Meet the BERNINA & bernette Brand Ambassador Class of 2024
We are proud and honored to present our BERNINA and bernette Brand Ambassador Class of 2024!
Please welcome our new additions to the BERNINA and bernette Ambassador family. You will see inspirational content, creative project tutorials, innovative tips and tricks, plus so much more, from them all, here on WeAllSew and social media.
Candace Birger
Candace Birger, also known as Plexi Cosplay, is a costume designer and cosplayer from Maryland, USA. She has fabricated props and costumes for companies like Hacksmith, Digital Extremes, Blizzard Entertainment, Netflix, and more. She is a mother of two and also a full-time manager of Exploration Commons which is a branch of her local library system with an innovative makerspace and teaching kitchen. In her costumes, she pushes the boundaries of what is possible with new and innovative ways of incorporating engineering, electronics, and more into traditional fabrication techniques. You can find her at conventions locally and internationally where she typically teaches workshops, judges contests, and spends her free time enjoying the cosplay community at large.
Follow Plexicosplay on Instagram.
Catherine Holbrook
Catherine is a mom of three who discovered a passion for sewing back in 2014. Her husband was in his first year of a 4-year long residency program when she decided she needed a hobby. Christmas was just around the corner, so she asked her mom for a sewing machine. She swears it was love at first stitch! In the wee hours of the night, you could find her whipping up one-of-a-kind purses, pillows, baby toys, etc. It wasn’t until January 2019, after the birth of her second child that she started focusing on creating her own wardrobe. What began as a knack for refashioning garments from Goodwill, quickly turned into self-drafting her own patterns and sharing her sewing journey with others on Instagram. She has now established a wide sewing audience across social media platforms and spends her days inspiring others to bring back the lost art of sewing.
Follow Catherine on Instagram.
Christina Lee
Christina Lee is a quilt pattern designer for Sweet Potato Quilts, based in Boise, Idaho. Sweet Potato Quilts offers a Block of the Month program and a membership that provides quilters with monthly mix-and-match quilt block patterns, helping them design their own unique quilts. Her mission is to give all quilters the confidence and tools they need to create their dream quilts while making the process fun and approachable.
Follow Christina on Instagram.
Jaclyn Salem
Jaclyn is a professional graphic designer and home-sewing enthusiast from Brooklyn, NY. Her grandmother and dad taught her how to sew when she was 8 years old (on her grandma’s BERNINA 1090 that she has since inherited and loves to use!), and she has been sewing and DIYing ever since—mostly garments and quilts. In 2016, she started a YouTube channel and joined the online crafting community to share her knitting and sewing projects.
Jaclyn loves focusing on the design process—the “behind-the-scenes” details of sewing a project from start to finish. She is passionate about sharing ideas and pattern hacks, as well as making sewing feel approachable (or at least interesting!) for crafters of all skill levels.
Follow Jaclyn on Instagram.
Jaimie Koti-Black
Jaimie began hand sewing at 8 years old and transitioned to machine sewing almost seven years ago after a gala experience where she saw several women wearing the same department store dress, a dress she almost bought herself. That moment sparked her passion for sewing, which became both a creative outlet and a way to connect with her teenager. She recently expanded her creative interests by learning shoemaking, adding another craft to her repertoire. Her love for learning anything artsy fuels her excitement for new projects. Through sewing, she has connected with a supportive community of women who share their skills and positive energy. Jaimie is passionate about supporting women entrepreneurs and believes in the power of kindness, embracing the idea that the energy you give is what you receive.
Follow Jaimie on Instagram.
Jen Sorenson
Jen Sorenson, aka A Quilting Jewel, is a modern quilter and pattern designer who embraces bold colors and precision with a modern traditional flair. Jen has a passion for foundation paper piecing and is constantly trying new designs and evolving her quilting style. Her quilts have won awards at some of the most prestigious international quilt shows and have been curated into multiple museum exhibits. She resides on the Seacoast of New Hampshire, and when she’s not quilting, Jen works in public relations in the IT industry and is an avid runner, frequently running marathons and half marathons.
