About Gill
Since 2014, Gill has been running GillyMac Designs, an award-winning, online and in-person sewing tutoring business where she teaches children and adults to love sewing.
She runs a vibrant schedule of five weekly adult classes and four weekly teen classes, alongside additional workshops that often extend into weekends. Her popular Virtual Retreats and Block of the Month programs regularly attract an international audience.
Gill also teaches for prestigious organisations such as Liberty of London, the Quilters Guild of the British Isles, Just Hands on TV, Janome, the Women’s Institute, and numerous quilt groups across the UK.
Gill’s artistic achievements include exhibiting her work nationally as part of the GENArt movement, including a showcase at the Turner Contemporary Gallery.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sewist, you’ll feel at home in the welcoming world of Gill Towell’s tutorials.
Click here to watch Gill in The Makers Studio.
Signature Technique
Introducing sewers to the sewing machine with projects that are fun and achievable
Top Tips
- Start with projects that are quick to make and achievable so that new sewers are delighted with making something recognisable.
- For younger sewers, prepare everything in advance so that they get straight into sewing. As they get older, start them doing the prep themselves so that they realise it is part of the sewing process.
- Don’t hold back young sewers creativity. Even 9 to 10 years olds can do complex projects.
- When looking at starter sewing machines, find a balance between simplicity and functionality. And ensure that it is a top loading machine so that they can see what is happening.
- You can teach young sewers (9 to 10 years old) how to use the machine, iron, and rotary cutter. They get it, and they enjoy learning the skills.
Videos
Patterns
Posts
Travel to The Modern Quilt Guild QuiltCon 2026 in Raleigh North Carolina
Travel to The Modern Quilt Guild QuiltCon 2026 in Raleigh North Carolina
Travel to The Modern Quilt Guild QuiltCon 2026 in Raleigh North Carolina
Calling all quilters - ECT TRAVEL goes to Raleigh North Carolina USA for QuiltCon 2026 - the biggest annual event in modern quilting! and we’d love you to come too! (All our tours are fully protected)
Quilts, Batik & Blockprints! A Creative Getaway in the Netherlands
Calling all quilters - ECT TRAVEL goes on a textile holiday to the 2026 edition of the inspirational Patchwork and Quiltdagen show - in The Netherlands., and we’d love you to come too! (All our tours are fully protected)