Hey y’all – do you watch Project Runway? I’ve noticed in some more recent seasons that Tim and Heidi have said things like, “I think you’re the most talented group of designers we’ve cast” and that sums up how I feel about the new sewing team. And not just the sewing team – this year we have some team sponsors, who are also fabulous! I specifically went looking for independent fabric shops that carried apparel fabrics, and I think between these sponsors we have almost all the apparel fabrics you might want covered.
Make sure to check out Imagine Gnats for staples like chambray and challis as well as designer fabrics, KnitPicky for unique Euro style knits,  Raspberry Creek Fabrics for the best French terry  as well as designer knits, and Red Beauty Textiles for the biggest selection of Nani Iro I’ve seen in a U.S. based shop.
As for the team, not only are a few of my favorites from this past year sticking around, the new talent is so A-MAZING that I ended up increasing the size of the team to 22 members to fit them all in. I am so thrilled at the diversity of viewpoints, shapes, styles and voices that I’m going to get to share from this global team and I encourage all of you to follow them on their platforms.
So let’s meet them!
Find Lara:Â Instagram, Blog
I live in Northern VA with my husband and two kids, ages 10 and 7. I’m a preschool teacher by day, sewing obsessed maker by night. I love the process of creating, and am on a mission to sew myself a handmade wardrobe. I occasionally sew for my children and husband, and also enjoy quilting now and then. I am mainly self taught, however I grew up around sewing machines and knitting needles. While I don’t remember specifically when I learned to use a sewing machine, I bought my own in 2014, and have been sewing a way since. I love the online sewing community I found through Instagram, and began blogging as a way to document my own makes.
Find Jessamy:Â Instagram, Blog, Pinterest
Mother to 4 great children-Wife to an amazing man-Arizonan at heart-Quilter-Seamstress-
I like dancing, barefeet, dancing with barefeet, balanced budgets, books, quilting, sewing garments (especially when they look good), baking bread, getting organized, making stacks, getting organized again (after all the stacks-wait the stacks WERE getting organized!), soft beds, baby noses, chick flicks, hugs from my kids, skipping ahead to read/watch the ending, quiet, chaos, singing really loud, my family…you can follow my projects at Hazelnut Handmade.
Find Jillayne: Instagram, Blog, Pinterest, Twitter, Etsy
When I left the corporate world to stay home with two daughters, I found my strengths as a structural engineer lent themselves to an even greater joy found in the technical, mathematical, and artistic demands of sewing. A six month old daughter, an encouraging Mom, and a very old hand-me-down sewing machine came together at the perfect time providing inspiration for what is now a passionate hobby. Over 8 years later, with updated machines, a supply of tools, and endless motivation from favorite designers, I sew as often as possible and always look for new challenges.
Find Courtney: Blog, Instagram, Pinterest
Hi! I’m living with my husband and my 4 yo son in a nice village near Barcelona, surrounded by vineyards and very close to the sea. I love to take pictures, read, laugh and go cycling with my son (yes! He already can go bike with 4 yo! Yeah!)
Ingrid is a young sewing enthusiastic who started this creative hobby about three years ago. On the internet she is known as Sewingridd. In daily life she recently finished her study and found a job. Now she’s living in a small studio in The Netherlands which is mainly occupied by her sewing machine and enormous fabric stash. Besides sewing her passion lies in horse riding and singing.
Find Ingrid: Instagram, Facebook
Find Crystal:Â Instagram
I’m Becky and I love all things crafty and creative. I believe we are all meant to create beautiful things in our lives. As for me, I create beauty mostly with a sewing machine, but you will also find my home littered with sketchbooks and pens as I doodle to my hearts content. I LOVE all things sewing; from quilts to bags to apparel, I will try my hand at just about any sewing project. I am excited to be on the Blank Slate Pattern sewing team and can’t wait to share some creativity with you.
Find Becky: Blog, Instagram, Facebook
Find Lizzy:Â Instagram
Find Helena:Â Instagram
Miranda had always been intrigued by sewing and creating in general. When she was a kid she feared the sewing machine and preferred to occasionally sew doll clothes by hand. She has long concurred the fear of sewing machines and when she “discovered” knits four years ago, she has been sewing ever since. Nowadays, the serger is her best friend, she loves to hack patterns, usually sews very colorfully garments and hardly ever uses pins. She has four kids and due to their sheer number and their growing bodies she mostly sews for her children. She does also sew for herself in which case she almost always sews dresses. She only irons during sewing and like many self respecting sewists, she faces the constant struggle to fit her fabric stash in the closet. On her blog she often talks about the mistakes she made and how she solved them (and how they often lead to the most loved garments) because self irony is a type of humor she highly appreciates.
Find Miranda: Blog, Instagram, Facebook
Hi! I’m Margo, fabric hoarder and pattern addict extraordinaire! I can’t remember a time in my life that I haven’t been sewing something, quilts, kids clothes, draperies….but my favorite is sewing clothes, especially dresses! I also love to spend time with my favorite people, run with friends and share my sewing projects on my blog, Creating In The Gap.
Find Margo:Â Blog
Stacey is a physical therapist by trade who found herself living in Japan for two years for her husband’s work back in 2014. Frustrated with her inability to find clothes that fit her curvy body, she set out to learn how to sew. Now living back in the States as a working mom of two boys, Stacey stumbled into pattern testing and the pdf pattern world. Stacey launched her sewing blog, Margarita on the Ross, earlier this year to spread her love of all things sewing.
Find Stacey: Blog, Instagram, Facebook
Find Eveline: Blog, Instagram, Facebook
Hi there! My name is Monica, a modern art restorer, born and bred in Barcelona, such an inspirational city. I am married to Mr D. and we have two beautiful children: a 6 yo girl and a 3 yo boy. I took up self-taught sewing when my girl was born, and I also started my blog: ma me mi mo. Nowadays, I sew for myself and my kids, and sometimes for my  husband too, who patiently awaits his turn for handmade clothes. And I also teach others their way into sewing, which I really love. Sewing has brought many good things to my life, especially the people I have had the chance to meet and become friends with, thanks to this passion.
Find Monica: Blog
I’m Fleurine, or Marie-Fleurine, as my full name is. I’m a German girl living in Northern Norway, where family roots and love brought me. Here I enjoy life between mountains and fjords, together with my husband and our dog. I’m an advisor at the County Governor’s office by day, but I spend all my spare time in front of my sewing machine or hiking in the mountains.I love sewing my own garments and documenting my makes at Sew Mariefleur and on Instagram. My style can be described as both classic, modern and a little romantic, combined with little twists.
Michele Armanino
I’m Lizzy’s aunt and she inspired me to start sewing about a year ago. I was so proud of my pillowcases and vowed that’s all I was going to make. But Lizzy gave me the courage to try garment making and here I am, one year later making dresses! At my age it’s hard to find hip, age appropriate clothing. Now. I design my own! Love you Lizzy!! Auntie Michele