Last Chance For Kids’ Summer Sewing

…with the Material Girls, anyway 🙂

We’ve had a fun summer of sewing with the next generation of sewists. Treadle has been a younger group and Southtown has been predominantly teens and most afternoons we’ve had our maximum of six students!

Here are a few pics to share the creativity and hard work of these students-
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Our remaining August classes-click on the class title to go to online sign up-

Teen/Kids’ Weekly Sewing:
Thursdays, August 25, 10:00-12:00
Thursdays, August 11, 18 and 25, 4:00-6:00

Teen/Kids’ Sewing Camp:
Wednesday and Thursday, August 17 and 18, 10:00-2:30 (you may come only one of the days if you want)

If students want to make one of the projects listed, we will need to know so we can bring fabric and pattern otherwise a student may also work on a project of their own choosing. If the student is a new beginner, we will make a pillowcase and then move on as time allows.

Registration will close at 8 pm on Tuesday, August 17th for the two day camp. Weekly classes are open till the day before.

Our summer schedule ends August 25. We are working on fall classes. A weekly after school class will be offered and we are happy to schedule classes on school days off but there are many districts so if you send us a few dates we will work with them to schedule a class. Homeschool classes are also welcome.

Enjoy the last month of summer!

And goes out like a lamb

Or at least it feels quiet and peaceful and the temperature is warming up!

April is a new month and the flowers are on their way. I watched Peggy Sagers on her YouTube channel last night and was, as usual, inspired to get sewing for spring. She had a good overview of what the world says we should be wearing this season along with some sage advice on whether or not we need to wear it 🙂

Here’s our calendar for April. Hancock Fabrics will most likely be open for most of the month. We’ll keep you updated.

April 2016 Fashion Sewing Club Dates:
Saturday, April 9, 10:30 at Treadle
Tuesday, April 12, 10:30 at Treadle
Thursday, April 14, 6:30 at First Sewing Bloomington Hancock

Classes:
Treadle Yard Goods: 651-698-9690,www.treadleyardgoods.com
Design And Sew:
Saturday, April 9, 16 and 23, 1:30-3:30

Fit That Matters:
Tuesdays, April 12, 19 and 26, 6:00-8:00

Kids After School Sewing Club:
Tuesdays, April 12, 19, 26 and May 3, 4:00-5:30

Serger Workshop:
Saturdays, April 16 and 23, 10:30-1:00

First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics
*Please register in advance with Material Girls on their website or call us at 952-201-3863
Sew Studio:
Tuesdays, April 5, 19 and 26,12:00-3:00
Thursdays, April 7, 14, 21 and 28, 1:00-4:00

Beginning Sewing:
Thursdays, April 7, 21, and 28,6:00-8:00

Beginning Serger:
Thursdays, April 7, 21, and 28,6:00-8:00

Kids After School Sew Club:
Thursdays, April 7,14, 21 and 28, 4:30-6:00

Here are a few photos that have been waiting to be posted. So much creativity out there. Thanks for letting us be part of it!

First project :)
First project 🙂

Repurposing dad's jersey
Repurposing dad’s jersey

Not only did she learn to love sergers but she completed the Disney 5K in her Princess creation!
Not only did she learn to love sergers but she completed the Disney 5K in her Princess creation!

The family that sews together...
The family that sews together…

Some of my mom's old things...
Some of my mom’s old things…
..with all the embroidery silks still in the holder.
..with all the embroidery silks still in the holder.
Why we love our sergers!
Why we love our sergers!
Rub-a-dub-dub, four grand boys in a tub.
Rub-a-dub-dub, four grand boys in a tub.
The last snowstorm and who I spent it with :)
The last snowstorm and who I spent it with 🙂
Using up knit scraps
Using up knit scraps
Snowed in and happy to be
Snowed in and happy to be

Happy Spring Sewing!!

January Fashion Sewing Club begins Saturday

Happy 2016! Are you a resolution maker? Any of them pertaining to sewing? It’s always in the back of my mind but who is brave enough to say them outloud?

Anyway, Fashion Sewing Club 2016 begins tomorrow (Saturday, January 9)! Please notice that we have discontinued the Thursday morning meeting at Hancock Southtown for the winter. We apologize if that messes up your schedule, please let us know. If there’s a critical mass, we can start it up but the migration of the snowbirds leaves us with empty chairs.

January Fashion Sewing Club meetings-

Saturday, January 9, 10:30 am, Treadle Yard Goods
Tuesday, January 12, 10:30 am, Treadle Yard Goods
Thursday, January 14, 6:30 pm only, Hancock Fabrics, Southtown

The website is current with the new class offerings at Hancock and Treadle. We have had quite a few inquiries about sewing for school age kids. If after school isn’t an option we can always schedule something on a day there is no school so contact us if you are interested.

