stitchin’ times - madison asg - home
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter Advisory Board (CAB) meetings are held every other month (even
numbered months) at Agrace Hospice
During the Pandemic, the CAB is now also meeting
virtually on line.
Please go to the Madison ASG web page for the latest
information.
To learn more about
The American Sewing
Guild:
ASG.org
Greetings to all of you Sewing Guild members! I don’t know about you, but Virtual
MASG meetings have been one of the few opportunities to “get out” for nearly a
year now and I have been playing the game of perceiving it as an actual trip out -
without the hassle of the drive to and from. I hope that those of you who live a dis-
tance from Madison have found it easier to attend meetings and take advantage of
the great programs our diligent program committee has been putting together! An
especially big treat will be the March Program’s presenter, Nancy Nix Rice, a na-
tionally known celebrity and author in the wardrobe and style field! Don’t miss this
great opportunity to “go out” to the next guild general meeting! More about that in
the Program notes in this edition of the Stitchin’ Times. (Don’t hesitate to send me
or any CAB member, a message if you need help in using the Zoom platform. It’s
not that hard!)
Spring is on the horizon and the warmer weather might allow us to have yard
meetings with friends and visitors – properly distanced and masked, of course! But
we still have plenty of time to enjoy a great op-portunity to hunker down inside at
your sewing machine to make something to wear at your next “trip out” to the
upcoming MASG meetings. Remember the next opportunity for Show and Tell is at
the April Meeting, so get busy!! Happy Sewing to All! Lorraine
A Message from Our Leader
GUILD MEETINGS ARE NORMALLY HELD THE SECOND TUESDAY OF THE MONTH FROM
7-9 PMAGRACE
5395 EAST CHERYL PARKWAY
FITCHBURG, WI 53711
PLEASE CONFIRM THE MEETING DATE, PLACE AND TIME BY VISITING
US ON THE WEB AS OUR MEETINGS ARE NOW
VIRTUAL DUE TO SAFE-AT-HOME
MANDATES
On the Web Madisonasg.com
or
Visit us on Facebook
At Madison Area Sewing
Stitchin’ Times Madison Area Sewing Guild
Madison, Wisconsin
Volume 32 Issue 2, March April 2021
“Oh...The Games Sewer’s Play Now!
Every Night and Every Day Now!”
For those members who were young in 1969 and remember the lyrics from the headline above… we all are aware that playing games
when sewing is a frequent occurrence. It may be a slight alteration on a pocket, shift-
ing the way a pattern is laid out to insure that last inch of the sleeve has the correct length.
Or it could be a mix and match of different patterns.
We’ve all done it...but there are other games we play while sewing...
“Talking ‘bout you and me"
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Coming Soon to a Sewing Guild Near You
(Still Via Zoom)
Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 7:00 to 9:00 PM Via Zoom— Please see the MASG calendar on our web page to access the meeting.
Optimal Prints for Your Wardrobe Nancy Nix-Rice
Do you have an excess of print garments - a frequent situation among sewing enthusiasts? Nancy's “points of connection” concept will
empower you to buy and sell only prints that showcase your unique personal characteristics – color, temperature, value and contrast,
body scale, facial structure, fashion personality, textural elements and more. A twelve point checklist guarantees you’ll wear only the RIGHT
prints, rather than letting wrong prints wear YOU.
Please Note
There will be no Show and
Tell at the March meeting
as Nancy has a 90 minute
program.
Nancy is the author of “Looking Good...every day” .
It can be purchased from Kindle, Google Play, Barnes and Noble and Kobo.
Unfortunately the South Central Library System does not appear to have a copy.
“Let’s work to build wardrobes that reflect each of us, and let’s do it together.”
Check out “Threads” magazine for recent article by Nancy Nix-Rice:
September, 2020, page 56; “Wrap Dress Upgrades” November, 2020, page 36; “Find Your Prints”
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April Meeting To
Focus on Local Member Expertise
Tuesday, April 13. 2021 7:00 to 9:00 PM Via Zoom— Please see the MASG calendar on our web page to access the meeting.
Two Guild member share their experience and expertise. Annette will speak on her techniques transforming old sweaters into the beautiful jacket seen here.
