We’re back!!
You are looking at the new and improved Katie and Kristin. Standing between us is Elaine Stoltz who was our teacher and makeup artist for four days. We learned so much but have to wait for our color swatches before we can start practicing our friends and families 🙂 You’ll know when we are ready!

So we are scrambling to get ready for Fashion Sewing Club tomorrow at Treadle. We hope to see lots of you Tuesday or Saturday and because of the great turnout, we will return to SR Harris in Burnsville on Thursday, April 19 at 10:30.

Here is the calendar for April. Hope I won’t be late Tuesday as putting on more makeup than I’m used to takes time! The pressure….

April 2018 Fashion Sewing Club:

Tuesday, April 10, 10:30 and 6:30 at Treadle
Saturday, April 14, 10:30 at Treadle
Thursday, April 19, 10:30 at SR Harris, Burnsville

Classes at Treadle Yard Goods, St. Paul
Sewing Kids Clothes, Tuesday, April 17, 1:00-4:00
Unlined Outerwear, Tuesdays, April 17, 24 and May 1, 6:00-8:00
Serger-Basic and Beyond: Tuesdays, April 24, May 1, 1:00-4:00

Classes For Kids at Treadle
Kids After School Sewing: Tuesdays, April 10, 17, 24 and May 1, 4:15-5:45

Classes at Edina Yorktown JoAnn
Sew Social, Thursday, April 12 and 19,1:00-4:00
Learn To Sew, Monday, April 16, 5:30-8:30
Serger Down and Dirty, Monday, April 16, 1:00-4:00
Serger Bells and Whistles, Monday, April 23, 1:00-4:00
Three Seam Pillowcase, Monday, April 23, 5:30-8:30
Learn To Sew With Interfacings, Monday, April 23, 6:00-8:00
Comfy Pant, Monday, April 30, 5:30-9 pm

Classes For Kids at Edina Yorktown JoAnn
Kids After School Sewing, Thursday, April 12 and 19, 4:30-6:00

Our trial event at SR Harris had 27 attendees!! Talk about not enough chairs and thanks to our regulars that also showed up to support us. It was so overwhelming, I couldn’t figure out how to get photos of show and tell. We’ll be ready for next month-we’ll be at SR Harris/Burnsville on Thursday, April 19 at 10:30 along with our regularly scheduled Treadle times-Tuesday, April 10 at 10:30 and 6:30 and Saturday, April 14 at 10:30.

Two things to pass on from SR Harris show and tell: a link for hemming napkins-almost guaranteed simple and fun?
And check out the Genevieve Jacket from StyleArc-

Three asked-about topics from Treadle meetings were:
1. The style guidelines we are featuring every month from Triumph of Individual Style. It’s hard to buy the book but this link will get you an e-copy for $19.95 along with the instructor’s guide.

2. “Design Your Own Wardrobe” 4 week course from Seamwork. Looks like they’ll offer it twice yearly. Check it out here.
3. Printing PDF patterns-here’s an online source that will ship to you (even says “pattern printing” on the main menu). And Pattern Review now offers to print any PDF pattern you order from them for $4.50 (or $4.05 for members). Great deal!!

Exciting news in the Material Girls’ World! This week, Kristin and I are training to become certified color analysts.

Long gone are the days of the four season color plan. The majority of people don’t fit strictly into these categories. Many are a combination of cool and warm. A nuanced approach is often necessary when taking personal color contrast into account. It’s not uncommon for an ideal color to change as a person ages. These are some reasons why Kristin and I want to add this service to our toolbox.

My color journey began with Nancy Nix-Rice, a certified consultant from St. Louis. She identified tones in my skin, eyes, and hair and provided a custom color palette to enhance my personal coloring. I was blown away by the impact for the following reasons:

1. I look so much better! People have noticed that I sparkle and look younger when wearing my ideal colors.

2. Shopping for fabric is streamlined. Focusing on fabric ideal for me saves time. I simply bypass numerous gorgeous bolts better suited for someone of different coloring.

