It can be very educational to see the same pattern made several different ways and on different bodies. So we decided we’d try choosing a pattern to focus on each month. To sweeten the deal, we are giving a $15 gift certificate for Treadle fabric to a randomly drawn person who has made the pattern of the month.
This month the pattern is Vogue 9026. I won’t give away everything about the pattern but there are a few things to be aware of if you are sewing the pattern. After opening the pattern and finding the finished garment measurements I realized that it was narrower at the hip (39″-medium) than the bust (40.5″medium). For my pear shaped body, that wouldn’t work. So I went to Vogue 8962 which had the same “back wrapped to front” styling but with a fit more like a pear shaped body. Bottom line-I slit the back pattern piece from hemline to the box marking the underarm seam and opened the slit to give me the extra width I needed at the hip. Pretty happy with the results.
One of the reasons we chose the pattern was the vee neck with a center seam. Unfortunately the directions tell you to sew up that center seam and then apply the neck band. No way, Jose! I applied the neck band flat and then sewed the center seam including the neck band. Looks great.
There are all kinds of possibilities to mix up fabrics in this pattern too. Can’t wait to see what you all come up with.
And speaking of pattern of the month-have you checked out Pattern Review’s Best Patterns of 2014? Several were featured in Fashion Sewing Club garments and there are a few I’d like to try.
See you in the next week-
Category: Fashion Sewing Club
January Fashion Sewing Club Photos
Even though Old Man Winter tried to keep people away, there was lots of show and tell and a pretty impressive group of people attended our three meetings in January.
We are trying a few new things with the start of the new year. At our Hancock Southtown meetings we are including some hands on demonstrations each month to add an educational element and give attendees a chance to try out the techniques that we find useful. This month we demonstrated several knit techniques.
At Treadle we are choosing a pattern of the month and encouraging anyone to try the pattern themselves and bring the garment to show. To sweeten the deal we will be drawing for a $15 gift certificate from those who sew the pattern of the month. The goal is to see one pattern in a variety of fabrics and on a variety of bodies.
Can This Garment Be Saved? is a new idea to help get those finished-but-never-worn garments out into the light. Show us how you alter/change a garment to make it wearable. Debbie restyled an oversized Nordic ski sweater in December into a perfect warm, fitted sweater. If you are stumped, bring the garment and get ideas from the group!
Here is the calendar for the remainder of the month and pictures from Show and Tell. January Club sheets and garment photos can be found by clicking the tab above.
First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics
Jean Jacket Sew Along/Sewing Studio, Thursdays, January 8, 15, 22 and 29, 1:00-4:00
Sew-Serge-Fit, Thursdays, January 15, 22, 29, 10:00-12:00 or 6:00-8:00
After School Kids Sewing, Thursdays, January 15 and 29, 4:30-6:00
Special note about February Club Dates:
Saturday, February 7, 10:30 at Treadle – this is a change from usually meeting the second Saturday of the month.
Tuesday, February 10, 10:30 at Treadle
Thursday, February 12, 10:30 or 6:30 at First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics
Chanhassen Vacuum Center
Kids’ Sewing, Monday, January 26, 10:30-12:30, 1-3
Linda Lee’s Chicago Jacket
Jalie pattern
Walden Jacket from Collette
Lots of love and hard work from Mom
Happy New Year Everyone!
We hope you all are someplace warm and enjoying the sunshine (parked in front of the fireplace? space heater under your desk?)
Anyway, good intentions back in December went awry so here are show and tell pics from Fashion Sewing Club. The garment photos and Club sheets can now be found by clicking on the button above. Our first 2015 meeting will be in two days at Hancock Southtown. We have a few new things up our sleeves for both Treadle and Hancock groups. Hope to see you in the coming week!
PS-Upcoming classes appear on calendar. More complete listings will appear this weekend.
December Sewing
The first of the December Fashion Sewing Club meetings took place at Treadle Yard Goods on Tuesday. With Christmas quickly approaching we saw a fair amount of gift sewing.
There were coats for keeping warm-
Those quick sewists who had already sewn up purchases from Vogue at the Sewing Expo in November-
Sewing with old and new ideas-
And ideas from Club-one from November and one from December!
Also, check out Coletterie’s new online sewing magazine Seamwork
We’ll have Club at Hancock Southtown tomorrow at 10:30 and 6:30 and again at Treadle on Saturday at 10:30. I hope to have more inspiration to share with you (hint, hint, nudge, nudge)
October Club Photos
If you didn’t make it to Fashion Sewing Club last month-or you need a refresher, the photos and Club sheets have been posted. To see them, click on Club Sheets on the bar above and scroll down to October 2014 or click here.
We had great meetings and some new faces that even brought our average age down a bit! Thanks for coming everyone.
Here are a few highlights-
November Club meetings begin on Saturday at Treadle Yard Goods. We hope you’ve all been sewing up a storm and enjoying the amazing new fabric that has been arriving at Treadle. So hard to choose!
