Owner Profile - Lynne Blanks is the owner/operator and Director of education at the Sewing Institute. She has an extensive background in sewing and clothing instruction. She started making doll clothing at the age of six, and further developed her skills spending time with her grandmother during summer vacations. Lynne studied clothing construction, tailoring and industrial power sewing in high school while taking vocational elective classes. She has received degrees in Fashion Merchandising/Interior Design, Business Administration, and she has a Master’s degree in Education. She holds a Fashion Marketing certificate from Parsons the “Newschool” of Design in New York, and certificates of expertise in excellence from Bernina of America University. Lynne has attended several training seminar update courses in high technological computerized sewing machine operations. Much of her experience was developed in the garment industry, managing a sample design department, designing, writing specifications for garment construction, grading, and drafting patterns from concept to completion. She also held the position as Director of Education for Fabricland in Central New Jersey for several years and instructed many students under her tuteledge in developmental sewing techniques for the home as well as various forms of clothing construction. She possesses 40+ years of experience in teaching, training, and directing educational programs.