In Continuing Celebration of National Sewing Month

We very fortunate that Joann's in Middletown, as part of a National program by JoAnn's Corporation, offered us the opportunity come to their store and do a membership drive there.  They would provide us with a table in the front of the store where we could display items members made and provide information about our Chapter and ASG in general.  In support of this, Joann's would have information about their discount program for ASG members. 


As the Middletown JoAnn"s store is close to our Port Jervis Crafty Stitcher's Group, Marge Fuller, Neighborhood Group Leader, and GiGi LaManna, seized upon this opportunity to gain members and were there this past Tuesday, the 22nd.   They are hopeful the result will be new Crafty Stitchers!

Thank you JoAnn's of Middletown for your support!

Sherry, center, the manager of the JoAnn's Store. Marge on the left, GiGi on the right

What have you been sewing? September is National Sewing Month!

Did you know that President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation in 1982 which designated September as National Month? It was done  “In recognition of the importance of home sewing to our Nation.” 

The Hudson Valley NY Chapter of the American Sewing Guild supports sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels - every month of the year! 

Another benefit of being an ASG member?  National has produced a series of Webinars which are designed to help us "Take" our "Sewing Skills to a higher level":  

Fall is the perfect time to construct a new jacket! In our upcoming fall webinars, we'll have four "follow-along" sessions where you can completely construct a lined jacket totally by machine! This includes putting in shoulder pads, sleeve headers, hemming and even sewing shank buttons on by machine. Register now for these upcoming webinars and join in the fun of creating.

Sew for now, enjoy the journey of sewing…
Ramona

 Sep 5: ASG Online! Getting the most from your ASG membership
Do you really know all that is included in your ASG membership? Are you taking advantage of all there is? This session will show some of the many benefits and how you may access them. (Postponed until Sept 17th)

Sep 12: Let's Talk Lined Jacket Construction (1 of 4 sessions)
For the month of October, all the webinars will feature a sew-along series with Ramona. This session will be in preparation for those classes. For the sessions we will be using a lined blazer with a lapel(you may use a similar pattern that you already have). Discussion will be on how to choose the fabric, interfacing and notions for the lined jacket. Three sessions in October will be the constructions methods she developed from studying ready-to-wear techniques to complete the lined jacket.

Sep 19: Let's Talk Cuffs and Collars
Do the undersides of cuffs and collars on garments peek out? Do the curves seem less than smooth? Have you learned how to add piping? In this webinar learn some simple tricks to give you professional results.

Oct 3: ASG Online! Gift Giving Ideas
The clever folks at Clover have some fun tools on the market to make great gifts. We’ll take a look at three of them and projects that may be made.

Oct 10: Let’s Talk Lined Jacket Construction Session 2 of 4
This session will be layout and cutting of the jacket and lining. Techniques for matching plaids will be discussed. The interfacing will be applied and tips on pressing during the construction will be given.

Oct 17: Let’s Talk Lined Jacket Construction Session 3 of 4
Jacket construction will begin. All construction will take place on the sewing machine…absolutely no hand sewing with these RTW (ready to wear) techniques! This session will include setting the sleeves, sewing in the sleeve headers and shoulder pads (yes, by machine!), and discussion of buttonholes will begin.

Oct 31: Let’s Talk Lined Jacket Construction Session 4 of 4
If you have followed along and done the sewing between sessions, by the end of this session you will have a completed, lined jacket, in just a few more hours of sewing after viewing this session which includes lining construction, hemming, and sewing the buttonholes.

Want to jazz up that jacket once it is completed and make it uniquely yours? Take our Polymer Clay Button Workshop II on Saturday, September 21st. $5.00 for members, $4.00 for Junior Members and $7.00 for non members. We will be at Hobby Lobby, Route 9, Poughkeepsie, from 10AM -3PM. 

Thanks to Ramona for her email from which much of this is "borrowed"

We had a booth at the 2013 Dutchess County Fair!

This year, the Hudson Valley NY Chapter of the ASG was invited to have a booth at the recent Dutchess County Fair, held each year in Rhinebeck, NY.  Traditionally, the Dutchess County Fair is viewed as the closing event of the summer and draws people from all over the state as well as CT, MA & NJ and other neighboring areas.  We had been asked to provide sewing activities for kids. We came up with several,  sewing Halloween bags, sewing paper mazes and games, and creating your own fabric. The Halloween Bags (handles already attached, and the kids had only to sew one side and the bottom) were the biggest hit. Quite a few parents took the paper pages home for their children to use for practice. And we had some very creative fabric designers.
Thanks to the help of many member volunteers we were able to have our booth open each of the 6 days of the Fair. Everyone, including us, had fun!  And while introducing youngsters to sewing, we were also able to tell the adults about ASG and the support we  provide to sewing enthusiasts of all skill levels. And let them know as well, that sewing isn't all that we do! We had plenty of space and could showcase many of the items sewn or created by our members.

We heard many pleasant comments, "It is great that you are introducing kids to sewing".  "Sewing is a dying skilll, it isn't even offered in schools anymore...so this is a good thing you are doing." 
We were also asked what we were going to be offering youngsters after the Fair ended. So look for a youth oriented workshop in the near future. For information on that program, as well as others we have, please email asghveduc@gmail.com.  For more information on our regular monthly meetings as well how to join, contact asghvmembership@gmail.com. 

Polymer Clay Buttons Part 2 Workshop - Sept 21

Once again, Sue Kreutzberg will be leading us on this fun and educational adventure
with her Polymer Clay Buttons Part 2 Workshop!  Yes, even if you missed the first workshop, you can still attend this one.  We will be using and then building upon the basics.
It will be held in the classroom at Hobby Lobby, in the Shoppes at South Hills, Route 9, Poughkeepsie on Saturday, September 21st from 10-3.   Find details below:

Project List for Kingston Neighborhood Group

Are you interested in participating in community service projects in the Kingston area?  Well here is the latest list the Kingston Neighborhood group have planned through next April.

Sep 6, 2013 - Bibs for VA (terry cloth & flannel 7/8 yd each)

Oct 4, 2013 -  polar fleece hats and scarves

Nov 1, 2013 - baby blankets (two 25" squares)

Dec 6, 2013 - muscle shirts (flannel)

Jan 3, 2014 - christening dresses (soft cottons)

Feb 7, 2014 - preemie squares (two 12" squares flannel)

Mar 7, 2014 - pillow cases

Apr 4, 2013 - walker & wheelchair pockets (light weight drapery fabrics)

For more info, contact Anita Rowell by phone.