ReZoom

No longer just a remnant from Victorian times, sewing circles are back, and women all around you are looking to get in the loop �A few years ago, when celebrities like Julia Roberts, Goldie Hawn and Julianne Moore went public with one of their favorite hobbies, knitting hopped from the "old lady" category to the "hip" designation. Handcrafted and hand-dyed yarns started popping up in crafts stores nationwide and instructional books like "Stitch and Bitch" let a new generation of knitters know that this wasn't their Grandma's hobby anymore.

In the last few years, a different kind of needlework has been making a comeback. Sewing is hot, and it just might be time for you to dig that thimble out again.

Whether you'd like to create your own custom home décor or want to duplicate some of the styles you see in department stores and specialty shops for a fraction of the cost, there's a sewing project to meet every level of expertise.

Most of the supplies for your first project can be found at a local Wal-Mart or fabric store. Even sewing machines have become much more affordable than the days when your mother spent a small fortune to bring one home. And Simplicity continually offers updated, stylish patterns that are easy to follow and really do turn out looking like the picture on the front.

Dudley Campbell, craft aficionado and one time partner in needlework mecca The Magic Needle in Birmingham, Alabama, recommends a few key items for the sewing novice. "You'll need scissors, pins, an ‘easy sew' pattern, a machine with extra needles [you're probably going to break a few in the beginning] and some help from a friend."

While the more experienced sewer might lean towards Vogue patterns or trickier fare, don't let the level of your sewing skill discourage you. Even the easiest pattern can go to the knock-your-socks-off stage with artful fabric choices and unique addendums.

"You can always buy extra frills," Dudley adds.

Look at favorites in your closet or just walk through the fabric store for inspiration. A shift dress might need some shiny fabric or ribbon at the neckline while an a-line skirt might look fabulous with beading on the hem.

Perhaps the most challenging element, and the most fun to acquire, is that helpful friend Dudley mentioned as you're getting started. Luckily, just like with knitting, women are connecting through the hobby of sewing to not only share expertise and help with projects but also to build ties in their communities and make new friends.

Check your local paper or community billboards for like-minded crafters in your area, and you'll be in stitches before you know it.

Ready for more? Check out more stories in our Life at Home section.