Promoted Instructor
Westalee Design Accredited Teacher
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About The Instructor
Leave a ReviewAs a child, I wasn’t taught quilting or sewing, but my grandmother’s colorful, fun, and unique crocheted blankets sparked a deep appreciation for handmade crafts. Creativity has always been part of who I am, and I’ve long admired art in many forms.
When my family purchased Sew Steady in 2009, I had my first real introduction to sewing and sewing machines. I began as the designer for our Tables and Inserts, learning AutoCAD to create the files. Over time, we partnered with and eventually purchased Westalee Design in 2019. This brought me into contact with some of the most talented individuals in the quilting industry, and I was inspired by their artistry and expertise.
During COVID, we shifted our focus online, and my quilting journey truly began. Tasked with launching Sew Steady University, I gathered a wealth of education from our instructors, showcasing their stunning and creative work. Seeing their artistry firsthand piqued my interest, and I decided to take the plunge with my first sewing machine—a Brother 1750D. It was small but versatile, capable of quilting and embroidery, and it unlocked a new level of creativity for me. Though overwhelming at first, I was hooked.
Attending my first major quilt show—the International Quilt Festival in Houston, TX—was a transformative experience. Walking among the vibrant colors, rich textures, and endless variety of fabric art left me in awe. The possibilities for expression through quilting felt limitless
In the years since, I’ve refined my skills, learned new techniques, and embraced the creative process. I particularly enjoy experimenting with fabric collage, quilting with templates, embroidery, and combining methods to create both small and large projects. Hosting video-based classes has been a rewarding way to share ideas, explore new techniques, and connect with others who share my passion.
What I love most about quilting is the opportunity to continually learn, stretch my creativity, and interact with an amazing community of artists and makers. Westalee rulers and templates remain a personal favorite—their ingenuity, versatility, and ability to elevate any project make them an essential tool for quilters of all levels.
Instructor Project Gallery
Melissa, I so enjoyed your video for the Winter Scenes Table Runner from Elevate Box Winter 2026. The clever instructions that you passed along to sew a square inside a square was ideal. Learning from one quilter to the next quilter is the best. Thank you for your presentation of designs and encouragement to try a template that you are not sure of – and the Yin Yang proved to be delightful. Martha Watson
I loved the class Melissa gave on making and quilting the Churn Dash Mini Quilt. Her explanations were great and we got to watch her learn how to make echos on the Spin E Fex 7. Thanks for sharing your knowledge
Melissa did a great job teaching the “Jump into Spring” applique project. I have been doing applique for many years and I have to say I was very excited to see the Whisper lite product as it is very similar to one that I used for many years and is no longer available.
Melissa designed a very cute project incorporating many of the products in the box. It is very cute and creative. Her teaching style is calm and detailed enough that even beginners should be able to do this. My head is spinning with ideas to do my own take on this project. Only problem, I don’t think I own this Rose of Sharon die (but I do own so many others). No matter. Using whisperlite I can just trace as many as I need. I liked the idea of using the templates to create stems and leaves although I would probably just trace onto the templee fuse instead. I will have to try out the couching as I have not done much of that before. So many ideas…so little time….
My only suggestion is to improve the lighting. I think it was too bright to be able to really see what she was doing. Maybe her machine has settings to decrease intensity. Thanks for a great project.
Melissa was a wonderful teacher. This appliqué project she made look so easy and fun. She explained everything very clearly. I look forward to making my spring appliqué project from elevation quarterly 2 box. Happy quilting
Melissa is a talented and forward thinking quilter and instructor. I love her gentle demeaner while teaching and making sure that no one is left behind. Her work is impeccable and inovative with color and form. Melissa is an asset to Sew Steady and Westalee Templates and Rulers.