Guaranteed to make you smile

and maybe even make a Halloween costume!

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The pattern comes from the book Playful Hoodies by Mary Rasch.

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We have a kids’ MEA sewing class tomorrow at Hancock so I had to make a sample.

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Start with a ready to wear hoodie, zip or not, some polar fleece scraps, and a little hand sewing.

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Great project for a beautiful afternoon!

If you’d like to make one as a class project, sign up for any Sewing Adventures class at Hancock (See Classes above) and we’ll help you and have the book.

A New Thread Tested

Some of you that serge may like to use Woolly Nylon thread to finish edges or make more visible stitching but that has been harder to find and if you iron it too much, it melts.
Some time ago, I saw an ad for Maxi Lock Stretch thread (on serger cones) but Creative didn’t carry it when I asked so I just forgot about it. But Joanne stopped by Hancock the other day and was singing its praises so I asked her to send me something to post on the blog.

Thanks to Joanne, I have this to share with you:

I used both Maxi-Lock Stretch and Wooly Nylon thread with a serged rolled edge application on my recent projects. The picture with the orange thread is the Maxi-Lock Stretch thread. One can easily see that the coverage far exceeds the Wooly Nylon.

Wooly Nylon
Wooly Nylon

Maxi Lock Stretch
Maxi Lock Stretch

I am sold! I love the fact that Maxi-Lock Stretch is available in 26 colors!! With these colors one has the option of purchasing matching Maxi-Lock Serger thread to get a professional look.
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The thread was purchased at Wawak.com. They have a low price guarantee, monthly sales, relatively quick shipping and they’ve been awesome to work with. I purchase most of my sewing supplies from them. Invisible zippers are an excellent buy too.

Joanne

Nancy’s Notions also carries the thread. It is made of nylon so I guess you still probably shouldn’t iron it directly but the look is definitely worth it.

Thanks very much for taking the time to share this, Joanne. If anyone else has something we all should know about, please send info to me and I’ll post it.

Fashion Sewing Club is back on Thursday at Hancock after a month’s break. Looking forward to seeing everyone-fall sewing, here we come!

August Club Photos and Review

New Treadle owner!
New Treadle owner!

Time to finish summer and move on with the year. August Club meetings were full of inspiration and fun. Show and Tell photos are below. August Club sheets and garment photos can be found by clicking here or on “Club Sheets” bar above. And speaking of moving on, the Treadle sale is now complete! Michele Hoaglund, long time employee, is now the owner; Mary can still be found at the store every once in a while. Michele got her feet wet quickly going on a buying trip to Vegas two weeks ago. We got a sneak peak at some of the fabrics coming this fall and loved what we saw. There are always new fabrics coming in-how fun to open packages weekly and see more new fabric! Best that I only get there once a week (if Michele is lucky 🙂

We won’t have Fashion Sewing Club meetings in September. Both Debbie and I have trips planned, Labor Day is late and September always seems like a regrouping/starting over month so we’ll see you in October. Don’t forget, we’re working on plans to hold November Club at the Expo so get sewing on a runway ready ensemble. Think Project Runway! (Are you watching this season?)

Classes will still be held in September at our Hancock Southtown and Treadle Yard Goods locations . Treadle classes are already on their website. Hancock Southtown classes will be on our website later today. Please let us know if there are classes you’d like to take but aren’t listed.

Without further ado, here is the show and tell teaser-sewists of all shapes and sizes pursuing their passion for fabric in many forms-we hope you’ll join us in the fun whenever and wherever you can.

V9108
Vogue 9108

V9108 close up back
V9108 close up back

Blouse in batik
Blouse in batik

Sewing Workshop San Diego jacket as vest(OOP)
Sewing Workshop San Diego jacket as vest(OOP)

Sheer blouse for vest
Sheer blouse for vest

Same pattern, different fabrics
Same pattern, different fabrics

Screen printing class work
Screen printing class work

Just in case you'd like to explore further...
Just in case you’d like to explore further…

Many of us know what it means to finally finish a quilt
Many of us know what it means to finally finish a quilt

Perfectly matched stripes
Perfectly matched stripes

One of several Minions
One of several Minions

Butterick 6180 Katherine Tilton skirt
Butterick 6180 Katherine Tilton skirt

And the sister skirt-Vogue 9060 Marcy Tilton
And the sister skirt-Vogue 9060 Marcy Tilton

Beautiful colors
Beautiful colors

Jalie Dolman Tops pattern
Jalie Dolman Tops pattern

Sleeveless Linen-bye, bye summer, you were sweet!
Sleeveless Linen-bye, bye summer, you were sweet!

Right on the Heels of June are July Club Photos!

What a beautiful summer we are having but the show and tell sewing definitely held hints of fall and all the magazines are tempting us with fall colors and fashions too. I intend to stretch summer out what with the late Labor Day weekend and all.

We are making one change to our August meetings-the Saturday group will be meeting on August 15 which is the third Saturday.
And speaking of a late Labor Day, we will not have Club in September.
There will be new calendars out and we will definitely be teaching classes. The dates and some travel just didn’t match up.

Here are the August Club dates and classes left in July:
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

Classes at Hancock
Basic Serger and Beyond, Wednesdays, July 29, 6:00-8:00
Beginning Sewing:Garment or HomeDec/Crafty, Wednesdays, July 29, 2:00-4:00
Sewing Studio, Thursdays, July 30, 1:00-4:00
Seasonal Sewing: Linen Pants/Tankini That Covers, Thursdays, July 30, 6:00-8:00

Kids’ Summer Classes at Chanhassen Vacuum Center, http://www.chanvac.com
Session 2: Tuesday, July 28, Wednesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 30, 10:00-12:00

Here’s what was being sewn in July:
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Floral_Blouse

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Everybody’s Sewing Underwear!

