Hi everyone! I'm Julia.
It’s so nice to meet you! I am the teacher and owner of Old Spool Sewing in Brielle, NJ.
I have a background in fashion design after graduating with a BFA from Parsons the New School of Design in New York City where I earned a nomination for Designer of the Year during my thesis year.
After working for a few years in NYC as a designer, I was turned off by the massive amounts of wasted resources and earth-wrecking practices of the fashion industry. I decided to quit my day job to pursue my love of making and teaching. Old Spool Sewing is a dream come true. It is a cozy little studio where I welcome anyone who wants to learn the craft of sewing and give them space to flex their creative muscles.
The Faces Behind the Studio
We are a small but mighty team of makers who are passionate about sharing the joy of sewing. From expert instructors to our certified machine technician, we are here to support your creative journey every step of the way.
A Space for Everyone
Old Spool is a space where friends (or soon-to-be-friends!) regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ability, size, or age can gather and make something with their hands. We are a safe and welcoming space with a zero-tolerance bullying policy for kids and adults alike.
Sustainable & Earth Conscious
Sustainability is a priority in every level of our business. That means we:
- Prioritize stocking products and working with companies that have sustainable practices (organic, Oeko-tex, etc) and socially conscious production chains.
- Recycle almost every scrap of fabric we use in our kids classes in some way or another.
- Use cleaners that don’t harm the environment, including our new HOCI disinfecting system, in light of the COVID19 pandemic.
- Very rarely use single-use items unless they have been recycled in the first place.
- Most of our shipping materials are recycled, compostable or earth-friendly, with an aim to be 100% in the near future.
We exclusively support local and small-scale vendors, prioritizing women and BIPOC-owned businesses. Old Spool does not support Big Box stores or national chains that put profits before people and harm our planet with no shame.
Our Community Impact
We believe “Money is Love” and put our resources where our heart is. At Old Spool, we use our sewing powers for good by giving back to our local and global community.
Youth Mentorship
Through regular collaboration with organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal and Northern NJ and the Monmouth Teen Arts Festival, we aim to provide free and low-cost sewing lessons that inspire the next generation of sewists, regardless of their financial means.
Monthly Giving
We give monthly to organizations supporting marginalized communities, including the Loveland Foundation, which provides therapy access for Black women and girls, the National Network of Abortion Funds and the Village Foster Family Closet.
Charitable Sewing Days
We regularly activate our community for “good-deeds sewing,” including making quilts for Project Linus, Mary’s Place by the Sea and the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp.
Ready to Keep Making?
From free patterns to our favorite tips and tricks, our blog is the best place to find your next project and grow your skills.
Come Say Hi!
Our sewing school and fabric shop is located at 617 Higgins Ave in Brielle, at the beautiful Jersey Shore. Whether you are hunting for new fabrics for your next project or are ready to join us for a class, we’d love to see you!
Join the Thread 🧵
We’re always up to something in the studio! Sign up to stay in the loop on new fabric arrivals, upcoming workshop dates, and everything else happening here!