Today we’d like to introduce you to Paige Plihal.
Hi Paige, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started sewing as a child-my earliest Halloween costumes and special event outfits were made by my mom, and she began teaching me to sew in late elementary school so I could participate in the local fair through a 4-H Fashion program. I loved the challenge and competition, and spending hours pouring over pattern books and walking fabric aisles. In middle school and high school, I became the unofficial TA (it was the Midwest, I loved an easy A!) for the home-ec class and this is where I first explored teaching.
I stopped sewing in college, but picked it up again after my daughter was born in 2008. I wanted to make her the sweet heirloom pieces my mom had made for me, but along the way I discovered the Indie pattern world. Independent designers like Grainline Studio, True Bias and Liesl & Co were selling patterns for current trends, with detailed instructions, and the cover art was inspiring too! I could make clothes that fit me, in fabrics I liked, and I quickly was down the rabbit hole.
I continued to hone my teaching skills, marketing and textile education at local baby carrier manufacturer Sakura Bloom. Getting paid to play with linen, silk and beautiful handwoven cottons really was a dream job! Stitched Slowly was born in 2019 as simply an online journal and place to connect with ‘sewstagram.’ As I have grown, so has my business. Today I teach all over San Diego at local businesses as well as private lessons at my own Bay Park studio. My very first independent pattern will release in September, I’m a brand ambassador for BERNINA sewing machines and I’m constantly considering the next project I’ll cut into!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
That’s definitely a both/and-aside from the actual struggle to learn to sew (and many, many late-night seam ripper sessions), I’ve invested a lot of time and energy learning 3D pattern-making software, graphic design, and pattern drafting. Building my small studio and a steady stream of students has happened rather organically, and for that I’m very grateful.
That said, “organic” doesn’t mean “effortless.” Before Stitched Slowly, I spent years working in design, marketing, and community-building for direct-to-consumer brands, so I came into this with a well-worn toolkit for storytelling, visual presentation, and nurturing an audience. Those skills have been just as important as my sewing know-how, because as it turns out, running a creative business is equal parts craft and logistics, art and spreadsheets.
Like most creative entrepreneurs, I’m still in the stage where it’s not quite enough to be my sole income, but it’s growing steadily, and every year brings me closer. I’ve navigated the same challenges most small business owners face: balancing teaching with creating, constantly adopting new tech, and occasionally wondering if my sewing machine might be plotting against me.
I have some really exciting things in the pipeline for 2026-more patterns, expanded workshops, a retreat (!!) and more surprises, and I’m bringing all of those experiences (and a much sharpened seam ripper) with me into this next stage.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a designer, sewing teacher, and patternmaker, and I run Stitched Slowly-a small studio where I create sewing patterns, teach classes, and experiment with textiles and yarn. My work sits at the intersection of traditional craft and modern design: I’m as excited about a well-executed French seam as I am about testing a new 3D pattern-making workflow.
I specialize in patterns that balance approachability with sophistication, garments that feel wearable but also a little elevated and skill building. Students often tell me my teaching style makes complex techniques feel doable, and that’s something I’m deeply proud of. My patterns aren’t just instructions; they’re an invitation to slow down, notice details, and build skills over time.
What sets me apart is the combination of creative vision and a strong background in design, marketing, and community-building. I know how to translate technical craft into something visually engaging and accessible, which means I can connect with both beginners plugging in the sewing machine for the first time and experienced sewists looking for a new challenge.
I’m most proud of the community that’s grown around my work: students who come back again and again, patterns that are sewn on dining tables around the world, and the way the studio is evolving and growing fills me with excitement for the future.
Pricing:
- Private Lessons: $150 for 2hrs
- Small Group Lessons (birthday, bridal shower) begin at $600 for 3 hr experience
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stitchedslowly.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/stitchedslowly
Image Credits
all images credit to Stacy Keck Photography
