Meet Mary Kay Blaschke, Secretary
Mary Kay Blaschke joined the Haute Couture Club of Chicago in 2014 after reading about the club on its website. She has served on the Board of Directors as 1st Vice-President – Programs (fiscal year 2015 - 2016), Fashion Show Chair (fiscal year 2017 - 2018) and Secretary (beginning 2019).
Mary Kay’s intrigue with garment making began as a child when her mother sewed clothes for her that would trump those found in Seventeen or Ingenue magazine. But mom was afraid she would not have the patience to teach Mary Kay, so she sent her to the Singer Sewing Center. Rudimentary skills learned there followed Mary Kay into young adulthood, and she created a couple somewhat work-worthy outfits, all sewn on her mother’s Necchi sewing machine.
Upon leaving home, Mary Kay’s craft went dormant for many years only to be awakened when her husband left town for a big Superbowl “guy weekend”. She had three days to herself! She bought a sewing machine. Mary Kay made an easy-peasy wrap skirt and the woman at Hancock Fabric told her there was a guy named “Tchad” who gave lessons and was “really, really good.” Signing up with Tchad for a tailoring class, she made a coat, complete with hair canvas, pad stitching, bound buttonholes and handmade shoulder pads. She continues to work with him today and values the depth and breadth of his knowledge and craftsmanship.
Close friends say Mary Kay is just “channeling mom” with her sewing.
Mary Kay’s intrigue with garment making began as a child when her mother sewed clothes for her that would trump those found in Seventeen or Ingenue magazine. But mom was afraid she would not have the patience to teach Mary Kay, so she sent her to the Singer Sewing Center. Rudimentary skills learned there followed Mary Kay into young adulthood, and she created a couple somewhat work-worthy outfits, all sewn on her mother’s Necchi sewing machine.
Upon leaving home, Mary Kay’s craft went dormant for many years only to be awakened when her husband left town for a big Superbowl “guy weekend”. She had three days to herself! She bought a sewing machine. Mary Kay made an easy-peasy wrap skirt and the woman at Hancock Fabric told her there was a guy named “Tchad” who gave lessons and was “really, really good.” Signing up with Tchad for a tailoring class, she made a coat, complete with hair canvas, pad stitching, bound buttonholes and handmade shoulder pads. She continues to work with him today and values the depth and breadth of his knowledge and craftsmanship.
Close friends say Mary Kay is just “channeling mom” with her sewing.