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

Highlights of February Fashion Sewing Club

Club sheets and garment photos have been posted but I thought I might give a more conversational overview-for more detail, you can go to the original sheets (click on Club Sheets heading above).

Debbie started out with a new KwikSew dress pattern (4026)

but cowls can be finicky. She didn’t like the look and I remembered a Threads article on making a cowl from a regular neckline-you just make slits from the neck toward center bust and open the slits. I suggested she just sew the “slits” together as pleats-kind of like Katherine Tilton’s new blouse (Butterick 6026).

Debbie used New Look 0180 as a guide.

The dress looks great-as Debbie said, “Lemons to lemonade”. Fabric is from Treadle Yard Goods.

My favorite this month was a combination of MCCalls 6884 and 6513.

I started with the wrap dress (6884)

and eliminated the vertical hem on the outer skirt by sewing it into the seam. Another essential change is to serge 1/4″ elastic in the the narrow hem on neck edge. This holds the neckline together and feels very secure.

I wanted a little more “noise” around my face so I compared McCalls 6513 to the dress pattern. The armhole was lower in 6513 and I really liked the fit of 6884 so I just copied the shirred neck and facing (all one piece) from 6513 and added it to 6884. Worked pretty much like a charm. The other great part about this wrap is that nothing shows when you bend forward!

I also had to give Burda 6990 a try.

Debbie made the funnel neck last month and I tried the big cowl-View E. It meant finding a 3 yd. piece of fabric in my stash but it was worth it! The fabric is a soft cotton knit and the cowl is big enough to stretch over my shoulders (like I see in the magazines :)) The cowl is sewn to a broad boat neck so no low neckline.

Check out more info on the Club Sheets or contact us if you have questions.

And thanks to all of you that attended and brought show and tell. Sew inspirational!!

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.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

I bought this stretch-sort of lace at Hancock with the intent to make a negligee for each of my daughters/in-laws. Had to do it today but only got two out of the fabric after a miscalculated cut.
Used this Kwiksew pattern

Bonus was the stretch lace that I bought in Salt Lake City and it matched perfectly!

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!!

February Fashion Sewing Club Begins Tomorrow

My apologies to anyone who received multiple emails or none at all. I will get it fixed.

In the mean time-here’s the content of the email some of you did or didn’t receive 🙂 Hope to see you at Club!

Dear Sewists,
Saturday morning at Treadle will start off the meetings for February. Hope to see you.

We have some fun classes this month-serger club will be making McCall’s 6844 cardigan which was voted by Pattern Reviewers as a Top Ten from 2013. You’ve seen three versions of this cardi at Club past meetings. Click here to see them again and come join us.

We’ve also started a Bag of the Month which can be made at any of our Sewing and Serging classes at Hancock or Chan. We will have the bags at the Club meetings or you can see them by scrolling down to the previous post.

And because we have been having lots of interest from the younger set, we are starting an After School Sewing class at both Treadle and Hancock, if you know anyone that would be interested.

February Fashion Sewing Club Dates

Saturday, February 8, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods

Tuesday, February 11, 10:30 at Treadle Yard Goods

Thursday, February 13, 10:30 or 6:30 at First Sewing, Bloomington Hancock Fabrics

Classes

Treadle Yard Goods: 651-698-9690,www.treadleyardgoods.com

Sew It Fits Presentation, Saturday, February 8, 2:00-4:30

Basic Sergery and Beyond, Tuesday, February 11, 2:00-4:00 (part 1)

Tuesday, February 18, 2:00-4:00 (part 2)

Tuesday, February 25, 2:00-4:00 (part 3)

Kids After School Sewing Club, Tuesday, February 11 and 25, 4:30-6:00

Duct Tape Double, Saturday, February 15, 10:00-4:00

Cover/Chain, Tuesday, February 18, 6:00-8:00

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, February 10, 10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00, 6:00-8:00

Thursday, February 13, 2:00-4:00

Monday, February 17, 10:00-12:00, 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00

Thursday, February 20, 1:30-3:30

After School Sewing Club, Monday, February 10, 4:30-6:00

Monday, February 17, 4:30-6:00

Serger Club (Sweater Knit Cardi), Thursday, February 20, 10:30-12:30

Chanhassen Vacuum Center: 952-938-7838, http://www.chanvac.com

Junior Project Runway, Saturday, February 22, 10:30-1:30

Sewing and Serging with the Material Girls, Thursday, February 27, 1:00-3:00

Kids After School Sewing, Thursday, February 27, 4:30-6:00

Kristin and Debbie

Material Girls
http://www.materialgirlsewing.com
952-201-3863

Bagging It

Taking a break from strictly garment sewing, we thought we’d try offering a Bag of the Month class for the new year. Here are the featured bags for January and February. Quick and easy with lots of design possibilities.

February Bag- Red Leather Purse-sonality — February Bag-
Red Leather Purse-sonality

You can make either or both of these bags by signing up for a Serging and Sewing class on the website at either the Chanhassen or Southtown location on the following dates in February. Just let us know you will be making a bag so we can bring appropriate supplies and samples.

Southtown
Mondays, Feb. 10 or 17, 10-12, 2-4, 6-8 pm
Thursdays, Feb. 13, 2-4, Feb. 20, 1:30-3:30

Chanhassen
Thursdays, Feb. 6 or 27, 1-3 pm

Who-who would like to make one of these bags?

Monday’s Classes Postponed-Rescheduled for Tuesday

Thanks to more really cold weather, we are postponing the classes today at Hancock but will reschedule them for tomorrow.
Serging and Sewing With the Material Girls will be held Tuesday, January 28th from 10-12, 2-4 and 6-8.

We will also have After School Sewing from 4:30-6 on Tuesday.

As always, please sign up on the website, call or email so we know you are coming (otherwise we won’t be there 🙂

Fashion Sewing Club Will Meet Today, Jan. 14

Weather is icky but that hasn’t stopped us before 🙂
Pictures will be posted as soon as possible for those of you that don’t want to brave the roads.
Be safe, everyone!
We will start a bit late to allow for travel time.

	Julie Tebay on Chicago Trip
	Diana Berg Berndt on Chicago Trip
	Bernard Graham on Frocktails!!!!
	Diana Berndt on April Garment Sewing-Wednesday…
	Bernard Graham on February Garment Sewing Group…

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