Custom Sewing Workroom

Sewn goods for your life, and a hand for the projects you haven't gotten to yet.

I'm not a tailor, and I don't do alterations. What I do is sew — new things, from your fabric or mine, at my bench in Deephaven. If you've got a project you've been meaning to get to, or a piece you love and wish you had a second of, this is that.

What I make

Tired of your old throw pillows? Ready for new slipcovers on your dining chairs? I can make that, too. Bring your own fabric, or I'll help you find the right one for the piece.

Bring Your Own Have the fabric, have the pattern, don't have the time? Bring both in and I'll sew it. This is the simplest way to work together — you've already done the hard part of deciding what you want.

Made-to-Match See a piece you love and want another one made in that same spirit? Bring it in (or a good photo) and I'll build you something similar — same feel, my construction. I work from the piece itself, not from a brand or a label, so this works best for the shirt you've worn soft, not a specific designer item.

Upcycle & Transform Got fabric or a garment with life left in it, just not in its current form? I can turn it into something new — old flannel into napkins, a favorite dress into a keepsake pillow. (This is different from altering something you still wear day to day — for hemming or fit adjustments, you'll want a tailor.)

Fabric Sourcing Not sure what fabric to use, or don't have time to shop for it? I can find and select it for you — billed the same as the rest of my time, and kept separate on your invoice so you can see exactly what it covered.

How pricing works

$45/hour. Here's why, and what it means for you:

Every project is different, and I'd rather charge you for the time something actually takes than guess at a flat price and either shortchange myself or overcharge you. Here's how that stays fair on both ends:

  • You get an estimate first. Once I've seen your fabric, pattern, or reference piece, I'll give you a time range before anything gets cut.
  • One-hour minimum per project. Setup and cutting take real time even on something small.
  • Fabric and notions are extra. If I am sourcing any fabric or notions (trims, buttons, zippers), the costs will be added to your estimate and be due before the start of the project.
  • A deposit books your spot. Half up front plus materials I'm sourcing, due at booking.

This is not a contract and my pricing policy can change at any time. All sales final.

Frequently asked questions

Do you do alterations?

Alterations or fit adjustments to clothes you already own — hemming, taking in, letting out. That's a tailor's work, not mine.
Do you make bespoke tailored clothing?

My sewing workshop does not have the tools for bespoke clothing. Saville Row I am not.
Do you charge by the project?

No. Each project is so unique it's hard to give a flat rate. Hence, hourly is the best for both you and me!

About Me

I'm Rachel — I design and sew every pillow, cushion, and table linen that comes out of my workroom.

My path here started far from sewing: a journalism degree, years running a salon in Laguna Beach, training as an esthetician. In 2016, my husband James and I moved to Edinburgh, and came home with a love for hygge — the Danish idea of quiet comfort — that led us to open our retail store, Hjom, on Balboa Island, California. Since then, my family lived in Aix-en-Provence, France before resettling in Minnesota.

My love of sewing is in my DNA. My great-grandmother was a dressmaker in NYC in the early part of the 1900s. My grandmother and my mother sewed their own clothes. My mom taught me how to make a t-shirt when I was in middle school. My love of sewing has morphed into soft home furnishing and upholstery. I enjoy well-crafted pieces for the home using zero-waste production and thoughtfully sourced fabric.

Contact Me