sewing circle

plural sewing circles

1. A social meeting of women who congregate to sew and talk together.

   Synonyms: kensington

2. UShistoricalA discreet code for lesbian or bisexual actresses during Hollywood's golden age.

   1 more example

   If Tallulah wasn't a member of the Sewing Circle it was one of the few lesbian adventures she missed. The Sewing Circle was made up of Hollywood women who were either bisexual, committed to lesbianism, or just visiting. They met at one another's houses for lunch, conversation and possibilities. The Sewing Circle sometimes met at the house of Dolores Del Rio, then married to Cedric Gibbons, the MGM art director.

   2001 January 7, David Freeman, “Closet Hollywood”, in New York Times