is a teacher, clothing designer and expert in the field of garment construction and fitting. She is author of the sewing text The Art Of Sewing® Basics & Beyond which has been adopted by colleges and universities across the country. She has produced two videos - The Art of Sewing® Collars and The Art Of Sewing® Welt Pockets & Bound Buttonholes and designed a line of wearable-flower patterns.

Her book on fitting - The Art Of Sewing ® A Custom Fit   A Workbook  with the necessary fitting tools in the  Plumbline Kit will guide you in achieving great fitting garments.

For years Shirley was an active member of the Fashion Group Internationa1 and was a 25 year member of the National Sewing Guild. She has been a popular lecturer at regional and national sewing expos and conferences, including Washington State University's Expo at Puyallup, Brigham Young University's Intermountain Sewing and Needle Arts Conference, Bernina University, and the American Sewing Guild's Creative Sewing and Needleart Exposition. Shirley has lectured in Canada and was Threads magazine's fitting expert at The 1995 Creative Sewing and Needlework festival in Toronto. She is a frequent contributor to Threads magazine. She taught from her studio in Denver, Colorado for twenty-five years.

In October 1996 she moved to White Salmon, Washington. In April of 1997 Shirley opened her spacious new studio in the beautiful Columbia Gorge.  Although not teaching nationally any longer, Shirley does private fitting and teaching in her studio in White Salmon. 

What People Are Saying...

Your fitting book is top notch-the best fitting book I have seen to date.  Only another author would appreciate how much work has gone into this book!  I applaud the time you took with this project to get it right. 

                                          Your friend,    Sandra Betzina

Sewing with Shirley is about the highest form of good clean fun a girl can have in my opinion. I have been sewing for fifty years now and have never enjoyed it more than since I have had Shirley to bail me out no matter what I did wrong. Not only does she know everything under the sun about sewing, she is a natural teacher. Nancy Dwight, Colorado Springs, CO

Shirley, I want to thank you for 20 plus years of sewing pleasure! It has been a wonderful experience coming to your workshop classes. I've developed an "emotional attachment'' to all the beautiful garments "we've" created for my wardrobe. Joan Carbone, Denver, CO

I am just beginning to sew. You have taught me the easy sequence of constructing a garment. I have a new found confidence to read the pattern instructions then read your book and know when I can do it a better way. Thank You! ! Rachel Lambert, Denver CO

When I started taking sewing classes with Shirley, I thought my sewing skills were pretty good. I was just having trouble getting things to fit. Shirley showed me how to achieve the custom fit I wanted, but she also taught me tips and techniques that are much easier than what I had been doing. And so much more professional looking. Kristy Brenner Littleton, CO

Shirley you have enabled me to enjoy a life long skill. I never pick up a needle or a well made garment without thinking of you. You made sewing a pure pleasure. Betty Baker Golden, CO