A Chicago Sewing Bloggers Meet-Up

And I was there!

Ok, I'm not in the picture, cuz I'm taking it.

And here's were we met/ went last Sunday:

The most amazing place on Earth, fabric-wise

Can you believe this place is in Chicago, in the Pilsen neighborhood, and I never ever went to it before!!!!  ooooooommmmmggggggg sums it up.  It's like discovering Tutankhamen's tomb, or Alibaba's cave, or ...

A little back story here.  All this time I'm wondering why are there no Chicago bloggers - sewing clothes ones.  Then one day I follow a lead to some recommended tights for an online indie pattern.  It's the Rose Hip Tights & Stockings Pattern by Seamsters Patterns and I buy it, download it, make it, like it and check out her blog.  Turns out Mari is from Chicago and also wonders where are all the Chicago sewing bloggers, but she goes a step further and actually asks the question.  And people answer.  Including me, even if it was a year later.  I immediately got a reply that the Chicago Sewcialists were meeting at Textile Discount Outlet in a couple weeks.  

Now let's see some pictures inside, yeah?

That's the check out by the entrance.

I was completely overwhelmed when we went inside.  First it's crowded.  With stuff and with people.  Everyone apparently goes there on Sundays.  They're not open on Saturdays and basically only during office hours on week days.

It's a warehouse that tunnels into room after room as well as floor after floor, 3 of them, including a basement.

 Sometimes they have prices strung up like banners across the top, sometimes not.  You find out how much the fabric is when you go to the front cutting table.

A room for trims

 Okay, okay that's probably enough photos of fabric for you to get the idea.

 oops, how'd that get in there?


That's only the front part of the first floor.  I couldn't be bothered with a camera after that.  In order to be able to function at all, I decided to focus and look for stretch mesh to make more tights.  And I bought 3 pieces for just that.  phew.

After, we all went out to eat at Flat Top Grill and showed off our wares.  Plus there was a swap of patterns and fabric.  Another post in the making.