Here’s the November calendar:
November Fashion Sewing Club Dates:
Saturday, November 8, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods
Tuesday, November 11, 10:30 @ Treadle Yard Goods
Thursday, November 13, 10:30 or 6:30 at First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics
Classes:
Treadle Yard Goods: 651-698-9690,www.treadleyardgoods.com
Fall Knit Wardrobe-Yoga Jacket, Saturday, November 1, 2:00-5:00
Kid’s After School Sewing, Tuesday, November 4,11,18 and 25, 4:00-5:30
Sew It Fits: The Bodice, Tuesday, November 4,11, 18 and 25, 6:00-8:00
First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics
*Please register with Material Girls website or call us at 952-201-3863
Sewing Skill Builder, Mondays, November 10 and 17, 1:30-12:30 or 6:00-8:00
Basic Serger and Beyond, Mondays, November 10 and 17, 10:30-12:30 or 6:00-8:00
Sewing Studio, Mondays, November 10 and 17, 1:00-4:00
Kids After School Sewing Club, Mondays, November 10 and 17, 4:30-6:00
Sew It Fits: The Skirt, Thursday, November 13, 2:00-4:00
Sew/Serge Your Fall Wardrobe,-Luxe Sweatshirt, Thursday, November 20, 10:00-12:00
The Luxe Sweatshirt class may also be taken during our November evening sessions at First Sewing – if interested just let us know when registering.
Chanhassen Vacuum Center: 952-938-7838, http://www.chanvac.com
Kids’ After School Sewing, Thursday, November 6 and 20, 4:30-6:00
Kids’ Holiday Sewing, Saturday, November 22, 10:00-12:00
And don’t forget the Sewing and Quilting Expo, Nov. 13-15, at Minneapolis Ramada-new location. For more info, go to sewingexpo.com
September Club and Calendar
After a month of vacation from Fashion Sewing Club (but not sewing-lots of baby things to make 🙂 it was fun to go back and get the July photos posted from that month’s meetings. The lollipop and gift bag pictured about was the treats shared with the Saturday Treadle group by one of the attendees-so fun to be part of a celebration!
Looking forward to seeing everyone next week! We have the new calendar almost finished for the website so keep coming back if you don’t see what you are looking for.
Here’s the calendar:
Material Girls
September 2014 Calendar
http://www.materialgirlsewing.com
952-201-3863
September Fashion Sewing Club Dates:
Tuesday, September 9, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods
Thursday, September 11, 10:30 or 6:30 at First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics
Saturday, September 13, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods
* Fashion Sewing Club is $10 per month or you may subscribe for $35 for 4 months.
Treadle Yard Goods: 651-698-9690,www.treadleyardgoods.com
Basic Serger and Beyond, Tuesday, September 9, 23 and 30, 6:00-8:00
Duct Tape Double, Friday, September 12, 10:00-4:00
Sew It Fits Presentation, Saturday, September 13, 1:00-3:300
First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics, 952-884-1938
Sew It Fits Series , Thursday, September 11, 2:00-4:00
Basic Serger and Beyond, Monday, September 15, 22 and 29,10:30-12:30 or 6:00-8:00
Sewing Skill Builders, Monday, September 15, 22 and 29, 10:30-12:30 or 6:00-8:00
Sewing Studio, Monday, September 15, 22 and 29, 1:00-4:00
Sew/Serge Your Fall Wardrobe, (Wrap Dress) Thursday, September 18, 10:00-12:00 or 6:00-8:00
Bloomington /Richfield Community Education Classes, br.thatscommunityed.com
Basic Serger and Beyond, Thursday, September 18, 25, and October 2, 1:00-3:00
Class will be held at Richfield Center Education Center
Fashion Sewing Club Week Coming Up!
(Yes, Virginia, you are in the right place-the website format is new!)
Next week, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday (4/8, 10, 12), will be April Club meetings. The weatherman is calling for warm weather and we hope he’s right. As an added bonus for those of you attending the Treadle meetings, they are having a great sale to get everyone in the mood for the new season’s latest fashion sewing (we’re just a bit confused as to which it is-spring or a replay of winter-“winternity”?). The sale started April 3 and continues to April 13.
With spring comes spring cleaning and some of you were excited about doing a pattern swap so if you are cleaning out patterns, bring them to Club and see if anyone might want them. It can be pretty eye opening when you see what you thought you might have sewn one day…
![march 13 008_thumb[2]](https://materialgirlsewing.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/march-13-008_thumb2.jpg)
Here are three winners from the website Simple Simon and Co. Check out the link and see what they did with their contest for the ugliest pattern. We’ll post any that come close to these examples 🙂
I made the first delivery of Bags for Kids on Thursday at Carver County. There were 20 bags, 18 blankets and 23 toothbrushes! Thanks for the great response. There will be an opportunity to help finish up a few bags and blankets at Club meetings; any tubes of toothpaste would be appreciated.
Last month’s show and tell was fantastic at ALL meetings. We can’t wait to see what you’ve all sewn up for spring.
And a shout out to my tech support and marketing advisor-Thank you!!!
March Fashion Sewing Club Begins Today
We hope the thaw has warmed up your sewing machine and you are thinking of spring sewing. Just returning from Mexico means that you may see a few bare arms at Club this month.