Sewaholic just put up another post of her beautiful underwear sets and I did give lace undies a try but decided it’s not for me. But then I got a picture of the twin grand boys playing with their new kitchen set wearing short sleeve collared shirts-and nothing else (I really wanted to post the picture but was afraid it was too risqué for the public domain)! Potty training time means my opportunity to try my hand at undies once again.

This time the pattern is from *that darn kat. A past Club attendee made them for her granddaughter who couldn’t say her “r’s” so I call them Unda-weahs too. Fun to put together with leftover knits and so cute!

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We’ve had fun with two Club meetings-our last June Club meeting is on Saturday at Treadle. Catch us if you can!

Our kids’ summer classes start next week too!

Happy Summer-Happy Sewing!!

Inspiration at JoAnn’s

Having said yes to adding padding to a prom dress,
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I needed supplies and headed over to the Yorktown JoAnn’s store. I found a great variety of padding
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and some awesome activewear knits. (It’s so hard to buy just one!)
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And then I ran into Clare LaFond! Some of you may know her from Fashion Sewing Club at Treadle but she’s been busy for the last couple of years. She has changed careers and attends Minneapolis Community Technical College in the fashion apparel area. The senior class fashion show, “Alchemy”, is this Thursday, May 7 at 7 pm. Here’s the link. Even if you can’t go, it’s fun to watch the video (you’re not in it, Clare!). And if you click on each designer you can also see a sample of their designs.
These are Clare’s-her inspiration is Frank Lloyd Wright architecture-
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Anyone remember her Dr. Who raincoat using Spoonflower to design her own fabric? I’m trying hard to clear my calendar to attend the show. It would be fun to get her to do a guest appearance at Club and see the designs up close and personal.

Send all of your speedy/no ripping/problem solving sewing karma to Clare as she sews down the home stretch to the show!

March Club Photos

March Fashion Sewing Club photos and sewing notes have been added to the website-click here or on menu above. Thanks to all who made up the pattern of the month. April’s pattern of the month is McCalls 7059. It’s a knit wardrobe pattern with a gored skirt, vest, jacket, tee and skinny pant. Try one or try them all. At Treadle we draw a name from those that have made the pattern for a $15 fabric gift certificate.
May’s pattern of the month is McCalls 7093-a woven top with lots of possibilities. Our intent is to see one pattern in several fabrics on several body shapes.

April-McCalls 7059
April-McCalls 7059

April McCalls 7059
April McCalls 7059
May-McCalls 7093
May-McCalls 7093

More Show and Tell-
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Leaving on a Jet Plane



Returning to Minneapolis just in time for Fashion Sewing Club on Tuesday, March 10, at Treadle Yard Goods. 

I’ll be wearing a slight tan with mixed pink and red patches and sporting some of the garments I wore on the trip. Pattern of the Month is McCalls 6796-plenty of time to stitch one up!

Fashion Sewing Club will also be at Hancock Southtown on Thursday, 10:30 and 6:30, and back to Treadle on Saturday at 10:30.

Our calendar for the week is:

Basic Serger, 3/10, Treadle, 2-4

Classic Blouse Sew Along, 3/12, Hancock, 1-4

Kids Sew, 3/14, Hancock, 1:30-3:30

Hope to see you-



More Show and Tell

First, a follow up from the last post. Barbara (below)
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sent a picture of the cuddly blanket that her sister embellished with jacket leftovers. Thanks, Barbara!
Judie Gift To Barbara
Next up, show and tell from our Saturday and Tuesday meetings-(I tried to remember pattern numbers…)

The cool wool fabric with the square holes!
The cool wool fabric with the square holes!

Sewing Workshop's Chicago  Jacket
Sewing Workshop’s Chicago Jacket
Headed to Hawaii
Headed to Hawaii
Vogue 1363
Vogue 1363
Sewing Workshop's Odette & Ivy
Sewing Workshop’s Odette & Ivy
Self drafted welt pocket!!
Self drafted welt pocket!!

Vogue 9035 Marcy Tilton
Vogue 9035 Marcy Tilton

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And last but not least, the Pattern of the Month photos! A few brave souls took us up on the challenge and made/modified the following versions of Vogue 9026.
Vogue 9026
Vogue 9026

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Saturday’s Show and Tell

I think we hit a record for attendance on a Saturday meeting for Fashion Sewing Club-twenty people!! Woohoo!

Our Saturday morning photographer (anyone interested for Tuesday or Thursday?) snapped these photos-but the real “heart warmer/sweetheart/valentine” story was that Barbara (pictured in the black wool coat below) and her sister, Judy, have been attending for at least a year now. Barbara made quite a few versions of a double sided quilted jacket but came in her newly sewn black coat on Saturday. Judy, unbeknownst to her sister, had made a soft cuddly blanket for Barbara and embellished it with all of the cotton scraps from Judy’s jackets. She unfolded it in front of Barbara for the first time at Club on Saturday! (We didn’t get a picture but I’d post it if one of them would send a photo-hint, hint). Those two sisters are a perfect example of how we can encourage each other to go beyond our previous sewing boundaries. And if your sister doesn’t sew, come to Club and meet a new sister to join you on your journey!

Thanks for all the “keep me on the email list” responses. Just doing a little housecleaning. You don’t need to do anything if we’ve seen you/talked to you in the last twelve months.

Tuesday and Thursday Clubbers-the gauntlet has been thrown!
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Jacket-Striped

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Pullover-Green