Here I am in wonderful Puyallup, WA., for the 2025 Sewing and Stitchery Expo. The weather could not be more beautiful with the balmy temperatures and spectacular view of Mount Rainier. I am staying at the Fairfield Inn off of 15th Ave., which is a 10-minute walk to the Fairgrounds, the location of the conference. For future reference, there is a less expensive option at the Hotel Puyallup off of 7th avenue, which has no amenities but an even closer location.
The vender hall filled the Showplex B and the list of instructors is quite impressive. I took the following classes:
All classes by the fitting expert, Lorraine Henry: Fit! Measure Like a Master, Pattern Alt: Looking at the whole picture, The Art of the Dart, Getting Rid of the Gaps and Correcting the Crotch Curve
Classes about online issues: Navigating the Selling World of Etsy by Jennifer Marker and Social Media and Sewing Is It Really Worth It? by Stephanie Canada
Alterations and Mending by Brittan Cummings
Organization Issues: Seamlessly Organizing Your Sewing Patterns with Trello (an online program) by Ed Donahue and A Dozen Things Your Closet Wants to Tell You by Susan Lazear
Visiting the vender hall gives you access to some suppliers that are not available online such as SewLite. Kelly Walterscheid is the owner/inventor and is guarded about his lighting products. He is aware that a presence online will result in stolen ideas by sub-quality manufacturing. You can find his products at SewLite.com. I could not get away from his booth without purchasing a small and larger version of his machine lights. They are movable and very bright. He has many commercial customers such as long arm operators. The attenuating arms allow for precises placement when working on machine projects as well as providing the ability to set the attenuating arm to form a hook to hang around your neck for handwork. The metal clamp allows placement on worktables.
Speaking of worktables – I have an access issue in my sewing room in that I have my sewing machine and serger across from each other on the same sewing table. I need to move my roller chair (which happens to have wheels clogged with threads) around my sewing table to get access for my machines, an aggravating process. When I saw the Gigget II by Arrow Cabinets at the Quality Sewing and Vacuum booth, I was in love! I bought the portable table that has a drop insert for my sewing machine. I can actually bring the table to retreats!
Other finds – wonderful notions, fabric and buttons. Oh, the buttons! There were set out in bins and attracted crafters like a flower attracts bees! Vogue fabrics was there with their beautiful silks. The first day I saw a beautiful red silk, 2 yards for $55, and beautiful blue tone silk, 2 yards for $65. I told myself that if these fabrics are not sold by the end of the conference, they are going home with me! Stay tuned for the result as today is the last day!
I purchased supplies and patterns from Lorraine Henry and many notions from Quality Sewing and Vacuum.
More to come!
