Today we’d like to introduce you to Jocelyn Goldman.
Hi Jocelyn, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Finding sewing has given me the creative outlet I had always been searching for. It is a place where I can constantly learn, experiment, and bring ideas to life with my own hands. I’ve always been surrounded by creative people, but I hadn’t quite figured out where I fit into that world. My family is full of artists, business owners, photographers, and all kinds of creative minds, and while I admired everyone’s talents, I struggled to find my own creative niche. Then, when I got married, I found myself joining another incredibly creative family filled with woodworkers, sewists, artists, and makers. Being surrounded by so many people who could create something beautiful with their own minds and hands was inspiring, and eventually, I decided it was time to try something myself. I started with knitting and crocheting, but it didn’t take long before my curiosity evolved into buying my very first sewing machine. From there, I completely fell down the rabbit hole! I spent countless hours scouring YouTube, learning everything I could, and eventually tried my hand at self-drafting and sewing a few skirts. Once I became more comfortable with my machine, my sister-in-law introduced me to the world of PDF sewing patterns, which opened up a ton of new possibilities. One of the things I love most about sewing is that the technology behind it is constantly evolving. At some point, some brilliant person came up with the idea of using projectors to project sewing patterns directly onto fabric, eliminating the need to print large-format patterns or print, cut, and tape together countless sheets of paper, which has been an incredible time and money saver! What started as simply trying to find my own creative outlet has grown into something I truly love. Today, I sew for fun, creating things for myself and my family, and occasionally I even sew pieces to sell. Sewing helped me discover the creative niche I had been searching for all along, and I love that there is always something new to learn, create, and explore.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have certainly been struggles along the way. I’ve always been one of those people who likes to be good at something the very first time I try it, and sewing quickly taught me that things don’t always work that way. Learning to sew required patience, practice, and a willingness to make mistakes. Even eight years into my sewing journey, I’m still constantly learning, practicing new skills, and finding ways to grow and advance my craft. I’m also incredibly fortunate to be part of such a large and supportive online sewing community, where there is always to be someone willing to offer advice, answer a question, or help when I feel stuck and just can’t quite get the hang of something new.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I primarily create everyday clothing for myself and my family. I love making pieces that are fun and reflect our personalities but are also practical enough to actually be worn and enjoyed in our everyday lives. I’m probably best known for sewing mommy-and-me outfits for my daughter and me, which has become one of my favorite parts of sewing. There is something really special about being able to create coordinating outfits that we can wear together and make memories in. I love that I am able to create something completely unique for myself and the people I love.
I’m most proud of how far I’ve come since buying my first sewing machine and having absolutely no idea where it would lead me. I am my own toughest critic, and I’ve had to learn to embrace mistakes and constantly practice. Eight years later, I can look back at those first projects and see just how much I’ve grown. I’m also incredibly proud that I’ve found a creative outlet that has become such a meaningful part of my life and one that I get to share with my family, especially my daughter. Being able to create clothing that we can wear and enjoy together makes it even more special. It fills me with so much joy and pride to hear my family tell others that I made their outfit.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I wouldn’t necessarily describe myself as someone who is constantly looking to take big risks, but I do believe that some of the most rewarding things in life come from being willing to step outside of your comfort zone.
I think my appetite for risk-taking has definitely grown over the years. When I first started sewing, even something as simple as posting a project I had made on a sewing company’s Facebook page felt like a huge risk. Putting something I created out into the world and opening myself up to the opinions of others was incredibly intimidating at the time (and honestly still is sometimes!). Eventually, that led me to take even bigger steps, like creating my own sewing Instagram and TikTok pages and sharing my work more publicly. Each step felt scary in its own way, but with every risk I took, I became a little more comfortable putting myself and my creativity out there. I also took the leap and started a Shopify shop to sell some of the things I made. While that particular venture ultimately didn’t pan out the way I had hoped, I view it as a huge learning opportunity and is helping me better understand what I want for the future. Right now, I’m in a period of reevaluating where I want to go next professionally while making sure I continue to protect the joy sewing brings me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jociemadeit
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jociemadeit
