Start a Local BurdaStyle Sewing Club!

Several members have expressed the wish to meet with other sewing enthusiasts near them. So we thought it would be great to help organize BurdaStyle Sewing Clubs!

A BurdaStyle Sewing Club (BSC) is a group that meets regularly to discuss sewing related issues. Each one is uniquely tailored to fit its members, and each leader is given control over what is discussed, taught and created.

BSCs are centered around each group’s unique schedules, and can meet weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. The clubs are simply a way to bring our online community offline and, like our website, is intended to be versatile for a wide range of interests and lives. They promote our open-source philosophy: the idea that information ought to be shared freely among anyone interested in learning. The BurdaStyle Team is on hand to offer advice regarding meeting ideas, venue options and promotional help.

Forming a BSC is easy! Interested members can simply send an e-mail to team[at]burdastyle[dot]com, stating their interest and location. You are then sent a detailed introductory letter, explaining what a BSC is and their expected responsibilities. Although having more than one BSC in the same location is accepted, we encourage prospective leaders to first contact the leaders nearest them.

Once you review and accept the responsibilities in the introductory letter, you will be sent a Leadership Packet. The Leadership Packet contains everything one needs to start and maintain a successful club, including:

- An introductory guide to the BurdaStyle Sewing Clubs
- A sample proposal letter for prospective hosting venues
- A flyer template to advertise your BSC
- A Member Information Sheet to learn more about your club members
- A preformatted Excel spreadsheet for organizing your club
- A printable How-To

Along with the Leadership Packet, new BSC Leaders are given a custom 125 pixel badge, with the BSC logo and their specific location. You are then listed on the BSC Leader Directory and on the BSC Google Map. Our Leaders are then encouraged to create a group page on the BurdaStyle Ning Site, an extension of BurdaStyle.com specifically for BSC members. There you can meet other leaders throughout the world, post upcoming meeting dates, share group photos and creations, and brainstorm new ideas!

Established in April 2009, there are over 220 BurdaStyle Sewing Clubs in 14 countries worldwide.

Start a new BSC today! E-mail team[at]burdastyle[dot]com for more information.

Image from the Auburn University Libraries

Apr 7, 2009, 12.19 PMby queenb

What a great idea! Hope that there are people in Belgium who want to meet up :)

Apr 7, 2009, 01.13 PMby JJ1

I want to form a sewing club but I’m quite sure that there is no
burdastyle member around my area. (Livingston, NJ …anyone?)

Apr 7, 2009, 06.50 PMby sabrahardy

i wish i knew when you burda style founders / ladies were having another meet up in nyc or brooklyn why don’t you ladies either sponsor a series of workshops and/or why don’t the web site founders/ leaders ask us burda style followers what do we need in terms of help? i think you ladies are great and i wish i could have an experienced inexpensive sewing buddy. right now i got lucky – i posted my desire for sewing help online on meetup.com and called FIT in manhattan and between those contact points — i have met a online friend who is attending fit and her tutor are promising to meet up with me after easter to talk about us getting together to grade or adjust patterns i’ve suggested we measure each other and view a dvd collection by threads magazine / taunton press on fitting commercial patterns to the real body, if you go on taunton press and type in fitting it will come up. we already have so they fit and make our muslins. i think that’s what i want from anyone i’d be willing to pay. i’m wondering why don’t you guys do it this would be a continuation of what the burda style ladies started.

Apr 7, 2009, 08.21 PMby kbarlow

Sounds great! How do I find a listing of sewing clubs to know if someone has started one in my area?

Apr 7, 2009, 09.49 PMby kgallagher3

i have been looking for a sewing club in my area (Atlanta) and have been disappointed because all I can find are quilting groups. (Nothing against quilting, its just not my thing), I don’t think I have the time to lead and organize a group but if someone starts one in Atlanta, I’m in!