Jacqui will present on indie pattern companies, including download-ing patterns, her experience with patterns, where she has found good patterns and how to expand your pattern repertoire of pattern sources, without bumping into many “fails”. Jacqui’s expertise in-cludes garment testing for indie companies. She has shared her sew-ing expertise with us at earlier meetings, but this will be her debut as a speaker for MASG
Join Annette as she shares her latest project, using wool sweaters; felting, dye-ing and sewing them into this beautiful jacket.
Left: Examples of Jacqui’s work.
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The Games Sewists Play Compiled by Kathy T.
Most people wouldn't classify sewing as a sport. I disagree. Our hobby is fraught with opportunities for heart-racing excitement and
frustration. One of my coping mechanism is to turn some of the frustrations into games. What follows are a few of the games
frequently played in my sewing studio.
Thread Blob or Giant Spider? This is a real adrenaline rush. Shortly after a marathon stitch removal session, come of us find not all the
thread ends up in the trash. This leads to a startling discovery of thread blobs that look like spiders. My technique is to gasp then
stomp—better safe than sorry. Others prefer the thrill of scoop and smush. Either way you win by having the adrenaline rush to sew for
a little while longer and a nice clean spot on the floor.
Thread nest or spider? You make the call!
I Heard the Ping! Where’s the Pin? This is another thrill-a-minute game. Those of us with hard floors can “hear theping” when a ping falls, but we can’t plan for the bounce.
To increase the level of difficulty of this game you just need to add carpet. This can also be played as a team
sport, with unsuspecting family finding the lost pins in un-comfortable ways.
Bobbin Roulette. As we move through the ranks, we begin to play more advanced games, like Bobbin Rou-
lette. When we own more than one machine, the bobbins tend to change up. When they are living in the thread drawer they like to mingle and disguisethemselves. This game is played by lining up some bobbins, comparing them carefully, analyzing their
differences, while having no idea which bobbin goes with what machine and finally rolling the dice.
Some-times the gamble pays off... sometimes you get a weird “thunking” noise followed by a thread
nest.
Bobbin. Bobbin. Which size is the bobbin?
There are many more games and variants, but will save games like “Where’s that thing I just
used?” ...for another day.
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Have you Ever Sampled the MASG
Facebook Page???
Posted on the MASG Facebook Page By a Member the Oregon Historical
Society Dated Originally in 1925
“A very interesting program was given Monday evening at the High School by the Parent-
Teachers’ Association. A debated on the subject, Resolved, That a sewing machine is more benefi-cial to a family than a cow, was handled by Mrs. Park Ames and Mrs. L.E. Pennewell for the af-
firmative, and George Rasmussen and Dean Smith for the negative.
The decision was unanimous for the sewing ma-chine.
True then...and true now!!
Things you can get from posting to the MASG Facebookpage: Post a photo of your latest masterpiece. Get help from a member on why your latest master-
piece is not turning out like the expected master-piece.
Check out what’s happening — Find members who have become obsessed
with Hmong bags. Members who are looking for that one specific
item that you might have. Get help with stuff you’ve never done before. Looking for a specific pattern? A member may have it
at the bottom of her/his stash and is willing to share.
Go to: www.facebook.com/groups/madisonasg
Renewals: Julie C. Pat D. Julie F. Pat G.
Linda O. Joy P.
Lorraine T. Valene W.
Right: Renewing members join in the annual MASG polar plunge on
Lake Mendota. For this reason, many members
have opted to renew their membership in July and August.
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MADISON AREA
SEWING GUILD
CHAPTER ADVISORY
BOARD
2019-2020
President Lorraine T. [email protected]
Vice-president Kathy T. [email protected]
Treasurer Dorothy C. [email protected]
Membership Trish P. [email protected]
Secretary Bonnie D. [email protected]
Community Projects Lisa J. [email protected]
Programs Linda H. [email protected]
Programs Julie F. [email protected]
Programs Sara B. [email protected]
Website Rachel P. [email protected]
Newsletter Cathy O. [email protected]
Newsletter Copy Editor Kathryn B. [email protected]
To access CAB phone numbers go to the Resources tab on our web site. You will need the pass-word to access that page.
Solutions That Help with a Few of Kathy's Favorite Games
Bobbin roulette can be solved with afew permanent markers. I added thebobbin holders as well. Making a markon the bobbin— Red for my Regularmachine (an old Kenmore). Black formy Brother (embroidery machine).When I added another machine to thefamily, it became Orange, for the OTH-ER Brother machine. The metal Singerbobbins speak for themselves.
