how to find community with sewing
a new sewing resource for you!
Sewing is becoming a radical act. Making clothes for your body and presenting that to the world is a language, a device for communicating identity. I have always made clothes that felt like me and served a purpose in showing others who I truly am: bright, flamboyant, queer. We need to continue this kind of presentation during the next four years. Especially those of us with privilege. I am thinking of my own privilege as a white gay man and how I can show up in spaces in solidarity with people of color and my trans brothers and sisters. For these reasons, I am motivated for Garbie to become a tool for community building, so that people can learn the skills needed to make clothes for their body and find the support they need to share that body with the world.
Ways to Find Community in Sewing
joining people IRL
Sewing classes at your local library! Most libraries have some sort of makerspace. Sometimes, you can even check out sewing machines like a book!
Sewing Nonprofits and Businesses! Sincere Studio in Portland offers all sorts of sewing classes. Also, local businesses all over the country are starting to pop up to accommodate this growing demand.
joining people ONLINE
Garbie Sewing Club! A new community platform focused on sharing our knowledge and gathering together to support one another.
Sewing Videos
Exclusive Projects
LIVE Events
Curated Audio
Sewing Chat Room
Community - like tumblr but for sewing!!
Here is the deal:
If you join the paid tier for $10 per month, you get access to digital copies of all of my past and future sewing products! Right now you can download, How to Develop a Sewing Brain, How to Understand Sewing Symbols, Blind Date with a Sewing Machine, and The Garbie Shirt Sewing Pattern.
Some future projects that will be included will be a monthly zine and exclusive video, as well as my new sewing pattern, COLLARS!
There is also a free tier that you can join which gives you access to a tumblr-esque type space to gather and post your makes and knowledge with other people like you! You will also get access to some LIVE events and digital projects:
PSSSSTTTT: also there is a GARBIE APP coming within the next month or so that will give you access to all of these features as well. I’ll keep you posted!
So exciting that you are building an online community for advice! I've been compiling a list of in person gatherings around the country where people can gather to mend together - feel free to add if you know of any near you in portland! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JHt6Q7cVlIpTjow3GmOxQvzdVBD5F_c-GaU2HyZUM-E/edit?usp=sharing