What we’re about
Chicago Sews is a Meetup social group for all sewists, from novice to professional. This group was created to mirror the welcoming, supportive and inclusive qualities fostered throughout the sewing community on social media. We host events each month (both in-person and virtual), and endeavor to serve as an educational, informational, and inspiring resource for our sewing community! Learn from...grow with... and laugh with other sewists from the Chicagoland area.
Upcoming events
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🛍️🥯🍴BRUNCH, BROWSE, and BUY at this Exclusive Shopping Event!
Location not specified yetINSIDERS ONLY:
🥐🍽️🛍️ You're Invited to BRUNCH, BROWSE, and BUY at this Exclusive Shopping Event!
Dear Insider,
You are cordially invited to a private shopping event—a unique opportunity to indulge your senses and perfectly plan your next creative endeavor.
Join us for an afternoon of elegance, inspiration, and delicious food, where you'll have the space and time to touch, feel, and shop the exquisite collections of C.Pauli Fabrics and Kafka Ribbons.
Who Is C. Pauli and Kafka?
C. Pauli is a fabric and haberdashery company whose passion is organic materials and sustainability in ethical fabric production. Their organic cottons are grown in controlled farming environments, free from chemical fertilizers and synthetic pesticides - a difference you can feel to the touch. In 2018, C. Pauli acquired the operations and mills of the Bandweberei Kafka ribbon weaving company. Kafka ribbons are produced on Jacquard looms - some dating back to the late 1800s - and are the product of long-established, traditional craftmanship. For all you globe-trotters that are planning a trip to Europe, consider making a stop in Wuppertal, Germany to visit the living museum and weaving mill. It houses 25 original looms, that operate much like the original invented in 1806 by Joseph M. Jacquard. Yes, THAT Jacquard.C. Pauli is coming to us, giving us this special opportunity to shop directly with them, without the annoyances sometimes associated with shopping at a big box retailer.
A Short Story
In July of this year, my sister and I went to a fabric store in Winston Salem, NC - a first-time visit - to see what’s out there, post JoAnn’s closing. While purchasing some yardage, I peeked behind the counter and spotted unique ribbons, still bundled and packaged in plastic bags. Determined to take a closer look, the proprietor indulged my curiosity, pulled them out, and all I could say was “Wow!” Myra (my sister) and I immediately began redesigning our intended makes, purely for the purpose of incorporating the ribbons. They were, simply, just THAT beautiful. Well, the ribbons were so new, that they didn’t have a SKU, they weren’t yet inventoried, and thus not available for purchase. I promised the proprietor that I would be back.Fast forward to Chicago Fashion Week’s full day Summit, which featured a vendor market for attendees: Can you guess what I saw? 👀 An entire binder FULL of those ribbons, including the exact same ones I saw bundled months prior, in Winston Salem. I was so delighted, I almost missed the fabrics! It was serendipitous, and I just had to find a way for you all to see these ribbons and fabrics too. Thus, here we are!
Event Details
• When: Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 12:00 - 3:00 PM
• Where: Mia's Residence in the Arlington Heights/Buffalo Grove area (the address will be emailed to you). If you'll be taking the Metra train up and need to coordinate/facilitate logistics to my home, please let me know asap
• RSVP By: December 6, 2025What to Expect
• Private Access: Enjoy an intimate shopping experience in a relaxed atmosphere, exclusive only to Insiders.
• Fabric & Ribbon Immersion: Explore C. Pauli and Kafka’s newest arrivals and perennial favorites with dedicated time for browsing - and of course, no pressure to buy.
• Casual Brunch: Savor a delicious spread of pastries, light bites, mimosas/coffee, and our usual social fun.You don’t want to miss this event! What an incredible opportunity we have, to shop directly with the company, and luxuriate in premium products that we'd otherwise not have convenient access to. The fabrics and ribbons are high-quality, and the minimum order quantity and pricing are SUPER reasonable! Alisha and I were blown away.
Feel free to bring your own personal fabric swatches, to find the perfect color pairings. And if you don't have a project in mind - no worries. You will be able to browse and shop the premium collections from sample fabric cards. This is a wonderful chance to bring your creative ideas to life, ensuring your upcoming projects are color-perfect and tactilely luxurious.
Please confirm your attendance by Dec 6th. You are already pre-registered for this event. If you cannot attend, simply change your RSVP to "no".
We look forward to toasting your creativity, and we THANK YOU for being an Insider!
Warmly,
Mia, and your Chicago Sews OrganizersPS: I’m shopping for the perfect ribbon to complement fabric I bought from Mood (back when we went to NYC) to finally make a shirtdress. See my inspo picture attached. ☺️
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Past events
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