Summer Kids’ Classes

Thanks to Maja Beckstrom and the staff at St. Paul Pioneer Press, our sewing classes for kids have gotten some great publicity.

We still have a few after school kids’ classes available at Hancock/Southtown on May 12 and 19 from 4:30-6. Kids will choose projects according to their ability.

The summer camps will vary from five consecutive days in the afternoon or weekly in July at Treadle Yard Goods to two day camps in June and July at Hancock/Southtown and Chanhassen Vacuum Center. The summer camps are geared toward 8-12 year olds. Projects range from a beginning tote bag to sewing garment separates from a pattern. Skill level ranges from beginner to advanced beginner.

We also have 4 sessions of our Junior Project Runway class in Chanhassen. This is an ongoing class of sewists ages 13-18 who are ready to choose their own projects and sew with guidance-older beginners are also welcome.

Registration for classes at Hancock and Chanhassen can be done online on our website. To register for Treadle classes, please call 651-698-9690.

Please click on the Classes button above and use the drag down menu to choose the location of the class you are interested in. As always, please email materialgirlsewing@gmail.com or call 952-201-3863 with questions.

April Calendar, Easter Bags and ??

I knew that would get your attention 🙂
You just never know what you’re going to get at Show and Tell. The comment that made our day was, “If I wore those, my husband would have the big one…….I mean like heart attack!!”
This is a free pattern on Craftsy. Download link is here. Our sewist got her stretch lace at SR Harris for $.99 a yard. I think there is some at Joann’s too. She’s made a pair for herself (and loves them) and her niece. Maybe something to put in an Easter basket?

It’s our April bag of the month. Quick and easy to whip up and made inside and out from laminated cotton. Have fun making them at Chanhassen Vac Center on Thursday, April 17 or 24th, afternoons or evenings (see calendar below) or at one of our Sewing and Serging times at Hancock. Use your fabric or ours.

And then there’s the calendar:
April Fashion Sewing Club Dates:
Saturday, April 12, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods

Classes:

Treadle Yard Goods: 651-698-9690,www.treadleyardgoods.com
Kids After School Sewing Club
Tuesday, April 8, 22, May 6, 20, 4:30-6:00
Basic Sergery and Beyond, April 26, May 3, 10, 1:00-3:00

First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics
*Please register with Material Girls website or call us at 952-201-3863
Sewing and Serging with the Material Girls
Monday, April 14,10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00
Monday, April 21, 10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00, 6:00-8:00
After School Sewing
Monday, April 14, 4:30-6
Monday, April 21, 4:30-6
Serger Club, April 17, 10:30-12:30

Chanhassen Vacuum Center: http://www.chanvac.com
*Please register on Material Girls website or call us at 952-201-3863

Sewing and Serging with the Material Girls
Thursday, April 17, 1:30-3:30 or 6-8 pm
Thursday, April 24, 1:00-3:00 or 6-8 pm
Kids After School Sewing
Thursday, April 17, 4:30-6:00
Thursday, April 24, 4:30-6:00

Bagmaking

Monday was very productive at our Southtown Hancock site. Several people dropped by to sew, tie and leave their finished bags with us. We are at about 25 completed bags and two tied blankets.

Thanks very much to all of you involved in this project (see earlier posts if you are new to the site).

We will be working on bags/blankets again on Monday, March 31 at Southtown Hancock from 10 am-8 pm if you’d like to join us or drop off your bags.

Today (Thursday) is open for classes at Chan Vacuum Center from 1-3 pm and Monday at 10, 2 and 6 at Southtown Hancock. The first week of April we’ll be busy sewing garments for Fashion Sewing Club.

More Items in Bags For Kids

Sooooooo…
When I contacted the social worker who requested the bags she mentioned that the kids really loved the blankets.

Blankets? We didn’t do blankets. And then there were toothbrushes and toothpaste. We didn’t do that either.

But being a sucker for helping others, I am putting it out there to see if there are any Girl Scout groups or others who might be interested in buying, cutting and tying polar fleece blankets to put inside our bags or donate some toothbrushes and toothpaste.
It could be a great reason for a spring break party for kids and we would be happy to let another group make the delivery and see where the bags are going if you would like. I guess we are looking for a partner or two who would help us keep up the standards of the project without being too much at one time for one group.

It’s been 3 years since 40 bags were given to Carver County so we don’t have to get them all done at once. The response from all of you has been fantastic. At the time of this writing Nancy has sewn 6 bags, Pam picked up 4 and Barb 2. Lisa wants to make them and has enlisted her daughter, sister and niece and we have three people coming on Monday to work on the project.

Thanks so much!!

This Week’s Classes

March Serger Club

This month’s project is the E-shrug from Linda Lee’s Sewing Workshop. It is a downloadable pattern for $6 on her website. Quick to sew and a wardrobe staple.

Debbie used a melon colored knit from Treadle Yard Goods.

Serger Club meets this Thursday, March 20, at 10:30, Hancock Fabrics, Southtown.
Sign up on this website under Classes at Hancock above.

Bags For Kids Project

Several of you stopped by Hancock yesterday and picked up kits-thank you! We sewed a few together and realized that the directions were a bit confusing. The bottom line is a 24″ wide by 30″ tall bag with a drawstring at the top and a 12″ wide by 15″ tall pocket on the outside. Serged seams or french seams keeps it clean on the inside. If you use a 60″ wide fabric, the fold will be at the bottom and the selvages will be at the top so they can simply be turned over to the outside or inside and stitched down to form the drawstring casing. Very quick to put together. We can always add the drawstrings if you just want to sew the bags at home.
We will be at Hancock the next two Mondays if you’d like to come and sew. Finished bags can be dropped off at the First Sewing desk inside Hancock Fabrics at Southtown. Kits can also be picked up but please call us or email before you do so there will be a good supply for you. 952-201-3863 or materialgirlsewing@gmail.com

Basic and Beyond Serger at Treadle
We’ll be at Treadle tonight (6-8 pm) for a three part class to take you from threading your serger to whipping up a tee. Only two spots left…call Treadle to sign up 651-698-9690.

