We had our first Clothing Club Meeting!

Dear Friends and Fellow Sewists,

	Friday night we met online and in our classroom. What a wonderful and talented group. There were quilter's wanting to get back in to sewing apparel, experienced clothing creators and those that once sewed clothes, but have not been doing it for a number of years.
I don't think it would come to anyone's surprise that the reason most of us gathered together was to hopefully achieve the following goals: Learn how to read a pattern and make it fir their unique body Where to find resources Motivation to get back in to sewing garments again Seeking a Community of folks to network with about their sewing
	After introductions and brainstorming, we determined that although each of us would ultimately want to sew all sorts of articles, we will all work together to create a top with a sleeve: Some will construct theirs from a woven Some want to experiment with different sleeve types Some want to learn to work with knits The top pattern can be from any brand, it should just be simple No buttons, no zippers The fabric will be determined by the pattern <Pictured Grainline Studios Scout Tee

We also learned lots from each other about where to find patterns, fabric, notions, etc. A special thank you to Nancy who is a real resource herself as she is making all of her clothes and has tried a lot of "indy" patterns.

Let's talk about some patterns. Those of us who have been sewing a while have our favorites, but we are hungry to find more, right? Me, personally, I am more of a collector as I buy more patterns than I can possibly make! But the below list is a small compelation of what we talked about on Friday.

• Sinclair Patterns (designs come in three different heights and a wide range of sizes US 0–30).
• Love Notions (Friday specials, excellent newsletter, and focused on community based in Joliet, Illinos)
• Grainline Studio (printed patterns available for sale HERE and on their Website. Instant download PDFs are also available. Modular styles in 0-18 and expanding styles to 18-30 based in Chicago)
• Liesl and Company/Oliver and S (for sale at BERNINA of Naperville but also available from their website) 
  • The Chai Tee is perfect for knits or wovens
• Chalk and Notch (for sale at BERNINA of Naperville and on their website)

Now, after looking through some pattern companies, the topic came up of "How do your print a PDF pattern... Don't worry, we will cover that next month.

After the pattern discussion, we discussed where (apart from the BERNINA of Naperville humble apparel fabric selection) does one find quality fabric that will not break the bank to start sewing? Nancy and others had some recommendations:

• Blackbird Fabrics (online Only)
• Mood Fabrics
• Hawthorne Supply Co
• Amanda's Bundles
• Surge Fabric (online Only)
• Vogue Fabrics (Evanston, IL)
• Fishman's Fabrics (Chicago, IL)

We also discussed notions and interfacings and stay tape and more, but let's delve into that once a little later.

So what's the plan, ma'am?

We meet next, Friday, May 9 from 6-8Pm either on Zoom or in our BERNINA of Naperville Classroom. The homework assignment was to find a pattern that meets our criteria and then fabric. Come to class with your pattern and fabric washed.

Gayle will be putting together an informative presentation covering the following topics:

• How to measure yourself
• How to read your pattern
• Printing a PDF pattern that you print yourself
  • Setting up your printer for accurate printing
• Cutting tips
  • Pattern weights vs pinning vs other techniques
• Making a Mock up Garment
• What is a facing vs lining vs binding
• Hemming and seaming
  • Knits
  • Wovens
  • Serger vs Sewing Machine
    

Are you in? do you want to continue? We sure hope you do. 

Can't wait for further adventures.

Hugs,

Gayle