Here’s the January calendar. Hope to see many of you this month-stay warm this weekend! Click on Classes above for more info and registration.

Classes:

Treadle Yard Goods: To register call: 651-698-9690

Before You Buy a Serger: Saturday, January 9, 1:00-2:30
Kids’ After School Sewing: Tues., Jan. 12, 19, 26, Feb. 2, 4:00-5:30
Basic Serger and Beyond: Tuesdays, January 12, 19 and 23, 6:00-8:00

Hancock Fabrics, Southtown, Bloomington, First Sewing
*Please register in advance with Material Girls on our website or call us at 952-201-3863

Sewing Studio: Thursdays, January 7, 14, 21, and 28, 1:00-4:00
Tuesdays, Jan. 19, 26, 12:00-3:00
Sewing for Homeschoolers: Tuesday, January 19, 10-11:30 am
Kids’ After School Sewing: Thurs., Jan. 14, 21, 28, Feb. 4, 4:30-6:00
Beginning Sewing or Serging: Thursdays, January 14, 21 and 28, 6-8 pm

Happy November

Halloween is just behind us and busy holidays ahead. Here are more photos from the Playful Hoodies book. Definitely a keeper!

Frog that can read AND walk
Frog that can read AND walk

Cutest dragon
Cutest dragon

wings and tail
wings and tail

Goldilocks and the three bears
Goldilocks and the three bears

Unicorn horns
Unicorn horns

and tails
and tails
Bunnies
Bunnies

Would you like to make this?

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OR THESE?
-the pajamas-grandboys are a highly guarded family secret 🙂
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Then come to Fashion Sewing Club!

Tuesday, August 11, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods
Thursday, August 13, 10:30 and 6:30 at First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics
*Note change: Saturday, August 15, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods

This will be the last meeting of the summer-we won’t meet in September but we’ll be back in October. We will still have classes in September.

Hope to see you this week!

PS-there’s also one last opportunity for the school aged sewist, beginner to experienced. We have enough students to hold the class but would be happy to have more. Wednesdays, August 12, 19 and 26, from 10-1 pm at Hancock Southtown location.

What Are Your Kids Doing This Summer?

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Let the games begin! Three girls, three skirts, one pillowcase dress and a brand new sewing machine! We’re having fun at Hancock this week. More classes scheduled throughout the summer-

June 22 & 24, 10:30-3 pm, Chanhassen Vacuum Center
June 23, 30, July 7, 14, 3-5 pm, Treadle Yard Goods
July 15, 16, 17, 10-12 pm, Hancock Southtown
July 28, 29, 30, 10-12 pm, Chanhassen Vacuum Center
July 28, August 4, 11, 3-5 pm, Treadle Yard Goods
Young Designer Targeted at teen sewists, beginning to advanced or younger sewists with experience that want to go further in garment sewing.
August 5, 12, 19, 10-1 pm, Hancock Southtown
Sewing for Parents Who Want Their Kids to Sew We know you don’t need a new hobby but would like to be supportive of your budding sewist. What you need to know about how a sewing machine works and what your child “needs” to purchase along the way.
June 24, 6:30-7:30 pm, Southtown Hancock
Click on Classes in the bar above for more details and registration.
Need a Sewing Machine?
First Sewing (inside Hancock Southtown) is offering a great basic machine in conjunction with our summer classes.
It’s an Elna with everything you need to get started. There are more Sew Green machines but Bruce has a few of the Sew Zebras so they will go on a first come, first serve basis. Let us know which one you’d like. These machines are good for beginners of any age so we’ll offer them to the beginning adults also.
Material Girls strongly advises you to purchase machines from dealers as opposed to big box stores or Amazon/eBay. Private dealers will help you out with your machine, guarantee their work and most will allow trade-ins should you want to upgrade to a fancier machine.
Material Girls receives no commission on machines-we just want to see happy sewists!

New Summer Classes-Kids Too!

Looking to pick up a new hobby, learn a new skill or just sew a fun dress this summer? Need a new beginner machine? (Scroll down). We have a great line up of classes to offer you at Treadle Yard Goods in St. Paul, Hancock Southtown in Bloomington or Chanhassen Vacuum Center.

I’m going to highlight kids’ classes first because I’ve kept them waiting 😦

Summer Sewing-“Play” with your sewing machine and a variety of fabrics to create whatever you have in mind. Students will learn the how and why of constructing with various types of cloth and techniques to help them create on their own. Basic patterns for bags, stuffed animals, and garments will be available as jumping off points. Students are welcome to take several sessions as the projects are limited only by their imaginations. Beginner to advanced-always two teachers/small classes.

