Learn about Adrienne’s passion for sewing and handmade creations and how she made the craft accessible for makers of all levels.
The World of Sewing
Sewing and making your own clothes is no easy craft, especially if you don’t know where to begin. What pattern do you choose? How do you put the pattern together? How do you use a sewing machine?
Adrienne Thomas, a Montessori educator and Chicago Public Library’s Summer Maker-in-Residence, is answering these questions and removing the barriers that make sewing intimidating.
Originally raised in Detroit, Adrienne has always enjoyed making things with her hands. She began sewing in 2019 to make clothing for herself
“I think that so many pre-made clothes are made for very straight size people and as a person who was navigating body dysmorphia and transitioning from a very rigid powerlifting lifestyle, sewing was a lifesaver. It allowed me to destigmatize measurements to create clothes that fit my body and that I felt good in,” she said. “I also started learning more about ethical fashion and the cost of labor. So, I started sewing and making clothes that not only fit me well but that I could wear in good conscious without contributing to the harm of others.”
Heavily inspired by the symmetry of nature, her pieces are hand-sewn using natural linen and cotton and feature nature scenes, flowers, leaves, and more.
Eventually, Adrienne began selling quilts, felt wall hangings, shirts and more online. “I started a website where I could share the things I was making with others, and it took off from there. That was kind of the catalyst for me starting to see myself as an artist. From there, I started exploring different mediums – from traditional quilting and modern quilting to felting and pottery. Sewing opened the door for me.”
A Beginner’s Guide to Sewing
Embracing her role as an artist, Adrienne wanted to share this craft with others and began doing so through a “Sip and Sew” pop-up series.
“I invested in six or seven beginner-friendly sewing machines and hosted six events at a coffee shop in Humboldt Park where people could come and learn to sew while meeting new people,” she said. “I was overwhelmed with positive feedback about how comfortable they felt learning and how much they enjoyed being able to make a piece on their own.”
As the Maker-in-Residence, she’s noticing similar feedback! “I had about three or four people attend multiple workshops and leave with either finished or nearly finished pieces.”
Adrienne ensured her classes were beginner-friendly so that everyone could leave the Maker Lab feeling like they had a grasp on how to sew – from prep to completion.
“As a teacher, you have to remember what something felt like the first time you did it. When I started sewing, I had no idea how to get started so I leaned into that in my workshops,” she explains. “I wanted to discuss the lingo and the pre-preparation – from choosing your patterns to measurements and understanding the intricacies of a sewing machine—and make it feel less scary.”
Participants in the Maker Lab not only left with digital and physical resources to reference while sewing independently but completed wearable pieces such as pajamas! Plus: Adrienne recorded a step-by-step tutorial on the raw-edge quilting she creates for people to watch on demand and work on in their own time.
Connect and Create at the Library
Of the many things Adrienne has enjoyed during her residency, she also loves how communal the Maker Lab is. Whether stopping in for the first time to dabble or coming in for the dozenth time to finish a project, participants were making new connections and finding common ground in their learning journey.
Adrienne’s final project focuses on one of Chicago’s biggest connectors of all – the El! “I thought it was so fascinating how it connects different neighborhoods and everyone in Chicago has had some experience with the El. So, my final project represents the way the different lines connect the city.”
Her project consists of a 4 by 4-foot traditional quilt that features a CTA train with the rail tracks being the different colors of train lines. Surrounding the quilt will be smaller quilts that highlight Chicago iconography like The Bean, a Chicago-style hot dog, and neighborhoods such as Pilsen and Hyde Park.
Adrienne’s quilt will be on display through November in the Harold Washington Library windows facing State Street for Chicagoans to admire.
And though her residency is over, Adrienne says she’ll visit the Maker Lab in the future and is thrilled that this is a creative space available for all to participate in!
“Being here at the library made me question what it would have been like to have access to spaces like this where I could be creative as a young person, and it excites me that this space exists for Chicagoans. We’re in a transition period where we’re all trying to find joy in our lives, find connection, and art—and libraries are a space for that.”
Learn more about Adrienne’s residency here.
The Maker Lab is a donor-powered program where Library users can experiment with a variety of creative media, from 3D printing and laser cutting to quilting and sewing, take part in workshops led by our Makers-in-Residence and other experts, learn about entrepreneurship, and connect with the community through creating.
This program is made possible thanks to our sponsors: Comcast, Exelon, Peoples Gas, and generous donors to the Library Foundation.
