Today we’d like to introduce you to Lindsay Hodlin.
Hi Lindsay, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started watching my grandmother sew when I was 8. I loved everything about it. Both her and my grandfather were incredibly talented and artistic and had a great gift of making things with their hands. I loved to play with her tomato pin cushion and organize all the fabrics in her sewing area.
I went to college for fashion design and textiles. I learned everything from machine stitching, fabric techniques and pattern making. I ended up having a great career as a product developer in the Los Angeles area working for a few major clothing brands.
After having my first child I knew I didn’t want to go back to work full time, so I started sewing a bit more for fun on the weekends and while my baby napped. I was able to open an Etsy shop, and to my surprise I had a few sales right out of the gate and knew maybe I could turn this into something bigger! I often had custom requests for quilts and other sewing projects, so I also started attending markets and building up my social media in order to find more customers.
I left my full time job in Winter of 2018 and started sewing more and more. I focus on unique and original items and try to keep away from commercial big box fabric companies, often buying from little quilt shops and online designer fabric retailers. I also started repurposing and salvaging vintage textiles and working them into my product assortment. I’ve rescued quite a few hand stitched quilts that likely would have ended up in the dump.
Between 2020 and 2024 I added 2 baby boys into our family, and with 3 kids in the mix my time became a bit more limited. I decided to start teaching beginning sewing classes once a month in our community. The classes have been incredible, and in my class you learn how to use your sewing machine (or you can borrow one of mine) and we complete a project together in a small group setting. We also get to know one another and talk about all things fabric and sewing.
These days you can mostly find me teaching a class or setting up occasionally at a local market. I also sell a few quilted patterns that I wrote, in my Etsy shop. I also have items for sale such as my vintage quilt oven mitts and toddler aprons at Main Street Market in Mt. Juliet,
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I’ve definitely had a few set backs along this journey. I think the initial stages of creating and then thinking to myself, “is this good enough that someone might actually buy it? Even if they do, what do I charge for it?” When I first uploaded some of my items to Etsy I had a bit of anxiety wondering if it would be a big waste of time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Im currently teaching beginning sewing classes in the Mt Juliet area.
I specialize in helping other creative people learn to sew! It’s often a daunting task to try something new, but You’ll leave my classes feeling confident and ready to tackle projects on your own. I also supply all the materials and tools you need, so you can show up and focus on the sewing!
I think I am most proud of juggling teaching classes and my family life with 3 young kids. I also know that people are mostly finding out about my classes through personal referrals – which means my students and customers are enjoying what they are doing… enough so that they’re telling their friends even!
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I like that people are open to try new things and open small businesses. I wish our city was more open to supporting the small businesses we have and that the development and surrounding growth could be more affordable terms of rent and leasing space.
Pricing:
- Beginning Sewing Classes – $65-$75 for 2.5 hours
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @SewWilder
- Facebook: SewWilder
