Sewing superstar Sandra Betzina shares her long list of accomplishments sprinkled with stories about how she managed them, with guest host and Threads Contributing Editor Kenneth D. King. In this extended podcast episode of Sewing With Threads, Sandra remembers her professional and personal challenges while getting started as a teacher. The 81-year-old sewing expert talks about her many books. She explains how she managed taping her popular Sew Perfect television series, and she discusses her love of travel.

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Committed Sewing Pro

Despite the insanely busy schedule and the toll many commitments have taken on her body, Sandra has always been upbeat. Her energy and devotion to her profession shows through.

“I think one of the reasons I have been successful is I really love sewing and I really love fashion,” she says. “I never set out to be famous—I just wanted to sew and make clothes.”

From her first sewn garment, a little blue knit dress, to the dozens of designs she created in her Today’s Fit line for Vogue Patterns, Sandra has pursued her passions of sewing and teaching.

Sandra’s Drive to Share her Knowledge

Listen in to find out how she began writing a syndicated newspaper column about sewing and how she began her television career, despite not even owning a television at the time. Eventually, she moved into making her Power Sewing YouTube videos with Canada’s sewing celebrity, Ron Collins. She wrote books and she taught hands-on classes in San Francisco for years, as well.

Many home sewers are familiar with Sandra through Today’s Fit patterns. She created more than 200 of them, based on a sizing system she developed.

Find Out More

This mother of four children and now-retired fearless businesswoman has no shortage of stories to tell, so tune in to hear more of how she came up with book ideas and the myriad ways she has influenced the sewing community.

A profile of Sandra that was written by Kenneth can be found in Threads #228, Winter 2024.

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This episode’s sponsor

Join us on an exclusive trip to London in May 2025. Highlights of this tour are a glove-making master class, an embroidery workshop at Hand & Lock, a visit to a renowned theatrical costume house, and a guided tour of Savile Row. We’ll also visit specialty fabric shops—and enjoy afternoon tea at Fortnum & Mason. To find out more, go to ThreadsMagazine.com.