La Mesa Sew & Vac owner Monika Gassaway learned to sew when she was 7 for two reasons. She enjoyed having more individual clothing and was utterly intrigued by the process.

“Clothes shopping was twice a year, but if I made it, it could be every week,” said Gassaway, who’s run the shop on Jackson Drive for six years but has been in the sewing machine industry for 37.

Over the years she’s crafted all sorts of things—a Hawaiian shirt collection, purses, teddy bears and baby clothes. She recently spent 2 1/2  months making daughter Shawnee’s prom dress.

But the strangest item was a bicycle saddle bag.

“My son needed a bag to get to school and to be able to carry all his books,” she said. “I just made one; that was enough.”

She teaches private sewing lessons to those interested and has kids from 7 and up. She says she sees a lot of teenagers right now, some of whom are preparing for their future.

“[One girl] wants to have a design studio and wants to know how the clothes come together,” she said.