Joanna Strohn

I learned to sew, crochet and knit from my grandmother and my mother. My grandmother taught me on her treadle machine. It is a skill you never forget. I was fortunate to buy a wonderful Singer treadle several years ago. After restoring it, Waltzing Matilda hums right along. Alas, I don't use her very much but she is eye candy in my bedroom. I took sewing classes in high school and then continued sewing my clothes. I even made a man's suit! I ... Read Full Bio »

I learned to sew, crochet and knit from my grandmother and my mother. My grandmother taught me on her treadle machine. It is a skill you never forget. I was fortunate to buy a wonderful Singer treadle several years ago. After restoring it, Waltzing Matilda hums right along. Alas, I don't use her very much but she is eye candy in my bedroom. I took sewing classes in high school and then continued sewing my clothes. I even made a man's suit! I put my knitting and crocheting to good use as well. I remember making a green cable sweater. Then when I was pregnant I made lots of baby items. As time went on, career took precedence over any craft projects. When I moved to Arizona I even sold my sewing machine. It hadn't been used for years. I did have creative outlets: photography. writing and silversmithing. My goal was to make a perfect soldered chain and I did make many, along with other jewelry items. Sewing didn't enter my life until after 9/11. I had two dogs that I took to the dog park and I wanted them to have patriotic bandanas to wear. I went to the local craft/fabric store, found some fabric and a liquid stitching product. It was not a good choice! One thing led to another and I bought a sewing machine and began to sew. Then quilt. My journey has included teaching at a local quilt shop and having one of my quilts published in a book. I wrote some patterns for the use of my students and, as time permits, will add them here on Craftsy. My focus this year is free motion quilting though I have been wandering off into a variety of other interesting classes. Craftsy is an extension of my bookshelf. I look on each class as a book I can use to learn from as needed. Some I read immediately. Others are on my shelf for someday. Still others I go back to and refer to specific sections on a fairly frequent basis.