker for a large children's clothing company, GA fashions. She left the ‘rag trade’ and joined the New South Wales Police Force, where she enjoyed 16 years of policing in the Sydney area, achieving the rank of Senior Constable. In 2005 her children became involved ballet and April started sewing costumes for the ballet world. She mastered the art of tutu making and has developed skills in ballet and stage costumes.  Supported by her husband and four adult children, she is recognised as a highly respected Costume Designer. In 2026 April launched ‘Dressmaking Lab’ and is currently teaching the skills needed to learn the art of creating beautiful clothes and costumes. 

Rita is based in Armidale, NSW and runs an independent sewing school alongside her custom dressmaking and alteration service. She is  guided by two core beliefs: there is always more to learn, and excellence has no finish line. Rita prioritises quality over speed, adopting efficient methods only when they enhance the final result.

Before establishing Studio 808, she owned and operated the fabric and dressmaking business Fabric Fair for 36 years. For the past eight years, Studio 808 has been her creative hub, where she teaches classes, hosts workshops, and mentors students.

Her professional development has taken her to the United States, where she studied couture techniques at Kent State University under Claire Schaeffer and Charles Kleibacker. In 2016, she also worked as a co-tutor with Claire Schaeffer in Armidale, delivering two intensive, week-long hands-on workshops.

Martyn Smith works in the fashion industry as a design technician and educator.  Classic tailoring is his passion, and he still enjoys pattern making when he gets the chance. Martyn loves all things fabric, and his ideal day allows him to stitch for a couple of hours but that doesn't always happen. He thinks sewing is like music in many ways – you need to learn classical to be able to play jazz. Likewise, traditional tailoring has given him the skills to work all types of garments and fabrics. He has never regretted learning to sew and finds it hard to believe that some people can't sew on a button!

Sally started sewing dolls clothes in her grandmothers sewing room, beginning a life-long love of sewing. After finishing school, she enrolled in a 5-year TAFE course, learning patternmaking, garment sewing, millinery and tailoring. Fresh out of TAFE, she worked with a very talented designer for over 10 years, honing her skills in bridal wear, after five and mother of the bride. Later she opened her own bridal studio for 20 years.  

In 2005, she made a big career change, purchasing a sewing machine store, allowing her to create and teach as well as meeting the challenge of the retail sewing machine world.  She returned to garment sewing and patternmaking when her store was sold in 2023.  She has been using the Lutterloh patternmaking system for over 20 years and is Lutterloh’s Australian distributor.

Louise discovered her love of sewing at just six years old, when she designed and stitched a miniature ‘Chanel’ suit for her doll with guidance from her mother, a professional dressmaker. What began as a childhood project soon grew into a lifelong passion for working with fabric, needle, and thread. Building on the skills she learned at home, Louise later completed a two-year program at Vancouver’s Academy for Couture Sewing.

She also pursued a diploma in adult education, which led to a career teaching IT skills and personal development in a corporate setting. Although this path differed from the fashion world, it provided valuable experience in working with and educating adults.

Cathy can’t remember a time when she wasn’t sewing. While working as an occupational therapist, she completed TAFE studies in dressmaking, patternmaking, millinery, fabric printing, and colour and design. She later spent 10 years working as a full-time milliner, earning the self-proclaimed title of Spotlight’s best customer along the way.

Increasingly concerned about overconsumption and waste, Cathy turned her creative talents towards upcycling, with a particular focus on textiles. Determined to minimise the use of new materials, she began uncovering the hidden potential in items destined for landfill and in textile waste that would otherwise be sent overseas, giving discarded materials a new purpose and life.

Irene is a member of the Rhodes group in Sydney and has sewn since she was a teenager. Irene holds Certificate III level qualifications in Patternmaking, Textiles & Design and in Millinery from TAFE NSW. She focuses on garment-making and sews for family and friends.

What began as a retirement hobby quickly became a passion as Tina delved into the world of bag making. She thrives on experimenting with new patterns and fabrics, mastering the intricate techniques that give handcrafted bags a truly professional finish. This expertise led Tina to host workshops in the New England area of NSW. In her workshops Tina shares her skills with sewists of all levels, demonstrating how to simplify complex patterns or enhance a bag’s final look. Her craftsmanship has led to an invitation to showcase her work at a gallery in Tamworth. For Tina, a handbag made with love and care is more than just an accessory – it is a joy to own and a deeply valued gift.