Back in 2013 when Sewcialists was founded, the choice of online sewing communities was relatively limited. I remember Burda Style, Pattern Review, and lots of chatter on Twitter and Flickr. (If you were sewcialising online back then, I’d love to know which communities I’ve forgotten.) Nowadays though, there are sewing communities left, right and centre! Everything from big platforms to niche communities, and I think it’s a wonderful thing.
So today I’m asking: What are your favourite sewing communities? (Besides Sewcialists, of course!) I would love to hear in the comments where you connect with other sewists, go for advice and reviews, and feel at home. It could be specific Instagram accounts or Facebook groups, web-based communities, or groups you meet with in real life. I can’t wait to hear your answers!
Here are a few of my personal favourites, grouped by category:
- Plus Size Sewing: @CurvySewingCollective (and website), @Fatsewing.Club (and website)
- BIPOC Sewing: @blkmakersmatter, @MeetMakersOfColor
- Queer Sewing: @SewQueer
- Sewists with Disabilities: @ChronicallySewn, @DisabledMakers
- Age: @SewOver50
- General: Seamwork, The Foldline, Textillia and of course, Pattern Review, still going after all these years!
Please leave your favourites down below! Include a link if you can, so that it’s easy for other people to explore.
Gillian is cofounder of the Sewcialists. She is an avid sewist who lost her sewjo this past year, but shares a lot of kitten pictures on @craftingarainbow and very occasionally blogs at Crafting A Rainbow!
I find that certain pattern companies like Love Notions and Cashmerette on FB are very social, supportive and helpful.
TBH, I stopped going to Curvy Collective. Pattern reviews were getting bad. Extremely simple box tops and basics. No engagement from editors. No regular posts or even explanation why. Very sad. Used to be a favorite. I miss the version from two years ago!
I”m glad you’ve found some places you feel inspired! 🙂
Other than the fantastic communities you have already mentioned, there are –
On facebook “Sewing flat and asymmetrical” for sewers with uni- and bilateral mastectomies and other body asymmetries.
Also on facebook “Sewing for Spoonies” for sewers who are chronically ill.
Those groups sound wonderful! DO you find Facebook is a good platform for sewing communities?
I love seamwork, peek-a-boo patterns facebook group, dfw sewing on facebook too (I’m in Texas) and Helen’s closet. Ooh! And Melly sews 😃
Thank you for all those great suggestions!
Reddit, without a doubt, is my favorite platform for sewing right now. There is r/sewing which has sewists of all skill levels from newbies thrilled to have made a bandana for their dog to professionals showing off their latest gown. Inclusive and spam-free, too, which is refreshing. And there are a ton of specialty subs like r/MakeABraThatFits, r/Handsewing, and r/vintagesewing. I have been sewing for decades and I truly learn something new every day there.
You’ve blown my mind: Reddit! I would never have thought of it. I’m a long time r/abrathatfits lover though, so i’m thrilled to know there are sewing pages that are equally good!
I am partial to the Curvy Sewing Collective’s Facebook group. While I wouldn’t say that there is never a snarky moment in there, it’s definitely the friendliest and most open minded group that I’ve come across on social media- maybe the whole internet. It’s too bad the blog isn’t very active anymore, but Ithink that’s at least in part because of the stress so many people are feeling because of the pandemic. I don’t have an Instagram account, so I’m shut out of participating through that platform; I do like peeking at what people are sharing through @SewQueer though. It’s a refreshing change from the white, middle class, hetero, convention gender norm enforcing content that makes up such an enormous portion of sewing media, marketing, groups, etc.