Personal Background

Could you tell us a bit about yourself?  (location, age, educational background, …) Who is behind Sew Magarbo?

I’m Precious Lopez, the founder of Sew Magarbo in Ashburn, Virginia. I’m a proud young 47-year-old mom of four grown kids, and I started Sew Magarbo in 2010—back then it was literally a basement dream. Over time, it grew into a 3,000+ square foot studio where we teach sewing and creative arts to kids (ages 6+) and adults at all skill levels.

What surprises people is I didn’t come from an art background at all—I taught myself in the beginning because I had this pull to create and build something with my hands. As the business grew, I started investing in certifications and licenses, and honestly, I’m still learning all the time. There’s always more to master, and I love that.

So when people ask who’s behind Sew Magarbo—it’s not just me. It’s our whole community. Our students, our customers, our team… we learn from each other every day, and I’ll be the first to say I learn so much from them. My job is to keep the space welcoming, skills-first, and full of color. Even the name comes from my Filipino heritage—magarbo means colorful, decorative, and a little flashy in Tagalog—and that’s the energy we try to bring into everything we do.

Quilting Journey

How did you first get into quilting? When did you decide to turn this passion into a business by opening your shop?

My heart has always been in bag-making and garment construction, so quilting wasn’t my first lane. Sew Magarbo originally focused on sewing education and sewing machines — that was the core. But every ‘angel’ who came to help me along the way was a quilter, and they kept showing me how modern quilting can be: bright, cute, and nothing like the old-school quilts people picture.

The real ‘boom’ moment for me was fabric — specifically Tula Pink. Her Chipper collection grabbed me. I remember thinking, ‘How else can you put this many different fabrics into one project and make it work?’ That’s when quilting clicked as this fun, creative puzzle… and I was in

I opened Sew Magarbo in 2010, but it didn’t start as a quilt shop. It started as sewing education and sewing machines — in my basement — with four students at a time. The classes grew so quickly that we outgrew our townhome, and that’s when I knew it had to become something real. We moved the studio from the basement into a retail space so we could serve more students and build a true creative home for the community.

Quilting became a bigger part of the shop later, especially as my team and my second daughter brought modern quilting into the mix — and suddenly, it was a full-blown quilt shop. But the mission has stayed the same: skills-first teaching, a welcoming community, and growth that’s been built stitch by stitch.

Shop Story and Style  

What’s the story behind Sew Margabo? When did it start, and how would you describe its personality, style, and size?

It started in 2010, and today Sew Magarbo is a 3,000+ square foot studio in Ashburn, Virginia. The personality is vibrant, welcoming, and a little playful — ‘kitsch with elegance’ is a good way to put it. The name comes from my Filipino heritage: magarbo means colorful, decorative, and a bit flashy in Tagalog, and that’s exactly the energy I want people to feel when they walk in. It’s warm, modern, and community-driven — a place where beginners feel safe, and experienced makers still feel inspired.

Product Offerings  

What types of fabrics do you focus on? How do you offer them to customers—by the yard, as kits, or with custom options?

At Sew Magarbo, we focus on modern quilting fabrics—cute, bold, and inspiring—plus the solids and blenders that make everything play nicely together. You’ll find a mix of modern and traditional collections from brands like Free Spirit, Moda, Andover, Cotton + Steel, Ruby Star Society, and Tilda.

We love giving people options, because not everyone shops the same way. We offer fabric by the yard, fat quarters, curated bundles, quilt kits, mystery kits, and some precuts—plus we’ll happily help you build a custom pull for your project if you want that ‘tell me what goes together’ support.

And we’re not just a fabric shop—we’re a full sewing home base. We’re an authorized BERNINA and Janome dealer, we have in-house certified technicians (no outsourcing), and our sewing classes are truly skills-first. So whether someone needs cute fabric, a machine, a repair, or confidence at the sewing table—we’ve got them.

Special Collections and Products  

Are there any collections, brands, or unique products you’re especially proud to carry?

Our complete line of Tilda Fabrics and hybrid fabrics! (meaning they are good for both garments and quilting)

Inspiration and Trends  

Are there any collections, brands, or unique products you’re especially proud to carry?

I choose with my students and my community in mind first. I’m always asking: Will this make someone feel excited to start? Will it help them grow their skills? I’m drawn to fabrics that feel happy and modern—great color, great print, and that ‘I have to make something with this’ feeling. I also love pieces that mix well, so customers can build a stash that actually gets used, not just admired.

Do I follow trends or themes? Yes—but I filter trends through what Sew Magarbo stands for. We lean into modern, playful collections, strong color stories, and mix-and-match prints that work beautifully in quilts, bags, and garments. We also pay attention to what our makers are asking for season to season—fresh florals, bold geometrics, cute character prints, and the solids/blenders that pull it all together. If it’s inspiring and practical for real projects, it belongs here.

Additional Services 

Do you offer any other quilting-related services, like pattern design, long-arming, or classes?  

From Basic to Expert sewing lessons on both quilting and garments, yes!

Online Presence

Where can people find your shop online? (Website, social media handles, online marketplaces). How do you use online platforms to connect with your audience and fellow quilters?

The best place to find us online is our website: https://www.sewmagarbo.com. We do have social channels, but honestly, we’re a little old-school.

We’re not super active online right now, and that’s partly because Sew Magarbo is really an in-person experience. The real ‘us’ is in the studio—meeting makers, helping choose fabrics, teaching skills, and cheering people on at the machine. If someone wants to get to know Sew Magarbo, the best way is to come visit, take a class, and feel the community for themselves.

Upcoming News and Projects  

Are there any exciting new projects, events, or collaborations coming up that you’d like to share with the community

We have a lot happening right now, and it’s all centered on serving what our community needs most. With the big box store gone, we’re working hard to fill in the gaps—especially by bringing back strong, basic sewing classes so beginners can get real skills and real confidence again.

And yes—we always have events. Our Bobbins + Bubbly gatherings are a favorite, we host StitchWise events, and our clubs keep the learning (and the fun) going all year. If you want to see what’s coming up, our sewing clubs and event community live here: https://www.sewmagarbo.com/sewingclubs

QuiltInk Experience

How has QuiltInk been useful for your shop or customers? Any favorite tools or ways it’s made things easier?

QuiltInk has been a game-changer for us. It completely removed the need to purchase expensive software, and it makes it so much easier to help customers visualize fabric choices and feel confident before they cut into anything.