Introducing our newest Ambassador - Next Gen Quilting!

Meet Amari of Next Gen Quilting!

Amari has just joined us as our newest Modern Maker box Ambassador! She was selected from a long list of talented and creative sewists.

How long have you been sewing?

Believe it or not, I’ve only been quilting for 6 months! It all started with a late-night internet search for a crafty quarantine hobby to pass the time during the pandemic.

Ultimately, I wanted to emerge from all of this with a new skill and to make some virtual friends along the way!

How did you learn to sew?

My mom bought me my first sewing machine when I was 15 so I could make some pillowcases for my bedroom. She showed me the basics, but for the most part it was just me, the sewing machine manual and good ole’ trial and error. I still use my 20-year old machine today. As far as quilting goes, I credit YouTube and the Instagram quilting community for everything I know!

What is your favorite thing to sew?

I think the question is what CAN I sew? And that list is VERY short - ha! In my lifetime I’ve made pillowcases and (as of 6 months ago) quilts. When I was a teenager, a family friend once showed me how to sew a cotton skirt, although she did all the work so I can hardly take credit for it – does that count?

What is your favorite thing about sewing?

Working with my hands! I am in front of a screen for SO MUCH of my day (laptop, phone, tablet, TV, you name it), so I love having a hobby that gives me a break from all of that.

What is your favorite item you have ever sewn?

When I was in high school, my boyfriend (now husband) and I made a kite together. He was the engineer behind the project and I was the sewist. Today, nearly 20 years later, we still have it!

Share something interesting with us?

I’m a beginner (and a minimalist), so I don’t own a lot of sewing supplies, let alone a dedicated sewing studio. Instead I have this adorable DIY sewing cart – which is an ironing board on top and storage below. All of my sewing supplies (fabric included) live on my little cart. I sew in my dining room and, at the end of the day, I load my machine on top of my cart and off it goes into a corner. When things start to get crowded, I hold off on new purchases and find creative ways to downsize!

We are looking forward to seeing Amari’s creations. Check Amari out here:

Instagram - @nextgenquilting