Meetup - Open the envelope, please

We had to much food and shared a lot of information about cracking the pattern code.
I was pretty sure I wouldn't be able to squeeze all that is needed to know into a 1 and a half hour meetup session, but I tried.

Everyone who attended asked questions and got answers. We helped each other cut our tissue patterns out. Then we reviewed what we did and why we did it.  It's not as simple as it sounds but I
shared what information was needed and now the Stitchers know why certain things are done and what to look for.

We covered the front pattern cover
the back of the jacket with it's tiny print and glut of information
then we pulled the pattern out and tore into the tissue parts.

Can't wait til...
Next week is part two of a two part session. It's called "lay it out on the table".

If you're an Absolute Beginner, for the cost of a movie ticket you will go home with some
valuable information that will enhance you sewing skills.

and you may winner something for your sewing box or as I like to say...box of tools

My high school sewing project- Simplicity pattern 6630

Simplicity pattern 6630 

I only remember my mother taking me to the fabric store and being allowed to choose the fabrics. I picked a canary yellow twill and a powder blue pin wale corduroy with pretty red and yellow flowers. I do remember thinking the yellow was the Tweety bird yellow.
 For those of you who aren't familiar with him.  He was so cute and mischievous. Anyway, at the time he was my favorite color.  

  This poncho was reversible and not a good project for a beginner. I dove into this project fully expecting it to look like that picture. I was determined to make this poncho.  My goal was to make it look like it was store bought because back then handmade wasn't cool. 

Sew you know, I did make the poncho, and as far as I remember, it was pretty good. Because one day it disappeared, and I have spent the last 35 years looking for it.  Every rainy day, I watch, hoping one day I would spot the villain who stole my poncho!  Watching, even though this took place in Ohio and I live in Illinois!  I will share the rest of the story later.

Why don't you to share your high school sewing project? I'd love to hear any story, happy ending or sad ending, did that project get you started or end your sewing future.

  This isn't the end of my tragic sewing story...I leave you with this cliff hanger...Did I find my poncho? Did I find the culprit?

Stay pinned
 Well I told you I would finish this story...
It turns out that my poncho wasn't stolen, I shared this story with my mother and she admitted to loaning my high school sewing project to a friend on a rainy day.  I was never to see my poncho again.  In each human life we all carry a quite little story with us that if we aren't careful, that story could define us.   I am not that poncho...I only had a chance to wear it maybe once or twice and I sure miss it.   

S.I.Y.

The S.I.Y. revolution has exploded! (Sew It Yourself)

Stitchers have more choices in sewing machines, a vast resource of fabrics where we are no longer confined to driving to a box store. For inspiration there is Project Runway and it's spin off "Threads" where children use actual sewing skills. That's not the end of the list of inspirational sewing tv shows!... check out the three seasons of the Great British Sewing Bee. Which I consider a tutorial for experienced and beginners. Let's see... we have Pinterest for an endless supply of sewing ideas and inspiration and don't forget the Great spool of talent call "Etsy".  Don't get me wrong, I use to sell on Etsy, then it became so big that it was hard to stay at the top. I still love Etsy!. 

Anyway, back to the revolution. Sewing is no longer a "dying art". My personal opinion? with all the millions of hand and machine stitchers out there, the only thing about sewing that was dying is it's popularity.   

Sew! like D.I.Y. Stitchers! have we  S.I.Y. sew it yourself is back in style and has become a revolution.  Put your foot down, Stitchers, and get sewing.

Coach Kate 

I would be neglectful if I didn't promote meetup with it's 1000's of crafty, do it yourself, knitting, crocheting and of course sewing groups, namely our meetup/readysetsew.com...shameless, i know!

Call me coach!

We had our first "meetup" gathering on Sunday, September 13th and frankly I enjoyed sharing information about sewing with everyone of my new friends. We met on online and because my new friends are interested in sewing, we met again in person. 

Sewing is no longer a lonely craft.  We have sewing friends. 

Just to cap what we covered in the meetup.  Introductions, food, bobbins, rotary cutters and scissors, threads, measuring instruments, zippers, bias tapes, marking tools, famous footware, machine needles, hand stitching options, elastics and future workshops...but wait! there's more.  With this list we barely touched all the options associated with sewing, even for beginners.  My Goal! is to keep you stitching forward in the Absolute Beginners Sewing Universe.

To top our time together off, we ended it with a drawing.

By guessing how many seam rippers were in the jar.  We had a winner! Stephanie won the beefsteak tomato pincushion.  Hope to see you here next week.  

Your sewing coach Kate

Can't sleep

The only way I'm going to get any sleep tonight is to get this idea out of my head.

What do you think of a Christmas gift workshop, every Saturday night until December 12th. We can end the workshop series with a Christmas party. 

Starting September 26, I'll arrange two possible projects for each Saturday night. 

Workshop one: Bottle Wrapper and a matching fabric gift bag for sharing when you can't go empty handed (hostess gift). idea made available by Kathy N.

The bags are exactly like the standard grocery bag, fill it with crackers and cheese to go alone with the non alcoholic wine or juice.

This is for beginners who have completed the Absolute Beginning class (Introduction to the machine) 

Why you ask...without the necessary sewing machine knowledge, this project may not get done by Christmas.

