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)

KS4026
KS4026
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).
Butterick 6026
Butterick 6026
Debbie used New Look 0180 as a guide.
New Look 6184/0180
New Look 6184/0180

IMG_0237The 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.

McCalls 6884
McCalls 6884
McCalls 6513
McCalls 6513
I started with the wrap dress (6884) IMG_0248and 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.
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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.

Burda 6990
Burda 6990
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.
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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

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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!

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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

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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.
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While browsing at Treadle on Tuesday, we found this fun, fun cotton that would be great for a lining.
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And there are some webbings…
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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.

Blue Take Along Tote
Blue Take Along Tote

Loaded Owl Version
Loaded Owl Version

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

January fits into February!
January fits into February!

Stash bags from leftovers
Stash bags from leftovers

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

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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 🙂

Treadle Article in St. Paul Paper

Just in case you haven’t heard about Treadle Yard Goods being for sale, there is a great article in the paper-here’s the link.

And while we’re on the subject-a few questions to think about:

How important is it to you to touch and feel the fabric you consider buying?

How important is the St. Paul address for Treadle-do you walk to the store or drive a distance anyway?

How important is it to you that there is a local store that carries quality garment fabric?

I realize this is nowhere near the importance of a professional sports team but in the world of sewists, not having a great store in a major metropolitan area is a disappointment, to say the least. Let’s all think inside and outside the box and see if there’s a great idea floating around out there that can be a good solution.