Welcome! I’m Julie Eilber of Jet Set Sewing.

I started sewing at age 8 in the school of “sewing in the basement with Mom.” For almost twenty years, sewing was a constant and favorite hobby; starting with “Learn to Sew” patterns and graduating to designer patterns by Betsey Johnson, Anne Klein, and Halston in my 20s.

During college, I was part of the emerging “Cheap Chic” vintage movement, and could be seen walking around the University of Wisconsin in a 50s swing coat when the other kids were wearing down puffer vests.

In my 30s, I wrote professionally and was a television producer, as well as a mother and stepmother, leaving me little time to sew. I started collecting vintage designer clothing by Jean Patou, Nina Ricci, Jacques Heim, and other 50s/60s designers, and researching 20th century fashion.

In the past decade I embraced sewing again, and shifted my professional writing focus to fashion history. I began collecting and sewing up vintage designer patterns from the 1920s to the 70s, by Chanel, Charles James, Madeleine Vionnet, Schiaparelli, Edith Head, and other watershed designers.

In 2017, my reconstruction work was featured on the Museum of Modern Art’s website, and I led several fashion history workshops for them. In 2020, I spoke at a conference held by the Balenciaga museum in Spain, about Cristobal Balenciaga’s relationships–professional and otherwise–with American fashion editors Diana Vreeland, Carmel Snow, and Bettina Ballard. Starting in 2022, I’ve been collaborating with Cashmerette Patterns, releasing sewing patterns inspired by “American Look” designer Claire McCardell.

I started Jet Set Sewing as a place to combine my love of writing, sewing, vintage fashion, travel, (and fabric shopping, of course)! I picked the name Jet Set Sewing to evoke the midcentury era of high-flying fashion and streamlined design (and because I didn’t think “Rat Pack Sewing” would give it that same Ring-a-Ding-Ding, if you know what I mean).

Hope you enjoy your visit!