Flint woman’s passion to give back to her community involves love and an industrial sewing machine
In the heart of Flint, Jackie Mason is stitching lives together—one seam at a time.
She founded Sassy Little Seamstress in 2020, a project born not from business ambition, but from a heartfelt desire to serve others during a time of crisis. Like many during the pandemic, Jackie felt the urge to help.
“I hadn’t picked up a sewing machine or threaded a needle in quite some time,” she said. But that changed when she saw the growing need around her.
Mason dusted off her machine and began making masks for friends, neighbors, and strangers. What started as a small act of kindness quickly expanded into something much bigger. The demand in her community was overwhelming, and she rose to meet it.
Now 36, Jackie was born and raised in Flint. She graduated from Swartz Creek High School, holds an associate degree in sign language interpreter education from Mott Community College, and a bachelor’s degree in special education from Western Governors University. This fall, she began her master’s degree in social work at the University of Michigan–Flint.
Jackie says her sons, Asher (12) and Eli (14) are her two superheroes.
She’s also a cancer survivor—and five years clean and sober. “I wouldn’t be where I am now without Jesus,” she said.
In addition to school and running her sewing business, Jackie works as a paraprofessional at Swartz Creek High School and leads the single moms ministry at the Freedom Center Church. Most importantly, she’s the proud mother of two boys, Eli and Asher.
“They are my life—my pride and joy,” she said. “I’ve been blessed with some of the coolest kids I’ve ever met. They have beautiful hearts, and it’s an honor to watch them grow.”
At Sassy Little Seamstress, Jackie focuses on practical, everyday wear. “I don’t do formal wear, wedding dresses, or dress clothes,” she said. “My specialty is in the seams of daily living.” She uses industrial sewing machines to meet the wide variety of requests she receives.
But for Jackie, sewing is about more than fabric and thread.
“Beyond the obvious, I get to do something even greater,” she explained. “I get to bring a community together.”
“When you look around your home, you’ll see threads woven into almost everything we use.”
– Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason’s youngest son, Asher (12), is shown here working with her at Friday Night Bike Nights in Downtown Lapeer this season.
She believes sewing is a universal need—one that crosses every boundary. “When you look around your home, you’ll see threads woven into almost everything we use,” she said. “No matter your race, background, or beliefs—everyone needs a seamstress at some point.”
She’s mended the denim of hardworking tradesmen, patched up leather jackets, repaired purse straps for single moms, and hemmed slacks for elderly women. She’s even fixed coats for the homeless.
“What some people see as just a job, I see as a chance to love my community and sew us together—one stitch at a time,” she said.
Being a part of her community isn’t just something Jackie does—it’s who she is.
“Even sewing has become an opportunity to give back,” she said. “My purpose is here, in Genesee County, serving those who need it most.”
