What we’re about
The Chest Collective is a growing project. Equal parts bra shop and creative gathering-making space. Currently, we host a weekly open fiber arts studio + hang out on Monday nights and a monthly arts-based communion for women and other gender minorities. The latter has been all-nude figure drawing, but other things are in the works too. Look out for announcements for one-off fiber arts workshops. We've done make your own bralette workshops, and those will return after summer. And this July we're digging lace so we've got a free intro to bobbin lacemaking opportunity and a filet lace market bag sewing workshop. Reach out with ideas for collaboration.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- sew your own repurposed lace market bagJoy Street Artist Studios, Somerville, MA$65.00
This is a beginner-friendly class. We’ll use vintage and reclaimed lace to create one-of-a-kind market bags that are both functional and sustainable, while learning core sewing skills like cutting, pinning, and straight stitching.
We prioritize connecting through creativity here. So, bring friends and plan to meet new ones.
No prior sewing experience necessary. You’ll leave with a finished bag and a solid foundation in machine sewing.
Materials + snacks included, and loaner sewing machines available (let us know if you need to borrow).
*Attention* RSVPing on MeetUp doesn't secure your spot. Registration on my scheduling page is required - register here. $65
About our instructor, Haley E. D. Houseman:
Haley is a lifelong sewist who learned at her mother’s side as soon as she could reach the foot pedal. With a deep family history of sewing, tailoring, and craft education, she brings generations of knowledge to the classroom—along with a love of making that spans projects from her own wedding dress to reupholstered armchairs.
Based in Massachusetts, Haley is a writer who explores craft, material culture, and environmental history in her work. She has taught sewing to beginners and returning makers in private sessions, women’s clubs, and workshops at venues like The Chest Collective, and also runs a popular mending pop-up around the North Shore. Her classes aim to demystify the crafts we yearn to learn, and are rooted in both skill-building and storytelling—helping students feel at home with their tools and empowered to bring their ideas to life.
Let me know if you have any questions: olivia@chest.love
Follow along on instagram: @thechestcollective
