Carla Hegeman Crim

Carla Hegeman Crim, founder of Scientific Seamstress LLC, is a molecular biologist turned patternmaker. She has a B.S. in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Ph.D. in plant physiology from Virginia Tech and was a postdoctoral fellow at Cornell University. She is a self-taught seamstress who has been experimenting with fabric for more than 30 years. The Scientific Seamstress blog and pattern series are well known for their complete, easy-to-follow instructions and detailed illustrations. When her son came along, she decided to stay home with him and build a business out of sewing. For the first few years, she focused on elaborate clothing designs for dolls and children. She had many requests for her patterns and began publishing them in 2006. Carla also collaborates with popular fabric designer Jennifer Paganelli on a series of Sis Boom patterns for children and adults. Her first book, Sewn Hats, was published in 2013. When she isn’t in her sewing lab, Carla enjoys gardening, yoga, and spending time with her family.