July 2026

Tell us a little about yourself?

Hello, all you lovely Thready, Set, Go members and visitors to the site! My name is Rita Adler-Everett. Hmm, after 62 years in the world, it’s hard to just tell you “a little about myself”. I was born in Germany into a very long line of German ancestors but my parents divorced and at 13 years old my mother and a new - American - step-father brought me to the United States.

After attending High School in Kentucky, I joined the US Air Force. No, I wasn’t a glamorous pilot, just a paper pusher. While stationed in Denver, Colorado, I attended college on the G.I. Bill, which made it free for me and was the whole reason I joined the military.

I also met the love of my life, Rick, and we married. Personnel Administration was my official field in the Air Force but I was fortunate and worked at 2 special duty assignments which afforded me so many wonderful opportunities and experiences.

After separating from the military, so Rick could continue his medical education, Desert Storm had other plans in store for us. Rick was ordered back to Active Duty (he was reservist in the Air Force) and we moved to a small Air Force Base in South Carolina.

After Rick also separated from the military, my husband’s medical education brought us to the Washington, DC area at Georgetown University. Now, a civilian again, I also began working at Georgetown in the Business School and was an Assistant Director and focused on building the school’s relationships with outside financial donors to the University. I also attended classes for my Master’s Degree (MBA). After 4 glorious years in our nation’s capital, we moved to Minnesota for 4 years.

With our baby son, we then headed to upstate New York (7 hours north of NYC, by car) where we had our daughter. Early this year, 2026, my husband retired as a physician and we finally moved to the state of Arizona (where the Grand Canyon is located), 3,000 miles west of upstate NY. It’s been our dream since spending time there in our early 20s and visiting it many times over the years. Our son also lives in the Phoenix area and it’s been a joy to be closer to him.

My daily life here in the desert is exploring our new home and it’s surroundings, enjoying the almost daily sun and blue skies, going on adventures with my husband and our doggie Ruby, who’s a Beabull. And of course, I fill my time with sewing, virtual sewing socials and chatting on WhatsApp with my friends in the UK and my family in Germany.

When, why and how did you start sewing?

As you may remember, during the Covid Pandemic, the world was short of face masks. Even at Rick’s medical practice and at the hospitals in NY. He asked me if I thought I could learn to sew enough to make masks to help out. As a lark, 10 years earlier, he had gifted me a Kenmore (Sears) basic sewing machine but I never used it! I pulled it out, learned the very basics and thanks to YouTube was able to start making masks.

As I got better and faster, my designs grew more elaborate and decorative! My masks were used in the medical community, my family and friends throughout the US and my family in Germany. I was hooked and honestly, sewing and YouTube saved my sanity during the lonely days. My husband’s job was seen as essential so was rarely home, our daughter was in college.

Gretchen Hirsh (Gertie) from Charm Patterns was my first “sewing instructor” on YT and I’ve never looked back.

Do you have any sewing rituals you love?

Since moving to Arizona, my rituals have changed a bit but music (Elvis elevates my mood), uncomplicated audiobooks that don’t interfere or distract me from instructions, and a cheeky glass of wine are usually part of the formula.

Other than the occasional fabric subscription box sweet treat, I don’t tend to eat or snack while sewing. And the biggest constant to my sewing routine are the amazing sewing vloggers on YouTube, with 1 in Ireland and the rest mostly from the UK.

Do you have a sewing tool you can’t live without?

One tool? Oh boy. I am spoiled and have pretty much tried everything I saw as potentially helpful in sewing better, faster, etc. But NONE of it would be possible without my floor height standing task light that is also a magnifier. If I can’t comfortably see what I’m doing, then it doesn’t get accomplished.

But also, almost as important are my varied seam gauges. I have them in inches and centimetres. Yes, they’re helpful for actual seams on garments, patterns and when ironing, but I use them to help me position my sewing needle. My machine is in inches but I sew mostly in cm. My needle plate is also not the most clear as they get interpreted differently according to where my needle sits. Too much to remember. The gauges take all the guess work out of it.

What made you sign up to ThreadySetGo and why do you love it?

That’s obvious, isn't it? Because I love Hayley! I’ve been a fan of Hayley’s since I first found out the sewing YT videos weren’t just all tutorials. I literally ran out of new techniques I wanted to learn and became bored with YT. So I broadened my search and up popped Hayley and then her SewHayleyJane monthly subscription boxes. I thought, ‘this young woman is brilliant’. After she discontinued her boxes, I didn’t want my new “relationship” and access to her to vanish and I wanted her to succeed in her new venture, so I became a member right away.

In NY I was more active with all the other options, other than the live sewcials, ThreadySetGo offers, but I had to take a step back as our lives became focused on dismantling a large household, 26 years worth, and deciding to essentially move across the United States.

But WOW, as I look around and reacquaint myself with the site, the activity, the educational content, the involvement of the members, the connections it provides, I, once again, proclaim, Hayley is Brilliant!

Again, like with her sub boxes, she is at the forefront of creating this platform. Hayley and her site brings complete strangers together virtually and online, by opening up homes and sewing spaces, cultures, different view points and opinions. She’s given us a way to share what we know, learn what we don’t. She uses our love, appreciation and common sewing language, for our craft (I don’t like saying hobby) and links us across the globe. That’s why I LOVE Thready, Set, Go.

If you could have your dream, no-expense-spared sewing day what would it look like?

I love this question and the answers some of the guests to the sewicials have given.

First off, I’d need a minimum of 7 days, Hayley! I dream of having all of my worldwide sewing friends, whether I know them in the flesh or only on  social media, meet me at a luxury hotel, with perfect weather, a beach to stroll on, glorious clear aqua water to dip our toes into, a sewing space outside in the shade and inside with everything provided.

We’d have full days of sewing what we want to but also having a highly skilled instructor teaching us advanced skills and where we all make the same garment. Again, with all supplies included. We’d have mouth watering, healthy delicious foods, massages, facials, and at night live music, dancing and bespoke cocktails.

What’s on the sewing table this week?

My sewing table is always full of projects! I love pairing them with my fabrics to get excited. Right now I’m, finally, working on a wearable toile of the 2 piece Carey Top and Skirt set by Elbe Textiles. Next up and ready to go are the Mendelo Top by Itch-to-Stitch, another Clearwater Summer Essentials dress and shorts, using a gorgeous swim performance knit fabric, and the Atelier Jupe Sophie Top & Ellis Shorts set, using Atelier Jupe fabrics.