Debbie and I will be at Treadle today, Tuesday, at 10:30 and then Southtown on Thursday, 10:30 and 6:30, and back to Treadle on Saturday at 10:30.
Here’s the March calendar and one more warm thought-
March Fashion Sewing Club Dates
Tuesday, March 11, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods
Thursday, March 13, 10:30 or 6:30 at First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics
Saturday, March 15, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods
Classes
Treadle Yard Goods: 651-698-9690,www.treadleyardgoods.com
Basic Sergery and Beyond, Tuesday, March 18, 6:00-8:00 (part 1)
Tuesday, March 25, 6:00-8:00 (part 2)
Tuesday, April 1, 6:00-8:00 (part 3)
First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics, 952-884-1938
*Please register with Material Girls website or call us at 952-201-3863
Sewing and Serging with the Material Girls
Monday, March 3, 10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00, 6:00-8:00
Monday, March 17, 10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00
Thursday, March 13, 2:00-4:00
Serger Club, (E-Shrug) March 20, 10:30-12:30
Chanhassen Vacuum Center: 952-938-7838, http://www.chanvac.com
Sewing and Serging with the Material Girls, Thursday, March 20, 1:30-3:30
Thursday, March 27,1:00-3:00
Kids After School Sewing, Thursday, March 20, 4:30-6:00
Thursday, March 27, 4:30-6:00
Highlights of February Fashion Sewing Club
Club sheets and garment photos have been posted but I thought I might give a more conversational overview-for more detail, you can go to the original sheets (click on Club Sheets heading above).
Debbie started out with a new KwikSew dress pattern (4026) 
The dress looks great-as Debbie said, “Lemons to lemonade”. Fabric is from Treadle Yard Goods.
My favorite this month was a combination of MCCalls 6884 and 6513.
and eliminated the vertical hem on the outer skirt by sewing it into the seam. Another essential change is to serge 1/4″ elastic in the the narrow hem on neck edge. This holds the neckline together and feels very secure.
I wanted a little more “noise” around my face so I compared McCalls 6513 to the dress pattern. The armhole was lower in 6513 and I really liked the fit of 6884 so I just copied the shirred neck and facing (all one piece) from 6513 and added it to 6884. Worked pretty much like a charm. The other great part about this wrap is that nothing shows when you bend forward!
I also had to give Burda 6990 a try. 
Check out more info on the Club Sheets or contact us if you have questions.
And thanks to all of you that attended and brought show and tell. Sew inspirational!!
February Fashion Sewing Club Begins Tomorrow
My apologies to anyone who received multiple emails or none at all. I will get it fixed.
In the mean time-here’s the content of the email some of you did or didn’t receive 🙂 Hope to see you at Club!
Dear Sewists,
Saturday morning at Treadle will start off the meetings for February. Hope to see you.
We have some fun classes this month-serger club will be making McCall’s 6844 cardigan which was voted by Pattern Reviewers as a Top Ten from 2013. You’ve seen three versions of this cardi at Club past meetings. Click here to see them again and come join us.
We’ve also started a Bag of the Month which can be made at any of our Sewing and Serging classes at Hancock or Chan. We will have the bags at the Club meetings or you can see them by scrolling down to the previous post.
And because we have been having lots of interest from the younger set, we are starting an After School Sewing class at both Treadle and Hancock, if you know anyone that would be interested.
February Fashion Sewing Club Dates
Saturday, February 8, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods
Tuesday, February 11, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods
Thursday, February 13, 10:30 or 6:30 at First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics
Classes
Treadle Yard Goods: 651-698-9690,www.treadleyardgoods.com
Sew It Fits Presentation, Saturday, February 8, 2:00-4:30
Basic Sergery and Beyond, Tuesday, February 11, 2:00-4:00 (part 1)
Tuesday, February 18, 2:00-4:00 (part 2)
Tuesday, February 25, 2:00-4:00 (part 3)
Kids After School Sewing Club, Tuesday, February 11 and 25, 4:30-6:00
Duct Tape Double, Saturday, February 15, 10:00-4:00
Cover/Chain, Tuesday, February 18, 6:00-8:00
First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics, 952-884-1938
*Please register with Material Girls website or call us at 952-201-3863
Sewing and Serging with the Material Girls
Monday, February 10, 10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00, 6:00-8:00
Thursday, February 13, 2:00-4:00
Monday, February 17, 10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00
Thursday, February 20, 1:30-3:30
After School Sewing Club, Monday, February 10, 4:30-6:00
Monday, February 17, 4:30-6:00
Serger Club (Sweater Knit Cardi), Thursday, February 20, 10:30-12:30
Chanhassen Vacuum Center: 952-938-7838, http://www.chanvac.com
Junior Project Runway, Saturday, February 22, 10:30-1:30
Sewing and Serging with the Material Girls, Thursday, February 27, 1:00-3:00
Kids After School Sewing, Thursday, February 27, 4:30-6:00
Kristin and Debbie
Material Girls
http://www.materialgirlsewing.com
952-201-3863
Material Girl Sewing 