About Us

 My fascination with the love of sewing began very early in my life.  I first learned to sew from my grandmother; she gave me my first sewing machine.  My grandmother made clothing and hats.

             I attended Maryland Park Junior High and Central High School in Capitol Heights, Maryland, graduating in June 1970.  Sewing was a mandatory requirement for female students at that time.  Starting with 7^th Grade, sewing classes were scheduled for the entire year, unlike today’s school schedule.  My girlfriend Linda and I use to make Barbie doll clothes out of scraps. The following year in 8^th grade, cooking was mandatory and then in the 9^th grade sewing was an option.  If you were very interested in sewing, you could continue onto the 11^th and 12^th grade in High School in which I did.  At that time a student was introduced to tailoring and had to make a complete lined skirt suit.  After High School I continued sewing classes that were offered by the county during summer programs.  The summer programs were quite different than they are today, we had an entire summer to sew.  One summer I attended a summer sewing class at Fairmont Heights High School.  The county also provided fabric for two outfits and at the end of the summer we staged a fashion show.  

Since then I’ve taken numerous sewing, interior design, doll making, and tailoring classes.  I’ve always admired the beautiful artwork of quilting. So my girlfriend, Debbra and I found a beginner quilting class thru the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCCPC). Then we were told by the instructor that there were quilt guilds we could join and continue to learn how to quilt.  As a member of a Quilting Guild, besides learning many things about quilting, we also make and donate charity items such as quilts/blankets, etc., to Veterans, the elderly and children’s organizations.

             I am really disappointed by budget cuts over the years that the county has discontinued or shortened the sewing curriculum in our school system.  I know many young people are interested in learning “How to Sew”.  I feel that children who sew achieve a sense of accomplishment, and it’s nothing more satisfying than creating a project that you have made with your own hands.  Sewing can provide real life skills and builds self-esteem in an individual.

 I started my own sewing business “Nadine’s Ltd” in July 1988 making custom clothing and specializing in lingerie for men, women and children.  My dream was to open my own fabric shop, which I did in 2006.  I retired from the Department of the Navy in September 2007 to start my own business.  I'm so grateful for all the support that I received from my family, friends and Guild Members, in helping me  fulful my dream of owning a fabric shop.  I love sharing my knowledge of sewing, and it makes be feel so good knowing that some people are interested in learning how to sew.

Nadine Ferguson Mills