3. Use of a color palette increases my ability to mix and match successfully. When the color palette is based on innate personal coloring, wardrobe pieces go together.

My color journey has convinced me that no matter how cute the pattern, or how well its sewn, I’ll always look best when sewing my personal best colors.

We know how great it feels to love what we sew. Our goal is that you’ll love your results too.

Just wanted to catch up with what we’ve (and some of you) have been sewing-
First, Sewing Kids’ Clothes at Treadle:

After School Sewing at JoAnn and Treadle:

Sew Social/Workroom Social

And then a bit of stashbusting/saving favorite fails from final banishment

I must confess that the dots look very “Lite Brite”-ish-do You remember that toy?
And now it’s time to get serious about Fashion Sewing Club garments-looking forward to seeing what you’ve created!

I know-waaaaay past that! But I had the idea and need to let it go to move on with…spring?
OK, Valentine’s Day? Easter?
Anyway, the sewing that got done over Christmas-hope it inspires you to finish some UFO’s and bust some stash.

A few numbers missing…maybe next year 🙂

Just finished putting January Fashion Sewing Club on the website and thought I’d put it here on the blog for a change. You can still find it above on the menu bar under “Club Sheets and Garment Photos”. It also shows Katie, our new Material Girl! She debuted on Saturday and we are glad her family is healthy again.

Enjoy-
Material Girls Fashion Sewing Club

January 2018

Debbie’s Garments

Contemporary Couture Jacket

Vogue 7975, View C

Wool Tweed with Silk blend lining.

Resources:The Contemporary Couture Jacket Class by Angela Wolf on Pattern Review and

Kathryn Brenne’s tutorial , The Classic CardiganJacket on Emma One Sock.

I have always been intrigued by the Chanel Jacket so on a cold winter day when the Angela Wolf class went on sale I signed up and am so glad I did.

This is my muslin, a work in progress. I have tried a variety of techniques from both resources. None have been difficult but sometimes challenging. I did not: interface, use a 3 piece sleeve or make bound buttonholes. I did put in a sleeve head. I would like to finish this jacket by the next club. My ultimate goal someday is to find the perfect fabric and make another jacket, this time with 3 piece sleeves etc. This experience has been a Lionel Richie, Easy Like a Sunday Morning, for me – my happy place!

Stripe Tunic

New Look 6439, View B, Jersey Knit

1. The pattern does not give a fit description so I compared my measurements to pattern and went down a size. It is made to pattern – fun, easy and quick sew.

Ruffle/Flounce Tunic

McCalls 7122, View A, Rayon/lycra knit

1. This is a TNT pattern that can be adapted for many looks.

2. To create ruffle/flounce, measure the length of the front at sleeve placement from armhole to neck edge. My length was 9 inches. For an easy formula, subtract one inch, and divide by 6. For example 9-1 = 8, divided by 6 is about1.3. see diagram to create pattern from your measurements.

3. Cut two ruffles from main fabric and two from contrast fabric to avoid ws of main fabric showing. Place ws of main fabric ruffle to ws of contrast. Baste ruffles to front at sleeve area.

4. Continue sewing tunic as pattern directs.

Katie’s Garments

Charlie Bomber Jacket

Jalie 3675

Stretch Woven/Wool Knit/ Bemberg lining

1. Decided to quilt fabric before cutting out pattern pieces. Wanted more warmth. Used cotton batting and rayon lining.

2. The single welt pocket went together easily. Used masking tape to get proper width of the welt for a more professional look.

