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Old School Sewing, new business on Main Street

Courtesy photo. Welcome banner.

By Lisa Carolin

Old School Sewing opened in September at 118 South Main St., Suite A in downtown Chelsea.

Long-time Chelsea resident Lynn Harris is the owner.

“The space is my own artist studio where I also offer workshops for quilters and after school sewing clubs and birthday parties for kids,” said Harris. “I have been teaching at quilt guilds and quilt shows around the country for several years. I am pleased to now have a place where I can teach these workshops locally.”

Courtesy photo. Tiny piecing.

Harris offers prescheduled classes and will also schedule events for groups of five to eight people. She also offers an after-school club for kids ages 10 and older where she teaches beginner sewing techniques.

“They’ve made projects like pillowcases, pencil pouches, drawstring bags, greeting cards, and pennant banners,” said Harris. “The clubs are ongoing in six week sessions, and student’s progress at their own pace to more complicated projects.”

Harris creates textile art using techniques that were used by past generations of her family, and she creates utilitarian objects like clothes and quilts.

Courtesy photo. Log cabin quilt.

“I connect the past to the present and honor the beauty and artistry of the handmade,” she said. “My most recent work is a series of small scale abstract designs inspired by the experiences of someone I love and care about who is in an abusive relationship. My wish is that these pieces of art can help to prevent domestic abuse by increasing understanding and awareness of this pervasive problem.”

All of her pieces are original designs, and she uses the geometric patterns of antique quilts for inspiration.

“My art often evolves dramatically from the start to finish of a piece, and I find as much pleasure in the process as in the completed pieces,” said Harris.

Courtesy photo.

“Both of my parents grew up on farms and I was taught to do things from scratch and never let anything go to waste,” she said. “My thrifty upbringing led me to my current style of working with scraps and the desire to use ‘every last piece,’”

She has lived in Chelsea for almost 30 years and is thrilled with Old School Sewing’s location. She says the downtown space is great for quilters coming from out of town to attend workshops, convenient for kids walking home from school to stop at the afternoon clubs, and within walking distance of good food options and more.

Harris’ quilts have been juried into international shows and gallery exhibits as well as being in private collections around the world. She has been published in many books and magazines and has her own book, Every Last Piece.

You can learn more at her website, lynncarsonharris.com and at Old School Sewing’s website, https://oldschoolsewing.squarespace.com.

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