Chicago Sews Newsletter: September 2024
Issue No. 15
Introduction
How did your September stitching go? Did you find yourself getting back in the groove? Did you start on any fall sewing projects? Are you feeling inspired and creative? Behind the scenes here at Chicago Sews we are feeling very energized as we move into the fall season. Mia, Alisha, and I (Beth) have been working hard behind the scenes on a variety of exciting initiatives. The first of which is a fall sew-along series that we're launching in collaboration with an Austin, Texas based sewing group. Keep reading to find out more about our Bomber Jacket Sew Along and everything else happening with Chicago Sews!
We had a phenomenal group turn out to our Open Sew at the Logan Square Library earlier this month! If you weren't able to make it to this event, we hope we see you soon at an upcoming event.
Who?
This month we'd like to introduce you to the leader of WeSew Austin, who we're collaborating with to bring you our Bomber Jacket Sew Along. We've loved getting to know Glenda and hearing how a similar group in another part of the country is building community around sewing.
How long have you been sewing?
Um, 10 to 12 years? Hard to say--the pandemic affected my sense of time!
How did you learn to sew?
I took a 4-part sewing class at a local store, but most of my knowledge came from books, the occasional YouTube tutorial, and many hurdles in projects.
What is your most recent sewing project?
#wesewbombers reversible jacket!
What is one of your favorite sewing projects you've ever made?
A quilted patchwork reversible jacket: one side featured scraps from various projects, including My Little Pony Rainbow Dash! The other side has bright butterfly fabric I literally bought off a guy in a warehouse fabric store. He came in looking for more, but when the sales clerk said there were none, I approached him, and he said yes! The jacket pattern was fashioned after one of the Great British Sewing Bee challenges.
Why do you like to sew?
It's fun for me to take an idea from my head and bring it into reality. I love to play with colors and textural details, to bring a special flair to my garments, and to have sleeves and pant legs that don't drag on the floor like RTW does!.
What is one of your favorite sewing-related things? (It could be a designer, pattern company, tool, type of fabric, store, or anything else!)
Liberty of London Tana Lawn, sooo lovely to touch, easy to sew and press, vibrant colors and patterns.
Do you have a piece of advice for other sewists?
Understand that sewing and fitting are two different skills! Don't be hard on yourself if the garment you made doesn't fit right--it's probably because the pattern hasn't been adjusted to fit you yet.
Where can we find you on the internet and/or social media?
IG: @gleeheehee
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I lead Wesew Austin Meetup, and we'd love to meet more Chicago Sews members at our twice-monthly Zooms!
What?
At the end of August, we polled you about where you like to shop for fabric. Most of us seem to agree that shopping online for fabric has become our go-to method, with 67% voting for this answer. We might miss out on the sensory element of shopping in person, but the vast selection must make up for it!
Since we're kicking off our We Sew Bombers series in less than a week, we've got to ask what you're going to be doing to participate. (We encourage all forms of participation in our Sew Along events—even if that just means watching others’ projects come together and cheering them on.)
When and Where?
Check out what Chicago Sews has going on in October.
Our October virtual Sip & Sew will be on Friday, October 4th at 6pm. And it's an extra special one—our fall #WeSewBombers sew along kick off!
For the next six weeks, Chicago Sews is co-planning with WeSew Austin to bring you a full line up of events for this sew along. Most of the events are virtual, so you can join in from anywhere! Take a look at the full schedule and stay tuned for more details:
Hosted by our friends at AIBI
Friday, October 18, 2025
9:00am - 5:00pm
National Museum of Mexican Art
(If you have a sewing-related event that you would like featured in the Chicago Sews newsletter, please email chisews@gmail.com)
Why?
Here is a snippet of inspiration in honor of our theme this month.
How?
We, of course, want as many people as possible to participate in our Bomber Jacket Sew Along, so here are some patterns and resources to help you get started. They are loosely organized by level of difficulty and/or time commitment.
Advanced:
Intermediate:
Beginner:
And if Bomber jackets just aren't your style or what you're into sewing right now, you can still participate by picking a pattern that uses one of the techniques or skills that this jacket style is known for, such as: separating zippers, welt pockets, knit ribbing, raglan sleeves, or snaps.
Announcements
Membership Drive
Chicago Sews is planning a membership drive for the end of 2024, so that we can make 2025 “Sew Much Better Together!" We want to make being a member of Chicago Sews even more rewarding, so we're going to be introducing three membership tiers over the next couple months. Keep an eye out for the specifics, but here's the gist.
All current and new members automatically start at the Cotton Level.
Make an annual contribution to our event planning fund at the Linen Level and receive a thank you gift and additional perks, like invitations to exclusive events.
Make an annual contribution to our event planning fund at the Silk Level for maximum participation in Chicago Sews and even more additional perks.