Apr 8, 2009, 03.20 AMby krunamagiar

interesting! I dont know if someone already start or not here in Bologna (Italy) . Will it be in english? or maybe need to translate it in Italian (somehow). I would like to be the organizer for my area. Ritney

Apr 8, 2009, 06.35 AMby CarotteSauvage

I would really love to organise one but it would be time consuming and finding a space to do it would be problematic.
However, since many community houses have closed in London the last few years, it would be worth approching local councils (help in term of a rent free location) and since local governement actions in regard to community group activities are ~~in England~~ often initiated by or run along corporate interests (in this case it would be Burda) , it is one way I can see it working. I would love to initiate something like this, my local council is Lambeth in London but I can’t really afford to do all this for free-which is another point that I find disuasive.

Apr 8, 2009, 08.55 AMby pinke_v

What a great idea! I wish I had enough space in my apartment to host a sewing club, but if anyone gets together enough interested parties in Boston, I’m in! Thanks BurdaStyle!

Apr 8, 2009, 09.06 AMby GorgeousThings

I’d love to get together with folks in Boston area. Is there a place to set up meetings?

Apr 8, 2009, 09.11 AMby mondeintact

I’m in! Fresno, California, anyone?

Apr 8, 2009, 09.14 AMby patriciamettica

Sounds great! Anybody interested? I live in Somerset, UK, near Glastonbury.

Patricia

01749 812 610

Apr 8, 2009, 09.18 AMby LittleThings

Hey, that sounds great!!
I’m from Barcelona (Spain), anyone else??

Apr 8, 2009, 09.24 AMby s_v_kelley

Phoenix! I’ve got 2.5 machines and a sewing room! Anyone out there in the greater Phoenix area, let’s get together!

Apr 8, 2009, 09.26 AMby littlebaz

I love to meet some like minded people in my area to discuss and inspire each other to sew more. Please let me know who is out there in my area

Apr 8, 2009, 09.30 AMby ell-in-or

Portland, Oregon
I may be interested in starting a group. Send me info! :)

Apr 8, 2009, 09.31 AMby Alden

Hey Everyone!
So glad you are as excited about this as we are! send an email to team(at)burdastyle.com if you are interested in organizing and we will help find interested people and send you information about starting the group.

Apr 8, 2009, 09.44 AMby Kbg0799

I would love to join a sewing group! I don’t think as a new sewer I would be a good one to lead it, but I would be an active participant. I even have a friend who would come!!!

Anyone else in Florence, SC???

Apr 8, 2009, 10.13 AMby kbarlow

Toronto, Ontario anyone?

Apr 8, 2009, 10.16 AMby sharonan23

Any interest in Toronto (downtown), Ontario (Canada)?

Apr 8, 2009, 10.17 AMby knitbunnie

Northwest Ohoi stitchers – UNITE!!! I’m in Toledo. I wonder if any of our sewing stores would give us space to meet.

Apr 8, 2009, 10.27 AMby Clarey

Would love to join a club and would be happy to organise one but I am not sure anyone is in Suffolk in the UK – anyone?

Apr 8, 2009, 10.34 AMby Mandyh

Hello everyone. Is anyone from the Northwich area of Cheshire in the UK?

Apr 8, 2009, 10.40 AMby thejam

I’m in fort lauderdale florida, anyone?

Apr 8, 2009, 10.42 AMby IndigoGrrl

I’d definitely be interested in starting one, or finding an existing one in my area. I’m located in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. Anyone from around me on this site?

Apr 8, 2009, 11.05 AMby carrischramm

I’m very close to Livingston – right near the Short Hills Mall!

A packet and syllabus??? Sounds interesting!

Carri

Apr 8, 2009, 11.14 AMby firstwildflower

I’d love to join in on a sewing group. I doubt there are any members in the Pottstown, PA area though. Ginny

Apr 8, 2009, 11.26 AMby summ3r

I’m in north Essex UK I would love to join a group but dont have time to organise one.

Apr 8, 2009, 11.35 AMby Liser

Sure, it’d be nice to meet more people in Central London who like to sew and pool ideas/knowledge/experience.

Apr 8, 2009, 11.49 AMby norah

I live in Camden London and would love to meet up with other Burdastyle members- Liser . If I had the time I would also love to help running a club but unfortunately due to work commitments I never seem to have any time for anything even sewing.