Good idea, right?
good night!

written on on 09/12/15 at 04:58

Don't worry if you aren't able to finish both projects in one session.

"Well, you can teach an old dog new tricks"

Quote for today was from Laurie. She is a experienced stitcher with 40+ years of sewing. She has numerous sewing machines and sergers, countless projects she's worked on and she say's to herself, "Well, you can teach an old dog new tricks". I was sew honored by the comment.  She called the shop asking for help with stretch knits. Her knit project was out of shape and she felt it was beyond fixing. She liked the fabric, she didn't want to abandon the project.  That's where I come into the story. She called wanting help.  Sew, I helped.  Ever heard the saying "you get more than you give" After showing her what tricks and tips I had, that's when she said to herself, Well, you can teach an old dog new tricks. I was sew excited that I could teach someone with years of sewing experience something new.  Laurie is coming back next week with both guns (machines) loaded and ready to learn some more.

Last published on 09/10/15 at 02:15 PM

Friendly Stitches in Downers Grove referred Laurie to Classic Sewing

Hi my name is Kate and I'm a sew-aholic

Well, it must be done, I have sew much stuff in my head that I needed an outlet.

Sew, I said to myself, "Self" it's time to start a sewing blog, and in the same day I decided to do it,  two, count 'em two people told me to do it in the same hour. I'll take that as a sign.

Since the wonderful world of sewing is as big as the universe. I decide to call it "the beginners guide to sewing universe" like a tour guidebook. Full of stories and useful and hopefully not useless information. 

I have sew much to share with Absolute Beginners and they want information, No one seams too have the time or patience for Beginners. It truly takes, kindness, patience and time to spend when sharing with someone in order for them to understand the concept of sewing.

Sew, here we go....Welcome Stitchers to my first sewing blog. It's mainly for Absolute Beginners, but of course, all levels are welcome to contribute and share.  It use to be a lonely hobby, but not anymore, thanks to Etsy and Pinterest, and don't forget "Project Runway". Thanks to that show, it's reignited the love and desire for sewing. 

I've been teaching beginners regularly for the past 5 years and the common comment is "Sewing is a lot harder then I thought". That's the facts jack!

Sewing may be fun, but it takes practice to perfect.  Let's get Sewin'

Beginners Gallery

    I love white polka dots on navy, sew when I saw this shirt at Kolh's my good intentions were to turn this baby into a chick shirt. I found it in the men's section. The color caught my eye.  I didn't hang it up because I was serious about transforming it.         

    Well, months have gone by and I was getting tired of moving it from place to place at home. Sew, I brought it to the shop and tossed it on the "to do" pile.

    While surfing Pinterest and drinking my morning coffee, I spotted the perfect idea. Remove the back and sleeves, trim with white bias tape use the remnant fabric for ties and ... Yes, I hacked it off of Pinterest.  Ever heard the saying..."there's nothing new under the sun".  

Here it is! I love it. Maybe Kohl's will hack me and make millions on this idea!

The Sewing Machine and the Beginner

I hope the title sounds like the beginning of a good book. I know deciding to learn anything new comes with a lot of anxiety.  Stay calm, I'll walk you through it.  This is also an interactive blog, so join in with your questions. I can only "type to myself" for so long and I can only guess what you may be thinking when it comes to sewing.

Let's see.. You have the machine and all it's parts and some of you have voiced concerns about breaking the machine.  Some of you have to take it out of the box first. Some of you have tried using it and now it won't work, which may mean you think you've broken your machine.  Again, breath, stay calm.  There are certain things you need to do and certain things you should not do if you can help it.

Most sewing machines are pretty tough, here's a warning. Don't buy 'REFURBISHED' there are millions and I mean millions of refurbished machines out there and the one you may buy is on its' 2nd or 3rd home.

Consider test driving a machine with a dealer.  Trust me...a good dealer would rather you consider and reconsider before buying.  If you have money to waste go with refurbished.
Just a note about going with a dealer...think hard before buying a machine with more bells and whistles then you know how to operate.

Think simple...not bottom of the list simple, just remember you are a beginner and in training and you may not need a machine that is smarter then you when it comes to sewing.

Stop by Classic Sewing...take a test drive in a class or two. I'll help you understand the machine and we'll sew through a simple project. Then we'll talk about what kind of sewing you intend to focus on.

Lay it out, put every thing of on the table.

Hey, if you've managed to get control of that machine. Now, it's time to crack open a pattern envelope and see if you've got what it takes to be an Absolute Beginner.  The sewing universe is waiting.  When you decide on a pattern. Think, simple.  Look for patterns with few seams. Just sew you can get some straight stitching practice.  To many pieces to a pattern you don't really understand is possibly taking on more than you can sew.

When I suggest simple, I mean pillowcase simple.

Questions that may arise when you decide to use a pattern.

1. What kind of fabric?
2. What's a seam allowance?
3. Which line do I cut?
4. Do I need all these pieces?
5. What is a grain line?
6. Where is the fold?
7. Should I cut on the fold?

Here are 7 good reasons for taking a sewing class. Classic Sewing will get you all the way through your first pattern.