Gill’s Biography

Delivering world-class teaching in an accessible local and online environment

GillyMac Designs

All About Gill

In 2014, Gill launched GillyMac Designs to share her passion for sewing with children and adults in her local community. Her creative teaching style and dedication quickly earned her national recognition, including awards for her children’s sewing classes. Over the years, Gill has taught for prestigious organizations like 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.

Today, Gill 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.

In 2018, Gill launched her Free Motion Quilting Doodle Challenge, sparking the growth of a large, engaged online community on Facebook and Instagram. This led to the creation of the GillyMac Club, an online platform where students can share their work, join regular sewalongs, and continue learning with Gill.

In 2020, Gill joined the Janome team, creating sewing videos tailored for teens. In 2024, she began teaching for the Women’s Institute Learning Hub, delivering online sewing classes to their extensive community.

Looking ahead to 2025, Gill is launching an innovative hybrid sewing retreat and introducing new classes, all while continuing her commitments to weekly classes, Janome, and the WI.

Gill’s enthusiasm and love for sewing shine through in every class, making each session an inspiring and enjoyable experience. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sewist, you’ll feel at home in the welcoming world of GillyMac Designs. 

For 2025

This year Gill is focusing on slow sewing with her weekly classes. remembering to enjoy the sewing as much as finishing the projects.  To support this, she has created a new hybrid sewing retreat which is accessible to all and still taught in the same relaxed, informative and genuine style.

Gill’s ambition for GillyMac has always been to deliver world-class teaching in a welcoming accessible local and online environment.

 

Quilters Guild of the British Isles

Gill is an active member of the Quilters Guild of the British Isles.

Modern Quilt Guild

Gill is also an active member of the Modern Quilt Guild.

Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Each year supports the development of sewing as a skill for the charitable Duke of Edinburgh Awards program.