Welcome!

Hello & welcome to the Seam Divas Sewing Lounge.  I’m Helen Bartley, a Palmer/Pletsch Certified Sewing Instructor. I began sewing at age 6 at my mother’s knee and I sew nearly every day today. At Eastern Washington University I studied textiles, fashion design and clothing construction and taught at the university sewing lab.  Since 2007 I have been working with Marta Alto and Pati Palmer to learn the art of teaching fit.

In 2008, I opened the Seam Divas Sewing Lounge (featured in Vogue Patterns Magazine in Feb/Mar 2011) and have taught hundreds of students here.

I am currently also teaching Palmer/Pletsch Pattern Fitting, Pant Fit & Sew, Knits and Serger Workshops and local sewing classes for the  Montavilla Sewing Centers, both in Portland, OR.

I love sewing and can’t wait to help you realize your own sewing dreams, whether it’s just to fix a torn seam, sew a gown for the Oscars, or anything in between.

Follow me on Instagram and see what’s sewing up today.

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