We started this Becoming interview series in 2019. We wanted to hear from women in different walks of life and how they were approaching creativity, career goals, and more–mostly the WHY and HOW beneath it all. It’s been amazing to conduct these interviews and get a “behind the scenes” look at so many inspirational women! You can see them all here.

Today I’m thrilled to share an interview with the effervescent sewist Tabitha Sewer.

Yes, that’s her real last name, and a perfect one at that. Tabitha purchased her first sewing machine only a few years ago and hasn’t stopped creating colorful, unique clothing since. After serving in the United States Air Force for over 10 years and earning a bachelor’s and master’s degree (and several business certificates!), she picked up sewing, started a blog, and the rest is history.

Tabitha, whose mother attended fashion schools in the Philippines, grew up loving fashion and the creative process. Following her mother’s suggestion to purchase a sewing machine, Tabitha became unstoppable. She loves to mix patterns and bright colors to make extravagant pieces that fit her personality perfectly.

She’s even designed buttons, buckles, and sewing patterns that she sells on her website. We love Tabitha’s unique style and her commitment to being her bold, beautiful self! Hop on over to her Instagram and YouTube pages for all of her tips, tricks, and inspiration–you’ll be SEW glad you did! @tabithasewer

Tabitha Sewer

What do you consider yourself?

I consider myself a sewist (sewing artist), fashion designer, and businesswoman.

Where did you grow up? Were there aspects of your childhood that have influenced what you do now?

I’m a military brat which means I grew up all over the world. As a kid, I had the privilege of growing up around many different cultures which now allows me to be more open-minded about all different kinds of people.

Growing up, I watched my mom make her own clothes as well as mine and many of her friends. I always dreamed of becoming as good as her, and remember telling myself that I wanted to get to the point of being able to look at something and recreate it. I always felt like that was a true talent, and after many, many years of practice, I can now do just that!

What did you dream of becoming when you were younger?

Don’t laugh. When I was in elementary school I had high hopes of becoming a store cashier. LOL! Little did I know that dream was bigger than I imagined. I accomplished it in a way by becoming an entrepreneur and selling my products all over the world.

Is there a person who has been influential in your chosen career path?

My mother for sure! I never liked sewing growing up and she would always try to teach me but I didn’t have the patience necessary for it. After serving 10.5 years in the Air Force, I needed something to do while at home raising my kids so I learned to sew with the help of my mom. Ten years later and I’m still learning but have now turned it into a business.

What inspired you to do what you’re doing now?

My passion for fashion. I know that sounds corny, but when I was a kid my friends would always ask me for fashion advice and how to put together looks for school. Now I get to do that on a larger scale with social media and have, of course, added the extra step of actually hand-making my clothes.

What is one piece of work that you are especially proud of and why?

While building my business, I always wanted to think of a way to give back to my community. Everyone who knows me knows that I absolutely love creating costumes and do it every year for my kiddos. As my kids have gotten older I’ve joked that I was going to borrow someone else’s kid to dress up for Halloween and last year, Oct 2022, I did just that. I visited a mom group on Facebook and asked if anyone had a child in a wheelchair because I would love to create a costume for that child.

A mom reached out to me and told me she had two kids but I only had one week to make these costumes! I shared the whole process online and the next thing I knew, when I went to present the costumes to the children, our local news was there on sight to film their reaction. There were lots of tears, smiles, and happiness. It made me feel so good! Most importantly, my kids were a part of the entire process and were there to see the results of doing a good deed in this way. We are looking forward to doing it again and blessing another family.

What is your creative process like?

It’s pretty simple. It goes a little something like this:
I see it, I like it, I want it, I make it.

Where do you find inspiration for new creations?

Social media.

What artists and creatives do you look up to, both historical and present?

My favorite artists at the moment are Christina Martinez and Thee Bouffants.

What books, movies, shows, or music are making you excited these days?

Emily in Paris, Bridgerton, and I will forever and always be a Gilmore Girls fan (#TeamDean).

As for music, I love listening to gospel and worship music. It’s so uplifting and puts me in a good mood.

What is a piece of advice that you have carried with you and who is it from? Do you have a personal motto?

When I was a young adult in the US Air Force, my dad told me to go out there and make both him and my mom proud. In everything I do I think of them, and I work hard to become successful so I may be a product of what he and my mom taught me.

What is a typical day like for you?

It’s funny because as a DIY sewing content creator, people think I sew all day, every day. In reality, I’m at the computer most of the day sitting in on meetings, trying to scout inspiration, write blog posts, and answer emails. There are very few hours in a day that I will spend behind a sewing machine.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to self-teach a new hobby or skill?

Be patient with yourself and don’t mimic what someone else is doing. Create something from your own outlook and creativity. The creative world loves to see everyone’s different perspectives.

Do you have a secret talent? What is one skill that you are working on?

One skill that I don’t really share online is that I sing. I’ve been in plenty of competitions and won when I was younger. I don’t enter competitions anymore but I still love to sing and enjoy doing it at church.

Is there anything more you would like to “become?”

I would like to continue to become a good mom to both of my kids. They are currently in their transformative years and I want to be able to love them as much and as hard as I can before they get tired of me. LOL!

What is your long-term goal? or What do you hope to accomplish within the next 10 years?

I hope to be able to create several passive incomes. I also have a few ideas that I haven’t accomplished as of yet but hope to in the next year or so.