September 10, 2009 – 12:45 pm
Did you know that September 10th is “Sew Be It” day? On this day in 1846, the sewing machine was born.
Look how far we’ve come since that great invention!
September 8, 2009 – 1:40 pm
With National Sewing Month in full swing, one of the commitments we all make is to try to teach someone to sew, especially young people. If you’re a mom or grandmother, that’s probably an easy task for you, but if you have no children around, one needs to be a little more resourceful.
Hunt up a local group of Brownies or Girl Scouts, or a church youth group, school class or another “gaggle” of youngsters and volunteer to teach them some simple sewing projects.
Author Mary Link just published 100+ No-sew Fabric Crafts for Kids, and there are tons of ideas in this clever book, as well as full-size patterns. Very minimal sewing is involved in only some of these, and many other projects are not sewn at all, but still fabric based. She uses fusible heavy craft interfacing as the basis for the projects, which range from mobiles and games to party favors, pet accessories and small gifts for several holidays. Kids are sure to be inspired by this one.
So take a look, find some kids, and start to play…teaching them some simple skills that could change their life.
September 1, 2009 – 10:26 pm
We want to see your most creative ideas! How have you implemented environmentally-sound sewing into your life? Have you designed a clever method to reuse a garment that you made and no longer wear? Do you shop thrift stores and garage sales for designer cast-offs that you restyle into bags, totes or ‘vintage’ style garments for yourself? Have you found a way to remake an everyday product into something unique and eco-thrifty? Sew up your best ideas for National Sewing Month and you could be a lucky winner!
Enter the Reuse, Remake, Restyle Challenge at the National Sewing Month website. The contest runs through September 30, 2009 and prize packages for the top 3 winning entries will include equipment, fabrics, tools, notions and more.
September 1, 2009 – 8:46 pm
Reuse, Remake, Restyle – that’s the theme of the 2009 National Sewing Month celebration. National Sewing Month is co-sponsored by the Sewing & Craft Alliance and the American Sewing Guild and is a month-long celebration of the art and craft of sewing. All through September, sewers from across the country will be attending classes, workshops and special events to share their passion for sewing.
This year’s theme addresses our economic concerns as we all stretch our spending dollars but, more importantly, it speaks of our creativity and our desire to sew green. Instead of sending tired or worn-out clothing, tablecloths, curtains or bedding to the landfill, stitchers are turning trash into one-of-a-kind treasures. Antique pillowcases are becoming little girl dresses; 40 lb dog food bags are becoming handy tote-bags; juice boxes become fabric to make a backpack and drapery sheers become a sexy shawl to wear over the perfect black dress.
Don’t get me wrong – we’re still shopping! We just shop with a different focus these days. Now when we walk the aisles of the fabric or craft store, we see trims that can change a boring pair of blue jeans into a trendy fashion statement. We see fabrics that will make the perfect heirloom quilt – designed around a daughter’s favorite skirt that no longer fits. We see adorable animal patterns that will make a fun stuffed toy cut from a worn-but-still-treasured baby blanket. And we see embroidery machines that can add an unexpected design embellishment over a hole in an otherwise perfect garment.
We’ve reached a new wave in creativity. Reports show that sewing is popular once again. Sure, Project Runway designers have played a part in reminding us about what it feels like to say “I created this.” But thousands of others do it every day as well. From grandmothers who still lovingly crochet pastel afghans for new family additions to sewing instructors who develop unique classes, the opportunities for creativity are all around us. Stay-cations – the new way to relax without leaving your home – include trips to sewing stores where to-die-for samples made with fab new fabrics matched with unexpected patterns keep us in our sewing rooms the rest of the week. There’s teens who inspire each other and we’re seeing more schools putting sewing back in to their curriculum. While we still may sew sometimes out of necessity these days, we’re also sewing for the sheer joy of it and for that wondrous feeling of accomplishment. Sewing is truly a window to our creative souls. Happy Sewing Month!
If you’d like to read more about the history of this celebration and the original proclamation, visit the National Sewing Month website.
August 28, 2009 – 11:40 pm
I’m often asked about sewing reference books–there are many on the market and chances are you’d like to keep a few handy for those times when you need a little refreshing of some infrequently used skills, or if you’re trying to teach someone to sew, including yourself.
My favorite sewing reference book of all time is the Reader’s Digest New Complete Guide to Sewing. It’s packed with clear illustrations on virtually any technique you can imagine! The latest edition now has color photos, for enhanced learning. The revised version includes some machine technology changes, but the older version is still worthy for the basics.
The Vogue Sewing Book is also a favorite for tailoring and couture techniques that are sometimes omitted from other references.
Two recent additions are also extremely helpful. A to Z of Sewing offers a handy alphabetical content of everything from applique to zippers, and lots in between. With a combination of step-by-step photographs and line drawings, the text detailing is easy to see and understand.
The Ultimate Sewing Bible, by Marie Clayton, combines both home decorating and fashion sewing expertise into one 320-page volume. Lovely photos and illustrations clarify the words in fine style, and some projects are included as well, if you need to put the detailed skill sets into practice. A helpful glossary is good for beginners. First published in Europe, there are some vocabulary crossovers to learn–for example, underlining is referred to as “mounting”, which takes a little adjustment, but certainly not insurmountable for the book’s quality.
Check out these books to see which best fits your sewing reference needs, and add them to your collection.
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