Thread Spiders can be tamed using a loop of tape, blue painters tape or other, near where
you are ripping out stitches. This will help prevent the dangerous and deadly
Thread Spiders.
Where’s the Pin? And my favorite solution– an expandable wand magnet. It’s from the
auto supply section of your favorite store. I expand it to wave it near the floor. 99% of the time, it’s the thing to find the pins and needles that have escaped into the wild! It
works on carpet ...as long as the pin isn’tembedded. Even then, it will catch on the
pin to let you know where to dig.
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Recap of the January Meeting Community Sewing Connections
MASG members help connect you with opportunities to use your sewing skills for the greater good of our community. Some projects are unique to Madison, WI, while others are part of a nationwide network.
Featured organizations: - The Hat Ladies, [email protected] Days for Girls (a cautionary update) www.daysforgirls.org- The Mending Project/The Sewing Machine Project, https://thesewingmachineproject.org/giving/volunteering-2/- Preemie Gowns for Meriter NICU, (email [email protected] for contact info)- Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas, https://wisnic.org/- Fidget Blankets for UW Hospital, [email protected] Fidget Blankets for RSVP of Dane County, [email protected] Project Linus, [email protected] The Hmong Institute: Kajsiab Center, https://www.facebook.com/theHmongInstitute/
There have been requests from both members and the community to repeat the Community Sewing
Connections that were featured in the January meeting.
For the complete list of contact information, Rachel P. has compiled a Spreadsheet on the MASG web site. Even more opportunities are listed on our
Community Sewing page.
To access the Community Sewing page:
Log in to the MASG web page madisonasg.com Select the “About” icon at the top of the screen On the drop down, select “Community Sewing”
The first line of text reads: “Check This Page” Click on “Check This Page” to view volunteer
opportunities in the communityOR go directly to https://www.madisonasg.com/communitysewing.htmlOur eternal thanks to Rachel P. for compiling this list.
It’s pretty impressive.
What do you do when you want to add some zip to a garment.
Take a paint roller and some dye and add some visual interest.
Sarah was our creative genius.
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Super Show and Tell
Skill, daring and LOTS of Color!
This beautifully crafted Mariner’s Compass was made by Mary V. in a class taught by Donna Mather at Mill House Quilts. The
pattern design is from Quiltworx Classes If you have a yen to view magnificent quilts her website is
www.quiltworx.com.
Sarah employing what she has learned in Lorraine’s Creative Clothing classes took Revision’s Fault Line pattern to exceptional levels. The Red “blocks” that add a visual interest to the jacket are actually cut-out ele-ments covered by screening.
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Fridgid Weather Can’t Stop Virtual Show and Tell
We are sooo much tougher than that! We’re Wisconsinites!
When your favorite winter coat starts showing times of wear,
the best option is to pull out the original pattern and make a new
one. The pattern took seven yards of 58” wide rip stop nylon
and lots of poly-fill for the stuffing.
Looks perfect for a walk in sub-zero weather.
Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose Annette dyed eight to ten up-cycled wool
sweaters into a stunning jacket. The sweaters were felted before dyeing and then were dyed in a crock pot. The pattern is the Black Wood
Cardigan from Helen’s Closet. The same color of Rit dye was used for all of the pieces and An-nette noted that if wool is left in the dye pot, it
will eventually soak up all the dye in the pot, leaving you with virtually clear water.
The piece was an experiment in dyeing as the time in the pot was varied. She left the wool in the bath initially for just a minute or two, then longer times as the process moved along. She
noted that the wool has to be cool before rinsing and should be steam pressed after it is
totally dried.
Help Still Needed with Sewing Infant
Bereavement Gowns
Lisa is looking for volunteers to cut and sew into Infant Bereavement Gowns for Unity Point/
Meriter Hospital.
She had two yards of fab-ric and about a half dozen
kits cut for Meriter’s NICU.
Porch pick up is an option. Lisa’s e-mail is
listed on page 7.
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Hang in There...This is Super Show and Tell There’s a Lot More to Come
Mary V. has spent her Pandemic time working on her quilting machine. The
table cloth was for a friend as a Christmas gift. Her vibe was “modern
zen”.
More exquisite sewing and quilting from Mary V.
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Welcome to Dyson.
