All the fun stuff we do at our monthly chapter meetings in Cedar Rapids.
At the September meeting, Peggy Dupras taught us the difference between pattern grading and alterations. Grading is making the entire pattern a new size, while alterations fix areas of the pattern that do not fit you the way you want. We are to start with one size and adjust one size up or down at…
Melissa Marie Collins, a new chapter member, is an artist who creates amazing artwork which is turned into fabric collections. She shared her artistic journey and then showed her artwork and the fabric it became. Her new collection’s art was made with inks she created from natural sources, like the seeds of avocados or walnuts….
Sewing machines and sergers are our workhorses. The machines that make us happy. Today, we learned how to make our machines happy. Russ B., a sewing machine repairman, spent the morning with us showing how to clean and oil our machines to keep them in tip top shape. It is ok to take the bottom…
This meeting was a fun gathering. We sat in a U with the tables facing each other so conversations flowed between members. Elan S and her many helpers prepared a great make and take project for us all – flower wrist clip holders. Before the meeting, the wrist bands with Velcro and the felt flower…
I love to go through containers of old buttons: jars, boxes, old cookie tins. It is fun to see the many designs and colors. I love mother of pearl buttons. Years ago, I designed a dress around a collection of mismatched ones, making a shirt dress with button holes all the way to the hem….
I don’t know about you, but I have projects that just do not fit correctly. This meeting was spent fine tuning projects which needed fitting help. Loesje S and Deb W worked together to fit these items, all the while educating the rest of us with how-to tips and tricks. They used safety pins and…
Have you ever been to the fair and looked at the many sewing entries and wondered to yourself about entering one of your creations? Many of us have been there. SO – We learned how to enter the Linn County fair and the Iowa State Fair. Below are the steps on how to enter your…
One of ASG’s national objectives is to use our sewing skills to create items that help others – community service. At this Zoom meeting, scheduled to keep us home in case of bad weather, we were educated by Julie S, who is the North East Iowa ambassador for the Dress A Girl Around the World…
Every January, we gather online in a Zoom call to share our love of sewing from the warmth of our homes. We started this year with a tour led by Tamra L of our ASG national website. She highlighted how to find online classes, videos for learning new techniques and topics, and where to find…
We woke up to light snow and cold temps. Text messages flew between board members…should we hold the meeting or cancel? Decisions were made…it was a go. 18 of us braved the weather and joined together for a Christmas brunch. The meal was lovely. Egg casserole, sausage, pastries, fruit, warm coffee and juices made for…
