Meet the Teacher: Mary Ottesen

Making Sewing Fun for Beginners

At The HeART Collective, our teachers aren’t just instructors — they’re people who show up every week to share something they love. Today we’d like you to meet Mary Ottesen, who teaches Sewing Basics here at The HeART Collective in Payson, UT. Mary has been sewing since high school — from factory work to dressing the BYU ballroom dance team — and she brings all of that experience into a classroom built on patience, creativity, and a little bit of imperfection. We interviewed her and this is what she shared.

A Lifetime of Sewing

I have sewn since high school. I have done sewing in a factory, sewing for the BYU ballroom dance team, and I am currently helping with My Hometown in Santaquin with sewing guidance. It has been a part of my life in one form or another for as long as I can remember.

I teach sewing basics, and we try to have fun doing it together. We do our best, which by no means is perfection. We like a little character in our projects — and that is exactly the spirit I want every student to feel comfortable bringing into the room.

The Moment It Clicks

What I love most about teaching is creating things and making memories while doing it. My favorite moment with a student is watching their eyes light up when they realize the correct process for sewing a straight seam — and when they start coming up with projects they want to do on their own. That is the whole goal: not just learning a skill, but gaining the confidence to use it.

My teaching style is relaxed, creative, and forgiving. This is a fun activity that, if taken one step at a time, should be a rewarding and creative experience — not a stressful one.

Come As You Are

I believe creativity is developed, and something everyone is born with. If you are nervous or on the fence about signing up: no pressure. Just come with a desire to learn a skill that will last a lifetime and help you in ways you can’t imagine. Outside of teaching, I love crafting of almost any kind — sewing is just one of the many ways I like to create.

Come join us for a great time and get to know others who have the same interests.

Check out classes offered by Mary Ottesen at The HeART Collective and give your child the chance to build confidence, think creatively, and bring their ideas to life.