Follow Jen on Instagram.
Jessica Cronin
Splitting her time between Atlanta and New York, Jessica Cronin is an accomplished Costume Designer, Stylist and Artist whose work spans the worlds of stage, television and film. With a background in Fashion Design and Art History, along with an MFA in Costume Design from Carnegie Mellon University, she brings a deep passion for historical clothing and high-fashion fantasy to her designs. Jessica is a proud member of the United Scenic Artists IATSE 829 and has also amassed a social media following of over 100K across TikTok, Instagram and YouTube where she shares entertaining and educational content about sewing, fashion history and the costume design profession. With an eye for detail, and a flair for storytelling, Jessica Cronin continues to bring her extraordinary visions to life, one costume at a time!
Follow Jessica on Instagram.
Maelynn Wood
Maelynn Wood is a talented quilt pattern designer based in the Pacific Northwest, where she finds inspiration in the region’s natural beauty. Through her business, “Mae Just Sew,” she creates approachable and creative designs that resonate with quilters of all levels. Known for blending traditional techniques with modern flair, Maelynn’s patterns evoke warmth and timelessness, making her a beloved figure in the quilting community. Her attention to detail and artistic vision have helped her build a loyal following, with each of her patterns telling a unique story through fabric and color.
Follow Maelynn on Instagram.
Melanie Jasmine
Melanie Jasmine, a celebrated costume maker from the DFW area, is dedicated to bringing video game, comic book and original characters to life with stunning accuracy. Melanie specializes in crafting intricate designs using unconventional materials, pushing the boundaries of traditional costuming. A passionate educator, Melanie travels across the US, sharing her knowledge and expertise through engaging panels and workshops. In addition to her educational endeavors, Melanie is a prominent figure at the Dallas Makerspace, where she serves as the committee chair for the cosplay & costuming SIG, fostering and contributing to the local community of makers. Melanie’s most prominent pieces have been featured in magazines, indie films, art galleries across the DFW area, and even the Consulate of Mexico. Melanie Jasmine is beyond excited to be part of the BERNINA and bernette family!
Follow Melanie on Instagram.
Nikki Griffin
Nikki’s journey from corporate America back to her roots in sewing is truly inspiring. She is the daughter of Charlotte, Beatrice, Juanita, and Charlotte, and her passion for sewing is rooted in four generations. After a successful 30-year corporate career and navigating a global pandemic, Nikki returned to sewing and teaching, discovering her dedication to sharing her skills with others.
Nikki creates bespoke lingerie, representing the industry from a Black woman’s perspective. She emphasizes that comfort in wearing a bra comes from making a custom bra yourself if you know how to sew. Otherwise, wearing the correct bra size is the goal, with or without underwires. Nikki is internationally recognized as an instructor in the lingerie-making community, and she wants all women to know that they, too, can make their own lingerie, no matter their size—even as beginner sewists.
As she continues this chapter of teaching others to enhance their sewing skills, her wealth of experience and passion will undoubtedly inspire and empower you.
Radha Weaver
Radha is a Textile Artist and Sustainability Educator based in San Francisco. Her unique expertise and passion for upcycling denim was fueled by a 15-year career in the apparel and textile industry where she traveled the world, visited factories in China and Bangladesh, and unfortunately had a front seat to the rise of fast fashion.
She used to develop products for Levi’s and was responsible for getting millions of pairs of jeans out into the world. Now at Sewing through Fog, she helps keep those same jeans out of landfills by inspiring quilters and sewists to create with upcycled materials. Radha believes helping the planet can be fun, and mixes sustainability with humor in a judgement-free zone.
Follow Radha on Instagram.
Terrance Williams
Terrance Williams is a self-taught sewist, small business owner, and content creator. He began sewing in 2009 and, through his sewing and small business journey, Terrance Williams Designs, he has advocated for sustainability, human rights, and representation in the sewing and fashion industry. Along with Terrance’s love of sewing bold and bright clothing and accessories, he loves Britney Spears and spending his weekends at the Dallas Farmers Market!
Follow Terrance on TikTok.
