Road Trip Close to Home: Sewing studio weaving creativity and community
This week’s Road Trip: Close to Home takes us to SewLeana in South Orange, a hands‑on sewing studio and fabric shop that offers classes, workshops and community events for beginners and experienced creators alike.
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There’s a spot in Essex County that feels like a modern‑day home economics class, where people of all ages are learning how to make their own clothes — and find a sense of community along the way.
This week’s Road Trip: Close to Home takes us to SewLeana in South Orange, a hands‑on sewing studio and fabric shop that offers classes, workshops and community events for beginners and experienced creators alike.
“Everything from hand sewing to embroidery to machine sewing,” said owner Leana Lu. “We teach you how to quilt. We teach you how to make your own clothes, make toys and handbags — anything you can possibly think of regarding sewing.”
SewLeana functions as both a creative studio and a gathering space, offering step‑by‑step instruction that breaks sewing down into manageable pieces. The goal, Lu says, is to make the craft feel accessible.
“It’s so easy, and it doesn’t have to be perfect,” said Sarah Gee of Maplewood, who has been sewing for several years. “None of mine are perfect… I do more improvisational quilting and just have fun with it.”
News 12’s Amanda Eustice put those lessons to the test, starting from scratch on a sewing machine.
“I am heavily sweating,” she joked early on, before gaining confidence and learning how to fix her mistakes as she went.
For many, the studio offers more than just technical skills.
“I love fabric. I love figuring out what colors are going to go together,” said Liz Gordon of Maplewood. “It feels very creative but also useful, because in the end you end up with a product you can use.”
Lu says the experience can also be personal and empowering.
“It feels really great to be able to wear something that you made yourself,” she said. “And if you do it with your child or with a friend or partner, it’s a really good bonding exercise.”
Whether it’s your first time threading a needle or refining a craft you already love, SewLeana is helping stitch together creativity, confidence and community — one project at a time.
