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A VIRTUAL SEWING & Quilting CONFERENCE for the soul
The 2026
Sew Much Soul Conference

The Countdown Is On... Are You Ready? ✨

The Sew Much Soul Conference is back for its 8th year, and this is our biggest event yet!

From September 8–12, 2026, join thousands of sewing and quilting enthusiasts from around the world for 5 incredible days of creativity, inspiration, and hands-on learning—all from the comfort of your home.

Learn from an amazing lineup of instructors, discover new techniques, create beautiful projects, and gain the confidence to take your sewing and quilting skills to the next level.

✨ The best part? It's completely FREE!

No travel. No hotel. No stress. Just five days of expert instruction, an encouraging community, and plenty of sewing inspiration.

Whether you're brand new to sewing or have been creating for years, this is your chance to learn, connect, and sew alongside a community that shares your passion.

🎉 Reserve your FREE spot today and experience why thousands of makers return to Sew Much Soul year after year. We can't wait to sew with you!

The 2026
Sew Much Soul Conference

The Countdown Is On... Are You Ready? ✨

The Sew Much Soul Conference is back for its 8th year, and this is our biggest event yet!

From September 8–12, 2026, join thousands of sewing and quilting enthusiasts from around the world for 5 incredible days of creativity, inspiration, and hands-on learning—all from the comfort of your home.

Learn from an amazing lineup of instructors, discover new techniques, create beautiful projects, and gain the confidence to take your sewing and quilting skills to the next level.

✨ The best part? It's completely FREE!

No travel. No hotel. No stress. Just five days of expert instruction, an encouraging community, and plenty of sewing inspiration.

Whether you're brand new to sewing or have been creating for years, this is your chance to learn, connect, and sew alongside a community that shares your passion.

🎉 Reserve your FREE spot today and experience why thousands of makers return to Sew Much Soul year after year. We can't wait to sew with you!

The 2026
Sew Much Soul conference
10+
Workshops 
5
INSTRUCTORS 
5 Days
ACTION PACKED classes
$0
Cost To Attend
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
about sew much soul…

Here is my version of the Fringed Kimono... Thanks Rakecia and Carrie for the suggestions for the finishing touches.

 

Rachel W.

I really enjoyed this workshop, I learned something new each day.


 

Deborah M.

Thank you Janet today was great.
And thank you Nikki you loads of information.


Tonia M. 
INSTRUCTORS
Tisha Thorne, LEAD INSTRUCTOR
Tisha Thorne is co-owner of Sew Creative Lounge and is a certified sewing instructor that has been teaching locally in the DC area and throughout the country for more than two decades. 

Born and raised in Washington DC, Tisha is passionate about teaching her students of all ages about sewing. Tisha and her partner Cecily Habimana founded Sip and Sew DC in 2014 and opened Sew Creative Lounge in 2017. 

Her mission is to teach the world to sew, one stitch at a time.
jANET GREEN

Janet has been sewing since childhood, mostly garments and home décor items. She started this part of her journey about ten years ago, making quilts for cover and comfort. Uninspired by traditional quilt patterns and coordinated fabric bundles, she wanted more interesting quilting adventures. Facing a pile of fabric scraps and pieces trimmed from other projects, she asked herself “what if I...?”. That day, her journey took a happy turn into improvisational quilting, and she never looked back! 
Making random blocks (or segments, as she likes to call them) with no real end in mind, exciting new compositions emerged. She loved what she was creating. More importantly, she loved what she was becoming—a Fabric Mixologist.

NIKKI GRIFFIN

After a successful 30 years in corporate America and a global pandemic, Nikki decided to return to her roots and teach people of all levels how to master the sewing craft. As an 8-year-old child at her grandmother’s knee, she begged her grandma to teach her to sew. My grandmother’s spirit of determination was not going to stop her from teaching me this valuable craft. She followed her dreams and spent a career in the fashion industry in retail, merchandising and sales. She has been taught by some of the top designers in the industry and she wants to share what she has learned over the decades with you. 

RAKECIA HANNA

Rakecia is a special educator by day and sewing instructor by night. For five years, she has taught at Sew Creative Lounge, embracing her passion for sewing and photography. Growing up in a creative household, she was encouraged to make things from an early age. Inspired by her mother's sewing skills, she developed a love for sewing and eventually became serious about it after receiving a sewing machine as a gift. Rakecia's journey led her back to Sew Creative Lounge, where she now sews with her "sew sisters" and shares her knowledge with others.

Joycelyne Hammond

Joycelyne Hammond is a passionate fashion designer, sewing instructor, and mentor dedicated to helping others grow their confidence through sewing. She earned her degree in Fashion Design and Technology from Takoradi Technical University in Ghana and has been sewing since 2013, developing expertise in garment construction, pattern development, and sewing techniques.

For nearly a year, Joycelyne has been teaching at Sew Creative Lounge, where she inspires sewists of all skill levels through engaging classes and hands-on instruction. In addition to teaching, she serves as the Pattern Development Specialist at Sew Creative Lounge, creating and refining patterns that make sewing more enjoyable and accessible for the community.

Alongside her work at Sew Creative Lounge, Joycelyne creates custom garments and mentors aspiring sewists, sharing her knowledge with patience, creativity, and a genuine passion for the craft. Her mission is to empower others to build their sewing skills and bring their creative visions to life with confidence.