With all the time we have spent in the house over the past year, our couches have taken a beating. Julie took the
issue to a new level by making three box cushions for her suffering couch. She said the project took six months to learn the
process, including how you stuff the cushions into the finished covers.
Julie recommends Sailrite(www.sailrite.com) for techniques on
making cushions. Their “How To” videos are listed under “Projects and Tips”.
Julie confessed that she is obsessed with her Dyson Vacuum cleaner, but was frustrated with storing the accessory tools. So...note the lovely tote bag on the right? The above photo is the reverse of that bag, set to fit all of the Dyson accessory tools. Whether or not the bag is right side out, or inside out,
the accessory tools are always quickly available.
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For the Young At Heart
The class challenge was to make a pocket with a new outlook.
The Unicorn pocket was designed and completed for her two year old grand-
daughter.
Julie used a Quiltworx.com pattern for a Christmas Tree Skirt. Beautiful work.
If you’ve never surfed this site, it’s well worth the visit
Lisa has a fo ur year old grandchild who is a Willie
Wonka fan. So it only seemed right to sew the perfect costume, complete with hat. We understand that the grandchild helped with the
sewing.
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Local University Announces “Ripology” Program
Plan to Research/Share Best Fiber Techniques Starting with “De-seaming”
The Human Ecology Department at a local University has announced the addition of a new program focusing on methods used by fiber arts to correct sewing errors on garments, quilts and other fiber arts projects.
At the Press Conference, Project director, “Ima Stitch-er” remarked that, ever since the first Neanderthals used their teeth to process sinew in order to sew animal hides together, we have noted that even they occasionally made mistakes while seaming.
She added that, over the centuries, those using thread, in whatever form, have struggled to correct errors that occasionally occur. Over the centuries, sewists have used pins, teeth, embroidery scissors and seam rippers while trying to efficiently remove offending stitches.
“Our program is designed to research the safest and most efficient way to remove offending stitches; seam puckering, badly sewn zippers, wrong side to right side seams and even the dreaded incorrectly placed button hole."
“Our program is designed to use the latest in computer technology to determine the safest and most efficient methods to “de-seam” wonky stitching on all manner of fabrics from burlap to the finest silk."
“We are looking forward to working with vendors, sewists, industry and Mood fabric to provide best prac-tice technology to the sewing community...but espe-cially Mood Fabrics!”
Sewing with Sinew Interested in trying this ancient technique?
www.sensiblesurvival.org/2012/06/03/how-to-sew-with-real-sinew/
This article may or may not contain any statements
that could be construed as
remotely truthful.
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Super Show and Tell Quilts on Parade
Right: Lisa also made a stylized Star of David Se-der quilt to be used as a throw in her living room. The Passover Seder is a meal that recounts the
story of the Exodus.
Bottom: A baby quilt (The first of a total of
seven due by the end of July.) The pattern is Baby
Trellis by Baby– A-OK Patterns.
Love Corgi puppies? Look closely at the prints on the above quilt. It is literally filled
with a plethora of Corgi puppies. The quilt was made by Lisa J. for a family
member heading off the school
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Sewing at It’s Best
Guild Members Inspire with Amazing Garments
Kathy T. cut the logos out of sweat shirts, dyed the pieces and using the Jambalaya Jacket Pattern by Grainline Gear made a beautiful casual jack-et. The facings were lined with cotton and she modified the back panels, adding extra panels on the back for visual interest. The facings are cotton and the front snaps are “hammer snaps”. They come in four pieces and Kathy uses them when working with leather. Kathy says that Amazon will sell you the set (each snap is four pieces) along with the necessary tools for under $20.
Below: Douglas has been spending his Safe-at-Home time by experi-menting with color and
shape in quilt blocks.
Douglas also make the lovely quilt above as a gift for a retiring co-worker in peanut butter and jelly colors.
PB&J is an inside joke for the team.
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Even More Show and Tell
Left and Right: Vogue V1662. The pattern is a “Today’s Fit”
pattern by Sandra Betzina. Linda made two pair and says
the white version is the easiest. Linda said they look horrible on the hanger but drap beautifully when worn...we couldn’t agree more. Linda rates the pattern a
Definite Keeper.
She wears them well!
