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ed a curriculum to raise home sewing skills to industrial sewing skills for higher paying jobs, help launch sewn goods companies, create small-batch manufacturing opportunities and build a database of sewing talent throughout the state.

Similarly, Moonshot is working with Tina LaChance, founder of Red Thread Sewing, who has been sewing full-time in Flagstaff since 2007. She will be the hands-on instructor for the Winslow program. “Sewing skills are in high demand. With every single turn I’ve made in the sewing industry, there are not enough people to help me,” said LaChance. “The industry needs experienced industrial sewers. I’m really excited about serving the community with sewing services and helping Northern Arizona’s economy as well.”

LaChance works with Overland Campers, a locally grown business that creates pop-up mobile habitats for the outdoors. She says she learned her sewing skills from her mother when she was in the Girl Scouts. “I would get old pants from the thrift store and make bags for other people in high school. In my 20s, I moved to Flagstaff and met a wonderful lady who knew how to do home decorating. I started making curtains for folks. Before 2007, I got a job doing embroidery and alterations. Sewing has really been critical to my life. I’ve been through my fair share of health scares and issues that kept me from having a regular job. Sewing work

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Go to https://starworldwidenetworks.com/shows/bonnie-stevens filled the gaps in income. The overhead is very low compared to other industries. Keeping and maintaining those machines has enabled me to be fluid in my life and income. Sewing can be a steady income maker for anyone.”

Pierotti sees the pilot project as an exciting opportunity that will create awareness about upskilling opportunities for occupations like digital patternmaking and 3D modeling that can create six-figure salaries. QCBN

For more information, go to azstitchlab.org.