Questions from September Club Meetings

Another month of club meetings is done. We had 75 people attending this month! Thanks so much. There were lots of questions unanswered at the meetings so I’ll try to answer them here.
Lorna Hoffman’s white shirt was KwikSew pattern #1951-it is out of print.
Linda Burt’s handbag pattern was Vogue #8527-the wrap she suggested was Vogue #7161. Laurel’s vest pattern (it matched the pants) was Burda #8296. A great online source for elastic and Do-Sew (tracing paper)is www.sewsassy.com. Laurel’s “Waistband That Grows” can be found in More Power Sewing by Sandra Betzina. A similar waistband technique can be found at sewingtutorial.blogspot.
Watch for new class listings and two more Fashion Sewing Club dates. I hope you are all working on “Show and Tell” projects for October.

So much to see, so much to do

Where do I start? Well, in honor of Fashion Week I saw September Issue on Sunday at the Landmark Theatre in Edina (it’s also at the Regal in Eagan. It’s the documentary paralleling Devil Wears Prada. I had to go to the library to find the ’09 September Vogue to see if Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington are still there-they are. Shows how much I know… But I liked the movie and gained a new appreciation for the magazine. The fashions and people in the magazine are way beyond most of us but the design and photography it represents is an art form itself (in my humble opinion).
Then I picked up the Aug/Sept. SEWnews and it has a great serger shopping guide which would be helpful for any of you out there in the serger market.
Which brings me to the best place to shop for a serger (or many things sewing, for that matter)-the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo. We will have a booth(!!!) at the Expo (Nov. 4-6) and hope to see many familiar and many new faces. Seriously, at the Expo you can sit down in front of different machines with your list of questions and go from booth to booth to compare and make an informed decision. Or better yet, take a serger class in one of the studios and then you’ve really gotten your feet wet and can go to the other sergers for comparison.
OK, off my serger soapbox now. The Expo people and Hancock Fabrics are trying to make it easier to get downtown by having a coach bus at the Southtown, Woodbury, Minnetonka and Coon Rapids locations on Thursday and Friday. Check it out and reserve your seat.
That’s all for now-we have three Fashion Sewing Club meetings this week at Associated Sewing in Bloomington. Will I see you?

Upholstery Advice Wanted

One of our readers has acquired a wingback chair and has never tackled this kind of project before. She’s looking for a little handholding by phone or email or some good book or class suggestions. Anybody out there have any ideas?
Please click on Comments after this post and share what you will or read what others have offered.
Thanks!

Busy Sewing

With the first Club meetings starting next week, all three of us have been busily sewing away. It’s a nail biting process but hopefully all of us are enjoying the beautiful Labor Day weekend. A few things have been added to the site-Bios Page, Debbie’s Classes, another meeting for Club at Associated in St. Paul and a few new websites to visit (see Blogroll).
Hope all of you are working on a Show and Tell project. See you in the upcoming two weeks.

MN Fashion Week, Anybody Been There?

Thanks to Laurie’s comment about MN Fashion Week I went looking for more info.  MN Fashion Week is September 21-September 27.  The website has the complete schedule.  It looks a bit barebones (the appearance of the calendar) but if you click on the event you get all you need to know.  What I can’t tell you is what the events are like.  I’ve never been.  It looks like fun but my biggest question is-who goes?  Is everyone between the ages of 18 and 30 and skinny as a toothpick?  I’m guessing not but I’d go with more confidence if someone out there could reassure me.  The pictures I found were all of the models-no confidence there:)  So please, leave a comment and inform the uninformed-me!

Sewing and Quilting Expo on the Calendar

It had been at the back of my mind as a way to publicize Fashion Sewing Club and then this morning in my email, there was the catalog for the 2009 Sewing and Quilting Expo.  Dates are November 4-7.  I scrolled through the classes and noticed that Peggy Sagers will be at the event.  She’ll be offering a class on her SWAP (Sewing With a Plan) idea among others.  The event is at the Minneapolis Convention Center (guess they didn’t hear all the complaints-BUT they’ve added a coach service from the Hancock stores in Minnetonka, Bloomington, Woodbury and Coon Rapids.  It looks like it’s $15 each day.   Hope to see you there.

New to our Blog/Website?

I don’t mean to insult anyone but if you are new to blogs (which are just a subset of websites) I want to make sure you understand how they work.  A blog allows us to talk to you and vice versa-without an email.  The most recent post (latest thing we have to say) is the first thing you’ll see.  The first or oldest post is at the bottom of the page.  So if haven’t seen this site before, scroll down to the very first post and read up the page in order.  You’ll only have to do this once and then just catch up on the latest post each time you visit the site (which we hope is often).  And don’t forget to leave a comment so we know what you’re up to!

Memberships to Begin in October

Tired of the monthly fee collection?  So are we.  So beginning in September you can pay for the months of October, November and December for only $25 (you save $5).   We’ll have your nametag printed out and you can just walk in, pick up a preprinted nametag and have a seat.  All fees will go through Material Girls and we’ll get it online as soon as we can.

This membership will be good only for October-November-December when the membership will expire.  So you can pay for this membership during any September or October meeting, after that you’ll have to pay monthly.  Another membership offer will begin in January.  If you miss a Club meeting and have a membership we will send you the Club sheets free at your request.  Previous Club sheets are available for $3.

We have dates and locations for September!

It feels like fruit basket upset but here are the dates and times for September Fashion Sewing Club meetings.  The content is the same each time, only the times and locations change to help fit into your schedule.  We’re trying to get a set time (ie. second Thursday) but need to work with what’s available.  Let us know what you think.  Leave a comment.

Please email and let us know where you’ll attend as there is limited space and we don’t know what to expect yet.  At this point we can’t take payment online but we’re working on it.  Thanks!

See you in September!

Associated Sewing at 95th and Lyndale

Tuesday, September 15 at 6:30 pm
Thursday, September 17 at 10:30 am
Saturday, September 19 at 10:30 am

Treadle Yard Goods at Hamline and Grand

Tuesday, September 8 at 6:30 pm
Saturday, September 12 at 1 pm

To register email khenak@mchsi.com