Sew Expo 2020 Recap

I just returned from Sew Expo 2020 in Puyallup, Washington and I wanted to share my experience.  Well, not only my experience but my thoughts.

First thought… GO!  ATTEND! Yes, I am yelling.  Why do I feel so strongly about that, you might be asking?   It is good for your soul, sounds dramatic but true.  It felt so good to be with other sewists, those who love garment sewing, love touching fabric, creating and sharing.  These sewists understand what it is to make a garment, terms like grain, nap, grade, flat fell seam and invisible zipper.  They get just as excited as you do when you see that perfect pattern or fabric.  These sewists don’t even question the purchase of fabric without the slightest idea of what you will make but understand you will be sad if you don't take it home.  Sounds amazing, doesn’t it?  It was that amazing.  Just a bit of what came home with me.....

Second thought…..you meet other sewists who are your blogging, sewing, Instagram friends.  Yes, this means your on-line friends become your in real life friends!  It was so heartwarming when another sewist would come up and say, Lori, Girls in the Garden!  We would talk sewing, our Instagram names, posts and projects.  A big thanks to  each and everyone of you for coming up to me, it meant so much!  I will forever remember your face with your Instagram name,  a name with a face, yes so good.

Third thought….. The classes, which at Expo are divided by needles – one, two, three and four needles.  One  needle is all I took, six all together.  Most of which I took  were on fitting and even though the one needle is only 45 minutes, I learned so much.  The teachers are energetic, engaging and entertaining.  Also, they are prepared with handouts and PowerPoint presentations. 

Here is a recap of the other classes from the Sew Expo website.

One-Needle Classes 

Our One Needle Classes are the hallmark learning experience, presented in a traditional lecture/demo format — the perfect class for building or brushing up on the basic fundamentals.

• 45 minutes
• Price: $6 in advance ($8 at the Expo)

Two-Needle Classes 

Our Two-Needle classes offer two ways to learn. Master a technique through expert-led hands-on experience or lecture-demonstration format of a complete project or technique from start to finish. This is the perfect opportunity to get inspired for your next project.

• 90 minutes
• Price: $20

PLUS KIT FEE (Kit fee is payable to the instructor on the day of class. Exact change will be appreciated.) See class listing for additional student supplies.

Pre-registration strongly encouraged. 

Three-Needle Classes 

Learn more sophisticated sewing or embroidering techniques in one of these engaging hands-on classes. Don’t worry – all machines are provided by our sponsors. The Three-Needle Classes are a great opportunity to both hone your skills and develop new ones.

• 2- 1/2 hours
• Price: $30

PLUS KIT FEE (Kit fee is payable to the instructor on the day of class. Exact change will be appreciated.) See class listing for additional student supplies.

Pre-registration strongly encouraged.

Four-Needle Classes 

Think of these learning sessions as an intense pre-Expo boot camp to help make sure that you get the absolute most out of your Expo experience. Held only on Wednesday, they present an ideal opportunity to learn and experience more in-depth techniques and to ignite inspiration for more complex projects.

• 4 hours
• Price: $50

PLUS KIT FEE (Kit fee is payable to the instructor on the day of class. Exact change will be appreciated.) See class listing for additional student supplies.

Oh, yes, there is a free stage which is ongoing each day, plus Charity sewing.  

Don't worry, there are nightly events and on Friday, I attended Kenneth D. King’s Event which was so fun and entertaining.  He brought some of his garments and I met him and I got a photo with him, yes, it was fun.

Also, had the opportunity to speak with Anne Whaley, loved the Australian accent and her clothes.

Fourth thought….. shopping.  So many vendors, notions, patterns, irons, sewing machines, fabric, it is a sewing shopping mall!  There are several  fashion fabric booths, which is amazing, you can touch and feel fabric, see the color in real life, find color matches , all while having this big smile on your face.  Why a big smile?  You are touching fashion fabric and can go to another booth and touch more.  One thing I do need to say, there are quilting fabric booths, too, several of them.  

While shopping these booths, you can watch demonstrations, try out those Kai scissors or other notions, check out the newest notions and how to use them. 

Sew Expo has a great website and an app, which I downloaded and used throughout the Expo.  The app had all the vendors and a search feature, making it easy to find their booth number. The class schedule was right there and you could flag your classes and have a daily schedule. 

I hope you can tell I had the best time and plan to attend next year.  I want to take more classes and probably bring another suitcase.  Mine was packed full!

Sew Expo 2020 was an amazing experience and I am so thankful I had the opportunity to go.  Thanks to my co-workers who filled in for me so I could attend, thanks to sewing friends who suggested we do this together, thanks to a husband who understands how much I love to sew and supports my creative side and thanks to all of you, my sewing friends.  I brought home some sewing swag from the vendor floor to share with you all, check out my Instagram feed to enter.  If you don't Instagram, leave a comment here and I will enter you in the drawing.

Happy sewing.