About us
Bay Area Sewists is a sewing community with members from all over the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond — now that we have been meeting virtually. We are mostly focused on garment sewing. (See the FAQs below for more info.)
Members share inspiration and techniques, and see what each other is making at our Show & Tell meetups. Our virtual meetups often have guest speakers to talk about fabric, sewing patterns and tools, and techniques. Past guest speakers have included Britex Fabrics, Hello Stitch, Needles Studio, The Sewing Room, Stitch Buzz, and Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics.
We began meeting virtually in May 2020 and then had our first in-person meetup in June 2022. We will likely be having a mix of virtual and in-person meetups going forward.
Member benefits include:
• 20% off at Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics on some of our meetup days
• 10% off at Piedmont Fabrics (must show your active membership via the app or website)
• 20% off store products and 10% off classes at The Sewing Room in Alameda
You can also follow Bay Area Sewists on Facebook and Instagram (@bayareasewists) for meeting updates and news. Bay Area Sewists members can also join the private Facebook group.
Happy Sewing!
Chuleenan, Bay Area Sewists Organizer
FAQs
Can anyone join Bay Area Sewists?
Sure! If you have an interest in sewing - whether you are just learning to sew or you are an expert costumer - you are welcome to join the group. Our members range from people who have been sewing for less than a year to people who teach sewing professionally.
Do I need to live in the Bay Area to join?
No, all are welcome. In-person meetups are mainly for people in the Bay Area because those events will be taking place there. BUT during the pandemic, we are meeting virtually so anyone can participate. You just need to be a member of the group.
Can I submit an idea for a meetup?
Yes! We welcome suggestions for activities and venues! Just message Chuleenan, the organizer, via the Meetup page.
You used to charge dues. Will you charge dues again?
It is free to be a member of Bay Area Sewists. Dues had been charged in the past to cover the fees Meetup charges to use this platform. Members are welcome to contribute via Chuleenan's PayPal (@chuleenan) or Venmo (@chuleenan-svetvilas) accounts. Once we start meeting in person, a fee may be charged for a specific meetup to cover the cost of a venue.
Is this a group for quilters?
We are focused on garment sewing but some quilters are also members of this group. If you are looking for a group focused on quilting, you may want to check out other meetups.
When did the Bay Area Sewists get started?
The group was founded by Meghan Hunt of Made by Meg in 2012 who was the organizer until the end of 2013. In January 2014, Chuleenan Svetvilas of C Sews became the group's organizer and has organized more than 80 meeutups since then.
Upcoming events
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Make It Work - Solving your garment sewing issues with Beth Galvin
Berkeley Public Library, 2090 Kittredge, Central Library Meeting Room, Berkeley, CA, USHave you ever made a garment but didn't know why you weren’t satisfied with it? Come to this meetup where sewing instructor Beth Galvin discusses common issues with garment sewing. She will also analyze your specific garment issues — whether it was the fit (wrong size sewn, adjustments needed,etc.), fabric (wrong selection for the pattern), or something else.
If you would like to bring a garment and the pattern to this meetup so we can discuss the issues, please fill out this form. Please bring the pattern envelope or image of the pattern. You will need to put the garment on at this event. There is a bathroom next to the meeting room so you can change into the garment at the event. Depending on time, Beth will try to cover all who sign up. We'll have about 5-10 minutes per person. If some Bay Area Sewists members have similar issues, we may be able to do a few members at the same time. We may not be able to get to everyone. We will go in order of sign-up. So sign up soon!
Beth Galvin started to sew at age 7 with lessons after school and has never stopped expanding her sewing knowledge. After a business career she started a sewing blog, SunnyGal Studio which led to writing articles for the Craftsy website and then being the garment sewing teacher for Hello Stitch Studio. Currently she teaches classes there and offers private sewing lessons at her home. Beth specializes in fitting commercial sewing patterns and teaching construction tips that are not included in the pattern instructions. She wants her students to learn basic techniques and feel confident to take on new challenges.
This meetup is in the Community Meeting Room on the third floor.
PARKING & PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
There is metered street parking and parking garages/lots nearby. The library is two blocks from the Downtown Berkeley BART stop.35 attendees
Past events
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