Sewing & Serging in Chanhassen
1:30-3:30 pm or 6-8 pm Chan Vacuum Center, Thursday, March 20
Make a bag, learn to serge, get fitting help, sew the E-shrug. You decide what you’d like to do.
Click on Classes at Chan Vac Center above to register for one of the classes.

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

The fashions are great at the Puyallup Sewing Expo 2014 and best of all, there isn’t any snow!!

From Roving Reporter Kay Dole-

Joining a “Sew Many Options Tour” with Marsha McClintock for the sewing expo has turned out to be a good decision. Lee, from the Saturday Fashion Sewing Club, did this last year and recommended it. My day started with a two hour bus trip from Portland and a winning ticket for one of the door prizes on the way. Now if only my luck would hold out for one of those new sewing machines being given out at the expo…….

Classes, fashion shows and shopping filled the day. A leather sewing class by Peggy Sagers was filled with new information including that you can wash leather in the washing machine. Who knew?

The first fashion show I attended was narrated by Patti Palmer of Palmer/Pletsch fame and featured patterns from McCalls, Butterick and Vogue. Lots of dresses which seemed to fall into two major categories: form fitting sheaths or twirly full skirted dresses. Most were sleeveless which is not always the most flattering for those of us of a certain age. Trends were described as including either brightly colored solids or water colored or splashy prints. Dresses with interesting details were also featured. Check out these pictures and see what you think.

Also, the fashion show by Marcy and Katherine Tilton was delightful. Their choices are always interesting and include styles we can all wear while still including some edgy items only for the brave. See a few pictures from their show.

I did find a few pieces of fabric while shopping at their booth. Also, if any of you follow the blog “Communing with Fabric”, its author, Shams, was shopping while I was there and we picked two of the same fabrics. She has good taste!

I found some things at Linda Lee’s booth as well as a new pattern from Louise Cutting. Diane Erickson has some beautiful new upcycled items that are fun to see. She is so creative and is using Tee Juice markers to draw and embellish items. I had to buy some to try.

All for now as I have to rest up for tomorrow. They are predicting some snow, just can’t seem to get away from it.

Color Coded Needles

Schmetz has finally made it easier to read sizes on their needles-color coding! No more squinting with a magnifying glass in the best light I can find.

My search started when I saw a reference to the Schmetz app in several sewing magazines. I downloaded the free app and found all the info about needle types and the new color coding. Informative but not very interactive. You can click to identify your favorite needles but you can’t keep an inventory or make a list of needles you might want to buy. One more app I don’t need cluttering my phone.

Then I looked at Hancock and Joann to see if they were carrying the newly coded needles (the app said they would be phased in at the end of the year as inventories allowed). Both stores carry the needles but there is no guide to the color code on the packaging. That means if I want to identify the random homeless needle sitting near my machine, I have to match its color to a package of needles of the same color-if I have any.

So I went to the website and looked around till I found a pdf with the information. Here’s the link if you’d like to print it out for your own reference.

NOW I’m going to go delete the Schmetz app from my phone.

Happy sewing and just in case you want to come sew/serge with us in March, here is the calendar-

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
Sew It Fits Skirts, Tuesday, March 11, 2:00-4:00 (part 1)
Tuesday, March 18, 2:00-4:00 (part 2)
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

Last of the February Bag

I must confess I’ve had a bit too much fun with this bag. We’ve had great feedback from it so that helps. I had to try a smaller version/different fabric which is the size of the purchased pattern (11″ x 11″ x 3″) and then one more large bag in a third fabric.

I like the smaller size for more of a “purse”. The blue fabric was thinner but still has good body and was easy to work with. The black and white webbing is fun-a bit wider but there isn’t much variety out there in a webbing that can accommodate the cording folded inside-which isn’t mandatory for the bag, just one way to do it.

The gray fabric of the larger bag is nice but turned out to be too thick to get under the serger. It has more of a sponge feel on the inside so it needed to be lined on the bottom (whereas I didn’t do that on the others that had a nicer wrong side).

The red faux leather fabric (see previous post) is sold out at the Southtown Hancock (I’d like to think that’s because of the Material Girls and their clientele ;)) but the black and white webbing, blue fabric, gray fabric and chevron lining is all available at Hancock. Can’t wait to reveal the March Bag of the Month!

Tomorrow (Thursday, Feb. 20) we will be at Hancock Southtown for Serger Club at 10:30 (McCalls 6844 cardi) and a 1:30 Sewing and Serging Class (at which you, too, could make a bag or whatever you please). Sign up through the website or email us.

Bagging It Update

We’ve had great feedback on the red bag and the great news is that Hancock still has the red faux leather PLUS a very dark brown and a more caramel brown color.

While browsing at Treadle on Tuesday, we found this fun, fun cotton that would be great for a lining.

And there are some webbings…

We can put together kits if you can’t join us at Southtown or would like some of the fabric from Treadle (I bought some 🙂
We already have two people making bags today at Southtown Hancock from 2-4 pm and our last February meeting of Fashion Sewing Club is also at Hancock today at 10:30 and 6:30. You could get inspired to sew clothes, make a bag and run errands or share a meal with someone TODAY!!

	Bernard Graham on February Garment Sewing Group…
	Frankie on February Garment Sewing Group…
	Julie Tebay on December Meetings Ended With N…
	Julie Tebay on October Garment Sewing Group…
	Diana on Final Photos for Septembe…

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