June 15, 16, 17, 1-4 pm, Hancock Southtown
June 22 & 24, 10:30-3 pm, Chanhassen Vacuum Center
June 23, 30, July 7, 14, 3-5 pm, Treadle Yard Goods
July 15, 16, 17, 10-12 pm, Hancock Southtown
July 28, 29, 30, 10-12 pm, Chanhassen Vacuum Center
July 28, August 4, 11, 3-5 pm, Treadle Yard Goods

Young Designer Targeted at teen sewists, beginning to advanced or younger sewists with experience that want to go further in garment sewing.
August 5, 12, 19, 10-1 pm, Hancock Southtown

Sewing for Parents Who Want Their Kids to Sew We know you don’t need a new hobby but would like to be supportive of your budding sewist. What you need to know about how a sewing machine works and what your child “needs” to purchase along the way.
June 24, 6:30-7:30 pm, Southtown Hancock

Click on Classes in the bar above for more details and registration.

Need a Sewing Machine?

First Sewing (inside Hancock Southtown) is offering a great basic machine in conjunction with our summer classes.
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It’s an Elna with everything you need to get started. There are more Sew Green machines but Bruce has a few of the Sew Zebras so they will go on a first come, first serve basis. Let us know which one you’d like. These machines are good for beginners of any age so we’ll offer them to the beginning adults also.
Material Girls strongly advises you to purchase machines from dealers as opposed to big box stores or Amazon/eBay. Private dealers will help you out with your machine, guarantee their work and most will allow trade-ins should you want to upgrade to a fancier machine.
Material Girls receives no commission on machines-we just want to see happy sewists!

New this summer is Serger Workshop. We have so many graduates of our Basic Sergery and Beyond (also being offered this summer at Treadle and Hancock Southtown) and are hoping that you are all making good use of you new tool but in case you need some ideas or handholding for either woven or knit projects, check out this class.

Fabric + Pattern=HELP!(Southtown) or Match Made in Heaven (Treadle)get further along the continuum of solving the persistent riddle of what fabric looks good in what pattern. Beginners to advanced-it’s always a tough question-we have lots of experience!

Design and Sew(Treadle) Translate what you like in RTW into your garment using available patterns (not always a straight line). Learn to see the basic elements of a garment/pattern and add the designer touches that make them unique.

Our Hancock Beginning Sewing class will divide into a Garment or Home Dec/Crafty path after basic machine knowledge is gained. Seasonal Sewing looks a lot like our Knit Wardrobe class of the past. Our topics for summer are tee shirt dresses/maxi skirts, linen pants/tankinis that cover and shirt dresses. Sewing Studio continues to meet Thursday afternoons from 1-4, the greatest deal for guided sewing around!

If you don’t see what you are looking for, we do private lessons.

Have a great summer-we hope sewing is part of it-with or without us!

New Classes for Young Sewists/Show and Tell

We’ve added three Saturday classes in addition to our after school classes for younger students at the Hancock Southtown location:
Saturdays, March 14, 28 and April 11.

Spring Break classes will be held on Thursday, April 2nd at Chanhassen Vacuum Center and Friday, April 3rd at Hancock Southtown. Students can choose from morning and/or afternoon sessions. Stuffed creatures will be our focus at Chanhassen while several options will be offered at Hancock because of the availability of supplies at the store.

For registration and more information click on Classes on the website.

Saturday is the last Fashion Sewing Club meeting for March. We’ve had fun at the first two-great attendance at the Thursday Hancock meetings!
Here’s a sampling of show and tell-FullSizeRender 2

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And Pattern of the Month-McCalls 6796
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The Younger Set is Sewing!

We’ve been having fun and meeting some wonderful girls and parents in our after school classes in Chanhassen and at Treadle (we’d love to do it at Southtown Hancock too, just haven’t gotten much interest yet…)

There are a few more opportunities before the end of the year-
Chanhassen-Thursday, Dec. 4th, 4:30-6-we’ll be sewing holiday stockings
Southtown Hancock-Friday, Dec. 5th, 4:30-6:30, holiday stockings or bags
-Monday, Dec. 15, 4:30-6, learn to sew or holiday sewing

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Log Cabin Pillows
Log Cabin Pillows

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Holiday Sewing
Holiday Sewing

Serious Learners
Serious Learners

First Kids’ Sewing of the Summer

We had such a good time getting to know two new girls and keeping up with one of our previous students-
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The girls made reversible summer tote bags and then played designers as they personalized the skirts that were sewn to ready to wear tees.

To join in on the fun (ages 8-12) you can register under Classes above.
Kids’ Camp in Chanhassen
Wednesday-Thursday, July 16, 17; 10:30-3 pm

Kids’ Camp II at Southtown
Wednesday-Thursday, July 23-24; 10:30-3

Kids’ Camp at Treadle Yard Goods, St. Paul
Monday-Friday, July 28-Aug. 1; 1:30-4:30

Kids Sew at Southtown
Mondays, August 4, 11, 18, 25; 10-12 pm