As we approach the end of the year, it’s hard to believe that the BurdaStyle Sewing Club (BSC) concept debuted just eight months before! Launched in April, there are now an amazing 240 BurdaStyle Sewing Clubs in over 14 countries! There’s no doubt that people all over the world enjoy the benefits of communal sewing. Much like our online community, our BSCs reinforce the simple satisfaction that comes with making things by hand, and how this joy is even stronger when shared.
One person who truly knows this is Kristin Glans. Kristin is the owner of the wonderful <a href= “http://www.craftandsewstudio.com/craftandsewstudio/Current_Classes.html”> Craft and Sew Studio in Virginia Beach, Virgina, and leader of the Hampton Roads sewing club. She has seen her club grow to be a truly vital part of her community, and now currently leads 53 members!
Before she started, I asked her a few questions about how she began her passion, and what a sewing club would mean to her. From the start, you could tell that sewing was more than just a fleeting hobby:
Why do you enjoy sewing?
“I have sewn since I was 9 years old, and it has always been a creative outlet, a way to express my ideas, a way to connect with other people who are interested in fashion, and a way to enjoy the simple and peaceful pleasure of making something by hand. When you sew, it’s like you’re part of a secret club. Only members of the club know how to measure an arms-eye, stitch it in the ditch, and press it on the ham. You have an instant bond with other stitchers.”
What do you personally want to get out of your BSC?
“I want to meet other stitchers, of course, and I want a time when I can hang out and sew without being in teaching mode! I help people sew all day long, but normally it’s a one-way street. I show them how to sew and I sew my things after they leave. Sewing together gives you a sense of comraderie. Plus it can save you a lot of money on therapy! :)”
Her club has certainly lived up to her personal expectation, as well as reinforced why sewing was so fun for her even as a child. If you are in the Virgina Beach area, I encourage her to check out her great club. Here are other reasons to join, from Kristin:
“We are a great group with diverse interests and skill levels. We always have fun and if you can’t decide what to make, someone’s always ready to suggest a stitch-along.”
Kristin is also planning some great field trips and other fun incentives for her club members!
“Our fieldtrip to <a href= “http://www.fabrichut.com/”> Fabric Hut , our favorite local fabric store, was the largest turnout we’ve had at a Meet-up. I’d like to do a fieldtrip to <a href= “http://www.spoonflower.com/”>Spoonflower to see how they turn customers’ designs into fabric. And I’m planning a fabric-buying field trip to New York in the spring through <a href= “http://www.craftandsewstudio.com/craftandsewstudio/Current_Classes.html”>Craft & Sew Studio with a guided tour of the garment district and museum visits. "
That sound like quite the itinerary!
BSC Virginia Beach, VA meet on the second or third Sunday of each month, usually around 6 p.m. Their next meeting is scheduled for January 24th, 2010. For more information, contact Kristin on her club’s Meet-Up page.
Interested in joining a club in your area? Check out our <a href= “http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/join-a-local-burdastyle-sewing-club”>Directory ! Can’t find one? <a href= “http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/start-a-local-burdastyle-sewing-club”>Form your own !
Best,
David and The BurdaStyle Team
Dec 12, 2009, 08.28 PMby megrje
This sewing club is the closest to being my local – hopefully I can make it down sometime!
Dec 12, 2009, 03.52 PMby susieq3123
I chose Amy Butlers Bell Kashmir Okra cotton fabric with the wonderful retro colors & design. I chose the Lazy Days Skirts, its a free pattern! This would look great with a pair of matching leggings and a sweet bandeau top with a shrug all in matching colors.