DIY Design - Your Virtual Sewing Circle

by Amber Eden (Subscribe to Amber Eden's posts)
Posted Sep 8th 2009 at 11:50AM

Ladies who lunch, make way for sisters who sew. Photo: Harold Kellogg, Getty Images

While sewing can be a solo sport, there's a whole community of sewers gathering online to exchange ideas and share knowledge. In fact, it's like a virtual sewing circle.

Here's where to go to get plugged in:

PatternReview.com - The tag line, "helping you sew smarter everyday," says it all and is what keeps its many members coming back to discuss patterns they've been stitching up. But there's more to this very active site than just pattern reviews. You'll find online sewing classes, articles, tips and a whole lot more. It's well worth your time.
BurdaStyle.com - If a sewer could dream of the best science project ever, it would no doubt be this site; an open-source online sewing community, where you can upload patterns, projects, photos and tutorials to share with other members, and in turn download theirs. With more than 250,000 members, that's a lot of information.

CraftStylish.com - Perfect for a quick shot of inspiration and the sewing section is crammed with projects and articles (719, to date(!), ranging from kitschy to sophisticated. They cover a variety of levels, so there's a something-for-everyone culture.
TheSewingDivas.com - To take your sewing to the next level, you'll definitely want to bookmark this online destination. It's maintained by three sewing divas who can tell you how to finish off a garment with a lead-weight hem, navigate a tricky pattern or whip up a little macrame-embellished top (just like on the "Project Runway's" last episode!). These ladies know sewing, so stick with them.
WestCoastCrafty.com - Portland-based Susan Beal has got to be the most connected sewing (and crafting) blogger on the web. Her site has a way of inviting you in and making you feel like you've just settled into her living room with a bunch of her cool, creative friends. This blog is worth a visit just to get to know her circle -- it's at the forefront of the handmade revolution.

This is only a start. For even more online resources, check out this earlier DIY Design column.

Amber Eden is the former editor-in-chief of Threads magazine and founding editor of SewStylish magazine and CraftStylish.com. She has studied draping and haute couture techniques at The Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), and according to her, will probably be a student there for life.

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