Category: Uncategorized

A New School Year-A New Location

We are grateful to First Sewing for having allowed us to teach at their new location across from Schuler Shoes but we missed not having fabric, patterns and notions available while we taught classes. So we approached Joann Fabrics at Yorktown in Edina (across from Target) and they are very excited to have us teaching classes there!
There are a few kinks to work out but we will be offering our usual Sew Studio (now called Sew Social) on Thursday afternoons from 1-4 pm and After School Sewing from 4:30-6 beginning September 8th.

Fashion Sewing Club will also have its Thursday evening meetings at Joann beginning this Thursday, September 8th at 6:30. The classroom is in the back of the store just to the right of Framing. You will still pay Material Girls for Club.

Debbie and I will also teach Joann classes (Beginning Sewing, Lazy Day (pj) Pants, Pullover Knit Top, that are offered nationally. These classes should be registered for through Joann online or in a store.

We hope you aren’t inconvenienced too much. We’ll all have a little more elbow room too!

And, of course, we are still teaching at Treadle Yard Goods. Here’s a link to the new class schedule.
Fashion Sewing Club meets at Treadle on Saturday, September 10 and Tuesday, September 13.

News You Need to Know!

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Sometimes that’s just what sewing brings us to, but here are a few bright ideas to get you through the tough times-
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FINAL FOUR days of Treadle’s Summer Sale!!! Stop by this weekend and pick up some great fabric at 10-50% off.
Sale goes through Monday, August 8th.

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Can’t find the color of thread you are looking for? Order this thread sample folder and always have all the colors at the ready. Then order from Wawak-
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Joanne has had great success ordering from them-speed of shipment, great selection, etc.

May Sew and Tell

May did not disappoint-our first showing on Saturday was an authentic ball costume and she really did go to Versailles AND made a costume for her husband also. We are waiting for details…

Take me to Versailles
Take me to Versailles
Another version of Butterick 6254-Tilton coat
Another version of Butterick 6254-Tilton coat

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Drafted from ready to wear
Drafted from ready to wear

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Dusters are in! Try Simplicity 8059
Dusters are in! Try Simplicity 8059
Florence Shirt from Sewing Workshop Patterns
Florence Shirt from Sewing Workshop Patterns
Fell in love with the fabric
Fell in love with the fabric
Claire's custom design for mother of the bride
Claire’s custom design for mother of the bride

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Vogue 8934
Vogue 8934
Fabric with pleats skirt
Fabric with pleats skirt
Door prize fabric made into shift dress
Door prize fabric made into shift dress
Hand silk screening
Hand silk screening
Butterick 6325
Butterick 6325
Pants-Vogue 8859
Pants-Vogue 8859
Christening romper
Christening romper
Christening dress with removable skirt
Christening dress with removable skirt

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We can’t wait to see what everyone has been sewing for June.
Club meetings are:
Thursday, June 9, 6:30 at First Sewing, Bloomington
Saturday, June 11, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods
Tuesday, June 14, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods

Summer Classes Almost Done

Our last May Sewing Studio will be held on Thursday, May 26, from 1-4. The new summer calendar is on the website, mostly complete except for PayPal buttons. They should be ready before the holiday weekend. We’ll be back with more descriptions and info about the new classes for summer.
Are you watching the Great British Sewing Bee? I had no idea they were on Season 4 already. YouTube is the only way I know of watching-there have been 2 episodes. Here’s a blog that adds extra content to the episodes.

Soon…

Deadlines and fixes

First-very sorry about the links at the bottom of your last email if you are a subscriber 😦 My tech advisor tells me it’s fixed and that it didn’t hurt anything-just made it easier for all of you to find the drugs you probably aren’t looking for anyway (blush).

Second-if you want to go to the Pattern Review Weekend in Chicago, today is your last day to sign up (March 31). We’ll be there!!

Third-Hancock is closing more quickly than we thought AND a pretty good source says that the whole company is closing-no one wanted to buy. So you’ll see the three remaining stores start discounting soon.

So if you want to take a class this month it should be sooner rather than later. The calendar is on the post previous to this one.

Also the patterns at Southtown Hancock are at very good prices and there are many in stock (I was the only person on my knees going through the drawers). Sewing notions are literally gone but fabric can still be found at 50% off (and more).

We’ll be in the classroom from 10-4 today so stop by and say hi if you are at the store. Looks like another great grey day for sewing!

December Happenings

First off, we finished two fun kids’ classes:

Sewing for Homeschoolers at Southtown Hancock/First Sewing
Sewing for Homeschoolers at Southtown Hancock/First Sewing
After School Sewing at Treadle
After School Sewing at Treadle

Second, we’ve decided to discontinue our Thursday morning Fashion Sewing Club at Hancock Southtown due to the migration of Snow Birds!