In October or 2019, scuba fabric was all the rage and Julie F. had an opportunity to purchase some at Mood. Fast forward to recent history and the scuba
has now been transformed using the Snowball Dress from Waffle Patterns. Julie noted that the seams were heavy enough that she had to use a
walking foot and grade the seams. She also altered the collar to a Mandarin style and notes that she
will probably wear the dress as a tunic.
Left: Linda loves Vogue 7179, (which dates from 1978) as a perennial favorite, but had noted the shoul-ders kept rolling to the front. She recom-mends Sandra Betzi-na’s “Power Sewing” as a good source for fixing this issue.
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Road Trip!!!
Get packed...but don’t forget to leave space for
purchased fabric and pat-terns.
Compiled by
Judy W.
Remnants February 4 to April 25, 2021 Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts Museum is now open. Remnants features the work of contemporary fiber artists who transform the found and physical rem-nants of everyday life; from fabric scraps to candy wrappers, to reveal portraits of themselves and loved ones as well as slices of time and place.
Wisconsin Quilts: Stories in Stitches April 29 to August 29, 2021 Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts During the museum’s 10th anniversary year and the 20th anniversary of the seminal publication Wiscon-sin Quilts Stories in the Stitches, this exhibition draws inspiration from the book that became impetus for the founding of the museum. For the first time ever, the quilts and stories will be on view in breath-taking exhibitions that celebrate the history of the state’s quilts and quilters.
Weaving Thread Through Time and Space Current Show Center for Design and Human Culture, School of Human Ecology, UW Madison
Virtual Exhibits from the Fashion Institute of Technology
On-line shows from the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology Www.fitnyc.edu//museum/exhibit
Ballerina Fashion Modern Muse Current Exhibit Ballet is a centuries old art form that consistently reflected and absorbed prevailing fashion. It was not until the interwar years of the twentieth century that ballet took its place in the western pantheon of modern high culture and began to influence many areas of creativity, including high fashion. The virtual exhibit illustrates the rise and influence of classical ballet and ballerinas.
The Roaring Twenties and the Swinging Sixties (opening March 18, 2021) This exhibition juxtaposes the fashionable looks of the 1920s and 1960s in relation to the decades parallel social upheavals and artistic movements. Online viewers will be greeted with gems from the MFIT collec-tion, including 1920’s dresses by Paul Poiret and Edward Molyneux and 1960’s ensembles by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Cardin. Available on the MFIT website from March 15, 2021.
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Classes...
Blue Bar Quilts
6333 University Avenue
Middleton, WI 53562
(608) 284-9299Web: bluebarquilts.com
The Electric Needle 4281 West Beltline Highway Madison, WI (608) 422-5449
Web: electric-needle.com
Mill House Quilts 100 Baker Street
Waunakee, WI (608) 849-6473 Web: millhousequilts.com
Lorraine’s Upcoming Class Information Lorraine’s design classes are both ongoing through March of this year, but will, most likely begin again in September 2021. Creative Clothing’s Virtual Third Cluster will begin in March, 2021:
Cluster Three of Creative Clothing. This is a Zoom Class sponsored by The Electric Needle Saturdays, March 13, April 10 and May 8, 2021. Assignments will be given for each of the three choices of projects in making a garment focusing on different challenges. No sewing in class. Register with The Electric Needle by phone at (608) 422-5449, or online at www.electric-needle.com by February 13th so you will get the first assignment before the first call. Questions? E-mail Lorraine at [email protected]
Trish Pulvermacher Trish is not teaching at the present time., but is hoping to get back to it in a few months.
The Electric Needle (608) 422-5449 [email protected] Sew Madison Couture March 1, 2021. This group continues to meet via Zoom. There is no cost to join this group. Please contact The Electric Needle for more information and further dates. The Electric Needle is offering a limited number of classes via Zoom.
Mill House Quilts (608) 849-6473 www.millhousequilts.com Mill House is currently offering in-store classes and are one of several stores that are sponsoring the South Central Wisconsin Quilt Shop Association Shop Hop, April 25th and 26th. There is a cost for this trip which includes a Coach Bus, Hotel and Meals.
Blue Bar Quilts (608)284-9299 Www.bluebarquilts.com Blue Bar is offering Zoom classes. You can find them in the Shop Online tab. Blue Bar is now open for in-store shopping and is still actively involved in community projects such as Project Linus, Days for Girls and Hope 2 Others.
Please Support our Locally Owned Vendors