Every time I mention that I work at Alonso Sobrino, I almost always hear the same response: “My grandmother or my mother was a seamstress.” In my case, I can proudly say that my mother was. She sewed our school uniforms, long dresses for pageants, carnivals, and parades. Even as a single mother, she found a way to make ends meet through sewing. One of my most special memories is that she made my quinceañera dress herself.
Today, seamstresses are an endangered species. We have great designers who need their talent, but finding seamstresses is becoming increasingly difficult. Sewing instruction has practically disappeared from homes and the education system. We are no longer taught how to hem a garment, sew on a button, or identify fabrics.
My husband has worked in the textile industry since he was 13. I envy his ability to identify each fabric just by touching it. When I retired from my profession after 30 years of litigation, I decided I wanted to learn more about this world. I thought it would be easy... but I couldn't have been more wrong! I took a textiles course at university with Professor Joseph D'Aponte, who taught us how to experiment with different types of fabrics and how they reacted to fire, alcohol, oil, and more. It was an incredible experience!
After that, I took our sewing workshop at Alonso Sobrino with instructor Cecilia Gibbs, who, with endless patience, taught me from the very basics. I learned not only to sew, but I also made new friends. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to take the course again. And now I invite you to join!
📌 Don't let sewing disappear from our homes.
Learning to sew is an invaluable skill. Cecilia's workshops are practical, fun, and perfect for everyone, regardless of experience level.
If there's one thing I've learned, it's that even though I don't consider myself a seamstress, I now know how to hem fabrics, sew on buttons, make cushions, and identify different types of fabric. And best of all… my daughter will still be able to proudly say, “My grandmother was a seamstress.”
✨ Come join our sewing workshop! You'll love it. ✨
With love,
Wanda
Alonso Sobrino
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For more information and registration, contact us today at (787)786-7171 or click here .
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Clarification note regarding this publication:
This beautiful letter was written by Doña Wanda as a tribute to her mother several weeks before her passing, when she was still healthy within her limitations, without imagining that it would become a premonition. On behalf of everyone at Alonso Sobrino, we express our deepest condolences to her entire family and honor the memory of Doña María Esther with much love.
