In 2022, Frances Andonopoulos was between jobs and questioning where their career might take them next.
They took their 20 years of sewing experience and what they’d learned from working in nonprofits to create an organization that takes the intimidation out of learning a new skill and teaches people how to sew.
Sincere Studio is a Portland-based nonprofit that offers expectationless sewing classes for people of any skill level.
Andonopoulos spent 2022 learning what went into founding an organization, what they wanted theirs to look like and how to connect with the community.
“I was learning how to run a nonprofit, and I didn’t know anything about fundraising,” Andonopoulos said. “I was also doing little events to get the word out, and every event was just packed, showing that people were really looking for somewhere to go and be in community.”
Andonopoulos was surprised by the positive reaction. By the time Sincere Studio’s doors opened on Sandy Boulevard in 2023, classes and events were fully booked.
After two years at that location, the studio moved to Northeast Portland’s Eliot neighborhood.
There, staff members teach over 10 classes that target different sewing styles and skills. Along with clubs, open studio hours and monthly events, Sincere Studio offers foundational education for people who want to develop and hone their skills.
Creating a welcoming space
Andonopoulos’ initial goal was to foster a warm atmosphere that encouraged people to come and learn, whatever their sewing level.
Andonopoulos hoped the diverse classes, easy-to-understand tutorials, and low-stakes environment would attract people.
“Our intro to sewing class still sells out weeks in advance,” Andonopoulos said. “I’m always shocked people are so interested in sewing because I thought after six months things would die down, but the interest has not stopped, and if anything, it’s grown.”
This beginner-friendly, 3.5-hour class teaches students how to use a sewing machine. Participants learn skills by sewing a tote bag. The organization offers the class two or three times a week due to its popularity.
“It’s a skill that’s really gatekept and so people think they can’t do it,” said Windsor Meyer, instructor and member of the board of directors. “We try to be really welcoming and accepting, wherever people are at.”
The classes intentionally value mistake-making. Learning new skills as an adult is difficult, Meyer said, so she wants classes to feel palatable and low-stakes. Meyer likes to remind her students how brave it is to put themselves out there.
“In that intro class, we talk about how hard it is to be a learner and value mistakes,” Meyer said. “I talk about how vulnerable and scary it is to step out there and say you know nothing about that skill.”
Andonopoulos said every instructor’s main goal is to lower the barriers that prevent people from learning to sew. One approach is to use accessible machinery and tools.
“The machines we use are very inexpensive,” Andonopoulos said. “That is a purposeful choice because we’re not expecting people to go out and buy a $500 sewing machine.”
With this intentional focus on class and socioeconomic factors, including providing free materials, Andonopoulos said students can focus solely on learning.
“In other sewing spaces, there’s a lot of classist assumptions,” said Epiphany Holmstock, another instructor and board member. “The assumption that you have a house, storage and space for sewing. I think part of it is not making assumptions about who is coming into our space and what their life looks like.”
‘They hate to see us gather’
Andonopoulos wants Sincere Studio to be a “third space” for people to find community and respite. Third spaces are places in the community where people can connect with people outside of their work and home life.
“The external world feels very scary and very large, and I don’t think I can affect much change in the grander world, so leaning into community and finding people who have common interests feels very important and powerful to me,” Meyer said. “It’s togetherness that lets us see that we do have control.”
Meaningful art adorns the studio, like a quilted mutual aid banner and a Trans flag. Andonopoulos said that combination of art and social justice is part of the team’s mission.
“It’s often in the background of movements,” Andonopoulos said. “For example, making protest banners or bigger art projects like the AIDS Memorial Quilt. Giving people the skill to express themselves can really be a good foundation for social change.”
Andonopoulos said founding the nonprofit helped them understand how difficult it is for third spaces to survive. In an attempt to be accessible to all, Sincere Studio offers some free, grant-funded classes. Those that do cost money are offered on a sliding scale. Andonopoulos said they feel lucky to be able to offer free programming and events at least once a week.
After receiving feedback from students who were looking for more opportunities to connect with fellow sewers, Andonopoulos introduced affinity groups.
The three current group offerings are BIPOC Sewing Club, Queer and Trans Sewing Club and Quilt Club. At these free group meetings, people can work on personal projects and improve their craft. Open studio hours on Mondays and Fridays offer another free opportunity. These two-hour-slots include free materials and tools.
“It’s hard for third-space places to exist in a capitalist society,” Andonopoulos said. “Sewing is one of those things that you can sit with someone who’s not from the same background, and you can connect about something, and it builds a bridge. It humanizes a problem.”
The staff enjoys seeing how sewing brings people from different backgrounds and beliefs together over mutual interests.
“When you’re working with your hands, it’s the perfect time to talk and get to know people in your community,” Holmstock said. “Not just to get to know each other, but to learn what’s going on in your community and coalition building.”
Mending as a life skill
Mending is a skill that is woven throughout Sincere Studio classes.
Mending not only keeps clothing out of the landfill but also lets people add a personal touch and intentionality to their clothing. Sincere Studio offers multiple mending classes covering different mending styles, such as Sashiko, patching and darning basics. These 2.5-hour classes break down the technique to help people repair damaged or fraying clothing.
When people look at clothes through a sewing lens, Andonopoulos said, they can recognize the time and skill that went into making the product. That makes people more aware of where they buy their clothes and how they spend their money.
The organization also offers a plethora of garment-making classes where students practice using patterns to make clothing.
“When picking patterns to use in classes, only those that extend to plus sizes are picked,” Andonopoulos said. “This means that every Sincere Studio class is tailored not to one body shape, but to all bodies.”
Clothing often has an assumed “normal” size, Andonopoulos said. And many patterns only go to size 12. It’s also important to Andonopoulos that people with any gender expression can take every garment class the organization offers.
“We never even considered using patterns that aren’t plus-size friendly,” Andonopoulos said. “All of our patterns are gender neutral, or we give people pattern choices in the same class.”
Mending and altering are not just practical skills; they also let people take ownership over their style and create clothing that expresses themselves.
“Seventy-five percent of the people who come want to alter their clothes or make their own because clothes from the store don’t fit them and aren’t made for their body,” Andonopoulos said. “People are seeking this out as a possible alternative.”
For Holmstock, sewing brings intentionality to her life. She sees the different reasons people come to the studio to learn to sew and alter clothing.
“It’s a very practical thing,” Holmstock said. “There are so many people who come and want to modify their clothing to be more affirming for their bodies. It can be a fun, creative process — and meditative — that can impact a lot of different areas of your life.”
People sometimes use sewing to feel more connected to their families and ancestral practices, she said, adding that she wants Sincere Studio to be a place that encourages these connections.
Mending has become an important part of Sincere Studio’s mutual aid projects. The group works with Right 2 Dream Too, a self-maintained encampment for homeless Portlanders, to mend and repair sleeping bags.
“It started as a sustainability thing to keep these sleeping bags around,” Andonopoulos said. “Now, when you look at them, you can see every person’s hard work, and it’s usually on the side of the bag that’s touching your body.”
The cotton-lined sleeping bags are now covered in colorful, hand-stitched patches that resemble murals and quilts.
“It’s really sweet, and I hope it conveys a certain level of love and respect,” Andonopoulos said. “It’s hours of someone sitting there and mending by hand. The sustainability aspect and the love and care.”
This article appears in April 8, 2026.