Hillary O'Dell

I’ve been sewing for over 20 years and teaching for 11. I got my start at Parsons and spent time in the fashion industry, but eventually realized I wanted something more hands-on and more personal. So I started designing custom bridal through my company Hilandel and teaching people how to sew for themselves.Since then, I’ve taught thousands of students how to sew for the very first time.There’s nothing better than watching someone sit down intimidated by a sewing machine and leave thinking, “wait… I can actually do this.”I teach out of Home Ec NYC, where our goal is to flip the outdated notion of what sewing is on its head. Being able to make, alter, or even just understand your clothes better is a valuable skill.Although I put forth a real respect for my craft and teaching, my classes are laid-back, social, and high-energy in the best way. We’re sewing, we’re laughing, we’re probably talking about life.It’s not just about learning a skill, it’s about realizing you’re more capable than you thought.I bring a mix of industry experience, years of teaching, and a no-BS approach to creating a space that feels inspiring but never intimidating. You don’t need to be “crafty” to start—you just have to show up.