January 2016 FSC Dates:
Saturday, Jan. 9 at 10:30,Treadle
Tuesday, January 12 at 10:30, Treadle
Thursday, Jan. 14, 6:30, First Sewing/Southtown Hancock

Third, the Club sheets and photos for December have been posted and the links to the napkin fold and bow tying pop right up-very cool!
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And finally a sampling of the inspiring show and tell garments-

Cute toddler skirt
Cute toddler skirt
Copy of a spendy vest in green wool
Copy of a spendy vest in green wool
Holiday bling-you may have seen this fabric at the Expo-Vogue booth-sequins are two sided!
Holiday bling-you may have seen this fabric at the Expo-Vogue booth-sequins are two sided!
One seam pj pants for the whole family-Simplicity 8022
One seam pj pants for the whole family-Simplicity 8022
Embellished boiled wool jacket
Embellished boiled wool jacket

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A new attendee wore a vest from her own pattern line-
A new attendee wore a vest from her own pattern line-
Rebecca Ruth Designs
Rebecca Ruth Designs
And prototypes of her latest project
And prototypes of her latest project
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KwikSew 4135
KwikSew 4135
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West End Pant (sorry, not much contrast)
West End Pant (sorry, not much contrast)
Tremont Jacket from Sewing Workshop
Tremont Jacket from Sewing Workshop
Opal Jacket Sewing Workshop
Opal Jacket Sewing Workshop
OOP Marcy Tilton Jacket
OOP Marcy Tilton Jacket
Sewing for men-doesn't anybody make a modern fit raglan tee pattern??
Sewing for men-doesn’t anybody make a modern fit raglan tee pattern??
Custom drafted coat
Custom drafted coat
Soho Coat Sewing Workshop
Soho Coat Sewing Workshop
Katherine Tilton's Darted Blouse in a lightweight wool-on the bias!
Katherine Tilton’s Darted Blouse in a lightweight wool-on the bias!

Happy New Year everyone! We look forward to seeing you in 2016!!!

First day at the Expo

It’s so nice to be back in Bloomington for the Expo-space, natural light, parking.

U of M Design School has an exhibit.

  
We’re seeing lots of familiar faces. Our “fashion show” had almost 50 attendees.  

Shopping is good-lots of our favorite notions. Treadle brought out some great new things and if you spend $50 you get $10 off when you come into the store.

  

Debbie and I are off to a class to learn how to pad these very cool dress forms. 

Hope you can make it-we have our show Friday at 2:30. 

We’ll be at Southtown at 6:30 tonight (Thursday) and 10:30 on Saturday at Treadle for Fashion Sewing Club. 

November Club Dates and October Photos

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First and most important, because it’s happening next week:

NOVEMBER FASHION SEWING CLUB/SEWING AND QUILTING EXPO

Tues., Nov. 10, 10:30 am at Treadle Yard Goods as usual

Thurs., Nov. 12, 11:15 am at Sewing and Quilting Expo at “The Spot”
Doubletree Hotel, Blmgtn.
78th & Normandale (Hwy. 100)

6:30 pm at Southtown Hancock as usual

Friday, Nov. 13, 2:30 pm at Sewing and Quilting Expo at “The Spot”
Same presentation-please stop by with Show and Tell!

Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:30 am at Treadle Yard Goods as usual

“The Spot” is the location where we will be presenting. Look for “Wake Up Your Inner Fashionista” in your programs.

Meetings at the Expo will be free, no sign up required.

Treadle will have a booth with some exclusive-to-the-Expo fabrics!

Lots of opportunities to be inspired and show us what you’ve been sewing.

And speaking of inspiration-
October club sheets and garment photos have been posted (click on Club Sheets above). Here is a sampling of what we saw at Club meetings in October:

Burda 6847
Burda 6847

Jalie Raglan tee
Jalie Raglan tee

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Zona jacket
Zona jacket
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Soho Coat Sewing Workshop
Soho Coat
Sewing Workshop

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Left-V9060 Right-Butterick 6180
Left-V9060
Right-Butterick 6180

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Silk tie teddy
Silk tie teddy
Vogue 9089
Vogue 9089
Light and Shadow Cutting Corners Patterns
Light and Shadow
Cutting Corners Patterns
New Look 6323
New Look 6323
New Look 6323
New Look 6323
Ikina or Plaza Jacket Sewing Workshop
Ikina or Plaza Jacket
Sewing Workshop

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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.