Butcher's Sew Shop — Local services in Philadelphia

I was honestly shocked by all the positive reviews — my experience was the complete opposite. I took an intro sewing class with Whitney last year, and it was so discouraging that I genuinely walked away thinking sewing just wasn’t for me.

From the start, the class was overcomplicated for beginners. Instead of focusing on the basics, Whitney spent an overwhelming amount of time diving into technicalities — fabric weights, advanced garment theory, and sourcing critiques — none of which were necessary or even relevant to the level of the course.

Rather than empowering students, the class felt more like a lecture, with Whitney talking at us about why buying fabric from places like Michaels, Walmart, or even Target was “trash,” and implying that only specific materials were worth using. This kind of gatekeeping doesn’t make sewing more accessible — it actually does the opposite.

Sewing is an art and tradition that exists all over the world, especially in marginalized and resource-limited communities. I grew up watching my grandmother make clothes with love and care — maybe not using high-end thread with a specific weight, but still creating functional, beautiful garments. To suggest that those materials are inherently inferior is not just elitist — it's a reflection of white supremacy values creeping into a craft that should belong to everyone.

The class didn’t inspire or include — it excluded. And for something meant to welcome beginners, that’s incredibly disappointing.

Months later I gave it another go by taking a class at Sew PHL and that was an amazing experience that gave me the confidence and comfort that Whitney stripped away from me. I recommend going...

My 7 year old son asked to attend their camp. He learned about it thru school. I decided to humor him. The price was right and the camp fit our schedule. However, to be honest I did worry that it was going to be a complete disaster. My son is extremely physical and sewing camp seemed like a pretty docile activity. Turns out, this was the best camp ever. The staff are magical. They are extremely good with children and kept my son completely engaged. The teaching quality is top notch. My son came home with completed projects that were impressive by any standard. The photo below is what my son created in 2 days. He made the curtains, puppet and everything. Who knew? This place has totally...

It's about time I wrote this review! I cannot say enough good things about Butcher's. I took my first class here in June 2022. I immediately fell in love with sewing and I have to attribute most of that love to this studio. I have mostly taken classes with Emily and Cat- two of the most wonderful human beings and patient teachers I have met. Butcher's fosters an incredibly welcome and encouraging atmosphere. I have always felt comfortable making mistakes and asking questions. I recommend them blindly, and I look forward to taking...