Trailblazers & Trendsetters: Marissa Friesen sells handmade clothes, teaches joy of sewing

Rachelle Chase, Des Moines Register

May 24, 2023 at 7:02 AM·5 min read

Marissa Friesen, sewist, instructor and owner of RisSewn in Des Moines, Iowa.

It’s Me-Made-May and sewist Marissa Friesen is joining thousands of creatives around the globe by wearing her handmade clothing every day in May.

“It's kind of nice to see how most of my closet has changed from only store-bought stuff to mostly handmade.” Her goal is for all her clothing to be handmade.

Friesen is the founder of RisSewn, where she sells her handmade clothing and accessories, takes custom orders, and offers in-person classes to teach others the joy of sewing. In fact, her next Beginner Sewing 101 class for adults begins June 17.

Friesen's passion for sewing was a happy accident

The Des Moines native stumbled upon sewing in a seventh grade home economics class. Her interest continued into high school, where she took sewing classes for two years.

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“I think my favorite thing I made then was my homecoming dress," Friesen said. "That was super special. I could go and show it off and feel fancy.”

Marissa Friesen, sewist and owner of RisSewn, models a dress that she made.

But sewing had to take a backseat as she pursued a bachelor's degree in elementary education and teaching at the University of Iowa. It had to stay on the backburner after she graduated and started her teaching career. But in 2018 she made the time to resume making her own clothes and in 2019, she started questioning where she was professionally. “So, I'm kind of trying to think of what else could I be doing that brings joy that I could also do to make some money?”

She’d made ties for her husband and groomsmen for her wedding and people liked them. So she started making and selling those on Etsy. Over time, she grew bored making them and since she knew she wanted to turn sewing into a business, she thought about what she really wanted to make.

The answer took her back to her favorite projects in high school: Clothing. So in 2021, she started sewing mostly women’s clothing and selling them at pop-ups while continuing to make her own attire.

Sewist and business owner, Marissa Friesen of RisSewn, wears her favorite dress. She created it for her birthday two years ago.

“I think it's (making clothing) just a fun way to express yourself,” Friesen said. “I think that it's a really great way of showing your personality outwardly. Once I realized that it’s all me — I can pick the fabric and pick the pattern, how it fits — all of that is just another expression of how I'm feeling that day or kind of the mood I'm in.”

Wearing something she made just makes Friesen feel extra special because it’s not something that's created and hung on a wall for someone to admire. Instead, “You get to wear it out as an expression of yourself.”

It’s a special bonus when people compliment her on her creations. “I get that little giddy feeling inside, like, ‘You like what I made?’”

Sewing community leads to sharing the joy of sewing to others

While she loved the sewing, something was missing.

“I don't have very many friends that are into sewing and the ones that I do have don't live near me. So I was like, maybe if I can build a sewing community, that would be a way for me to make friends and build that community.”

In 2021, Friesen put her teaching skills to use and started offering classes. Her Beginners Sewing 101 is her most popular. The class spans two Saturdays, four hours each, and Friesen provides all the materials and sewing machines, though participants are welcome to bring their own. She also provides snacks and music to help sewers relax and have a good time.

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“We talk about all the basics: how to thread your machine, how to read a pattern, fabric types, and what the difference is between fabric you'd use in a quilt or fabric you'd use to make clothing.”

Plus, each participant cuts their own fabric and walks away with three completed projects.

“We work on utensil roll up pouches for picnics and things like that. And then we make a couple of little envelope clutches. And then we finish off with a top — it is kind of like the grand finale. And it's just a very simple, boxy top.”

Marissa Friesen, sewist and owner of RisSewn, models tank top and shorts that she made.

Friesen realizes it’s easy to get discouraged with sewing, so she ensures that participants leave her class feeling inspired and confident. “I want them to feel accomplished and proud that they can create something, especially when they come in like, ‘I've never even touched a sewing machine,’ and then they leave with just anything that even looks like a project.”

Friesen is sowing plans to expand RisSewn

While Friesen enjoys her job as a librarian at Carlisle Public Library, she would love being a sewist and instructor full time.

“My long-term goal, I would love to have a sewing shop where we can teach classes and have fabric and all the things that you need to make things as well.” Plus, it would serve as a community space where people could sew and get advice. Though Friesen believes that’s about five years down the line.

Until then, Friesen would like to partner with businesses that have the space where she could host workshops and attendees would then purchase items from the owner of the space. Or partner with businesses to do pop-ups of her clothing and accessories.

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She's making the time to seek out those partnerships.

Fun fact: When she has time, Friesen is an aerialist (think, Cirque de Soleil). In 2020 and 2021, she competed in Aerialympics in St. Louis.

For more information on Marissa Friesen and RisSewn

To partner with Marissa Friesen, buy her clothing, place a custom order, or enroll in a class, contact Friesen and RisSewn at rissewn.com, @rissewn (Instagram and Facebook), or @sewmuchaerial (Instagram).
Visit Friesen’s booth at the Vintage & Made Fair Sept. 23 in Adel, Iowa.
To buy her reusable cloth towels and bamboo face towels, visit The Collective, 3523 Sixth Ave. Suite 101, in Des Moines; other items, such as fanny packs and vests, can be purchased at the Des Moines Mercantile, 3707 Sixth Ave., Des Moines.