A Look Inside Anna’s Sewing Studio in Sarasota

I’ve always admired creative people - anyone who quietly creates beauty with intention. Creativity takes presence. It means putting part of yourself into something tangible and doing it well. That’s why I pay attention to those who dedicate their lives to this kind of work and bring something new to the community. When I heard that Anna, whom I've known for years, teaches children (and adults) how to sew, I immediately wanted to know more. 

She was born in Russia and began sewing at the age of ten, in a small studio much like the one she runs today. And the story struck me more than usual because, as a child, I dreaded sewing classes. I remember sitting in home economics class at my school with tangled threads, bent needles, and endless frustration. It felt impossible. I never forgot how much quiet skill sewing requires, and how little credit it gets. 

Anna’s studio, Sewista, a sewing studio based in Sarasota, does a fantastic job of challenging that. Anna treats sewing the way it should be treated: not as a forgotten domestic skill or an occasional craft project, but as a practice of focus, creativity, and self-expression. What she offers is much more than instruction - it’s a space where children learn to slow down, pay attention, and take pride in doing something by hand.

Each eight-week course is carefully structured. Classes run for 90 minutes, long enough to complete a task without overwhelming attention spans. Students begin with simple projects, such as a sleep mask and a sunglass pouch, and progress steadily toward more complex garments, including skirts, shorts, and T-shirts. They learn how to thread a machine, cut fabric, use an iron, and most importantly, how to fix their own mistakes. But even that isn’t the most essential part; through sewing, they learn how to think for themselves, make creative decisions, and free their mind from rigid templates.

Anna provides all materials: patterns, fabric, thread, and machines. The groups are small (with a maximum of ten students), which allows for hands-on attention and authentic learning. Children as young as seven are welcome, and even younger ones are welcome when ready. She starts them carefully, focusing first on hand stitching and motor skills before introducing the machine. 

Anna’s daughter, Valerie, is an inspiration and a great help in the studio. She often leads small projects for younger children, and when she learns a new skill, she is happy to share it with others.

It is wonderful how quickly they learn. In the studio's summer camps, which run Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., complete beginners progress from confusion to confidence in just four days. By the end of the week, they’re walking around the studio, choosing fabrics, asking to make pillows, and discussing their next project. The studio becomes a kind of quiet rhythm: fabric is pressed, seams are pinned, machines hum, and the kids rise to meet it.

Sewing is slow. That’s part of the point. And Anna doesn’t rush them. She teaches them to care about the process, not just the outcome. That kind of attention is rare. And in a world that rewards speed, it’s quietly radical.

She also incorporates ideas of sustainability, not as a slogan, but as a mindset. Anna has studied fashion, tailoring, and design, including courses at FIT in New York, and she’s deeply aware of the waste produced by the fashion industry. Instead of preaching, she teaches her students to reuse and reimagine what already exists. In one summer camp session, the kids turned old jeans into water bottle holders. In another, they draped beautiful scraps of velvet and jacquard over foam mannequins, experimenting with form and texture before they even knew the terminology. It’s playful, but purposeful.

And yes, boys are welcome. Several have taken the classes, and, unsurprisingly, they have loved the machinery. (Anna tells them it’s like driving a car: press the pedal, steer with precision.)

There are also adult workshops, along with private sessions for those who want to start or return to sewing later in life. Anna now works with a small team of passionate instructors, including one with experience in bridal fashion and circus costuming—all of whom bring their style and expertise to the space.

The studio itself reflects the work being done inside: calm, well-lit, and carefully arranged. The seating is adjustable, allowing even the smallest children to sit comfortably. The parking is easy, and the location is convenient. But more than anything, the space feels intentionally designed to support focused creative work without pressure or noise.

I left the studio that day thinking not about fashion or fabric, but about the value of hands-on learning. Sewing teaches discipline, attention to detail, and the quiet joy of finishing something real. In an era where everything moves fast and most of what we consume is digital and disposable, making something with your hands feels not just grounding, but also meaningful.

Website: www.sewistastudio.com

Photos: iruphotos.com