This week, we’ll be profiling one of our beloved MD employees to find out more about her sewing life. Not only does Meredith work at Modern Domestic, she teaches all sorts of awesome classes here as well. If you’re interested in learning to how to sew, check out her Zippered Pouch or Sweet & Simple Apron classes. She’ll help you conquer your serger fears in her Beginning Serger Knit Cardigan and Leggings classes, and this spring she’s bringing back a great class on Colette Patterns’ excellent mens button-down shirt pattern, Negroni.
How long have you been sewing?






A lot of my recent sewing projects can be seen over on the Bolt blog. I love the act of choosing the fabric and project and the act of making as much as the finished item. I love creating clothes for myself that I never thought I could or would–like jeans. I hope to push myself and learn more about techniques that I should have paid more attention to when I had the resources in grad school like tailoring and draping. And then I love quick rewarding projects with knits or a fun new scarf to help beat the winter blues.
What is your favorite sewing tip/tool?
My sewing machines (Ruby, my 1008 and my new still unnamed 580) and serger are faithful companions without which I could do nothing. And my presser feet! I love coming up with excuses and projects to buy new ones. They truly do help sewing with less swearing. I could not live without the #12 Bulky Overlock/Piping foot or #35 Invisible Zipper foot.
Where do you sew?
There’s a finished attic in the house we rent and I converted it into a sewing studio. I’m like a fish–I grow to fit whatever space I’m in! How can I easily fill double the space I had before? It’s definitely still a work in progress. The ceilings are kind of a downer, the lighting is terrible, and I’d love a blocking board and bigger cutting table. And more storage for fabric, patterns, and books. But overall, I love going up to my little world and sewing my heart out. Especially to cheesy 80’s movies on my thrift store TV/VCR combo.
What sewing project(s) do you plan to tackle next?
Looking at class samples specifically–the bag from the Burdastyle Handbook and the Taffy Blouse from Colette Sewing Handbook. My Peony dress is 3/4 constructed and I need to move the waist before installing the zipper. I’ve got some knits waiting to be made into t-shirts and I’ve got denim ready for another pair of jeans. I’m hoping to follow along with Elizabeth’s Sparkle Punch quilt sew-along. Oh, and a new Crepe Wrap Dress in a denim/hemp blend and keeping an eye out for the perfect eggplant knit for a new pair of leggings since I seem to wear leggings everyday in the winter. And bra making!

7 Responses to “MD Sewist Spotlight: Meredith Neal”
Jamie whitaker
Cool!!! You have so much experience! I also love your sewing attic 🙂
ruth m
Amazing work, Mere. And I envy your sewing attic so much.
CARYL SCHIAVON
Did you ever know that you’re my hero?
autumn
way jelly of the attic room! secondly, how fun! i hope i didn’t miss any earlier MD employee/owner spotlights, because i love this one!!!
Ann Allison
Yeah, Meredith, very impressive!
Jennifer Hale
I love your story and your space! I look forward to signing up for another one of your classes!
Karie
Dude! I dig the red short bob you’ve got going on at the Alliance Theater.
I haven’t been a big fan of jeans and you have inspired me to give a handmade pair a try. Could take care of all the things I hate about comercial jeans. Specifically getting a pair comfortable for my legs without being 20 sizes too big for my waist.
You rock!