3. Cut leather appliques and rhinestone template using my cutting machine.

Jalie Raglan T shirt

1. Sewn to pattern.

Christine Johnson Patterns 905- Fitted jacket

Stretch woven blend

1. Rounded/reshaped the collar, lapels and hipline to give jacket a softer/more flattering look.

2. Shortened jacket by 4-5 inches to hit at a more flattering spot.

3. Would highly suggest using extra stabilizer when sewing buttonholes in any fabric with stretch.

Sewaholic Hollyburn

1. This is my go-to flared skirt patterns. Flattering, functional (pockets) and easy to sew.

2. Used invisible zipper for a cleaner look.

3. Shortened by 2 inches.

Simplicity 1589

1. Sewed per pattern.

Angela Wolff Ruche T-shirt

Cotton lycra for outer layer and french terry underneath

1. Raised neckline by 2 inches to hit at balance point and widened significantly.

2. Underlined front, back and sleeves with contrasting fabric.

3. Sewed narrow zig-zag stich between cuts to keep layers neat and together.

4. Test fabric to ensure it curls. Some fabrics that work well are: jerseys, cotton-lycras, French terry, sweatshirting.

5. Let your creative juices run wild and have fun with this technique!

Kristin’s Garments

Sweaters

Simplicity 8529 View B, Blue sweater knit

1. Funnel neck sewn as a wrapped seam. Leaves a bit of a bump depending on thickness of fabric but looks nice and no need for second step of stitching two layers together.

2. Funnel neck narrower and higher than Toaster. Dropped shoulder/dropped underarm-both 4” longer than Toaster.

3. Didn’t use bands for sleeves/hem.

Toaster Sweater/Sew House Seven, Red Missoni sweater knit

1. Used funnel neck from Simplicity version but set in sleeve from Toaster.

2. Followed original Toaster technique for funnel neck because of bulk of knit.

3. Faced hem with ponte to reduce bulk/add stretch retention.

Burda 6990 Funnel neck tee

StyleArc Taylor Knit Skirt, Heavy cotton interlock

1. Shortened 4”.

2. Used a basting stitch for slit, topstitched, then ripped basting stitches.

3. Pattern has lines for stripes but can also cut out on straight of grain.

February 2018 Fashion Sewing Club

Saturday, February 10 , 10:30 at Treadle

Tuesday, February 13, 10:30 and again at 6:30 at Treadle

Happy Fall, Halloween, Almost Winter, Daylight Savings Time and don’t forget the Expo is next week!!
Whew! Here we are again-almost time for November Club meetings. Here are the important dates and times:

Sewing and Quilt Expo– November 9-11 on the Expo Stage (same place as last year)
We’ll be presenting Fashion Sewing Club and would love to see you and your latest creations.
Thursday, November 9 at 11:15 am
Friday, November 10 at 4 pm
Saturday, November 11 at 10:30 am
Come every day if you’re there, even if it’s the same garment-audience will change?

November Fashion Sewing Club Dates:
Thursday, November 9 , 6:30, @ JoAnn-Edina
Saturday, November 11, 10:30,@ Sewing and Quilting Expo-hope you can come
Tuesday, November 14, 10:30 @Treadle

The Saturday Club meeting will be at the Expo-we felt we had to try to meet new people that are available that day. This is a change in plans, hope we don’t mess up any schedules!

Pre-registration ends November 5th so make plans!!

For your inspiration, here are the photos from October Show and Tell and the jacket that got sent off before some of you got to see it:

A big win for me as I got all seven Halloween jammies sewn,sent and received (without overnight shipping!) by yesterday!!

And the biggest win of all is that I got to see them all in their jammies via FaceTime. 

PS-we’re thinking of using sewing for kids as a format for classes-any interest? We bring fabric, go over technique and we all go home with clothes for kids.

PSS-Christmas is coming….

Thanks to everyone who made Tuesday’s Fashion Sewing Club a big hit. Here’s the pattern that I was wearing-a few of you asked-

I forgot to bring this catalog to Club but if this style appeals to you, I would highly recommend taking the time to go to the website and order the catalog. Line drawings, photo shoot locations, prints, colors…better than a fashion magazine and free! http://www.gudrunsjoden.com

And is there anything better than the proud smile on the face of a young sewist?!