
Sue O'Very - Life is Gorgeous!
From Sew & So... by Flint Rock LLC, BERNINA
June 4, 2026 · 39 min · Episode 140
About this episode
Sue O'Very shares her journey of personal and professional transformation in the sewing industry, discussing her initiatives to help sewists and her life experiences.
When Sue O’Very first joined Sew & So for Episode 50 , she was already a respected sewing educator and pattern designer. Three years later, she returns with a story of remarkable personal and professional transformation. Known throughout the sewing world as "Sookie" of Sookie Sews, Sue shares how a simple childhood sewing lesson from her mother sparked a lifelong passion that eventually led her from costume design at Busch Gardens and cruise ships to international product development in China and technical design work for Harley-Davidson. Today, Sue has become one of the sewing industry's leading serger educators. After listening closely to her audience, she shifted her business entirely toward helping sewists overcome their fear of sergers through her Year of the Serger initiative, Serger Escape course, Serger Dream Club community, and her book, Pocket Guide to Sergers. Beyond sewing, Sue opens up about navigating a difficult marriage, rebuilding her life as a single mother, losing 100 pounds through lifestyle changes, and creating a healthier, more intentional future for herself and her daughter. She discusses the mentors, mindset shifts, and daily habits that helped her move…
People in this episode
Guest: Sue O'Very
Topics covered
- sewing education
- personal transformation
- serger techniques
- resilience
- lifestyle changes
Keywords
- sewing
- sergers
- personal growth
- costume design
- lifestyle changes
- mentorship
- confidence
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Sookie Sews, Harley-Davidson, Busch Gardens
Products: Pocket Guide to Sergers
More episodes of Sew & So...
- Inside the Inaugural Fiber & Fabric Craft Festival - 2026 · May 21, 2026 · 46 min
- Valerie Soe - Sewing as Storytelling: Inside The New Movie The Auntie Sewing Squad Resistance Playbook · May 7, 2026 · 26 min
- Cody Chenevert - Sewing, Style, and the Bayou: Cody Chenevert’s Creative World · April 23, 2026 · 38 min
- Cait Trantham - Scratching the Creative Itch · April 9, 2026 · 32 min
- Susan Khalje - Couture...Sewing's Gourmet Cooking · March 26, 2026 · 27 min
- Mary Lou Cox – The connections you make…you never know where they’ll take you! · March 12, 2026 · 37 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Sew & So... podcast page.