CANDACE PHELPS

Candace Phelps has been sewing for over 40 years. Quilting is her latest adventure. Candace’s quilt style is both traditional and modern. She mixes traditional blocks, strip piecing, improv blocks, and foundation paper piecing with African wax fabrics and batiks. Candace's quilts have been on view with Maryland Quilts Exhibit and solo exhibit at Black Rock Art Gallery. 

Candace Phelps graduated from Lincoln University, PA with a B.S. in Business Administration. Later, she studied Fashion Design the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in NYC. After finishing in New York, she opened her custom drapery workroom, CPDC Décor, LLC. Her work has been featured in interior design show houses and industry magazines. Candace taught beginner sewing and home décor sewing classes at G Street Fabrics. She also has been a guest speaker for interior design students at Montgomery College and George Washington University. 

The 2026
Sew Much Soul conference
10+
Workshops
5
INSTRUCTORS
5 Days
ACTION PACKED classes
$0
Cost To Attend

Here is my version of the Fringed Kimono... Thanks Rakecia and Carrie for the suggestions for the finishing touches.

 

RACHEL W.

I really enjoyed this workshop, I learned something new each day.

 

DEBORAH M.

Thank you Janet today was great.
And thank you Nikki you loads of information.

TONIA M. 
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
about sew much soul…

A FEW PROJECTS YOU WILL CREATE... 

Meet The Host
Cecily Habimana

When Cecily Habimana was just a young child, she would often watch her mother sew clothes for the family. She was fascinated by how her mother could take a piece of fabric and make something beautiful out of it. This early exposure to sewing ignited a passion in Cecily that would stay with her for life.

Now, Cecily is the co-owner of Sew Creative Lounge, located in Lanham, Maryland. At Sew Creative Lounge, Cecily and her partner Tisha offer children and adult sewing classes as well as a nation-wide membership program for sewers and quilters. 

Cecily has been featured in several publications and blogs including The Washington Post, Washington Express, American Express website and Chicago Tribune. Cecily has also appeared on Fox 5 News and NPR. She received her bachelor’s degree from Howard University and her MBA from George Washington University.

What To Expect At
The 2026 Sew Much Soul CONFERENCE
  • 10+ Live Workshops featuring some of the best sewing instructors from around the country
  • Classes via Zoom on Wednesday, September 9th through Saturday, September 12th
  • ​Confirmation emails after registration with additional details about the conference
  • ​​Learn new sewing and quilting techniques while making fun, unique projects
  • ​Be a part of a community of sewers in our private Facebook group where you can get to know others participating in the conference
AS SEEN ON
Conference Schedule
day 1. conference
  • DATE: WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2026
  • TIME: 10AM - 3:30PM EST
  • Eva Dress Class, Tisha Thorne
  • ​Hands Remember Table Runner, Candace Phelps
DAY 2. CONFERENCE
  • DATE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10
  • TIME: 10AM-5PM EST
  • Shirley Top, Joycelyne Hammond
  • ​Hands Remember Table Runner, Candace Phelps
  • ​Where are my measurements on this pattern? Nikki Griffin
DAY 3. CONFERENCE
  • DATE: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
  • TIME: 10AM-5PM EST
  • Duffle Bag, Rakecia Hanna
  • ​What if Quilted Wall Hanging, Janet Green
  • ​Textile Lecture, TBD
DAY 4. CONFERENCE
  • DATE: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 112
  • TIME: 10AM-5PM EST
  • Lorraine Top, Tisha Thorne
  • ​East Meets West Bag,   Janet Green
  • CULTURE KEEPER AWARD PRESENTATION


Who Should Attend?
THE 2026 SEW MUCH SOUL CONFERENCE IS FOR THE ADVANCED BEGINNER TO THE ADVANCED SEWER OR QUILTER!

Learn new sewing techniques while making fun, unique projects!

Who Should Attend?
THE 2026 SEW MUCH SOUL CONFERENCE IS FOR THE BEGINNER TO THE INTERMEDIATE SEWER!

Learn new sewing techniques while making fun, unique projects!

Don’t miss 
the 2026 Sew Much Soul 
Conference
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FAQ’s 
What is Sew Much Soul Conference?
Sew Much Soul is a sewing conference with a little soul! Meaning we’ll be teaching a variety of sewing classes and techniques but with a little partying in between.
When is it?
The conference is being held virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, September 9th to Saturday, September 12th. 
What level is the conference appropriate for?
This conference is appropriate for the advanced beginner through advanced level sewer.
How much does the conference cost?
The conference is free! You can also upgrade your registration and purchase the VIP pass for additional classes and conference recordings. Please keep in mind that the VIP pass is non-refundable. 
What supplies do I need for the conference?
We have made it easy for you! You may also purchase the Conference Supply Kit that includes all patterns, fabric and sewing notions for each project. 
Who is hosting the conference?
The conference is being hosted by Cecily Habimana, co-owner of Sew Creative Lounge.
What To Expect At
The 2026 Sew Much Soul CONFERENCE
  • 10+ Live Workshops featuring some of the best sewing instructors from around the country
  • Classes via Zoom on Friday, September 8th at 5pm EST and Saturday and Sunday at 11am EST
  • ​Confirmation emails after registration with additional details about the conference
  • ​​Learn new quilting techniques while making fun, unique projects
  • ​Be a part of a community of sewers in our private Facebook group where you can get to know others participating in the conference
Copyright 2026 © Sew Creative Lounge | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy
Copyright 2026 © Sew Creative Lounge | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy